MEET THE RAID 2024 SPEAKERS
More speakers are announced every week
Didier Reynders
Commissioner for Justice, European Commission
Didier Reynders
Commissioner for Justice, European Commission
A father of four, Didier Reynders was born in Liège on 6th August 1958. In 1981, he obtained a degree in law at the University of Liège. Guest lecturer at the universities of Liège and Louvain, he has never really left the academic life until he became on 1th December 2019 European Commissioner for Justice.
After presiding the Belgian railways and the Belgian Airways Agency, he was elected Deputy Chairman of the PRL (Liberal party), before becoming a Member of Parliament in 1992.
On 12th July 1999, he became Minister of Finance (until 6th December 2011) and, on 18th July 2004, (concurrently) Deputy Prime Minister (until 30th November 2019).
He was Chairman of the Mouvement Réformateur (liberal party alliance) from 11th October 2004 until 14th February 2011.
He was Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and European Affairs from 6th December 2011 until 11th October 2014.
He became Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, in charge of Beliris and Federal Cultural Institutions on 11th October 2014 (until 30th November 2019).
He has also been Minister of Defense since 9 December 2018.
Since 1th December 2019 he is European Commissioner for Justice, in charge of Rule of Law and Consumer Protection.
Anu Talus
Chair, European Data Protection Board (EDPB)
Anu Talus
Chair, European Data Protection Board (EDPB)
Anu Talus has served as the Finnish Information Commissioner since autumn 2020. She is the Head of the Office of the Information Commissioner (TSV) and the Chair of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB). Before holding these positions, she worked as Deputy Information Commissioner from August 2019 until November 2020.
Prior to her work at the IMY, Talus served as Senior Adviser at the Ministry of Justice for over ten years. At the Ministry of Justice she led the implementation of the GDPR in Finland and acted as representative of the Finnish government in the EU GDPR negotiations. Talus has also worked at the European Commission, International Data Flows and Protection Unit (DG Justice and Consumers) as Seconded National Expert (SNE).
Talus holds a Doctor of Laws degree and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Helsinki and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Vaasa
Nathaniel Moran
Congressman, US House of Representatives
Nathaniel Moran
Congressman, US House of Representatives
Nathaniel Moran became a Texan just a few months before he turned two years old when his parents moved to rural East Texas with other families of faith to help start a small Bible College in southern Smith County. His formative years were spent growing up in a single-wide trailer home on that Bible College campus, where he learned from his parents the values of hard work, service to others, and service to God. Nathaniel spent most of his childhood exploring the woods around the Bible College, riding bikes on bumpy county roads, and shooting snakes with his BB gun along the West Mud Creek. Nathaniel and his family eventually moved to Whitehouse, Texas, where Nathaniel attended Whitehouse I.S.D. and graduated in 1993, proudly serving as Senior Class President and Captain of the Wildcat football team. It was during Nathaniel’s fourth grade year at Whitehouse that a love for public service rooted itself in his heart, as he—guided by his father—closely followed Ronald Reagan’s bid for re-election as President. To this day, Nathaniel considers himself to be a Reagan Republican whose conservative values were shaped primarily by his father, President Reagan’s service, and by the strong, steady voice of Rush Limbaugh over the talk radio air waves for more than two decades.
After high school, Nathaniel attended the United States Military Academy at West Point for two years before transferring to Texas Tech University, where he ultimately earned a B.A. in Russian Language and Area Studies, an MBA, and a law degree. It was at Texas Tech that Nathaniel also met Kyna, whom he married just one week before starting law school. Upon graduation from law school, Kyna and Nathaniel moved to Tyler, where Nathaniel began practicing law and Kyna began teaching elementary school. For the past two decades, Nathaniel’s civil law practice has focused primarily on business and commercial litigation and transaction work. Nathaniel and Kyna have now been married for over twenty-three years and they have four school-aged children, who serve as a primary motivation for his service in Congress.
