Menno Olgers is the Architect of Human-Centric Systems & Exceptional Teams, a speaker, and founder of Surply and 9+ Teams, ventures dedicated to measuring, building, and realizing high-performing teams through behavioral dynamics.

With nearly 25 years of global leadership experience, including 15 years in expatriate roles, Menno has developed The Surpass Principles, a unique methodology for sustainable team success centered on human-centric innovation and organizational culture.

As AI transforms the workplace, Menno focuses on how new behaviors and team dynamics must evolve to thrive alongside intelligent automation. He combines deep expertise in organizational systems with behavioral insights to help leaders redesign work environments where people are empowered—not controlled—and where human dignity remains central. Menno partners with a diverse range of organizations, including insurance firms, banks, and the energy sector, where the energy transition demands cultural shifts that transcend traditional approaches.

Menno’s work aligns closely with this panel’s critical exploration of trust, fairness, and transparency in AI-driven HR. He offers actionable perspectives on how teams can adapt to AI’s challenges, fostering collaboration and empowerment, to preserve the humanity at work’s core.

Paula Murphy has worked with the Gambling industry for over 9 years. As Head of Business Development at Mindway AI, she is focused on helping operators meet their legislative requirements and enhance player protection. Prior to joining Mindway AI, Paula was the Founder of specialised compliance and safer gambling information provider, KnowNow Ltd and Managing Director at Wilmington PLC’s legal division.

She has a vast industry network and a deep understanding of challenges faced by operators in this space. She is passionate about helping operators boost player protection through early detection and intervention. Paula was recently named Woman of the Year at the 2025 European Casino Awards. She also featured in Hipther’s list of the 50 best speakers of 2024 and 2025.

Dennis Conrad has 50 years of experience in the casino industry.  He believes his value to the industry stems from the various and unique perspectives he has had in it: Frontline employee, supervisor, property director, corporate Vice President, Institute creator, conference organizer, consulting company developer and owner, long-time columnist, industry observer, and of course, casino player.

Dennis has worked with casinos all over the world and has been a featured speaker at major gaming conferences in the United States, Canada, Australia, England, South Africa, Bulgaria, Peru, Puerto Rico, Denmark and Italy.  He is a graduate of Stanford University and has completed programs at Harrah’s Excellence in Management, University of Nevada-Reno’s Executive Development, Peter Senge’s Systems Thinking and the Disney Institute.

Dennis is widely known and recognized for his creativity, industry innovation and fierce devotion to the business and marketing principle of bringing more value to casino players, instead of less.  He has received the Casino Marketing Lifetime Achievement Award and three different Harrah’s Chairman’s awards (for Innovation, Outstanding Performance and Community Service).  He is the author of two books, Conrad on Casino Marketing, and Conrad’s Corners: Observations on Casinos, Marketing and Life.

While semi-retired, Dennis is still the Principal of Conrad on Casino Consulting and continues to look for select clients who truly care about being Customer and Employee focused and are willing to act on it.

Simon Thomas is founder, Executive Chairman and majority shareholder of Hippodrome Casino Limited, the landmark leisure and entertainment complex in Leicester Square.

As the West End’s leading entertainment venue, the Hippodrome spans 80,000 ft², employs more than 820 people, and attracts over 32,000 customers each week. It includes three casinos, 10 bars, two restaurants, a theatre hosting Magic Mike Live, a poker suite, outdoor terraces, private dining rooms, Paddy’s sportsbook (a UK first), a barber shop, and more.

He is chairman of the casino industry group within the UK’s Betting and Gaming Council and is a director of the European Casino Association.

Simon is a frequent speaker at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Reno’s Executive Development Programme and is a regular contributor at international gaming industry conferences. He is a member of the UNLV International Gaming Institute advisory board and a member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors EMEA steering committee.

In addition to his industry roles, Simon is actively involved in civic life. He is Chairman of the Westminster Police Independent Advisory Group, working closely with the Metropolitan Police to improve safety and public confidence and is a director of the Heart of London Business Alliance. He also served as a commissioner on the West End Commission and was a trustee of GamCare from 2007 to 2019. He is regularly quoted in the press and engages with local and national stakeholders on initiatives to enhance the West End of London.

A 30-year gaming industry veteran, Nick Hogan is Co-Founder & CEO of data science firm, ReelMetrics. Nick co-founded ReelMetrics with partners John Boushy & William Schoofs in 2014, and has grown the organization to become the world's leading aggregator of slot player, product & performance data.

Prior to ReelMetrics, Nick spent over a decade as Director & EVP Sales and Marketing at Gaming Support, a Rotterdam-based provider of yield enhancing slot peripherals and managed gaming services. Nick joined Gaming Support following 5 years with Mikohn Gaming, where he was responsible for the company's Systems portfolio globally.

