AI for Humanitarian Impact w/ Melanie Rideout & Simon Hodgkinson

AI is transforming almost every aspect of business. But how do we apply it in ways that create real human impact  especially in areas like health, climate, crisis response, and humanitarian aid?

In this special Startup Grind AI Impact Fireside Chat, we are joined by Melanie Rideout and Simon Hodgkinson, who lead AI strategy at the Red Cross in Sweden and the UK, respectively. Together, they bring firsthand insights from building AI capabilities inside one of the world’s most trusted humanitarian organizations.

From strategy and infrastructure to ethical considerations and real-world applications, they will unpack what it takes to turn AI into a meaningful force for good at scale.

In this session, we’ll explore:

Where AI and humanitarian impact truly intersect
Which use cases are creating real value and where the biggest opportunities lie
What it takes to build infrastructure, tools, and systems for AI enablement in a global organization
How to approach ethical, responsible, and practical AI adoption
Lessons from upskilling teams and navigating organizational challenges
What the future of AI in the humanitarian sector could look like

Whether you're a founder, operator, technologist, policymaker, or ecosystem builder, this session offers practical insights into how AI can be applied with purpose creating stronger organizations and greater societal impact.

🎤 The session will be moderated by Naimul Abd – Regional Director Nordics at Startup Grind, CEO at Connect East, SweBAN, founder of Nutty Ventures and BRIM, and Nordics Lead for Founder Institute and Founders Live.

Agenda

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Speakers

Melanie Rideout - Swedish Red Cross (AI Strategist)

Melanie is a humanitarian, climate, and innovation professional with over 10 years of experience across sustainable development, environmental strategy, and emerging technologies. With a background spanning renewable energy, fintech, and AI governance, she brings a unique perspective on how innovation can drive climate justice and sustainable impact. Her work today focuses on AI, sustainabilit…

Simon Hodgkinson - British Red Cross (AI Product Owner)

AI and digital transformation leader with 10+ years of experience driving technology adoption across global organisations. Currently Head of AI Enablement and Responsible Use at the British Red Cross, leading responsible AI implementation, training, and strategy to enhance productivity and decision-making at scale. Experienced in deploying Microsoft 365 ecosystems, building AI governance frame…

Hosted By

Naimul Abd, Regional Director Nordics Startup Grind

Naimul Abd is a leading Nordic Ecosystem Builder and coaches more than 500 entrepreneurs per year. A finalist in Nordic Startup Awards 2023, he is Regional Director Nordics for global startup ecosystems including Founder Institute, Startup Grind, and Founders Live. He has headed several EU funded acceleration programs, transformed advisory services, events, and partnerships at a government funded social impact organization, and moderated leading startup events like Stockholm Entrepreneurs Day, Nordic Startup Festival, and Nordic Pitch Battle. Naimul is also a serial entrepreneur and an angel investor with a portfolio of impact startups. He has previously worked in the corporate sector as a strategic marketing & insights consultant for more than 20 multinational brands including Nestlé, Coca Cola, Honda, Tetra Pak. He has also tripled the topline of a fashion retailer as their marketing head and held leadership positions at advertising and research agencies. Naimul holds M.Sc. in Marketing and M.Sc. in Entrepreneurship from Sweden and, in his free time, he makes music and loves to write. His favorite quote? “The best way to predict the future is to create it,” by Peter Drucker.

Peggie K. Ovesen, Partnerships Lead

I’m passionate about the startup journey and driven to build solutions that are good for both people and the planet. With a background in tech and business, I’ve led product development in deeptech startups across fashion, fitness, and entertainment.

My experience spans from marketing and sales at the multinational brand Nestlé to launching MVPs for early-stage startups — giving me a well-rounded perspective on building purposeful, scalable solutions.

I believe in the power of collaboration and in creating products where innovation and impact grow through shared purpose.

Outside of work, I’m a wine enthusiast , enjoys playing tennis, meditation, hiking, and weightlifting. I am always embracing new challenges that fuel personal and professional growth. Message to all- “alone we go fast, but together we go far.”

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Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind.

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