Special Session – RAIN Alliance
Date: Thursday, 24 April 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Abstract-
The RAIN Alliance is a global, community-led organization of hundreds of member companies that together want to create a smarter and more sustainable world by using RAIN technology to connect trillions of everyday items across their entire lifecycle, simply and inexpensively.
Session Overview-
- Expected market trends and use-cases in diverse markets Speaker: Aileen Ryan (President and CEO of the RAIN Alliance)
- Moving towards RAIN systems being deployable “out of the box” and solution design considerations.
- Solution design considerations and how RAIN technology can shape the landscape of what’s possible. Speaker: Bill McDonald (WIS International), Walt Harper (SML Group), Shreyans Bengani (eCartes Technology), Steven Keddie (GS1), Jason Gill (Powercast)
- Addressing the challenge of transparent, openly available manufacturing quality and performance standards for the industry – Speakers: Bahar Aliakbarian (Axia Labs) and Jesse Tuominen (Voyantic)
- Interactive session – what future use-cases may emerge for RAIN readers in consumer devices (and what the implications are from a technology/technical standpoint. The output of this session will inform future RAIN Alliance activities and potentially feed into research agendas. Speakers: Paul Muller, (RAIN) and Juho Partanen (RAIN Alliance)
LUNCH BREAK
Afternoon Session Overview-
This panel is organized by Impinj, a leading RAIN RFID provider, and the RAIN Alliance, a consortium of companies that drives awareness and fosters market adoption of RAIN technology. The session will feature leading voices in RFID, sustainability, and recycling.
Time: 13:30 PM – 14:30 PM
Abstract-
Join us at IEEE RFID 2025 for a panel discussion on how RFID technology is unlocking circular solutions in sustainability. Experts from academia and across the industry will explore how RFID enables carbon footprint reduction in pharmaceuticals, extends product life cycles in apparel and footwear, and enhances smart textile sortation for resale, repair, and recycling. Industry leaders will also discuss the practical barriers they face, the technological features they need, and the critical criteria for successful circular solutions. Attendees will gain valuable insights into real-world applications of RFID for sustainability and explore how their research and work can help bridge existing gaps, driving innovation in textile circularity and recycling
Speakers: Bahar Aliakbarian (Axia Labs), Jennifer Lake (Goodwill of the Finger Lake), Wes Baker (SVP of Strategic Initiatives)
Moderator: Samin Aayanifard (Advanced Technology Impinj)
Our Speakers
Aileen Ryan, President and CEO of the RAIN Alliance
Short Bio- Aileen Ryan’s executive career spans software and hardware engineering, strategy and commercial operations with a variety of technology organisations. She currently serves as President and CEO of the RAIN Alliance. Aileen was named by Silicon Republic as one of the top 25 Irish leaders in the Sci-Tech world, and by IT Security Guru and KPMG as one of the most inspiring women in cyber security.
She holds an M.B.A., an M.Sc. in Computer Science, and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and has completed advanced executive studies at the University of Cambridge and the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Bill McDonald – Executive Leader in IT Strategy and Business
Short Bio- Transformation Bill McDonald is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in IT strategy, business transformation, and operational excellence. As Chief Information Officer at WIS International, he has driven innovation in retail solutions since 2019, specializing in inventory audits and self-scan technologies. With expertise in IT strategy, business process improvement, and data privacy, Bill aligns technology initiatives with business goals to deliver measurable results. Known for his strategic thinking and team leadership, he focuses on leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and foster organizational growth. Based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Bill is dedicated to advancing technology for global business transformation.
Short Bio- Jason attended Penn State University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. With over 11 years of experience, Jason has held engineering positions in the automotive, medical, and RF industries. Currently, Jason is Powercast‘s Director of Research and Development and contributed to the development of products in the areas of antenna design, RF design, and low-power electrical design. He holds multiple patents in the RF harvesting field, which have contributed to increased performance across Powercast products. Additionally, he serves as the project lead on Powercast’s new chip design efforts.
