SONG AND DANCE EVENTS

BWES is an active Estonian-American mixed choral ensemble serving the greater Baltimore–Washington, D.C. metropolitan area already for 30 years. Our mission is to preserve and advance Estonian choral heritage in the Baltimore-Washington area and to strengthen the cultural bonds that connect Estonian communities locally and across North America. Our 2026 main program — spanning three major events across North America — represents an ambitious commitment to this mission.

RAHVAPIDU | FESTIVAL OF WORDS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Merike Barborak is the Coordinator of the Estonian School Network Abroad at the Estonian Language Institute, where she supports Estonian language learning and school communities across the diaspora, with a special focus on the United States. A longtime educator and community leader, she served as Head of the New York Estonian School from 2010 to 2024 and has helped develop widely used learning materials for teaching Estonian as a second language. She also teaches at the Global School for Estonian Language, supporting learners around the world through virtual Estonian language instruction.

Merike is also the main organizer of the New York Estonian Cultural Days, a major four-day festival celebrating Estonian culture, music, arts, and community life in New York. Through her work in education, cultural programming, and diaspora outreach, she has played an important role in strengthening Estonian language and cultural identity abroad. She has received the Aino Järvesoo Award and recognition from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for her contributions to cultural diplomacy.

Merike holds a Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision with a focus on Educational Training from Montclair State University (New Jersey, USA) and a Bachelor’s degree in Educational Sciences from Tartu University (Tartu, Estonia).

Adam Barton leads global education for Anthropic's philanthropic arm, Beneficial Deployments, where he partners with governments, NGOs, and researchers worldwide to ensure AI strengthens education systems. An implementation and change scientist by training, he previously directed research at Prevail Fund, a big-bet philanthropy dedicated to scaling bold social change projects. Before that, he advised and led research on educational innovation and implementation across think tanks, governments, and philanthropies; much of this time was at the Brookings Institution, where he authored dozens of works including Leapfrogging Inequality and Collaborating to Transform Education Systems. He received his PhD in organizational psychology and education policy from the University of Cambridge.

RESILIENCE FORUM

Dr. Gundars Bergmanis-Korāts leads the AI Laboratory at the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Riga. He and his team work on how artificial intelligence reshapes the information environment and the implications for those defending it. He joined the COE in 2020 as a researcher, and in 2023 achieved the role of Principal Scientist. Since the start of 2026, he has led the AI Lab. His research focuses on how LLMs behave and break, on how disinformation is automated, on how platforms can (and cannot) detect inauthentic engagement, and on which kinds of data infrastructures a sovereign strategic communications capability requires. Gundars' recent publications dig into LLM performance gaps in small languages, the rise of AI-powered disinformation machines, and interoperable data processing for strategic information environments. Before NATO StratCom COE, Gundars spent years as a project manager, programmer, and lead researcher working in computer vision, machine learning, and signal and image processing. He holds a PhD from the Université de Lorraine, where his work focused on multichannel signal processing and analysis.

SONG AND DANCE EVENTS

Conductor Crista Berryessa is an American with a passion for Estonian music. She was the assistant conductor of the Cantabile choir at the 2009 Estonian Song Festival and spent a semester in Estonia studying with Veljo Tormis, Hirvo Surva and Kaia Urbi. She completed her master's degree in choral conducting in the United States, with a thesis on spiritual elements in Estonian choral music. Under Crista's direction, the San Francisco Estonian Mixed Choir participated in the 2025 Estonian Song Festival. Crista also conducts the Redwood Chamber Choir in Santa Cruz, California.