Nathaniel began his elected public service as a member of the City Council for the City of Tyler, Texas from 2005-2009. In 2009, just after being re-elected to his third term on the Tyler City Council, Nathaniel was appointed as Mayor Pro Tem, but resigned immediately to move his family to Houston, Texas for three years so that his oldest son could attend a specialized school for the Deaf. The unexpected opportunity to relocate his family for this purpose led to the miracle of his son learning to speak by age seven, something they did not think was possible. Upon returning to Tyler, Nathaniel returned to the practice of law and began giving back to his community through service with numerous non-profit organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America, the Discovery Science Place, Cancer Foundation for Life, and Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. He also helped start an education foundation for Whitehouse I.S.D. At varying times over the past two decades, he has also been a Sunday School teacher, church deacon, trombone player for the church worship team, and coach of his daughters’ basketball teams.
In 2016, Nathaniel was appointed as the Smith County Judge to fill a vacancy in that position. As Smith County Judge, Nathaniel served as the presiding officer of the Commissioners Court, Chief Budget Officer, judge of the Constitutional County Court (which had original jurisdiction over probate, guardianship, and civil mental health matters), chair of the Juvenile Board, head of emergency management, and chief administrative officer of the County. In 2018, he was elected to a full four-year term as County Judge and he continued in that role until he was elected to Congress in November 2022. Because of his work in the area of mental health, Nathaniel was appointed to the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health in 2021. Nathaniel is proud of his decades of volunteer and elected service to his community and looks forward to continuing to fulfill this calling of service in Congress. Ultimately, Nathaniel seeks to fulfill the Great Commandment found in Matthew 22: 36-40.
Katherine Harman-Stokes
Acting Director, Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties, United States Department of Justice
Katherine Harman-Stokes
Acting Director, Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties, United States Department of Justice
Ms. Harman-Stokes is the Acting Director of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties (OPCL). The Office supports the Department’s Chief Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer (CPCLO) and is responsible for helping ensure that the Department’s 42 components comply with the Privacy Act of 1974, E-Government Act, and other privacy-related laws, regulations, and policies. In her role, she also has a central policy-making role in the Department’s development and evaluation of legislative, regulatory, and other policy proposals affecting privacy, both domestically and internationally. She has directly participated in international negotiations designed to harmonize high standards for protection of privacy and civil liberties in the law enforcement and national security contexts. Before joining DOJ, she was the Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) at one of the U.S. financial regulators, where she was the first CPO and the senior advisor for ensuring data protection and privacy in all agency programs and operations. She has been a consultant to multinational companies on international data protection and privacy law, with a special expertise in biometrics, and was a corporate officer and Associate General Counsel at the company that owns the GMAT exam, where she oversaw the data protection and privacy program for the company’s operations in 110 countries. She has chaired various committees and working groups in the Federal Privacy Council and has hosted data privacy symposia. She also was an attorney at Hogan & Hartson LLP (now Hogan Lovells US), received her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the American University School of International Service in Washington DC. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional-US and Government (CIPP/US, CIPP/G).
Jon Donenberg
Deputy Director – Technology, National Economic Council, USA
Jon Donenberg
Deputy Director – Technology, National Economic Council, USA
Jon Donenberg serves as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council. He is an expert on the intersection of technology, business, law, and public policy, and previously served in a variety of government roles, including as Chief of Staff to Sen. Warren (D-MA), Chief Counsel to Sen. Blumenthal (D-CT), as an aide to Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and as a law clerk to Judge Harry T. Edwards of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, the University of Cambridge, and Yale Law School.
John Edwards
UK Information Commissioner, Information Commissioner's Office
John Edwards
UK Information Commissioner, Information Commissioner's Office
Since January 2022, John Edwards has served as the sixth UK Information Commissioner. Before this, he served as New Zealand’s Privacy Commissioner for eight years, building an international reputation in data protection and privacy, including chairing the now Global Privacy Assembly. He also worked in a range of roles including as a policy advisor to the NZ Government, a lawyer for over 20 years in the public and private sector, and even had a stint as a mountaineer.
John’s vision and mission is for the ICO to be a regulator that empowers people to share information for personal and public benefit, and for organisations to use information to invest and innovate in the digital economy safely.
As a whole economy regulator, John’s laser focussed on delivering better, quicker and impactful regulatory interventions in AI and biometrics, children’s privacy and AdTech and online tracking.
John’s motto: “We spend once at the centre prompting savings for thousands of businesses across the economy.”
