Digital Innovation
in Arts & Culture Award

Dean Phelus is the senior director of special projects at the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). With nearly three decades of experience at AAM, he oversees the AAM Annual Meeting and Museum Expo, the largest professional gathering for museums worldwide. Dean also leads professional development and training programs, enhancing the competencies of museum professionals.

Paul Nicks started at GoDaddy in 2007 as a development lead and has served in increasingly important roles, most notably as Vice President of Aftermarket for six years. He now oversees all areas of domains and registrars, with a relentless focus on improving customer experiences and helping them find the right domain. 

Winner of last year’s DIAC Award, ArtCentrica is Marco’s latest venture at the intersection of art, education, and AI. A pioneer in digital innovation, he has led projects spanning ultra-high-resolution digitization, immersive exhibitions, and cultural edtech—bridging heritage and technology to transform how audiences engage with art worldwide.

Head of Arts at Trilitech and co-founder of Electric Artefacts, Aleksandra is a leading voice in Web3 art. She has shaped key initiatives at .ART and Tezos, championing the integration of blockchain in the cultural sector.

Founder & CEO at Sedition and Muse Frame, Dyl is building the next generation of digital art infrastructure—merging software, hardware, and content to enable seamless display and ownership of digital works in physical spaces.

Debbie Soon is an entrepreneur and digital art collector. She is the co-founder of HUG.art, an inclusive onchain community of over 35,000 artists, recently acquired by .ART. A passionate Web3 advocate, Debbie is the author of Digital Mavericks, a bold look at the pioneers redefining creativity.

Elena is a strategic leader bridging art, tech, and education. She founded CADAF, a pioneering digital art platform acquired by LiveArt in 2023, where she led global partnerships and curated Web3 exhibitions. She teaches Art and Technology at Sotheby’s Institute and Christie’s Education, and contributes to Forbes, Observer, and other leading publications.
Following her appointment as Strategic Consultant for Art & Web3 at .ART Domains in July, Elena participates in the jury process in a non-voting capacity.

Ronald is a registrar at Automattic, where he develops global partnerships to support creators in building their digital presence. With over 15 years of experience working with galleries and artists, and a personal background as a painter, he brings a unique perspective to the intersection of art and technology.

A driving force in the digital art space, Stefanie brings deep expertise in AR, immersive storytelling, cultural access, and fundraising. As a co-founder of several XR initiatives and a leader at TAEX and One Art Foundation, she offers a sharp curatorial eye for innovation at the intersection of art and technology.