Corneliu Barbulescu | AI for IT Operations | AI Breakthrough Award

Mr. Corneliu Barbulescu | AI for IT Operations | AI Breakthrough Award

Executive Architect at IBM, Romania

Corneliu Nicolae Barbulescu is a distinguished architecture leader with over two decades of experience in transforming organizations through innovative IT strategies and enterprise-level architecture. With deep technical expertise and strategic foresight, he has consistently delivered complex IT systems across diverse industries and geographies. Recognized for his leadership at IBM, where he serves as Lead Enterprise Architect and Cloud & DevSecOps Competency Center Leader, Barbulescu is known for his contributions to cloud architecture, application modernization, and enterprise digital transformation. His work spans Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, bringing cutting-edge technologies like AI, RPA, and cloud-native applications into critical government and enterprise projects.

Profile

Orcid

Education

Corneliu holds a Master of Science degree in Software Project Management (2002) and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science for Economics (1997), both from the Academy of Economic Studies, Faculty of Cybernetics, Romania. His academic foundation in economics and software engineering positioned him to bridge business goals with technological execution effectively. Complementing his formal education, Barbulescu has acquired several prestigious certifications, including TOGAF 8, Azure Cloud Certification, and IBM’s Architect Profession Certification – Level 3 Thought Leader. His status as an IBM Senior Inventor and member of the IBM Academy of Technology demonstrates his ongoing commitment to professional development and innovation leadership.

Experience

Barbulescu’s professional journey spans from software development to enterprise architecture leadership. He began his career in Romania at Totalsoft, advancing from developer to software architect and contributing to the creation of a renowned ERP product. At IBM, he has held multiple influential roles, including Executive Architect in the Europe Cloud Tiger Team and CEE Cloud CTO. His expertise has shaped critical digital transformation programs for clients such as the European Commission, Skoda, and major telecommunications and insurance companies. His strategic leadership in programs like Project ‘Accelerate’ and the “Move to Cloud” initiative for EU agencies showcases his ability to navigate complex multicloud environments and guide enterprise-wide changes.

Research Interest

Corneliu’s research interests align with enterprise architecture evolution, cloud-native transformations, DevSecOps integration, and the application of artificial intelligence in IT operations. He is particularly focused on enabling operational efficiency through automation and intelligent tooling, and has recently contributed to AI pilot projects designed to enhance root cause analysis and incident resolution in IT support environments. His innovation-driven mindset is evident in his patent contributions and his leadership roles in IBM’s invention development teams, especially within cloud and robotic process automation domains.

Award

Throughout his career, Corneliu has received numerous accolades recognizing his technical excellence and service contributions. He has been honored with seven Outstanding Service Awards by IBM, reflecting his role in strategic client engagements and internal technology advancement. His appointments as a Blue Core Mentor and Technical Delivery Assessor further affirm his influence within IBM’s technical community. Notably, he is a co-founder of the Technical Expert Council Romania and an active contributor to the Association of Open Group Enterprise Architects (AOGEA).

Publication

Corneliu Nicolae Barbulescu has authored several impactful publications that highlight his technical insights and enterprise architecture expertise. Notable publications include:

  1. “Education, Research and Business Technologies” – Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Informatics in Economy (IE 2022), 2022 – cited by several works in digital transformation studies.

  2. “Move to Cloud of Enterprise Applications: large EU organisation case study”, 2022 – published in a leading digital transformation journal, this case study is frequently cited in cloud migration literature.

  3. “Digital Enterprise Reference Architecture for Financial Institutions”, 2021 – published in the Journal of Enterprise Architecture, cited for its innovative framework.

  4. “A Comparative Analysis of Cloud Transformation Patterns”, 2020 – published in Cloud Computing Advances, referenced in both academic and professional forums.

  5. “DevSecOps Toolchains for Hybrid Environments”, 2020 – presented at the European Cloud Conference, noted for practical deployment insights.

  6. “ERP Cloudification and SaaS Design Principles”, 2019 – published in the International Journal of Software Engineering, cited in ERP transformation research.

  7. “Containerization Strategies for Regulated Sectors”, 2018 – published in Cloud Security Review, relevant for compliance-focused industries.

Conclusion

Corneliu Nicolae Barbulescu exemplifies technical leadership in the field of enterprise IT architecture. His work at IBM and with multiple high-profile clients demonstrates a unique ability to transform legacy systems into agile, scalable cloud-native solutions. With an academic background that blends economics and computer science, and a professional path marked by international influence, strategic foresight, and technical excellence, Barbulescu continues to be a pioneering force in IT architecture and transformation. His contributions to research, innovation, and practical enterprise solutions underscore a career built on vision, rigor, and real-world impact.

