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Healthcare Technology Company Light AI Announces Advisory Board to Augment Board of Directors

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VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 6, 2025 /CNW/ – Light AI Inc. (formerly, Mojave Brands Inc.) (“Light AI” or the “Company”) (CBOE CA: ALGO) (FSE: OHCN), a global healthcare technology company focused on developing artificial intelligence health diagnostic and wellness applications, is proud to announce its Advisory Board. The Advisory Board has been designed to accelerate Light AI’s goal of becoming a leader in the global AI healthcare market and will provide oversight and strategic guidance, advise on go-to-market strategies, and collaborate closely with the Company’s leadership team and board of directors (the “Board”).

The distinguished members of Light AI’s Advisory Board include:

Yu Zhao

Yu Zhao is the President of Bridging Consulting LLC, a boutique regulatory firm supporting AI startups and medical device companies. With 16 years of leadership experience at Medtronic, including roles as Director and Interim VP of Regulatory Affairs, Mr. Zhao offers expert insights into navigating complex regulatory landscapes. Over the course of his career, Mr. Zhao and his teams have secured more than 150 U.S. FDA approvals and clearances, spanning PMAs, PMA supplements, IDEs, 510(k)s, and De Novos, for a wide range of devices—from implantable devices to deep learning algorithms.

Raymond Ng

Raymond Ng is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia and the Director of the Data Science Institute. Mr. Ng is a recognized authority in Machine Learning and Data Science, contributing invaluable expertise to the advisory committee. He has published over 250 refereed articles on diverse topics related to data science. He is the Canada Research Chair on data science and analytics, and an elected fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. For both 2022 and 2023, he was named one of the world’s top-75 academic data science leaders by the MIT-based CDO magazine.

David Talan

Dr. David A. Talan is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Infectious Diseases, and serves as Professor of Medicine in Residence (Emeritus) at UCLA and the University of Iowa. He has chaired the Olive View-UCLA Department of Emergency Medicine and is currently on the faculty at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center. Dr. Talan’s research focuses on acute infections, emergency department-based surveillance, and epidemiological research of emerging infections. He has numerous publications in prestigious journals, and his work has significantly influenced the management of infectious diseases.

David Bell

David Bell is a public health physician and expert in infectious disease diagnostics. Formerly leading malaria diagnostics coordination at the WHO, Programme Head of Malaria & Acute Febrile Disease at the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), and Director of Global Health Technologies at Intellectual Ventures Global Good Fund, he now consults in global health and biotech, driving impactful solutions in global health.

“We proudly welcome such experienced members to our Advisory Board,” says Peter Whitehead, CEO of Light AI. “These accomplished leaders bring a wealth of expertise that aligns with Light AI’s commitment to drive technology advancements through the healthcare sector and, together, we will accelerate Light AI’s success and deliver transformative solutions to support the future of healthcare, globally.”

The Company’s CEO, Peter Whitehead, holds over two decades of experience in healthcare innovation and is the inventor of the VELscope, a market-leading oral cancer and oral disease imaging tool. VELscope was patented in 2000 and has been used in over 50 million oral health examinations by more than 20,000 dental practitioners in 23 countries.

Board of Directors

The Company also has an experienced board of directors with extensive medical health care industry, global business and financial capital markets expertise:

Steven Semmelmayer (Chair)

Mr. Semmelmayer is a healthcare industry veteran with nearly four decades of experience under his belt. Mr. Semmelmayer has an impressive track record as the former CEO of Denmat Holdings, Discus Dental, Kerr Dental, and LED Medical Diagnostics. His leadership and strategic expertise have shaped numerous organizations, making him a respected figure in the healthcare sector.

Emmanuel Blin

Mr. Blin has a wealth of experience in strategic planning, digital innovation and social impact in healthcare. Mr. Blin is the CEO and Founder of TC4A (Tech Care for All), a global digital healthcare platform revolutionizing care delivery. Previously, Mr. Blin was the Chief Strategy Officer at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) where he managed commercial organizations across the globe in Europe, Asia, and the US for over twenty years. He has led the global launch and commercialization of several key brands, including ELIQUIS, OPDIVO, ORENCIA, HIV, and HCV products.

Mark Attanasio

Mr. Attanasio is the Founder of ATTA Elevators Corp. and the Owner of Nocera Investment Corp., specializing in Canadian venture capital. His leadership credentials include serving as CEO of Eight Capital and Dundee Capital Markets. Mr. Attanasio brings a deep understanding of investment strategies and corporate growth to the Board, having spent 16 years in investment banking with a major Canadian financial institution. Mr. Attanasio holds his CPA, CA designation.