Short Bio- Stephen is a Senior Director of AIDC and GS1 Global Office subject matter experts team lead. He is a member of the AIDC 100 which is a non-political association of automatic identification/data capture (AIDC) professionals and others who, over an extended period of time, have significantly contributed to the growth and advancement of the industry. Stephen chairs the AIM Technical Symbology Committee (TSC) which actively develops and consults on AIDC specifications, standards, guidelines and technical reports and is a long-standing member of the Barcodes & Identification Technical Group (BCID TG) which provides advice and guidance regarding practical implementation issues and technical applications for the GS1 community.
Short Bio- With an extensive 27-year career in printing, packaging, and converting, including 16 years dedicated to integrating RAIN RFID Inlays into these processes, Walt has demonstrated exceptional expertise in project and portfolio management, technical product development, and market analysis. As the leader of SML’s Global RFID Factory Solutions team, Walt embodies a growth mindset focused on continuous improvement, leveraging innovative and cost-effective analytical methods. His proficiency in servant leadership, administration, and marketing communications, combined with his ability to harness market trends, technical innovation, and cross-functional partnerships, ensures optimal results and applications.
Short Bio- Shreyans Bengani is a 3rd generation entrepreneur and Director at Ecartes Technology. He completed my Bachelors in Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, before moving back to India and working at Ecartes for a couple years, before pursuing my MBA from Mumbai, and re-joined the company back as Director in December 2017. Currently, I lead various departments at Ecartes including Strategy (RFID & IoT), Technology, R&D, Global Markets, Key Accounts and Digital Marketing.
Short Bio- Dr. Aliakbarian is the Senior Director of Research & Development at the Axia Institute and an Associate Professor in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at Michigan State University. She completed her Ph.D. in Chemical, Process, and Material Engineering from the School of Innovative Sciences and Technologies at the University of Genoa (Italy) in 2009. Before joining MSU in 2017, she held positions at the University of Genoa, Harvard-MIT Health Sciences & Technology, and the University of Sydney.
Dr. Aliakbarian leads the Axia RFID Lab, one of the first labs worldwide pioneering research on RFID applications in business sectors such as healthcare, food and agriculture, and advanced manufacturing. Bahar actively contributes to shaping the future of RFID application, serving as an Ad Hoc member of the GS1 Healthcare US Executive Leadership Committee and the chair of the RAIN Alliance Quality Manufacturing Workgroup, among other roles.
Jesse Tuominen (Voyantic)
Short Bio- Jesse Tuominen holds a Master’s degree in Electronics and Measurement Technology and a PhD in Laser Physics and Optical Telecommunication. In 2006, he joined Voyantic as a Product Manager and partner, playing a pivotal role in the early development of RAIN technology. By 2009, Jesse had taken on the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO). As the lead hardware designer for many years, he spearheaded the creation of groundbreaking product families such as Tagformance and Tagsurance. Today, Jesse focuses on advancing new measurement methods, RF design, product prototyping, standardization, protocols, and intellectual property rights (IPR).
Paul Muller, Leader – RAIN Reader Smartphone Integration
Juho Partanen (RAIN Alliance)
Jennifer Lake (Goodwill of the Finger Lake)
Short Bio- Jennifer Lake is the President and CEO of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, leading mission-driven programs across New York. She chairs Goodwill Industries International’s Circularity Committee and heads the Goodwill Northeast Circularity Hub, driving sustainability and social impact in textile reuse and recycling.
Wes Baker (SVP of Strategic Initiatives)
Short Bio- Wes Baker is the Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Debrand, where he leads the development of novel next-life logistics systems to further unlock the textile sustainability and circularity industry at scale. With over two decades of experience in engineering, fabrication, and industrial automation, Wes architects tech-driven infrastructure and process innovations that optimize material flow, product sortation, and next-life logistics for Debrand’s clients. His systems-thinking approach has been critical to the company’s recent U.S. operational expansion, advancing data-driven, scalable solutions that align with circularity initiatives and supply chain performance for brands across North America.
Samin Aayanifard (Advanced Technology Impinj)