GALA CONCERT AND DINNER

2012. aastal televaatajate südamed võitnud Elina Born pidi “Eesti otsib superstaari” saates leppima küll hõbemedaliga, kuid on neljateistkümneaastase karjääri jooksul end tõestanud kui saatesarja ühe edukaima kasvandikuna. 2015. aastal Eurovisiooni lauluvõistluselt koos Stig Rästaga 7. koha koju toonud Elina karjäärile järgnes omanimeline debüütalbum, mis sai 2016. Eesti Muusikaauhindadel nominatsiooni kuues kategoorias, millest neli pärjati auhindadega. 2018. aasta tõi Bornile plaadilepingu Universal Musicuga, järgnesid hittsinglid “Jagatud saladus” koos Jüri Pootsmanniga ja soolohitt “Tagasi me”. Üliedukaks kujunes ka ühislooming villemdrilemiga - “niiea” ja “veel parem”.

RESILIENCE FORUM

Dan Effland is the Senior Director of Innovation for Summit Public Schools. He previously served as the Executive Director of Summit Atlas HS and as the Dean of Culture & Instruction at Summit Sierra. Originally from West Virginia, Dan is an alumnus of West Virginia University. After college, he spent over a decade as a professional musician in Chicago, during which he was inspired by his experiences working with students in Chicago Public Schools to transition into education. Through Teach for America, Dan earned a Master's in Special Education from Dominican University and taught Special Education for grades 6-12 in both Chicago and Seattle. He also holds a Master's in Public School Building Administration from Columbia University, Teachers College.

FESTIVAL OF WORDS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Heili Einasto on kultuuride uuringute doktor, kes on tantsust järjepidevalt kirjutanud tantsulavastuste arvustustena,  populaarteaduslike ja teadusartiklitena ning kolmes raamatus ("100 aastat moderntantsu: pilguheit Eesti poolelt", "Rahel Olbrei - Eesti tantsuteatri rajaja" ning koos Mai Murdmaaga "Teekond tantsus"). Lisaks sellele on Heili suur loomasõber, kes kasvatab koos sõbrannaga kuldseid retriivereid kasvanduses Ringokris ning kelle kodus on hetkel kaks varjupaigast võetud kassi. San Franciscoga on ta seotud aastast 2015 ning toetab eesti keele algõppijaid Lahe piirkonna Keelekliki grupis üle veebi.

SONG AND DANCE EVENTS

Tjorven was born and raised in the heart of Estonia- Paide. Music has been an integral part of her life from the beginning. After high school, she moved to America and joined the Baltimore-Washington Estonian Mixed Choir. Since 2015, she has been the choir's principal conductor. Under her direction, BWES has participated in the last two Estonian National Song Festivals in Tallinn and the Seedrioru Song Days in Canada. She has also collaborated with renowned choirs from both Estonia and America and has actively performed at local Estonian community events. She is delighted that BWES is able to participate at this year's LEP. 

OPENING CEREMONY AND RECEPTION | RAHVAPIDU

Inglikeeled is a unique Estonian kannel ensemble based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in February 2019, the group derives its name from "Inglite linn" (the City of Angels) and consists of musicians who play traditional Estonian zithers known as kannels. 

The group actively performs at local Estonian cultural gatherings, community events, and holiday fairs, bringing the rich heritage of folk kannel music to the United States.

RESILIENCE FORUM

Kristina Kallas, PhD is a distinguished Estonian politician, political scientist, and educator. Kristina Kallas is a prominent member of the Estonian government, serving as the Minister of Education and Research of the Republic of Estonia.

According to PISA results, Estonia has one of the world’s leading education systems. Minister Kristina Kallas is convinced that technology in education is a means to empower individuals, enhance educational outcomes, and ensure inclusivity, assuring the continued future readiness of the Estonian education system.

Prior to her career in politics, Kristina Kallas was a researcher at the University of Tartu. Simultaneously, in 2015-2019 she was the Director of the Narva College of the University of Tartu. As an expert consultant for several organisations and projects such as OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Kristina Kallas has advised many governments in the area of integration policy, including Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia.

Throughout her career, Kristina Kallas has been committed to equip future leaders with the competences – knowledge, skills, and attitudes – needed to navigate diverse and multicultural societies.