Hugh Cleland

Mr. Cleland is an accomplished leader in capital growth and business development. Mr. Cleland is the Co-Founder and CEO of Roadmap Capital, a Deep Tech VC investment platform that connects high net worth investors with disruptive technology companies in sectors such as semiconductors, cybersecurity, materials science, and medical imaging. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and earned his CFA designation in 2001. Previously, he managed the Northern Rivers Innovation Fund, which won the “Opportunistic Strategy Hedge Fund of the Year” at the 2006 Canadian Investment Awards. Under his leadership, Roadmap Capital has invested over $250M in VC-stage companies, achieving notable exits like the acquisitions of Tornado Spectral Systems and GEO Semiconductor. Mr. Cleland also serves on the boards of Perimeter Medical Imaging, Ubilite Inc, MMB, Corsa Security, and CHAR Technologies (TSXV: YES).

About Light AI Inc. (CBOE CA: ALGO / FSE: OHCN)

Light AI Inc. is a healthcare company focused on developing artificial intelligence health diagnostic applications. Light AI is developing a technology platform which represents the next generation of patient management: it applies AI algorithms to smartphone images—starting with images of StrepA—to identify the disease in seconds. Its patented, app-based solution requires no swabs, lab tests or proprietary hardware of any kind—its hardware platform is the 4.5B smartphones that exist in the world today.

In pre-FDA validation studies, Light AI’s algorithm demonstrated remarkable accuracy in differentiating between viral and bacterial pharyngitis, specifically targeting Group A Streptococcus (GAS). The Company’s algorithm generated pre-Federal Drug Administration (FDA) results were in the range of the “Gold Standard” swab culture currently used for diagnosing GAS achieving a 96.57% accuracy rate that is and a Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 100%, indicating its high reliability in confirming the absence of Streptococcus A infection. Viral and GAS pharyngitis affects over 600 million people annually worldwide. If left untreated, GAS pharyngitis can lead to serious complications such as Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), which imposes a global economic burden exceeding $1 trillion annually. Light AI’s technology offers a significant advancement in the accurate and timely diagnosis of GAS pharyngitis, potentially reducing the incidence of RHD and its associated costs. Light AI’s approach to applying AI to smartphone images can be expanded to other throat conditions, as well as other areas of analysis, such as the human eye and skin. Light AI’s vision is to combine the smartphone with AI in-the-Cloud to create a Digital Clinical Lab that provides quick and accessible diagnosis for countless conditions that today require expensive and time-consuming imaging or lab processes.

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY

“George Reznik”

George Reznik
Chief Financial Officer
For more information, please contact the Company at 604-307-6800 or visit https://light.ai/.

Website: https://light.ai/
LinkedIn: LinkedIn/company/Light AI
X (Formerly Twitter): @lightaihealth 

Forward-Looking Information:

This news release includes information, statements, beliefs and opinions which are forward-looking, and which reflect current estimates, expectations and projections about future events, including, but not limited to, the contributions to be made by the Company’s Advisory Board, the anticipated inflection of the business, the opportunity related to the commercialization of Light AI’s software and other offerings, and other statements that contain words such as “believe,” “expect,” “project,” “should,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “will,” “intend,” “positioned,” “risk,” “plan,” “may,” “estimate” or, in each case, their negative and words of similar meaning. By its nature, forward-looking information involves a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome of the plans and events described herein. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which is based on the information available as of the date of this news release. For a list of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company’s long form prospectus dated December 17, 2024 and other filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (which may be viewed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca). Light AI disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information contained in this new release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law. The forward-looking information included in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE Light AI Inc.

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Intesa Communications Group Named ‘Customers First’ Winner in San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce 2026 Small Business Awards

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The award-winning, women-owned San Diego public relations and government affairs firm was recognized for exceptional client service that has fueled 14 years of growth

SAN DIEGO, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Intesa Communications Group, a leading San Diego public relations and government affairs firm, has been named the “Customers First” winner in the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Small Business Awards. Announced July 9 at the Chamber’s annual Small Business Awards event, the recognition honors the small business whose commitment to customer service most clearly sets it apart from the competition.

Founded in 2012, the certified women-owned San Diego firm has grown from a boutique agency into one of the region’s leading public relations and government affairs firms. Intesa has doubled its team over the past two years, sustained three consecutive years of double-digit revenue growth and expanded its client portfolio by 26% last year. Intesa provides public relations, strategic communications, and government affairs services for a wide range of organizations, including San Diego State University, SeaWorld San Diego, Expedia Group, H.G. Fenton Company, San Diego Foundation, San Diego Workforce Partnership, and SBCS.

“This award belongs to every member of our team and to the clients who trust us with their most valuable asset: their reputation,” said Margie Newman Tsay, founding partner of Intesa Communications Group. “Our clients stay with us for years because we show up prepared, fully invested and ready for the moments that matter most. Being recognized for putting customers first is the highest compliment our business community can pay us.”

