INTERSECT TEAM
Meet the team
The team at Intersect supports our members to advance the Cardano ecosystem through its development and governance. We’re driven by core values that foster a collaborative and inclusive environment and prioritize empathy, ensuring we understand and support each other.
Transparency and trust are foundational, enabling open communication and empowering members to be at the heart of decision-making. The team at Intersect shares extensive exposure within Cardano and blockchain, and includes operational experience from multiple industries across TradFi, connectivity and beyond.
Intersect Leadership
The Intersect leadership team members support and enable the Intersect team functions. They help provide alignment and direction to serve Cardano and its members.
Nick Cook
Interim Director of Ops
Nick is an experienced, driven and energetic leader with a proven history of working in the Web3, blockchain, fintech and AI space. Nick has played a critical part in establishing community hubs for Intersect, linking the company with the wider Cardano community. His work has been invaluable for engaging members with our broader mission.
Jack Briggs
Interim Executive Director
Passionate about blockchain technology, Jack started with Bitcoin in 2012, Ethereum in 2017, and joined the Cardano community in 2019. Since 2021, he has been a key contributor to Cardano's governance design. With over a decade of experience leading marketing teams for global brands, Jack now leads Intersect’s marketing and communications efforts.
Intersect board
The Intersect governing board is composed of a diverse set of members with long experience in Cardano. The board supports the Intersect executive team and the functions in providing value and serving the Cardano community.
Adam Rusch
Intersect, Members Elected Non-Exec Director
Adam Rusch is a Teaching Assistant Professor of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research and teaching focus on how individuals utilize information and communication technologies to organize into groups and communities that collaborate effectively. He has been actively involved in the Cardano community since 2018 and was a founding core contributor to the ADAO and a co-founder of the Summon Platform.
Kavinda Kariyapperuma
Intersect, Members Elected Non-Exec Director
Kavinda Kariyapperuma is the founder and CEO of Sri Lanka's first blockchain innovations company and an early adopter of Cardano. He has been pivotal in introducing Cardano initiatives to South Asia, including the region’s first Intersect hub. His commitment to innovation and education places him at the forefront of advancing blockchain adoption and shaping decentralized economies.
Rand McHenry
Intersect, Members Elected Non-Exec Director
Co-Founder of Rare Network, Rand has over fifteen years experience creating live events and has been working in the crypto space for eight years. Rare Network is best known for the Blockchain Industry Event Rare Evo. Rand also has a passion for decentralized Finance. Additionally, he was a Sales Director for a $40M annual revenue logistics company before going full time in Blockchain.
Mercy Fordwoo
Intersect, Members Elected Non-Exec Director
Mercy Fordwoo is the co-founder and Hubs Coordination Lead at Wada, an organization building bridges between Cardano and communities across Africa through education, infrastructure, and real-world adoption. Active in the ecosystem since 2018, Mercy is dedicated to advancing decentralized governance, expanding global participation, and helping shape Cardano’s future by bringing diverse community voices to the decision-making table.
Steven Lupien
Intersect, Non-Exec Director / Director, Center for Blockchain at UoW
Steven is a sought-after blockchain leader who has testified as an expert on digital assets both domestically and internationally. He has spent years teaching the community about new blockchain advancements, both online and offline. His deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the blockchain space makes him a valuable contributor to the Cardano community.
Nikhil Joshi
Intersect, Non-Exec Director / COO at EMURGO
With over 20 years of experience in Finance and Banking, Nikhil brings extensive expertise to his role as COO at EMURGO. His advisory work with Web3 startups in business development and funding has earned the Cardano community's confidence. Nikhil has attended over 25 events and frequently speaks on main stages, promoting Cardano and its ecosystem.
Gerard Moroney
Intersect, Non-Exec Director / COO for IOHK
Gerard Moroney studied mechanical engineering at the University of Limerick, Ireland, followed by a PhD at the University of Liverpool. He has spent his career in the technology industry, in consulting, program management, and Chief Technology Officer roles. He spent more than 10 years building high-performance offshore and captive development teams in Asia, supporting a global customer base.