Dr. Ingo Bastisch

Director of Science and Technology - The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP)

Dr. Ingo Bastisch has a background in forensic genetics and worked as reporting officer from 1999 – 2024 at the BKA in Germany, the last 15 years as director of the laboratory. I am currently on special leave, working at ICMP, overseeing the forensic area that includes archeology, anthropology and DNA also with relation to DVI.

His involvement with DVI started 2005 in the Thai Tsunami Victim Identification process in Thailand where I served several roles including the coordination of scientific processes. Since then, I have been actively involved in various DVI incidents, including Germanwings airplane crash, flooding in Germany, Haiti earthquake.

On an international level, he was involved in many working groups and projects including editing parts of the Interpol DVI guidelines.

Dr. Stavroulla Xenophontos

Director of the Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics

Dr. Stavroulla Xenophontos received her BSc and PhD from University College London of the University of London, UK and is the Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Genetics and the Director of the Laboratory of Forensic Genetics. In 1994, she joined the CING as a postdoctoral scientist in Molecular Genetics Department, where she participated in the cloning of the second gene for Polycystic kidney disease.

In 1997 she joined the Department of Cardiovascular Genetics and the Laboratory of Forensic Genetics where she contributed to the diagnostic and forensic services, the missing persons programme including reconciliation meetings, acted as a liaison between the CING and the Committee on Missing Persons and coordinated the implementation of the laboratory’s ISO 17025 quality assurance programme.

Further to these responsibilities, Dr. Xenophontos, has been involved in the research and academic activities of her team and provides expert testimony in courts of law of the Republic of Cyprus and the British Sovereign Bases as a DNA expert. She is also an active member of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) Expert DNA Working Group and the Cyprus National Bioethics Committee.

Dr. Nino Kochiashvili

Head of the Forensic Biology (DNA) Department, National Forensics Bureau of Georgia

Nino Kochiashvili, MD, PhD currently occupies position of the Head of Forensic Biology (DNA) Department at the National Forensics Bureau of Georgia.

Dr. Kochiashvili graduated from Tbilisi state Medical University with the degree in Medicine. She worked as a researcher in Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory at Pavia University (Italy). She received her second PhD degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics at Pavia University (Italy). Before joining Forensic society, she worked as medical doctor and later she was an Adviser of Medical Department at Ministry of Justice of Georgia.

She has 24 year of experience in Forensic and Medical Genetics. Dr. Kochiashvili is one of the pioneers developing molecular genetic tools for HID and human hereditary disease research in Georgia. For several years she was an invited Professor at Tbilisi State Medical University at Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics. Dr. Kochiashvili is an Autor and co-Autor of books and manuals in Forensics published in Georgian and several international research publications in Medical Genetics.

Mr. Tamás Csesztregi

Head of the Drug Investigation Department, Hungarian Institute for Forensic Sciences

Tamás Csesztregi works as a forensic chemist since 1997, he is the head of Drug Investigation Department in Hungarian Institute for Forensic Sciences.

He was responsible for the infrared spectral library of the ‘European project RESPONSE’ and now he is member of the Database Subcommittee of the European Network of Forensic Sciences Institutes Drugs Working Group (ENFSI DWG). He is the co-author of ‘Guidelines on Sampling of Illicit Drugs for Quantitative Analysis’, and responsible for the Proficiency Test of ENFSI DWG. In 2025, he became a member of the International Panel of Forensic Experts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

His main areas of interest are proficiency testing, quality assurance of structure elucidation, analytical schemes for designer drug analysis, laboratory data management including spectral library building. His current research topic is the transfer of gas chromatographic retention data between various instruments and laboratories.

Mr. Tamás Csesztregi

General Manager, ThermoFisher Exclusive Dealer (Redoks A.S.)

He started his career in 1998 in Turkey as a business development specialist responsible for Thermo Finnigan Mass Spectrometers. In 2000 he initiated a program to create a recognition of Mass Spectrometers and their contributions on improving laboratory performances by opening new dimensions in their data sets.

During this program he gave presentations and lectures about Mass Spec. Technology and applications in all type of private and government labs. as well as the universities. He has been working in the ThermoFisher Exclusive Dealer (Redoks A.S.) which is responsible for 5 countries including Turkey since 2014. He is currently in general manager position in Redoks A.S. since 2021. He is a chemical engineer with MSc degree.

Dr. Kim A. Collins

MD - Forensic Pathologist, National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), International Relations Committee, Chair

Dr. Kim A. Collins is a Forensic Pathologist, board certified in Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Pathology, and Forensic Pathology. She currently practices with Newberry Pathology Group in Newberry, SC where she performs postmortem investigations, examinations, and autopsies. Dr. Collins has performed over 4500 autopsies all with microscopic examinations and interpretation of ancillary studies as well as conducted death scene investigations. She has been qualified as an expert in forensic pathology hundreds of times in state, federal, and military courts. She has presented research at numerous national and international meetings and has published in excess of 250 peer-reviewed manuscripts, book chapters, and texts.

On a state and national level, Dr. Collins has served as Chair of the College of American Pathologists Autopsy Committee, President of the South Carolina Society of Pathologists, Chair of the Pathology Biology section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, President of The National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), and Chair of the NAME Board of Directors. She is currently Chair of the NAME Foundation, Chair of the NAME Past Presidents Committee, and Chair of the NAME International Relations Committee. Her interests and areas of publication and research include pediatric forensics, geriatric forensics, and international relations between all forensic pathologists and forensic scientists throughout the world.