Jean-François Copé
Deputy Chairman, Fondation Prospective & Innovation, Mayor of Meaux, former Budget Minister of France
Jean-François Copé
Deputy Chairman, Fondation Prospective & Innovation, Mayor of Meaux, former Budget Minister of France
China—and the United States. In this vein and as a member of parliament, Jean-François Copé chaired the France-USA parliamentary friendship group from 2012 to 2017.
A great defender of economic liberalism, he always supported policies aiming at corporate growth, diminution of taxes, and massive R&D initiatives.
Jean-François Copé has taught Economics at Sciences Po and conducted a class on Public Finances at the University of Paris VIII.
In 1995, he was elected for the first time as mayor of Meaux, located within the Paris metropolitan area. Since its creation in 2003, he serves as Chairman of the Pays de Meaux Agglomeration Community (110 000 inhabitants). He has one priority : economic development of the airport and aeronautics sector thanks to its proximity to Roissy-Charles de Gaulle international airport. Jean-François Copé also spearheaded the project to create the Musée de la Grande Guerre in Meaux, Europe's largest First World War museum with over 1.2 million visitors since its opening.
Lawyer in business law at the Paris Bar since 2007, he is also a member of the law firm Everlaw and tax. He is a committed writer who publishes numerous political and economic essays, as well as several books. Among his latest work, in 2013, a book entitled “La Bataille de Marne” (The Battle of Marne) reconstructs a historic confrontation that changed the course of history. He subsequently published in 2016 “Le Sursaut Français” (French Awakening) in which he sets out his vision for France. Jean-François Copé also shows a great interest in Artificial Intelligence. As a matter of fact, he published in 2019 a book entitled « L’IA va-t-elle aussi tuer la démocratie? » (Will AI destroy democracy?), co-written with Laurent Alexandre.
He is Deputy President of the Foundation Prospective Innovation since December 2022, chaired by Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister.
Tine A. Larsen
President, National Commission for Data Protection (CNPD) – Luxembourg
Tine A. Larsen
President, National Commission for Data Protection (CNPD) – Luxembourg
Tine A. Larsen was appointed one of four commissioners of Luxembourg’s Data Protection Authority as of 1st November 2014 and assumes the presidency of the collegiate body.
She holds a Master in Law with a specialisation in commercial law from the University Robert Schumann in Strasbourg, France, and an MA in International Peace and Security from King’s College London.
She took the bar exam in Luxembourg in 1999 and practised as a lawyer before joining the Luxembourg Government Administration in 2003. After two years as an attaché with the Luxembourg Army Headquarters, she joined the National Rescue Services Agency. As of 2008, she was the head of its administrative, technical and medical division.
Mrs Larsen represents Luxembourg DPA at the European Data Protection Board. She is also a member of the national “Judicial Oversight Authority” (Autorité de contrôle judiciaire), the national “Information Commission” (Commission d’Accès aux documents), as well as an advisory member of the Luxembourg Human Rights Consultative Commission.
Werner Stengg
Member of Cabinet of EVP Margrethe Vestager - Europe fit for the Digital Age, and Commissioner for Competition, European Commission
Werner Stengg
Member of Cabinet of EVP Margrethe Vestager - Europe fit for the Digital Age, and Commissioner for Competition, European Commission
Werner Stengg, who joined the European institutions in 1996, is currently a cabinet expert on the cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, dealing with digital matters. Between 2006 and 2019, he held different head of unit positions across the European Commission, dealing with e-commerce and online platforms, public interest services, online gambling and postal services, and with the better regulation agenda.
Prior to that, he was involved in mainstreaming policy evaluation across the Commission, in the negotiation of bilateral and multilateral textile trade agreements, and in the negotiations on regulatory files in the areas of aviation and maritime transport.
He earned his doctoral degree in economics from the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration.
Dragos Tudorache
former Member of the European Parliament (MEP)
Dragos Tudorache
former Member of the European Parliament (MEP)
Dragoș Tudorache is a Member of the European Parliament and Vice-President of the Renew Europe Group. He is the LIBE rapporteur on the AI Act, and he sits on the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), the Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA), the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), and the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with the United States (D-US). He was the Chair of the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Age (AIDA).
