2026 Keynote Speaker
Samantha Miles serves as Executive Director of Vertex, Florida Tech’s Applied Innovation Hub, where she leads the university’s industry engagement, applied research, and workforce development efforts.
In this role, she is helping build a connected, industry-driven platform that supports innovation and economic growth across Florida’s Space Coast.
Born on the Space Coast, Miles’s career has taken her around the world, including leadership roles in Australia and across the Middle East. She has led multimillion-dollar national capacity-building initiatives that strengthened higher-education and research ecosystems and built partnerships spanning government, industry, and academia.
Before joining Florida Tech, she led global learning and consulting programs that supported more than 10,000 researchers and educators, most notably through national initiatives in Egypt.
Now back home, Miles is focused on expanding Vertex as a place where ideas move quickly into application, companies grow through collaboration, and talent is developed to meet real industry needs.
She believes that lasting results come from aiming high, working with integrity, and building true partnerships where people and collaboration are at the center of success.
Event Parking
Lot 10
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