FESTIVAL OF WORDS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Kelsey Kraus is an Associate Professor of Linguistics at San Jose State University. She received her PhD in Linguistics from the University of California Santa Cruz in 2018, where she worked on the semantics and pragmatics of intonation in English and German. Before joining SJSU, Kelsey worked in Silicon Valley as a Linguist and Data Scientist, while continuing to teach and publishing on LLM evaluation and rating methodology. Kelsey is interested in empowering students to think critically about emerging language technologies, specifically centering the human experience. 

RESILIENCE FORUM

Siim Kumpas serves as the Leader of the Policy, Strategy and Partnerships Team within the Information Integrity and Countering FIMI Division at the European External Action Service, the European Union's diplomatic service. Before joining the EEAS, Kumpas worked at the Government Office of Estonia on designing and implementing Estonia’s approach to building resilience to foreign information manipulation. He is also a guest lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences. Kumpas holds an MA degree in Communication Management from the University of Tartu.

OPENING CEREMONY AND RECEPTION

Multiple Grammy nominated Estonian-born bassoonist Martin Kuuskmann counts as one of the leading voices on his instrument, performing repertoire landmarks from across the entire scope of classical music and avant-garde with celebrated orchestras including the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony, London Philharmonic and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestras on the one hand, and renown conductors such as Neeme, Paavo and Kristjan Järvi, Risto Joost and Robert Spano on the other. Kuuskmann’s unmatched expressiveness has led to fifteen bassoon concertos being written explicitly for him by A-list composers in the vein of Erkki-Sven Tüür, Tõnu Kõrvits, Christopher Theofanidis and Páll Ragnar Pálsson.  His most recent premiere dates to this spring in a bassoon concerto by Lembit Beecher, “Land of the Northern Frog,” which he recorded with a renowned Boston-based string orchestra A Far Cry.  Kuuskmann’s reputation as a chamber musician precedes him, creating countless opportunities for international collaborations with esteemed chamber music ensembles such as the Berlin Philharmonic Winds and producing partnerships with the likes of Leif Ove Andsnes and Kirill Gerstein.  Kuuskmann’s exceptional artistry is documented in a steadily expanding recording catalogue that includes three Grammy-nominations and holds promising projects for the near future.  Besides holding a chair as an Associate Professor of Bassoon at the University of Denver, Kuuskmann continues to pursue a prolific career as one of the most sought-after performers in his field. The New York Times has gone as far as using the words “amazing” and “stunning” to describe Martin Kuuskmann’s craft, confirming that the bassoonist is one of the great virtuosos of our time. Photo credit: Annamaria Kowalsky.

FESTIVAL OF WORDS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Kairi Leivo is a renowned Estonian singer-songwriter, traditional musician and storyteller. She performs both as a solo artist and as a member of the groups Naised Köögis, RUNÖ and Laudaukse Kääksutajad.Her work combines traditional Estonian and Ruhnu cultural heritage with contemporary interpretation, creating a unique connection between music, storytelling and community traditions. In addition to performing, Kairi Leivo conducts workshops and educational activities focused on:

• traditional singing of regilaul 

• singing games;

• folk dances

• storytelling

SONG AND DANCE EVENTS

Heather MacLaughlin Garbes is currently Affiliate Assistant Professor at the University of Washington, where she helped develop and maintains the UW Baltic Choral Library, the first collection of its kind in the United States. She is also Founder and Artistic Director of the Mägi Ensemble, a professional women’s ensemble that performs and records Baltic music.

Dr. MacLaughlin Garbes conducts the Everett Chorale in Everett, Washington, the Seattle’i Eesti Koor and the Finnish Choral Society of Seattle. She was honored to be a conductor for the 2025 ESTO Global Estonian Song Festival in Stockholm, Sweden and is currently a preparatory conductor for the 2026 KESKUS Grand Opening Celebrations in Toronto.

Dr. MacLaughlin Garbes holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington and is currently completing a Master of Arts in Music Leadership from the Eastman School of Music. 

Heather is the coach of the Philippines National Senior Men’s Curling Team and enjoys running and cooking with the lovely fresh vegetables from local farms.