Dragos began his career in 1997 as a judge in Romania. Between 2000 and 2005, he built and led the legal departments at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the UN missions in Kosovo. After working on justice and anticorruption at the European Commission Representation in Romania, supporting the country’s EU accession, he joined the Commission as an official and, subsequently, qualified for leadership roles in EU institutions, managing a number of units and strategic projects such as the Schengen Information System, Visa Information System, and the establishment of eu-LISA. 7
During the European migration crisis, Dragos was entrusted with leading the coordination and strategy Unit in DG-Home, the European Commission Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, until he joined the Romanian Government led by Dacian Cioloș. Between 2015 and 2017, he served as Head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, Minister of Communications and for the Digital Society, and Minister of Interior. He was elected to the European Parliament in 2019. His current interests in the European Parliament include security and defence, artificial intelligence and new technologies, transatlantic issues, the Republic of Moldova, and internal affairs.
Brando Benifei
MEP, Member and AI Act co-rapporteur, European Parliament
Brando Benifei
MEP, Member and AI Act co-rapporteur, European Parliament
Brando Benifei is an Italian MEP serving his second term and is the Head of Delegation of Partito Democratico in the European parliament. He is Rapporteur for the Artificial Intelligence Act, as a Member of the Committee for the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. He also works on Employment, Legal and Constitutional Affairs. He was also shadow Rapporteur of the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age. In 2016 he was included by Forbes in its 30 under 30 to watch list
Malgorzata Nikowska
Head of Unit Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Policy Coordination, European Commission
Malgorzata Nikowska
Head of Unit Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Policy Coordination, European Commission
Gosia Nikowska is Head of Unit in the AI Office of the European Commission. She is in charge of AI innovation and policy coordination. Previously, she was responsible for digital transformation of industrial ecosystems in DG CONNECT. She graduated from the Warsaw School of Economics and the Polish National School of Public Administration. She started working for the European Commission in 2004 and has occupied various functions since then.
Astrid Cousin
Head of Unit 01 (Commission Priorities and Strategic Coordination), DG COMP, European Commission
Astrid Cousin
Head of Unit 01 (Commission Priorities and Strategic Coordination), DG COMP, European Commission
Astrid Cousin is currently heading the unit in charge of Commission Priorities and Strategic Coordination (unit 01) in DG Competition. Reporting directly to the Director General, she set up this newly created unit in June 2020. Prior to this post, she was head of unit on State aid to Financial Institutions (unit D4).
From 2013 to 2018, Astrid worked as member in the cabinets of Vice-President Almunia and Commissioner Vestager, where she advised on State aid matters and competition policy at large. She joined the Commission in 2009 as a banking expert in the financial crisis task force in DG Competition. Before joining the Commission, she mainly worked in the banking sector, at Fortis Bank as Director of risk regulatory affairs, and at ABN AMRO Group, as deputy head of office of the EU Affairs department.
She graduated in Political science in France and holds a master in EU law and politics.
Gabriela Ramos
Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO
Gabriela Ramos
Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO
Gabriela Ramos is the Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) where she oversees the contributions of the institution to build inclusive and peaceful societies. Her agenda includes the achievement of social inclusion and gender equality, advancing youth development; promotion of values through sports; anti-racism and anti-discriminatory agenda and ethics of artificial intelligence. Her appointment at UNESCO allows her to continue supporting an agenda of inclusive growth, and the respect of human rights and human dignity.
Prior to this position, Ms. Ramos served as the Chief of Staff and Sherpa to the G20/G7/APEC in the OECD, contributing to the global agenda as well as leading the OECD's New Approaches to Economic Challenges, Inclusive Growth Initiative, Gender Strategy, and the work on well-being and children. In 2019, she launched the Business for Inclusive Growth (B4IG) platform, bringing together 40 major multinational companies committed to reducing inequalities.
Julie Brill
Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Vice President Global Privacy, Safety, and Regulatory Affairs, Microsoft
Julie Brill
Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Vice President Global Privacy, Safety, and Regulatory Affairs, Microsoft
As Microsoft’s Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Vice President of Global Privacy, Safety, and Regulatory Affairs, Julie Brill leads the company’s work in the tech policy, regulatory, and legal issues that underpin the world’s digital transformation. She is the central figure in Microsoft’s advocacy for responsible data use and policy around the globe.
