Balu Karthikeyan, PhD, is a seasoned techno-functional expert with over 18 years of experience in data infrastructure and operational intelligence. He specializes in AVEVA/OSIsoft PI System data infrastructure, enabling operational and business intelligence integration. Balu has a proven track record in project and program management, delivering commercial software and solutions across various industries, including DERs, automotive, power & utilities, renewable energy, oil & gas, and pharmaceuticals. He has led high-impact projects, such as integrating data from disparate utility systems, saving significant operational costs, and developing cloud platforms for electric vehicles and energy storage assets. Balu is skilled in AI, ML, IoT, and cloud computing, with expertise in Microsoft Azure, GCP, AWS, and various data integration protocols. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University. Balu thrives in leading conversations at a C-suite level.