OPENING CEREMONY AND RECEPTION

Internationally acclaimed pianist Hando Nahkur, D.M.A., has captivated audiences across Europe, North and South America, Russia, and Israel in performances as a recitalist, soloist with orchestras, and collaborative artist, receiving critical acclaim for his technical prowess and musical sensitivity.

PianoNews (Germany) states, “Nahkur plays both lucidly and passionately, with absolute brilliance. His interpretation rightfully can hold its own even against the legendary Wilhelm Kempff or Martha Argerich.” Dr. Nahkur has appeared with orchestras in the U.S., Canada, Costa Rica, and Europe, and performed at major concert venues. Dr. Nahkur’s accolades include winning First Prize in the Yamaha Foundation National Competition and Estonian National Piano Competition in Estonia. He is a recipient of Diplomat of Nation Certificate of Merit (Estonia), and Kawai Medallion Educator Award (USA). He has won top prizes at international piano competitions also in the U.S., Greece, Italy, and Canada. As a recording artist, Nahkur has seven solo albums to his credit, demonstrating his virtuosity in diverse styles and genres ranging from classical masterworks, to music of lesser-known composers and his own arrangements. A native of Estonia, Dr. Nahkur received his early training at the Tallinn Music High School and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. In 2003, he started his incredible 16-year journey through five major universities in America: he earned degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music (B.M.), Yale University (M.M.), University of North Texas (D.M.A.), Southern Methodist University (AD), and Texas Christian University (AD). In addition to his career as a concert pianist, Dr. Nahkur is a Piano Consultant for the Piano Department at the Booker T. Washington School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and Director of Music at Christ Lutheran Church in Dallas.

SONG AND DANCE EVENTS

Segakoor Noorus on väärika ajalooga, ent nooruslikust energiast pakatav kollektiiv, mis on asutatud juba 1959. aastal. Oleme osalenud edukalt mitmetel nimekatel konkurssidel – viimati pälvisime Eesti Kammerkooride Liidu festivalil A-kategoorias auväärse 3. koha. Oleme kollektiivina pühendunud kvaliteetse ja sügava sisuga muusika loomisele, et pakkuda kuulajale vaimu turgutavaid hetki ning leida koorimuusika traditsioonides uusi, inspireerivaid perspektiive. Koori repertuaaris on tähtsal kohal näiteks kodumaiste Arvo Pärdi, Veljo Tormise, Tõnu Kõrvitsa ja Ester Mägi, aga ka klassikute Claudio Monteverdi, James MacMmillani, W. A. Mozarti jt heliteosed.

OPENING CEREMONY AND RECEPTION

Mikk Otsmaa is an Estonian American biologist, engineer, and pianist. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Mikk has been active in Eestlus for as long as he can remember and has accompanied the San Francisco West Coast Estonian Choir since 2024. When Mikk is not in the laboratory, he enjoys spending time with his fellow korp! Vironia members and playing piano for weddings.

RESILIENCE FORUM

Halyna Padalko is a multidisciplinary researcher specializing in strategic communication, propaganda, disinformation, as well as the use of AI tools in these domains and their intersection with policy. She holds a master’s degree in global governance from the University of Waterloo and a PhD in computer science from the National Aerospace University, Kharkiv Aviation Institute. 

At MIT, Padalko is completing her Fulbright fellowship, researching information manipulation at the MIT Center for International Studies. She has developed and is co-teaching an MIT course on AI and propaganda with Professor Elizabeth Wood. 

Padalko is a research fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Canada. She completed a doctoral fellowship at the Digital Policy Hub at the Centre for International Governance Innovation and held a virtual residency at the Canadian Institute for Ukrainian Studies at the University of Alberta. Padalko also completed an internship at the European Parliament and a fellowship with the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence. Her research has been published in top-tier computer science and policy-oriented peer-reviewed journals.