Building on her distinguished public service career spanning more than three decades at the federal and state level, Brill directs Microsoft’s teams that lead privacy, digital safety, regulatory governance, law enforcement and national security, telecom, standards, and accessibility regulation. In her role, Brill also spearheads the company’s advocacy for responsible approaches to privacy, safety, and data protection around the world.
Prior to her role at Microsoft, Brill was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate. She served for six years as a Commissioner of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), from 2010 to 2016. As Commissioner, she worked tirelessly on issues of critical importance to consumers, including privacy, fair advertising practices, fighting financial fraud, and maintaining competition in all industries, with a special focus on healthcare and technology. Brill has also served as a partner and co-chair of privacy and security at the global law firm Hogan Lovells, Senior Deputy Attorney General and Chief of Consumer Protection and Antitrust for the North Carolina Department of Justice, and Assistant Attorney General for Consumer Protection and Antitrust for the State of Vermont. Brill also was a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia University.
Brill has been elected to the American Law Institute and received numerous awards for her work. She was named “the Commission’s most important voice on Internet privacy and data security issues,” a Top Data Privacy Influencer in 2020, and winner of the International Association of Privacy Professionals Privacy Leadership Award in 2014, among other honors.
In addition to her role at Microsoft, Brill is active in civil society, serving as a board member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals, a board member of the IAPP AI Governance Center Advisory Board, a board member of the Center for Democracy and Technology, and Governor for The Ditchley Foundation.
Brill graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University and New York University School of Law, where she had a Root-Tilden Scholarship for her commitment to public service.
Twitter: @JulieSBrill
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-brill/
Cian O’Brien
Data Protection Commissioner, Data Protection Commission – Ireland
Cian O’Brien
Data Protection Commissioner, Data Protection Commission – Ireland
Cian O'Brien was appointed Deputy Commissioner in May 2022, in a role that centres on all large-scale Data Protection Commission inquiries and investigations. Since joining the organisation in 2019, Cian’s roles in the DPC have included Legal Researcher and Senior Regulatory Lawyer. During this time, he was responsible for providing legal advice and assistance on large scale inquiries and investigations concerning both cross-border and domestic matters. Cian also acted as an advisor to the Inquiries Committee and oversaw and implemented the DPC’s process for confirming administrative fines in Court, as provided for in the Data Protection Act 2018. He graduated from University College Dublin and the Kings Inns Dublin. Cian was called to the Bar of Ireland in 2014. He practised law as a Barrister and tutored European Union law before joining the Data Protection Commission.
Sergey Lagodinsky
Member, European Parliament
Sergey Lagodinsky
Member, European Parliament
Sergey Lagodinsky, born in 1975 in Astrakhan, Russia, is a German Member of the European Parliament in the Greens/EFA Group. He is Vice-Chair of the Legal Affairs committee as well as Substitute Member of the Civil Liberties/Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs committees.
He is the shadow rapporteur for the Artificial Intelligence Act in the joint report of the IMCO and LIBE committee in the European Parliament. He previously negotiated a number of AI-related legislative initiatives, such as the Parliament’s report on recommendations on ethical use of AI, the Parliament’s opinion on the use of AI in culture and education as well as the Parliament’s opinion on improving the use of AI for European consumers. He also negotiates the reports contained in the legislative package “European Data Strategy”, including the Data Governance Act and the Data Act.
Ondřej Kovařík
MEP, Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, European Parliament
Ondřej Kovařík
MEP, Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, European Parliament
Ondřej is Member of the European Parliament representing Renew Europe. He is a member of the ECON Committee, the Chairman of the Working Group for Access to Finance for SMEs. His work therefore encompasses a wide variety of topics and focuses not only within Europe, but also beyond our borders to build relations with some of our closest allies. From transport and tourism, to border management, research and the practical use of new technologies, for example those based on Artificial intelligence and broader access to digital finance
Ondřej is currently working across his three committees on amending the Commission’s proposal for a Digital Markets Act, and is the Renew Europe spokesperson and lead negotiator on the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation.