A self-confessed power nerd & Big Data junkie, Nick is a frequent industry speaker, co-host of the ReelCast podcast, and a recognized industrial authority in the fields of slot analytics, yield optimization, and player behavior. 

CEO of Swiss Casinos since January 2024, leading Switzerland’s largest casino operator with four land-based casinos and the online casino swisscasinos.ch. He initiated the creation of Swiss Casinos Technology to develop and launch ReelLink, the company’s new solution that enables a true omni-channel player experience. Previously, he joined Stadtcasino Baden Group as CFO and drove innovation by launching Switzerland’s first legal online casino, jackpots.ch, and investing in the tech startup Gamanza to strengthen iGaming capabilities. Marcel’s leadership advanced data-driven strategies, loyalty programs and notable offerings such as Switzerland’s first regulated crash game. With 11 years at PwC and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Marcel is a seasoned leader in the gaming and entertainment industry.

Lucien Wijsman, besides being the organiser of COS, is a veteran Casino Operator, Adviser, Marketing Expert, and Edutainer with over 30 years of experience in operating casinos, advising casino operators, developing TQM systems for casinos, training casino management and government employees, and advising R&D departments of casino suppliers.

Lucien has had the privilege to work on almost every continent around the world. Over the years, he has been invited as a guest lecturer at renowned institutions such as the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), and the Sigmund Freud University in Vienna, Austria. He has also spoken at numerous international gaming exhibitions across Europe, the United States, Asia, and South America. 

At COS 2026, Lucien will address the future of Land-Based and Online Casinos in Europe. Compete or complement – that’s the question. Let’s bust a myth: online casinos are not the death sentence for land-based gaming. And no, they’re not stealing land-based players. In this end-note address, Lucien will call out the fear and flip the narrative. Land-based casinos are not outdated, they’re underleveraged. The immersive, social, and emotional power of a physical casino can’t be downloaded—and when marketed right, it doesn’t compete with online... it completes the experience. Lucien will also discuss how land-based casinos can offer valuable experiences for online players, giving online operators a competitive edge in the market.

Grant Stousland, Founder & CEO of Slot Check, is a gaming industry innovator revolutionizing slot transparency for players through his pioneering mobile app. Slot Check delivers real-time slot data (e.g., RTP, payout history, and performance metrics) directly from partnered casinos, empowering players with actionable insights and driving player engagement. A University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate with an MBA from Concordia University-Wisconsin, Grant was previously President & CEO of Gaming Informatics, where he brought  IRIS® to market, the first integrated regulatory information system, acquired by Kobetron/GLI in 2016. His 20+ years span technology, finance, education, and founding and scaling a national apparel manufacturing and distribution firm.

At this year’s Casino Operators Summit, Grant will present “Slot Transparency: Unlocking Player Loyalty Through Data Empowerment,” sharing proven strategies to boost retention and revenue in a data-driven gaming future.

George Tsonoulis is Head of Products & Partners (Land & Ship) at Paf – Games Sport Casino, where he leads commercial strategy, partnerships, and product development across 26 vessels and land-based venues. With 25 years in the gaming industry, Georg has held senior management roles in several European casinos, including Sunborn Gibraltar, Apollonia Casino Gevgelija, and Regency Casino Mont Parnes. His career has centered on shaping sustainable business models, transforming casino operations, and creating engaging player experiences both on land and at sea.

Josh joined H2 Gambling Capital in 2015 as a data analyst and has progressed to the role of COO following his instrumental advancement of the company’s data and regulatory services over the course of 10 years.

He has an academic and applied background in data analytics and drives the continuous development of H2’s intelligence resources. Josh oversees H2’s coverage of over 150 markets worldwide from both a data and regulatory perspective to deliver accurate, up to the minute intelligence on the global gambling market.

At COS, Josh will provide a detailed analysis of the past, present and future trends in the European land based and online casino industry from a data led perspective.

Harmen, a seasoned leader in the gaming industry with over 30 years of experience, is a serial entrepreneur and investor with a proven track record in technology development, manufacturing, and distribution. He has significantly impacted the gaming landscape across more than 75 countries, with a particular focus on emerging markets. Harmen is recognized for his innovative contributions to the industry, including pioneering concepts in jackpots, game design, and casino monitoring systems.

Currently, Harmen is the executive chairman at NYCE International, a publicly listed company on the Aquis Exchange, which represents over 40 leading gambling companies while actively developing strategic technical ventures. NYCE International goes beyond traditional representation by taking a stake in promising ventures, creating equity value alongside product representations. This unique approach leverages Harmen's deep industry knowledge and network to connect industry-leading companies with operators worldwide, fostering innovation and growth.