Intesa’s client-first approach has produced measurable results across public relations and government affairs efforts throughout the region. For example, in its first month working with the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, the firm helped reimagine the organization’s summer food drive messaging, generating more than 15 million impressions and helping deliver 489,026 pounds of food and $344,505 in donations — the equivalent of more than one million meals and a 175% increase from the previous year. Similarly, Logan Heights Community Development Corporation credits the firm with an 81:1 return on investment after Intesa parachuted in to help the nonprofit promote the California Mortgage Relief Program.

“Small businesses are the heart of our economy: fueling innovation, creating jobs and defining the character of communities across the San Diego region,” said Chris Cate, president and CEO of the Chamber. “We celebrate the resilience, ingenuity and community impact of our small business leaders. They are the very spirit behind our purpose to champion business and empower leaders.”

The Chamber award is as much a reflection of Intesa’s clients as it is the firm itself. The opportunity to partner with organizations doing meaningful work across the region is what makes recognition like this possible. True to form, the Intesa team plans to mark the win by thanking the clients behind the work.

“We call ourselves dot connectors, and this award is what that looks like in practice,” said Maddy Kilkenny, partner at Intesa Communications Group, who leads the firm’s government affairs practice. “Whether our team of 10 people is helping a client navigate a policy decision at City Hall or a story on the front page of the newspaper, we aim to leave them stronger and more confident than before. Hearing our clients say we deliver on that is the best win of all.”

According to the Chamber’s award requirements, businesses with 100 or fewer employees were eligible for nomination. They were voted on by a panel of chamber members, who reviewed the nominations and selected the winners of all four categories.

The recognition adds to more than 60 awards Intesa has earned for excellence in public relations, strategic communications, and public affairs, including honors from PR News, the Public Relations Society of America, PR Daily, the International Association of Business Communicators, the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ), MARCOM, and the American Marketing Association, among others. It also comes on the heels of two Intesa team members, Emily Alvarenga and Margaret Lutz Chantung, recently receiving SDBJ’s “40 Under 40” and “Indispensable” awards, respectively.

For more information about Intesa Communications Group, visit www.intesacom.com.

About Intesa Communications Group
Intesa Communications Group is a certified women-owned San Diego public relations and government affairs firm that helps leaders communicate and advocate with confidence. Since 2012, Intesa has partnered with the region’s trusted leaders and organizations, providing strategic communications and public affairs counsel on high-stakes issues at the intersection of reputation, policy and public perception. The firm’s work has earned more than 60 industry awards across 53 recognized client campaigns, including the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce “Customers First” 2026 award. Learn more at www.intesacom.com.

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SOURCE Intesa Communications Group

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The Inner Circle acknowledges Shankari Thiagarajan as Pinnacle Professional of The Year

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HOUSTON, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Shankari Thiagarajan is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Professional of The Year for her contributions to Information Technology and Agile Delivery.     

Shankari Thiagarajan has established a distinguished career in information technology project and program management, recognized for her expertise in agile delivery, digital transformation, and cross functional leadership across multiple industries. Currently serving as project manager and scrum master at Astellas Pharma Inc., she oversees agile delivery initiatives supporting global life science programs.

With more than 15 years of experience spanning technology and pharmaceutical sectors, Ms. Thiagarajan has developed a reputation for leading complex implementations and driving operational efficiency. Her expertise includes agile methodologies, project and delivery management, product ownership, healthcare IT, telecom and network optimization, financial services modernization, retail technology upgrades, and GIS and digital mapping solutions.

Ms. Thiagarajan earned a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership from Campbellsville University, a Master of Science in Information Systems from Virginia Tech, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University College of Engineering Hyderabad.

Throughout her career, she has contributed to major organizations across a wide range of industries. Her accomplishments include leading agile transformations at Cigna, overseeing retail technology upgrades at Walmart, managing large scale telecom transformation initiatives at T Mobile and Verizon, and modernizing financial platforms at Security Finance. She also contributed to the early development of Google Maps during her tenure at Google India, advancing to team lead within a year.

In addition to her corporate achievements, Ms. Thiagarajan is the creator of the YouTube channel My Experiments with Life – #Positivity #Learning, launched in 2023. Through this platform, she shares motivational content and insights focused on personal growth, technology, spirituality, and lifelong learning.

Her professional accomplishments have been recognized through honors including Marquis Who’s Who 2026, a featured podcast interview with Jim Masters on Close Up TV hosted across Apple Radio, Spotify, and iHeart., recognition in The National Law Review & EIN Presswire, and a certificate of appreciation from Virginia Tech for academic excellence and community involvement.