In terms of legislation, His current principal area of focus is in Digital Finance, and the increasing digitalisation of the economy, particularly in the wake of the Covid pandemic. Last year he was Rapporteur on the Parliament’s legislative initiative report giving Recommendations to the Commission on Digital Finance: emerging risks in crypto-assets - regulatory and supervisory challenges in the area of financial services, institutions and markets. He has also been involved in a number of pieces of legislation as part of building up Europe’s Capital Markets. He led the Parliament's work on a number of tax-related files, including elements, such as e-Commerce, of the new EU VAT regime that has just come into force.
Isidro Laso Ballesteros
Cabinet Expert at Commissioner Gabriel cabinet for Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth; European Commission
Isidro Laso Ballesteros
Cabinet Expert at Commissioner Gabriel cabinet for Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth; European Commission
Isidro is the Cabinet Expert of Commissioner Gabriel for Innovation, research, Education, culture and Youth at the European Commission. He has been a senior official at the European Commission since 2001 with responsibilities such as head of Startup Europe for 9 years and Deputy head of Innovation Ecosystems at the European Innovation Council.
From 2015 to 2019 Isidro was also nominated “Thought Leader at United Nations ITU Agency”, and is member of several advisory boards to international networks of startups. He combines his professional activities with academic activities such as being “Cambridge University CSAP Continuing Fellow”, visiting lecturer to CEPADE (Universidad Politecnica de Madrid) and writing books and papers which are included as citations by hundreds of academics.
After graduating as an Engineer from the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, he set up two Innovative SMEs on software business in the Tech AgriFood area before becoming a strategy advisor to CEOs of large corporations. Afterwards he became director in charge of IT and Change Management Projects in a large corporation (Atos Origin). In 2001 he moved into the public sector where he has been mainly working on strategy and innovation within the European Commission
Karolina Mojzesowicz
Deputy Head of Data Protection Unit, DG Justice, European Commission
Karolina Mojzesowicz
Deputy Head of Data Protection Unit, DG Justice, European Commission
Karolina Mojzesowicz is the Deputy Head of Unit of the unit responsible for data protection at the European Commission (DG Justice and Consumers). She was one of the Commission's representatives in the interinstitutional negotiations with Parliament and Council on the General data Protection Regulation (GDPR). She is now responsible for its implementation in the EU. Mrs Mojzesowicz previously served as a member of the European Commission's Legal Service, focusing on EU Competition law and International Trade law. In that capacity, she represented the Commission in numerous cases before the European Courts and before the WTO panels and Appellate Body. Mrs Mojzesowicz studied law in Poland, the Netherlands and Germany where she obtained her PhD in 2001.
Charlotte Deane
EPSRC Executive Chair
Charlotte Deane
EPSRC Executive Chair
Professor Charlotte Deane MBE is Executive Chair at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
She is Professor of Structural Bioinformatics in the Department of Statistics at the University of Oxford and co-director of the Systems Approaches to Biomedical Research Centre for Doctoral Training, which she founded in 2009.
From 2022 to 2023 she was Chief AI Officer at Exscientia, a biotech company with around 450 employees, where she led its computational scientific development.
She has held numerous senior roles at the University of Oxford, including Head of the Department of Statistics and Deputy Head of the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences division. She was the Deputy Executive Chair of EPSRC from 2019 to 2021.
She served on SAGE, the UK government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and acted as UK Research and Innovation’s COVID-19 Response Director. She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to COVID-19 research.
At Oxford, she leads the Oxford Protein Informatics Group. The group works on diverse problems across immunoinformatics, protein structure and small molecule drug discovery. They use statistics, artificial intelligence (AI) and computation to generate biological and medical insight.
Her work focuses on the development of novel algorithms, tools and databases that are openly available to the community. These tools are widely used web resources and are also part of several pharmaceutical drug discovery pipelines.
She is on several advisory boards and has consulted extensively with industry. She has set up a consulting arm within her own research group as a way of promoting industrial interaction and the use of the group’s software tools.
Wolfgang Lauer
Head of Medical Devices Division, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM)
Wolfgang Lauer
Head of Medical Devices Division, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM)
- Honorary Professorship, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University
- Since 2011 Head of the "Medical Devices" Division of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).