FESTIVAL OF WORDS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Description Madli-Liis Parts is the Cultural Attaché of Estonia in the United States, based in NYC. She has built an international career connecting culture, diplomacy, media, and international cooperation. Before moving to the U.S., she worked at the Estonian Ministry of Culture as a Music Adviser and International Relations Adviser focusing on collaboration with the Baltic and Nordic countries as well as North America. Her background also includes work at Estonia’s leading business newspaper Äripäev, the Estonian Composers’ Union as producer of the festival Estonian Music Days, and contributing to European Capital of Culture Tallinn 2011.

Parts is a founding member of the Europe Jazz Media network and has initiated several international jazz projects in Estonia together with the Jazzkaar festival, including bringing the U.S.-originated Jazz Appreciation Month initiative to Estonia. She has also long contributed to Estonian Public Broadcasting.goes here

ACADEMIC BREAKFAST

Hon. Kristjan Prikk has served as Estonia’s Ambassador to the United States since May 2021, his third diplomatic posting to Washington, DC. Before assuming his current duties, Prikk served in roles such as the Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defense, Undersecretary for Defense Policy in the Ministry of Defense, and Director of National Security and the Defense Coordination Unit of the Estonian Government Office, responsible for the whole-of-government interagency approach to national defense in Estonia and advising the Prime Minister on these issues.

Before joining the Ministry of Defense, Mr. Prikk worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on NATO issues, mainly on its enlargement and its partnership with Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia in the Security Policy and Arms Control Bureau (2006-2007). Additionally, from 1992-2006 he has held diplomatic and specialist assignments covering trade and economic issues, both Washington, D.C. and in Tallinn.

Mr. Prikk holds a Master’s degree from the Strategic Studies Program of the United States Army War College (2013) and a Bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from the University of Tartu, Estonia (2000). In 2000-2001, Mr. Prikk performed his required military service in the Estonian Defense Forces, where he remains a reserve officer, and is also a member of Estonia’s voluntary defense organization Kaitseliit (Estonian Defense League).

SALAKÕRTS (SATURDAY)

The legendary Puus Bros Band has been a beloved part of the Estonian music scene since their first performance at the Salakõrts in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1980. Known for their energetic stage presence, distinctive style of classic rock ’n’ roll dance music, and enduring connection to the Estonian community, the band performs to enthusiastic crowds at gatherings across North America and Europe — including their recent appearance at the Uus Laine in Tallinn. Their live performances have become a treasured soundtrack to countless Estonian celebrations and memorable late-night Salakõrts gatherings enjoyed across generations.ription goes here

RAHVAPIDU | KIDS AND YOUTH PROGRAMS

Kristi Roosmaa on olnud laval alates viiendast eluaastast. Esinemine, loovus ja publikuga ühenduse loomine on olnud tema elu loomulik osa juba varasest lapsepõlvest ning lava on kujunenud tema teiseks koduks.

Ta omab magistrikraadi õigusteaduses Eestis, muusikateatri diplomit The American Musical and Dramatic Academy’st New Yorgis ning tantsusertifikaati Broadway Dance Centerist. Tema karjääri tipphetkede hulka kuulub esinemine koos Residente feat. Bad Bunny’ga saates “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon”, sooloesinemine Carnegie Hallis ning Grammy®-nominatsiooni kaalutud “Kalevala the Musical” kontseptalbumi produtseerimine.

Lisaks on tema töötanud Eesti Kultuuriministeeriumi kultuurireferendina New Yorgis, pälvides selle eest riiklike tunnustusi.

Tema kõige olulisem roll on olla ema oma pojale.

SONG AND DANCE EVENTS

Rotalia meeskoor on kasvanud välja korporatsioon Rotalia liikmete huvist tegeleda üheskoos muusikaga ning kanda edasi iidseid Eesti meestelaulu traditsioone. Rotalia meeskoor taasalustas tegevust 2015. aasta kevadel Tartus ning Tallinnas. Meeskoor jätkab Rotalias 1920-30ndatel aastatel tegutsenud koori ja ansambli traditsioone.

