Noa Catharina

Noa Catharina Speaking Topics

• The Infrastructure Behind AI: Building Technology That Serves Human and Planetary Needs

  The age of advanced computing demands a critical shift in focus: not on what AI can do, but on how it is fundamentally built and the values embedded in its foundation. As AI systems scale exponentially, the infrastructure supporting them consumes unprecedented energy and resources, yet this reality remains invisible to most decision makers.

  This talk reveals the hidden ecological and geopolitical costs of AI infrastructure and presents a framework for building high performance systems that don't compromise planetary responsibility. Drawing from real world data center deployments across Europe and the U.S., this session demonstrates how intentional design choices in cooling technologies, power efficiency, and infrastructure planning can transform environmental impact without sacrificing performance.

  Attendee Results:

  • Understand the true resource requirements of AI systems and their global implications
  • Learn practical strategies for sustainable infrastructure deployment
  • Discover how environmental responsibility can coexist with technical excellence
  • Gain frameworks for evaluating infrastructure decisions through accountability and sovereignty lenses
  • Explore the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and sustainability in the AI era

• Data Sovereignty and Digital Infrastructure: Who Controls the Foundation of AI?

  As nations and organizations race to adopt AI, a critical question emerges: who controls the infrastructure that powers these systems, and what does that mean for autonomy, security, and values?

  This presentation examines the geopolitical dimensions of AI infrastructure, exploring how data center location, ownership structures, and technical architecture choices determine who truly controls technological capabilities. From cybersecurity implications to energy dependency, the decisions we make about infrastructure today will shape institutional and national sovereignty for decades.

  Drawing from work with public and private sector partners across multiple markets, this talk provides actionable frameworks for organizations and governments navigating infrastructure planning, sustainable deployment, and data sovereignty concerns.

  Attendee Results:

  • Understand the geopolitical implications of infrastructure choices
  • Learn how to evaluate data sovereignty in AI system planning
  • Gain practical approaches to infrastructure security and resilience
  • Discover strategies for balancing performance with institutional control
  • Explore frameworks for responsible technology governance

• Translating Technical Reality Into Strategic Action: Infrastructure Planning for the AI Era

  The gap between engineering specifications and business strategy has never been wider, or more consequential. As organizations invest billions in AI capabilities, many lack the frameworks to translate complex technical requirements into strategic decisions that align with their values and objectives.

  This workshop-style presentation bridges the technical-strategic divide, providing leaders and policymakers with practical tools to navigate infrastructure planning without becoming technical experts. Learn how to ask the right questions about computing architectures, evaluate sustainable deployment options, and set meaningful standards for responsible infrastructure.

  Through real world case studies from data center acquisitions and high-performance system deployments, participants gain clarity on the critical decisions that determine whether technology investments serve their intended goals or create unintended dependencies and costs.

  Attendee Results:

  • Learn to translate technical jargon into strategic frameworks
  • Develop questions that reveal true infrastructure capabilities and limitations
  • Understand energy-efficient architecture without becoming an engineer
  • Gain tools for evaluating vendor claims and infrastructure proposals
  • Create accountability structures for technology investments aligned with institutional values

• Beyond Green Marketing: The Real Economics of Sustainable AI Infrastructure

  Sustainability has become a buzzword in tech, with every company claiming "green" credentials while AI's energy consumption continues to skyrocket. But what does sustainable infrastructure actually mean when you're deploying systems that require megawatts of power and sophisticated cooling?

  This talk cuts through the greenwashing to reveal the economic and technical realities of building sustainable AI infrastructure. Drawing from actual data center retrofits and deployments, discover why sustainable design isn't just an ethical choice, it's increasingly a competitive and financial advantage. Learn how energy-efficient architectures, innovative cooling technologies, and strategic site selection can reduce operational costs while meeting environmental commitments.

  For executives, investors, and infrastructure planners, this session provides clear frameworks for evaluating sustainability claims, understanding the true cost-benefit analysis of green infrastructure, and making decisions that serve both bottom lines and planetary responsibility.

  Attendee Results:

  • Distinguish genuine sustainability from marketing claims in infrastructure
  • Understand the economics of energy-efficient data center operations
  • Learn practical metrics for evaluating infrastructure environmental impact
  • Discover how sustainable design choices affect operational costs and performance
  • Gain frameworks for setting meaningful sustainability standards in technology investments

• Modular Infrastructure: Flexibility and Speed in AI Deployment Without Compromising Performance

  Traditional data center development requires years of planning and construction, but AI deployment timelines are measured in months. Modular infrastructure offers a compelling alternative, but only when designed and deployed correctly. The difference between successful modular deployment and expensive failures lies in understanding what modularity can and cannot deliver.

  This presentation explores the strategic advantages and practical limitations of modular data center solutions for AI workloads. Learn when modular approaches accelerate deployment without sacrificing reliability, how to integrate modular units with existing infrastructure, and which cooling and power configurations actually work at scale. Drawing from real deployments across multiple markets, discover how organizations are using modular infrastructure to achieve deployment flexibility while maintaining the performance and efficiency required for high density computing.

  For infrastructure planners, CTOs, and investment decision-makers, this session provides clear frameworks for evaluating modular solutions against traditional builds and understanding the total cost of ownership beyond initial deployment speed.

  Attendee Results:

  • Understand when modular infrastructure makes strategic sense for AI deployments
  • Learn the technical requirements for successful modular integration
  • Discover how to evaluate modular vendors and solution claims
  • Gain insights into cooling and power considerations for modular high-density computing
  • Explore case studies comparing modular deployment timelines and costs with traditional builds