Teachers

Our teachers

Amsterdam Data Academy consists of a group of (data) professionals who have a common drive to make decisions more well-founded and based on data. Through our training courses we share this knowledge with everyone who wants to work more data-driven.

Dr. Sabine Joseph

Sabine is a data science and AI instructor with over 10 years of experience in data science, machine learning, and AI. She specializes in teaching machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, and practical data workflows through hands-on, applied training. Previously at Microsoft and Accenture, she led and delivered data and AI projects for global organizations. She holds a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from University College London.

Lucia Riscado Cordas

With over 5 years of experience in analytics, Lucia has a strong foundation in SQL and Excel, using data to support evidence-based decision-making. Today, she bridges the worlds of data and creativity, transforming insights into visual stories that are not only understandable, but engaging and on-brand. As a Data Storytelling & Visualization Designer (www.data-aesthetics.com), she codes and designs custom visual narratives that turn complex data into clear, compelling insights. Her goal is simple: to help people feel more confident working with data, and to make complex information feel clear, engaging, and even a little fun. Lucia is half Dutch, half Portuguese, loves to cook and eat (a great combination), and is passionate about art and design.

Hanan ElNaghy

Hanan ElNaghy is a lecturer at Amsterdam Data Academy and an Assistant Professor at The American University in Cairo, teaching across the School of Sciences and Engineering and the School of Business. She holds a PhD in Computer Vision from the University of Amsterdam and has nearly 20 years of experience across academia, research, and industry. She has taught and designed courses in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Data Structures & Programming, Business Intelligence, Professional Communication in Computer Science, and Management Information Systems. At Amsterdam Data Academy, she teaches AI Literacy, AI Ethics, and Machine Learning, combining strong technical foundations with industry insights to support practical, ethically grounded AI applications. Her research has been published in leading international journals and conferences, and she has worked as a product engineer and research software engineer, bringing real-world experience into the classroom.

Marta Strykowska

Marta is an e‑commerce and product leader with 10+ years of experience across digital growth, CRO and product-led strategies. She specializes in product management, growth, and tech stack strategy, with hands-on experience in building AI-native products. Currently, she helps corporate teams leverage vibe coding securely and effectively.

Ben Galili

Ben Galili, a data and AI expert, has a strong background in data and AI. Working today as VP of Data & Product. He has worked in different data roles with leading companies such as eBay and Dell, and various successful startups. His expertise lies in transforming complex data into actionable business insights and leveraging AI to optimize processes. Ben also advises organizations on implementing data-driven strategies.

Sam van Buuren

As an AI strategy expert, Sam van Buuren helps privacy-sensitive SME+ organizations in regulated sectors automate their core processes with EU-hosted AI agents and data platforms. With over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship and education, he bridges Commerce, IT, Communication, and AI. He founded Nederland Werkt Online in 2008 as one of the first Dutch Google Apps resellers and has since specialized in cloud transformation and AI strategy. At Amsterdam Data Academy, Sam guides students in developing realistic, hands-on AI strategies that balance innovation with organizational needs.

Steven Nijman

Steven is passionate about data storytelling and design. He enjoys turning complex information into clear, engaging visuals and has experience teaching data journalism at the University of Applied Sciences. Now, as an instructor at the Amsterdam Data Academy, he guides students in developing the skills to transform data into compelling narratives. With a strong academic background and broad professional experience, Steven combines technical expertise with creativity. Collaborating with others is at the heart of his approach; he enjoys working closely with teams to design data visualizations tailored to their specific needs.

Akos Steger

Akos is a linguist turned data scientist with expertise in language technologies, including AI in Language Technologies such as voice assistants, language learning apps, and RAG applications. With over a decade of teaching experience and 4 years in tech, he combines a passion for AI with a deep understanding of communication—helping Amsterdam Data Academy students apply AI effectively in real-world projects.

Robin van Veen

Robin has 15 years of experience in data-driven marketing and knows how to strengthen marketing and sales processes. Over the past 4 years, he has specialized in artificial intelligence, particularly AI in marketing, developing AI agents that deliver more efficient and scalable solutions. His expertise lies at the intersection of data, technology, and smart applications that create an immediate impact.

Ali Hurriyetoglu

Ali holds an MSc in Cognitive Science and a BSc in Computer Engineering, with expertise in computational linguistics and text mining. He has taught and supervised students in both academic and applied research, including at METU and Radboud University. During his PhD in the Netherlands, he collaborated with academic and industry partners and led trainings in AI, programming, and big data.

Rohit Kumar Singh

Rohit brings over 9 years of experience as a Data Scientist and AI Engineer at IBM, with a strong academic background holding both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence. His role as a Data Scientist and AI Engineer has involved leading the development and implementation of advanced AI solutions across domains such as Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning.  

Yermo Rinsma

Yermo Rinsma is a lecturer at Amsterdam Data Academy, where he teaches Descriptive Statistics as part of the Data Science & AI curriculum. He is also affiliated with IT Academy Noord-Nederland (Hanze University of Applied Sciences), contributing to programs that help professionals upskill in data science and analytics. With a strong focus on practical application, Yermo brings clarity to statistical concepts and supports learners in building a solid foundation in data-driven decision-making.

Mark Graus Docent Amsterdam Data Academy

Mark Graus

Mark is a data scientist with over 10 years of experience in both in the academic and business industry. He has worked on many data solutions in finance, healthcare, and marketing. Additionally, he has taught and conducted research at various universities, resulting in dozens of scientific publications, primarily in the fields of recommender systems and data-driven personalization.

Marcel van den Bosch

Marcel is a passionate and experienced IT professional with over 15+ years of experience in various roles and domains. As an Amsterdam Data Academy alumnus, he helps organizations create value with information technology, especially in the fields of data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, and big data.

Marloes Slotboom

Marloes is an expert in the field of digital marketing and data analysis. With a recent transition to data science, she brings a unique combination of skills to the Amsterdam Data Academy. Her focus is on unlocking the value of data for business decisions and strategic growth, which can be applied by any organization with the use of tools.

Marieke Peeters

Marieke holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. She previously worked at Xomnia and is now working as an independent lecturer and consultant. She assists organizations in responsibly deploying AI.

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