Meeskoori on dirigeerinud Lauri Breede Tartus ning hetkel juhatab Tallinnas Mariliis Kreintaal ning Tartus Roland Viilukas. Koormeistritena on tegutsenud Mirell Jakobson ning Sara Corriga.

Roland Viilukas on lõpetanud Heino Elleri nimelise muusikakooli Tartus ja Muusika- ja Teatriakadeemia Tallinnas orkestridirigeerimise alal. Roland on Tartu Akadeemilise Meeskoori peadirigent ning dirigeerib samuti segakoori Noorus. Sara Corriga ning Mirell Jakobson on mõlemad Muusika- ja Teatriakadeemia vilistlased.

Rotalia meeskoori repertuaar on mitmekesine ja koosneb enamasti tuntud koorilauludest, mille hulka kuuluvad näiteks Ärkamisaeg ja Ta lendab mesipuu poole. Lisaks klassikale laulame ka estraadi ning mitmeid meeleolukaid või isegi vallatuid interpreteeringuid, mis sobivad hästi akadeemilisse ja üliõpilastausta, näiteks: Kui õhtu akna taga; Kuldne õhtupäike jt. Aasta 2026. kevadel tähistab meeskoor taasasutamise aastapäeva kontsertidega Tartus ja Tallinnas ning kontsertreisiga Ameerika Ühendriikidesse, Lääneranniku Eestlaste Päevadele. Meeskoori kava on uudne, kolmeosaline, pakkudes nii paraja annuse klassikat, aga ka estraadi ning andes kuulajatele võimaluse kaasa laulda. 

RAHVAPIDU | JUMALATEENISTUS

Ove Sander ordineeriti aseõpetajaks 16. jaanuaril 1991 ja pälvis õpetaja õigused 2. detsembril 1994. Ta valiti piiskopiks EELK XXXI Kirikukogu 5. istungjärgul 28. novembril 2023 ning pühitseti piiskopiks 23. aprillil 2024 Tallinna Toomkirikus.

Vaimulikuna on Ove Sander teeninud Vastseliina (1991–1998) ja Nõmme Rahu kogudusi (1999–2024). Korduvalt on teda valitud kirikukogu liikmeks ning konsistooriumi assessoriks.

1998. aastast on Ove Sander olnud mitmes rollis nii õppejõu kui juhina EELK Usuteaduse Instituudis, 1998 – 2012 pastoraalseminari juhataja. Ta on olnud vaimulike konverentsi juhatuse, Tallinna Diakooniahaigla nõukogu ning Vabariigi Valitsuse ja EELK ühiskomisjoni liige.

Keerulistel 2020. – 2022. aastatel oli Ove Sander haiglate ja hoolekandeasutuste peakaplan sotsiaalministeeriumis ja osales 2020 – 2022 sotsiaalministeeriumi kriisireguleerimis meeskonna igapäevases töös.

RAHVAPIDU

Liina Teose was born in Portland, Oregon. At two years of age, she made her debut as a folk dancer in Tulehoidjad (‘Torch Bearers’), the Portland Estonian folk dance troupe led by her mother. Her mother Lehti Merilo was born in Estonia and fled in 1944. Lehti learned Estonian folk dances in the displaced persons camps in Germany, where she lived for five years before migrating to the US.

Liina became the leader of Tulehoidjad in 1985 and has continued as its director for 40 years. The troupe, founded in 1950, has performed at all of the West Coast Estonian Days, many world-wide ESTO festivals, many Tantsupidus in Estonia, as well as countless local and regional festivals. It is truly bearing the torch of Estonian dance, culture, and traditions.

In 1999, in Tallinn City Hall, she was awarded the Ullo Toomi Award for her work. This award is given by the Estonian Folk Dance and Folk Music Association each year to the most outstanding Estonian folk dance director of the year. Liina is the only folk dance director living and teaching outside of Estonia to receive this award.