Outside of her professional work, Ms. Thiagarajan enjoys creating motivational YouTube content, exploring technology and spirituality, listening to contemporary music, and pursuing philanthropic and educational interests. She credits her strong work ethic and determination to the example set by her parents.

Looking ahead, she plans to continue advancing her leadership capabilities and pursue executive level opportunities that allow her to make significant contributions within the information technology sector.

Guided by a philosophy rooted in courage, persistence, and continuous learning, Ms. Thiagarajan remains committed to professional growth while inspiring others to pursue excellence and self-improvement.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, editorialteam@continentalwhoswho.com

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SOURCE The Inner Circle

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University of Phoenix Leaders Present at Building Blackboard Together 2026

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Presentations explored learning technology, accessibility and online pedagogy as higher education adapts to an AI-enabled future

PHOENIX, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — University of Phoenix leaders shared insights on artificial intelligence, accessibility, online learning and student support at Building Blackboard Together 2026, Blackboard’s flagship user conference, held July 13-15 in Dallas, Texas. The conference brought together educators, institutional leaders and industry experts to explore innovations, technologies and emerging practices shaping the future of teaching and learning.

Representing University of Phoenix were Marc Booker, Ph.D., vice provost of strategy; Kelly Hermann, vice president of Accessibility and Student Affairs; and Erin Amsden, group product manager. Through presentations and panel discussions, the leaders shared perspectives on responsible AI adoption, accessibility leadership, student engagement and the evolving role of learning technologies in supporting institutional goals and student success.

“Building Blackboard Together provides an opportunity to engage with peers across higher education who are navigating many of the same opportunities and challenges around technology, accessibility and learning mobility,” said Dr. Booker. “These conversations help advance practical approaches for supporting learners while thoughtfully integrating innovation into the educational experience.”

During the conference, University of Phoenix was also recognized with the 2026 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Ethical AI Leadership, which honors institutions advancing responsible, transparent and inclusive approaches to artificial intelligence that promote trust and equitable outcomes for learners and educators. The recognition follows the University’s ongoing efforts to support AI literacy, responsible use and AI-enabled learning experiences.

Exploring the Expanding Role of the Learning Management System

As part of the Strategic Leadership Summit, Booker served as a panelist for “The LMS as Mission-Critical: Connecting Learning, Experience & Evidence.” The session examined how learning management systems are evolving beyond course management to support learning, engagement and institutional insight across the student lifecycle.

Panelists discussed how institutions are leveraging learning technologies alongside student information systems to support teaching and learning, advising, co-curricular engagement and data-informed decision-making while addressing increasing expectations surrounding artificial intelligence, student success and accountability.

Sharing Lessons from AI-Powered Student Support

Booker also presented “Scaling AI-Powered Support Across the Student Experience at University of Phoenix,” a session focused on the University’s process for expanding its AI support assistant across the online classroom environment, moving from proof of concept to full-scale deployment over a six-month period.

In addition, Booker participated in “Online Pedagogy to Drive Institutional Growth: Best Practices and Success Stories,” a panel discussion exploring how institutions are designing engaging online learning experiences and leveraging Blackboard technologies to support quality course delivery and student engagement.

Advancing Accessibility Leadership

Hermann joined the session “Communicating Up: Turning Accessibility Work into Leadership-Ready Stories.” The presentation focused on strategies for translating accessibility initiatives into narratives, evidence and visualizations that resonate with institutional leaders.

The discussion explored ways to connect accessibility efforts to broader institutional priorities, demonstrate impact through data and support informed decision-making that advances accessibility and learner success.

Examining Emerging Challenges in Artificial Intelligence

Amsden served as a panelist for “Agentic AI in Pedagogy: Threats and Opportunities.” The session addressed the growing influence of agentic AI and its implications for academic integrity, assessment design and learner engagement.

Panelists explored how technology, pedagogy and security practices can work together to promote authentic student work while helping institutions balance innovation with responsible AI implementation.

Contributing to the Future of Teaching and Learning

Amsden, Booker and Hermann are key members of University of Phoenix’s dynamic leadership team, frequently invited to share their expertise at prestigious national conferences and events. In 2026, University leaders will participate in the ASU + GSV Summit, 1EdTech Learning Impact Conference, SXSW EDU Conference, and PESC Data Summit. These engagements underscore the University’s commitment to innovation and thought leadership in higher education, providing valuable insights and fostering collaborations that drive the future of learning.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is Built for Real Life. 50 Years Strong. The University innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world through flexible online learning, relevant courses, academic AI pillars, and skills-mapped curriculum for associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Active students and alumni have access to Career Services for Life® resources including career guidance and tools. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

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SOURCE University of Phoenix

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