Aruba Bank celebrates a century of progress, a future full of promise. This special, inspiring event
brings together thought leaders from NASA, Google, and the world of AI, alongside Aruba’s own
changemakers, for a one-day experience where innovation meets action.

Innovation in Action

Conference Agenda

8:30 – 9:00 Arrival & Welcome
- Guest check-in
- Coding for Kids workshop by Fullstack Vision Aruba begins
(ages 15-17). Sessions ongoing until 12:00 PM.

9:15 – 9:30 Opening Ceremony 
- Remarks by Nataly Simmons-Thompson - Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Aruba Bank N.V.and 
Rob de Ridder - Managing Director and Chairman of the Management Board Aruba Bank N.V.

9:30 – 10:00 Keynote 1: Jairzinno Henriquez
- Founder of the Google Developer Group (GDG) Netherlands. Flutter Netherlands co-organizer
Tech Without Borders: Engineering Innovation for Aruba’s Next Generation

10:00 – 10:30 Keynote 2: Haime Croeze - Data Architect ABN AMRO and Co-founder, Digital Natives of Aruba
- Speaker, Storyteller and Author
Small Island, Big Intelligence: 100 Years of AI and the Rise of a Digital Aruba

10:30 – 11:00 Panel Discussion: The Future of Technology in Aruba
Facilitator: Ryan Peterson - Division Manager for Economic Policy & Financial Stability at the Central Bank of Aruba
Panelists:
Crescenzia Biemans - Chief Corporate Officer and Managing Director of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
François Citroën - Integration Architect Aruba Bank N.V.
Geoffrey Wever - Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Primary Sector - Government of Aruba

11:00 – 11:30 Panel Discussion: Empowering the Next Generation
Panelists:
Sue-Ann Lee - Rector of the University of Aruba
Nigel Wix - Regional Manager of IT Innovation & Technology
Bruce Harms - Fullstack Vision Aruba, multifaceted technologist and digital-education advocate

11:30 – 12:00 Audience Q&A
Open dialogue with panelists and keynote speakers.

12:30 – 13:00 Keynote 3: Dr. Edward Cheung - Principal Engineer NASA
Build, Launch, Fly! The Trajectory of an Aruban Engineer at NASA

13:00 – 14:00 Networking Lunch
Connect with speakers, youth participants, and innovators over light bites.

Workshop Agenda

9:00 – 9:15 Welcome & Registration
9:15 - 9:30 Opening Remarks (Aruba Bank + Code Club Caribbean)
9:30 – 10:00 Intro to Code Club: Learn & Innovation Thinking
10:00 – 10:45 Micro: bit & MakeCode: Hands-On Activity
10:45 – 11:00 Break
11:00 – 11:45 Meet the Raspberry Pi: Coding with Purpose
11:45 – 12:15 Team Challenge: Code for the Environment
12:15 – 12:30 Wrap-Up & Certificates

Be Part of the Future

The Aruba Bank Innovation Conference is more than a celebration, it’s a commitment to inspire innovation, empower the next generation, and prepare for a digitally connected future. Together, we continue to build on a century of trust, service, and progress.