She has also received the Foreign Minister’s Certificate of Recognition for her long-term commitment to promoting Estonian culture, as well as teaching and introducing Estonian folk dance in the USA, and alongside her mother the 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award by the Estonian American National Council in recognition for her work in promoting and preserving Estonian folk dance and music. Through folk dancing and music, Liina and her mother have been instrumental in keeping Estonian culture alive in the United States, Canada, and other locations outside of Estonia.

RESILIENCE FORUM

Dmitri Teperik is a strategic leader with more than 15 years of senior experience at the intersection of societal resilience, cognitive security, and strategic communications. He is Co-founder and Director-General of the National Centre for Defence and Security Awareness (NCDSA) in Estonia, and Co-founder and Director-General of Resilient Ukraine / Стійка Україна.

His research focuses on the socio-psychological drivers of resilience and cohesion, cognitive security and narrative literacy, resilience to foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), and the behavioural consequences of hostile influence operations. His work examines how societies, institutions, and individuals can build the awareness and structural defences needed to maintain information integrity under conditions of accelerating cognitive threat.

From 2016 to 2023, Dmitri served as Chief Executive and Programme Director of the International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS). In 2016, he co-founded the Resilience League international training and cooperation platform, designed to equip young professionals and practitioners with tools for cognitive resilience against hostile influence, societal polarisation, and radicalisation. Since 2023, he has served as an international policy expert on civil security and stability for the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine and as a Visiting Research Scholar at Sandia National Laboratories (USA), with a focus on research security and knowledge protection.

He is a member of the ResWell Multinational Resilience and Wellbeing Research Collaboration, the Crimea Platform Expert Network, and the Special Advisory Board of the EU-funded SYNERGIES project. He has authored over 80 publications on disinformation, cognitive security, strategic communications, and societal resilience.

Dmitri Teperik holds an M.Sc. from the University of Tartu, Estonia.

RESILIENCE FORUM

Andrew Thompson is a Silicon Valley based Chief Executive, entrepreneur and investor with a 30-year track record of successful technology-based innovation.  As a Founder and Chief-Executive he has raised over $750M in private, public and corporate capital for first-in-category companies and personally negotiated M&A transactions with Fortune 50 enterprises and led a successful NASDAQ IPO.

He is currently:

• Trustee of the Kistler Ritso Foundation

• Vabamu Supervisory Council Member

• Founding Mentor of the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) Estonia

• CEO of the Estonian Multiomics Company

• Managing Director of Spring Ridge Ventures

• Advisor to CEOs of technology enabled venture backed companies

• Board Member of Stanford University Libraries

• Co-Founder and Board Member of Summit Schools

He holds masters’ degrees in Engineering (Cambridge), Education (Stanford) and Business (Stanford GSB) and is a named inventor on over 50 issued patents.  

RESILIENCE FORUM

Sylvia K. Thompson is President of the Kistler Ritso Foundation and the Chairs the board of VABAMU, non-profit foundations focused on promoting and protecting freedom in Estonia and around the world.

The foundations built, support and oversees VABAMU (Freedom Museum) and the KGB Cells Museum in Tallin.   These platforms educate the public about the occupations of Estonia by Soviet Russia and the Nazis; the fierce resistance of citizens; and incredible recovery of the republic of Estonia in new period of freedom beginning in 1992.  

VABAMU also runs NoVa, a platform promoting civic engagement for youth in Estonia.  They also collaborate with Stanford University Libraries providing internships for Stanford students in Estonia; research fellowships for Estonian academics at Stanford; sponsors the Estonia-based Nordic hub of CDL (Creative Destruction Lab) a startup accelerator, further connecting the Estonian economy and tech eco system with the West.

Sylvia raised five children. She served as an officer of the Portola Valley Schools Foundation for over a decade, in addition to service in other educational, community and athletic organizations and currently volunteers at Kennedy Middle School. She is currently studying Estonian language.