Mr. George “Ed” Lawson

Program Manager - Chemical, Biological Assessment and Risk Reduction (CBARR)

Mr. Lawson serves as a Program Manager. He conducts analysis of Chemical Biological Center (CBC) and CBARR missions and functions to identify the development of capabilities that are essential to meeting the concept required capabilities of the Joint Force, Interagency Partners and Allies. He conducts strategic analysis to determine best practices in accomplishing missions and functions while ensuring missions, functions, programs and projects are consistent with guiding National, DoD, Joint and Army principles as described in the NDS, National Military Strategy. He provides operational and technical direction to the entire CBARR portfolio, functions, and guides external engagement.

Mr. Lawson coordinates with civilian and military multi- disciplinary teams whose mission is to protect the U.S. Joint Forces and nation from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats by generating affordable and state-of-the-art capabilities.

Mr. Alexander Fehrmann

AMPED Software

Alexander joined Amped Software in June 2024 as a Trainer and Technical Support Specialist. His career in forensic investigations began with the Forensic Commissariat of the Salzgitter Police Inspectorate (Germany), where he conducted crime scene investigations and document examinations. He completed his formal forensic training for crime scene investigations in 2017.

In August 2021, Alexander advanced to the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office, specializing in forensic photography, multispectral and hyperspectral imaging, 3D imaging, and video forensics. During this time, he also contributed to expert groups establishing quality standards in forensic photography. As lead trainer at the Lower Saxony Police Academy, he planned and delivered workshops on advanced forensic techniques.

Ms. Bryanna M. Toussaint

Police Support Services Manager, Police Department, City of Escondido, California, USA

Bryanna Toussaint is a Police Support Services Manager with the Escondido Police Department, bringing nearly two decades of experience in forensic services, evidence management, and police records administration. She currently oversees the Forensic Services Unit, Property and Evidence Division, Media and Public Records Division and Records Division, with a strong focus on operational excellence, compliance, and staff development.

Bryanna holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and is an International Association for Identification–certified (IAI) Latent Print Examiner, with extensive experience providing expert testimony, managing accredited forensic programs, and teaching forensic science at the collegiate level.

Ms. Cassaundra Barnes

Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC), Houston, Texas, USA

Cassaundra Barnes is a Supervisor in the Latent Print Section at the Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC) in Houston, Texas. She began her career in latent print examination in 2010 with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and later served with the Escondido Police Department until 2017.

Ms. Barnes joined HFSC in 2017, where she currently supervises forensic latent print operations and personnel. She is a Certified Latent Print Examiner through the International Association for Identification (IAI) and has extensive experience in forensic casework, quality practices, and laboratory operations. Her professional background spans over a decade of service across multiple forensic laboratories.

Mr. Vitālijs Freidenfelds

State Forensic Science Bureau of the Republic of Latvia

Vitālijs Freidenfelds is a forensic document examiner with professional experience since 2006. He currently heads the Document Examination Department at the State Forensic Science Bureau of Latvia. The Department’s work covers technical and chemical examinations of documents, handwriting examination, and forensic information technology examinations. Since 2010, he has been actively involved in the European Document Experts Working Group (EDEWG) of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI), and since 2014 he has served on the EDEWG Steering Committee.

His primary research interests include determining the age of documents and their entries, as well as the application of instrumental and digital analytical methods in document examination, including liquid chromatography, Raman spectroscopy and digital imaging.

Mr. Angelo Traina

Field Application Scientist, ThermoFisher Scientific

Angelo Traina is a Field Application Scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, specializing in vibrational spectroscopy, including Raman, FTIR, and NIR, with expertise in multivariate data analysis. He holds a degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Rome “La Sapienza” and has a strong background in polymeric materials, microfluidics, and material characterization using Infrared, Raman, and UV-Vis spectroscopy.

His work focuses on translating spectroscopic techniques into practical solutions for real-world challenges through chemometric approaches for classification and quantification, including applications in forensic science, material characterization, and the pharmaceutical field.

Mr. Francesco Cavalli

Founder of the Sensity AI

Francesco Cavalli is the Founder of Sensity AI, a company specializing in multimodal forensic intelligence and deepfake detection technologies. He works closely with law enforcement agencies, defense organizations, intelligence units, prosecutors, and enterprise clients worldwide to support investigations involving AI-generated media, fraud, disinformation, and digital threats.

Over the years, Francesco and his team have uncovered and analyzed several large-scale AI-enabled threat campaigns, contributing to industry research, forensic investigations, and international discussions around the malicious use of generative AI. He regularly publishes industry reports and speaks at global conferences about deepfakes, AI-powered fraud, and the future of digital trust and forensic intelligence.

Mr. Christian Schäfers

Regional Manager – Public Safety & Forensics EMEA at FARO Technologies

Christian Schäfers is the Regional Manager – Public Safety & Forensics EMEA at FARO Technologies, with over 20 years of experience in terrestrial and hand-held laser scanning. He has held roles in sales, business development, and channel management across EMEA and Asia Pacific, driving strategic projects for public safety, military, and private security markets.

As a recognized speaker on the digital transformation of crime and collision scene investigation, Christian has presented at multiple ENFSI events and the recent EAFS Conference in Dublin. A true technology evangelist, he connects forensic working groups with industry-leading tools, enabling experts and crime scene officers worldwide to adopt innovative 3D documentation and analysis workflows.