Unicorns are mythical creatures for a reason. In IT the word “unicorn” refers to someone who knows all the relevant aspects of their area of IT and can create solutions by themselves without any help or expertise from others. In AI this idea of unicorns as mythical creatures holds especially true. It requires expertise from various viewpoints and areas to have the best chance of creating value. Here are some of the experts in our network whose expertise we value highly, who, for instance, write for our blog, whom we can ask for advice and viewpoints, and some of who also participate in our research and development in various ways.
Tiina Lehtonen
Tiina is a data governance professional inspired by the development of comprehensive digital services, leveraging perspectives from data governance, user experience and data protection. Her extensive background in healthcare, along with experience working with the pharmacy industry, the private sector, and higher education, enables her to operate effectively in diverse environments. Her understanding of the connections between data governance, the value of data and artificial intelligence provides valuable insight into information classification in various contexts. Her strengths include visual thinking, understanding of sensitive data and excellent communication skills.
Silvan Gebhardt
Silvan is a systems architect and product owner with over a decade of experience in large-scale network infrastructure, cybersecurity, and performance engineering. He currently also serves as an international ISP and managed services provider at Openfactory. His professional expertise spans secure data routing, on-premise infrastructure, and cloud-network hybrid designs. Silvan specializes in the optimization of critical paths in low-level system operations—from packet injection and memory management to scalable service orchestration. At Helheim Labs, he supports the secure deployment and hosting of AI applications, including localized LLM-based educational games. His focus on privacy-respecting infrastructure ensures that complex AI systems can run securely on repurposed hardware, reducing dependency on large cloud providers. Silvan has a strong background in open-source technologies and brings strategic depth to technical decision-making in AI-driven projects.
Peadar Callaghan
Peadar is a researcher and game-based learning specialist currently pursuing his PhD at Tallinn University, Estonia. He holds MA in History, an MA in English Language Teaching, and an MSc in Digital Learning Game Design. His academic focus lies in the development of cybersecurity education through immersive learning environments. Peadar has designed and evaluated a range of cyber games and training exercises aimed at improving digital resilience, security awareness, and critical thinking skills. He has worked on projects that bridge formal education with interactive technologies and has a growing presence in European research networks in the field of educational games and has collaborated with organisations such as CR14 and CCDCOE. His combined background in humanities and game design allows him to craft engaging educational narratives that translate complex topics into accessible experiences.
Hans Idink
Hans has 25 years experience in Open Source software engineering and managing internet projects with a network of specialists. He also has extensive knowledge in hosting large applications in the European cloud. He has build several LLM-applications with both local and hosted AI-providers. He organizes online and live lectures and courses about philosophy and technology.