Ishini Saparamadu | Construction AI | Young Innovator Award

Ms. Ishini Saparamadu | Construction AI | Young Innovator Award

CEO at Concolabs, Sri Lanka

P V Ishini Nimasha Saparamadu is a dynamic and innovative researcher and enterprise AI solutions engineer specializing in digital transformation for the construction industry. She is currently affiliated with the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, and Intelligent Label Solutions. Her work stands at the intersection of artificial intelligence, natural language processing (NLP), and construction law, contributing significantly to the advancement of smart construction technologies. As the founder of Concolabs (Pvt) Ltd, she has conceptualized and delivered pioneering digital tools such as Roboclause and MeasureonAir, aimed at enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of contract interpretation and project management processes. Her academic achievements, professional innovations, and research initiatives underscore her commitment to driving AI-powered change in traditionally rigid industry sectors.

Profile

Google Scholar

Education

Ishini graduated from the University of Moratuwa with a degree in Quantity Surveying, earning an exceptional GPA of 4.02 out of 4.2, placing her among the top-performing students of her cohort. Her academic journey was marked by a strong focus on integrating digital technologies into conventional construction practices. Her undergraduate research reflected a deep curiosity for NLP and its practical applications in contract analysis, setting a strong foundation for her research career. As a student, she received multiple scholarships and accolades recognizing both her scholastic excellence and potential for innovation in the construction domain.

Experience

Professionally, Ishini has gained diverse experience in both academic and industry-focused environments. As a research assistant at the University of Moratuwa, she has led and collaborated on multiple AI-powered construction tech projects. Concurrently, she serves as an Enterprise AI Solutions Engineer at Intelligent Label Solutions, where she transforms research prototypes into real-world enterprise applications. Her key projects include cost estimation automation, ERP development, BIM model integrations, and AI-driven regulatory tools. As the founder of Concolabs, she has demonstrated her entrepreneurial acumen by designing and developing practical tools like Roboclause and MeasureonAir, used widely for contract interpretation and automated interim payment processing.

Research Interest

Ishini’s research interests lie primarily in the areas of artificial intelligence in construction, contract interpretation using natural language processing, automation of construction law practices, BIM model manipulation via AI, and the overall digital transformation of project management. She is particularly drawn to the development of affordance-led NLP frameworks, vector database-powered AI chatbots, and compliance-focused document systems. Her work explores the convergence of legaltech, construction informatics, and intelligent systems to streamline traditionally manual and error-prone processes. Through her ongoing studies, she continues to push boundaries by evaluating the efficiency of LLMs in real-time construction administration contexts.

Award

Over her academic and early professional career, Ishini has received numerous prestigious recognitions for her outstanding contributions. She was the recipient of the Robin Jones Award and the Vidyajyothi Award for the Most Outstanding Graduate, honoring her academic excellence and innovative outlook. Her undergraduate research earned the Best Undergraduate Research and Best Paper Award at the World Construction Symposium, signifying her ability to translate complex concepts into practical, impactful outcomes. Furthermore, she was recognized as a semi-finalist for the CIOB Scholarship, further validating her status as a rising star in construction research and AI innovation.

Publication

Ishini has published impactful research in top-tier indexed journals and conference proceedings. Her notable works include:

Saparamadu, P. V. I. N., & Perera, B. A. K. S. (2023). Roboclause: A Natural Language Processing-Based Chatbot for Standard Construction Contract Interpretation. Built Environment Project and Asset Management – Cited by 3 articles.

Saparamadu, P. V. I. N., et al. (2024). Compliance Management in Construction: An NLP-powered Approach for Bi-Directional Document Systems. Buildings (MDPI) – Cited by 2 articles.

Saparamadu, P. V. I. N. (2023). Affordance-led Framework for Construction Law Automation through AI. World Construction Symposium Proceedings – Cited by 4 articles.

These publications explore the fusion of contract law and AI technologies, offering practical models and frameworks applicable in real-world construction contexts. Her articles are increasingly being cited, demonstrating growing academic and professional interest in her research themes.

Conclusion

P V Ishini Nimasha Saparamadu stands at the forefront of AI transformation within the construction industry, blending her academic rigor with entrepreneurial execution. Her contributions span the development of intelligent systems for contract interpretation, legal compliance, and process automation in construction. She is an emerging thought leader whose innovations are not only academically validated but also pragmatically applied in industry. Through her publications, software tools, and collaborative efforts, she continues to redefine how AI can bridge gaps in construction law and project management. As she advances in her research and industry roles, Ishini remains committed to empowering the next generation of digital tools for construction through data, intelligence, and foresight.