In her professional career Sylvia held positions at Ungermann-Bass and The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).  She received her BS in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University, graduating first in her class, and an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

RAHVAPIDU | ESTONIAN POP-UP CONCERT @ UNION SQUARE

Hains Tooming on Eesti viiuldaja, kelle loominguline maailmapilt on kujunenud elust eri kultuurides ja riikides. Aastad Iirimaal, Tšiilis ning praegu San Franciscos on avardanud tema muusikalist mõtlemist ja süvendanud arusaama sellest, kuidas muusikat tajutakse, õpitakse ja esitatakse erinevates traditsioonides ning kogukondades.Ta on tegutsenud nii solisti, kammermuusiku, orkestrandi kui ka õpetajana ning põhjalikumalt töötanud muusikute heaolu edendamisega. Viimastel aastatel on temas süvenenud huvi viiuli kui saatepilli võimaluste vastu. Üha enam otsib ta viise kuidas ühendada häält ja viiulit, kasutades neid vaheldumisi nii saate- kui ka meloodiakandjana ning avastades nende koosmõjus uusi väljendusvõimalusi. 

FESTIVAL OF WORDS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION | FREE WINDS EXHIBIT

Lisa Trei is a graduate student at Tallinn University and a consultant at Vabamu Museum. In the 1990s, she was a reporter based in Tallinn for U.S. newspapers and covered the breakup of the Soviet Union. In 2023, she returned to Estonia after retiring from a long career in communications at Stanford University. She sings in Kalamaja Segakoor, Estonia's largest mixed choir, and is learning how to weave. Photo: Kadri Paju.

BALTIC STARTUPS IN THE AGE OF AGENTIC AI | RESILIENCE FORUM

Kadri Tuisk is an Estonian tech-entrepreneur who founded Clanbeat and Wundamental AI. Named Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2021, her mission is unlocking human potential with the help of technology. She co-founded EdTech Estonia with the goal of making Estonia the global leader in educational technology. Tuisk also serves on the advisory board of Science and Research funding to the Minister of Economy and Industry in Estonia, to fuel the next impactful science-based innovations. 

OPENING CEREMONY AND RECEPTION | GALA CONCERT AND DINNER

Description goes hereInternational DJ Kiino Villand has been rockin’ lounges and setting dance floors ablaze for decades. Having started out photographing scores of legendary DJs for magazines and music labels, Kiino stepped up to the turntables during the halcyon days of ‘90s Venice Beach. Since then he’s kept the vibe alive at scores of high profile and low profile occasions throughout southern California as well as sometimes raucous Estonian events in Los Angeles, Lakewood, Seattle and San Francisco. He’s also been a guest DJ on Tallinn raadio station iDA Raadio. Currently based in Dublin, Ireland, Kiino returns to rock the house for Lääneranniku Eesti Päevad 2026 San Francisco, one of his favorite former home towns from back in the day.

RESILIENCE FORUM

Ivo Visak is the CEO of the AI Leap Foundation (TI-Hüpe) and the former principal of Saaremaa Upper Secondary School. He leads Estonia’s national initiative to integrate AI-based learning tools into secondary and vocational education, focusing on responsible, human-centred adoption of new technologies. His background spans teaching, design-agency production, and leadership of the Estonian National Youth Council. Visak has been recognised as Estonia’s Youth Worker of the Year (2017) and Saaremaa’s Educational Institution Leader of the Year (2022).

FESTIVAL OF WORDS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Parker Watt is the Baltic Studies Program Support Librarian at Stanford Libraries, where his responsibility is to assist with programming, event planning, and partnership development related to Baltic Studies. Parker recently completed a U.S. Fulbright research project in Estonia, which combined his previous work in the film industry with his academic interests in international relations. He created the documentary short film series “Resilient Expression: Ukrainian Artists in Estonia,” which examines how Ukrainians are using their work to heal, maintain national identity, and integrate into their new home. While in Estonia, Parker was affiliated with the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies at the University of Tartu, where he continued to write and speak on developments in the Baltic region and the United States. Prior to the Fulbright, he received his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a minor in Slavic Languages and Literature from Stanford University. He has also served as an Assistant to the Director on two independent professional film sets, a Production Assistant on the Netflix series Pieces of Her.