Throughout his career, Harmen has been instrumental in the success of over 25 companies in the technology, distribution, and operations sectors. He has collaborated with major industry players like IGT, Novomatic, Playboy Casino, and many others, solidifying his position as a key influencer in the gaming world. His efforts have led to improved industry practices, including assisting governments in optimizing gaming tax revenues and establishing effective regulatory frameworks.

Further demonstrating his commitment to industry advancement, Harmen founded the Gaming Incubator in 2007, investing in over 20 technology-focused companies. As the former Founding Chairman of the European Gaming Organization, he has shared his expertise by delivering over 100 keynotes at international gaming conferences. 

Riaan van Rooyen is a senior gambling, casino, and hospitality executive with more than three decades of international leadership experience across gaming operations, integrated resorts, and complex, multi-disciplinary hospitality environments in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

In a rapidly changing gaming world — shaped by accelerating technology, evolving consumer expectations, and structural shifts across the industry — Riaan’s work focuses on helping organisations navigate progress through cohesive product strategy and modern operating models. He recognises that technological advancement, market convergence, and competitive pressure are reshaping how gambling, casinos, and hospitality experiences must be designed and delivered. By integrating these realities with insight into human behaviour, motivation, and generational change, he brings new dimensions to experience design, service models, and operational strategy, supporting relevance and sustainability in increasingly complex markets.

Riaan is actively involved in regional development and advisory initiatives across Southeast Asia, contributing to competence, capability, and governance-focused programmes supporting the modernisation of gaming, integrated resort, and hospitality sectors. He regularly advises senior stakeholders and speaks internationally on relevance, experience-led transformation, and the strategic alignment of people, technology, and operations in regulated, experience-driven industries.

Tiina Siltanen is a senior executive in the European land-based casino industry, known for her ability to combine strong business performance with people-centered leadership. With more than 25 years of experience in the casino sector, she has built her career from customer service roles to executive leadership, gaining extensive operational and strategic expertise in casino operations in Finland and internationally.

She currently serves as Vice President, Casino at Veikkaus, Finland’s national gaming operator, where she leads Casino Helsinki and is responsible for the strategic and operational development of the land-based casino business. Leading a team of more than 100 professionals, she focuses on delivering sustainable business performance while fostering a strong culture of professionalism, responsible gaming, and employee engagement.

Siltanen also plays an active role in shaping the European casino industry through her position as Senior Vice Chair of the Board of the European Casino Association (ECA). The ECA represents the interests of the land-based casino sector across 29 countries, covering around 700 casinos and 70,000 employees.

She is an alumna of the Executive Development Program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), holds a BBA in Business Studies, and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Economics with a focus on Knowledge Management at LUT University in Finland. Her professional focus lies in advancing strategic leadership, strengthening the professionalism of casino operations, and promoting a responsible and sustainable future for the industry.

Erwin van Lambaart was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on June 22, 1963. He is an experienced leader in the global hospitality, entertainment, and gaming sectors. Starting his career in 1985, Erwin has held various management roles, such as General Manager and Deputy General Manager, up until 1995.

Between 1995 and 1998, he served as the Directeur Délégué (Deputy Director) for Economy Hotels in Holland and was the Sales and Marketing Manager for the Benelux region. During this period, he also accumulated significant international experience in the hotel industry with Accor Hotels.

Erwin's career continued to flourish from 1998 to 2011 as the CEO of Joop van den Ende Theater Productions, which is part of Endemol/Stage Entertainment Netherlands. He expanded his responsibilities by joining the Executive Board and becoming the Chief Content Officer of Stage Entertainment International from 2006 to 2012. 

In 2012, he became the CEO of Niehe Media BV, a Dutch media and entertainment company, a position he held until 2014. Then, from 2014 to 2016, he led Sail Event Partners CV and ACE Concepts & Events BV as their CEO. In 2016, Erwin took the helm as the CEO of Holland Casino NV, where he confirmed his expertise in the casino and gaming industry.

On March 14, 2022, Erwin relocated to Austria to join Casinos Austria AG and Österreichische Lotterien GmbH as a Director of the Board. Then, on April 1, 2022, he was appointed CEO of both entities. The European Casino Association (ECA) named Erwin as its Chairman on February 7, 2023.

Apart from his executive roles, Erwin is an active member of the supervisory boards of several organisations, including serving as the president of the Breda University of Applied Sciences, Sporthilfe Austria, and he has also been a member of the Dutch Arts Council for six years.

In recognition of his continuous contributions to numerous charitable organisations and his support for the arts, cultural, and talent institutions, Erwin was honoured with a knighthood in the Netherlands in 2016.