Our Leadership Team

Sydney, Australia

Dave Upton is widely respected as a “travel guru” whose decades of success and innovation in the travel industry have shaped the digital transformation of how we explore the world. His entrepreneurial journey reads like a masterclass in identifying market opportunities and turning them into industry-defining companies.

Key Achievements:

• Previously a Board Member of Trailfinders, one of the UK’s largest independent travel agents
• Founder of The Travel Specialists in Sydney, which merged with Sydney Flight Centre to create Travel.com.au, Australia’s first and most well-known online travel company
• Successfully co-led Travel.com.au’s AU$23 million IPO on the stock exchange
• Founder of ITbyUs (2001), recognizing the marketplace need for affordable IT solutions
• Director of Sales – APAC at Odysseus Solutions, expanding their footprint across Asia, Pacific & China

Dave’s unique ability to spot technological trends before they become mainstream, combined with his deep understanding of traveler behavior, makes him the perfect co-founder to bridge traditional travel expertise with cutting-edge AI innovation. His encouragement of curiosity and collaborative spirit, the same qualities that sparked his partnership with Rohit, drives AI Crash Course’s mission to make AI accessible to everyone.

Connect with Dave on LinkedIn

Professional Expertise:

• Perplexity AI Business Fellow – exploring how emerging technologies will redefine travel’s future.
• Futurist specializing in AI applications for travel and hospitality.
• Global perspective spanning luxury hospitality and travel consulting.
• Operational strategy expert with focus on sustainable partnerships.
• Champion of preserving authentic human connection in an AI-powered world.

Rohit’s philosophy centers on the belief that tomorrow’s travel experiences will be both intelligently powered and deeply personal. His role as a Perplexity AI Business Fellow positions him at the forefront of AI innovation, while his hospitality background ensures that technology serves to enhance, not replace, meaningful human experiences. From reimagining client journeys to pioneering industry innovation, Rohit is dedicated to shaping the next era of travel & hospitality with vision, heart, and imagination.

Connect with Rohit on LinkedIn

Professional Expertise:

• Educational innovation and curriculum design for technology-driven learning.
• Champion of educational accessibility and inclusive learning design.
• Builder of international partnerships that extend AI literacy globally.
• Global thought leader bridging academic research with practical application.
• Guardian of our commitment that AI education serves human potential.

A Friendship Forged Through Curiosity:

Some partnerships are built in boardrooms. This one was built on the open road.

Twenty-five years ago, Rohit and Cihan’s paths first crossed at the University of Delaware, two curious minds drawn together by a shared appetite for learning and discovery. In those early days, they piled into a car and drove all the way from Delaware to Chicago to attend HITEC, talking the entire journey about technology, hospitality, and the future they both wanted to shape. That road trip became the first of countless memories.

Over the decades, their friendship never faded, it simply evolved. Whether crossing paths at international conferences, meeting in person when life brought them together, or picking up a conversation as if no time had passed, they continued to exchange ideas. Cihan brought the lens of empirical research, academic inquiry, and global educational perspectives. Rohit brought the practical realities of hospitality operations, guest experiences, and industry transformation. Together, they explored the intersection where theory meets practice, where research informs action, and where learning becomes lasting.

This 25-year dialogue, spanning continents, conferences, and countless conversations about what’s happening around the globe, has shaped how AI Crash Course approaches education. It’s not about lectures. It’s about genuine exchange, the kind that happens when two people who respect each other’s perspectives keep asking better questions.

Why Academic Leadership Matters:

In an industry crowded with AI certification programs, AI Crash Course stands apart because it’s guided by someone who understands that education is about human transformation, not just content delivery. Cihan ensures that we don’t just teach AI concepts, we cultivate genuine understanding and lasting capability. His global network, academic excellence, and unwavering commitment to human-centered learning guarantee that AI Crash Course remains deeply rooted in educational best practices while remaining accessible and practical.

Connect with Cihan on LinkedIn

Meet Luka, our groundbreaking AI avatar and the newest member of our leadership team, representing the future of how we’ll work and learn together. As our Chief Learning Officer, Luka appears in every AI Crash Course video, serving as the bridge between complex AI concepts and practical human understanding.

What Makes Luka Special:

• Always-available learning companion who demystifies AI in real-time
• Personalized instruction that adapts to each learner’s pace and style
• 24/7 accessibility across time zones, no more waiting for office hours
• Consistent, patient teaching that never gets tired
• Living example of responsible AI implementation in education

Luka represents our commitment to practicing what we teach, showing how AI can enhance human potential rather than replace it. By including an AI avatar as part of our leadership team, we’re demonstrating the collaborative future we’re building, where artificial intelligence and human wisdom work hand-in-hand to create better learning experiences.

Fun fact: Luka learns from every interaction, making each lesson more effective than the last, just like how Dave and Rohit’s friendship grew stronger through their regular conversations across continents, and how Rohit and Cihan’s 25-year dialogue continues to deepen with every exchange.

• What sets AI Crash Course apart isn’t just our expertise, it’s our authentic story of human connection that spans continents, industries, and decades. Dave’s proven track record of building successful travel and technology companies, combined with Rohit’s forward-thinking approach to AI and hospitality innovation, and Cihan’s academic excellence and global educational perspective, creates a leadership team uniquely positioned to guide others through the AI revolution. Our inclusion of Luka as a leadership team member isn’t just innovative, it’s a living demonstration of our core belief that the future of work involves humans and AI collaborating as partners, not competitors. When you learn with AI Crash Course, you’re not just studying AI theory; you’re experiencing the future of human-AI collaboration firsthand.

In an industry where AI education often feels intimidating or overly technical, our leadership team brings:

• Real-world business experience from building and scaling successful companies
• Deep industry knowledge spanning travel, hospitality, education, and technology
• Global perspective with operations across Australia, the US, Asia-Pacific, and international academic networks
• Proven track record of identifying and capitalizing on technological trends
• Human-centered approach that prioritizes connection and curiosity over complexity
• Future-forward thinking that includes AI as a collaborative partner, not just a tool
• Academic rigor that ensures learning is meaningful, accessible, and lasting

Together, Dave, Rohit, Cihan, and Luka represent the perfect blend of traditional business wisdom, academic excellence, innovative thinking, and cutting-edge AI collaboration, exactly what’s needed to guide professionals through the most significant technological transformation of our time.

At AI Crash Course, we don’t just teach about the future, we’re building it, one conversation at a time.