- Senior Engineer and Head of the Research Group "Medical System Ergonomics and Safety" at the Chair of Medical Engineering of the RWTH Aachen University, Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering of the RWTH Aachen University
- PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Robotics for Surgery) , RWTH Aachen University
Filomena Chirico
Head of Unit - Digital Markets - DG Connect, European Commission
Filomena Chirico
Head of Unit - Digital Markets - DG Connect, European Commission
Filomena Chirico leads the Unit in charge of the implementation of the Digital Markets Act in European Commission’s DG Connect Platforms Directorate. She took over this role after the successful adoption of the new EU digital regulations, the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, for which she was responsible as advisor in the Cabinet of European Commissioner for Internal Market and Digital Thierry Breton. Previously she was case handler in the European Commission’s DG competition and advisor to Commission’s VP Jyrki Katainen for research and defence policy.
Before joining the Commission, she conducted academic work. Her main focus was on regulation and competition in the telecoms and digital sectors, including Internet governance and network neutrality, as well as on the economics of contract law. After her PhD in Institutional Economics from La Sapienza University, she held the position of assistant professor at Tilburg University and member of the Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC). She holds a Master’s Degree in law from Luiss University, a Master's in Law and Economics from the universities of Rotterdam, Hamburg and Berkeley.
Besides her position in the European Commission, she is currently also visiting professor at the College of Europe in Bruges, teaching the seminar Digital regulation for the single market.
Cecilia Alvarez Rigaudias
Director of Privacy Policy Engagement, EMEA at Meta
Cecilia Alvarez Rigaudias
Director of Privacy Policy Engagement, EMEA at Meta
Cecilia Aalvarez Rigaudias is the EMEA Privacy Policy Director at Facebook since March 2019. From 2015 to 2019, she served as European Privacy Officer Lead of Pzifer, Vice-Chair of the EFPIA Data Protection Group and Chairwoman of IPPC-Europe. For an interim period, she was also the Legal Lead of the Spanish Pfizer subsidiaries. She formerly worked 18 years in a reputed Spanish law firm, leading the data protection, IT and ecommerce areas of practice as well as the LATAM Data Protection Working Group.
Cecilia was the Chairwoman of APEP (Spanish Privacy Professional Association) until June and is currently in charge of its international affairs. She is also the Spanish member of CEDPO (Confederation of European Data Protection Organisations) and member of the Leadership Council of The Sedona Conference (W-6).
She is a member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation in the section of the Law on Technologies of the Information and the Knowledge as well as Arbitrator of the European Association of Arbitration (ITC Section).
She formed part of the Volunteer Group of Privacy Experts of the OECD (Working Party on information Security and Privacy; WPISP) in charge of the 2013 review of the OECD guidelines governing the protection of privacy and transborder data flows of personal data. She formerly participated in the Group of Experts selected by the Spanish DPA to prepare the Madrid Resolution on International Privacy Standards in 2009.
Cecilia has written numerous publications on data protection and regularly lectures on data protection, IT and ecommerce at different Masters Programs and seminars.
Kai Zenner
Head of Office and Digital Policy Adviser for MEP Axel Voss
Kai Zenner
Head of Office and Digital Policy Adviser for MEP Axel Voss
Kai Zenner is Head of Office and Digital Policy Adviser for MEP Axel Voss (European People’s Party Group) in the European Parliament. Describing himself as a digital enthusiast, he focuses on AI, privacy and the EU’s digital transition. Currently, he is involved in the political negotiations on the AI Act, AI liability directive, eprivacy Regulation and GDPR revision. In his individual capacity, he is pushing for reforms within the European Parliament and for bringing back the Better Regulation agenda to EU policymaking.
Mr Zenner graduated in political science (M.Sc. at University of Edinburgh, B.A. at University of Bremen) and in law (State Exam at University of Munster). Before moving to the European Parliament, he worked as research associate at the European office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Brussels.
He is member of the OECD.AI Network of Experts and of an Expert Group that supports the 'High-Level Advisory Body on AI' of the United Nations. Zenner was awarded best MEP Assistant in 2023 ("APA who has gone above and beyond in his duties") and ranked Place #13 in Politico's Power 40 - class 2023 ("top influencers who are most effectively setting the agenda in politics, public policy and advocacy in Brussels").
Emmanuelle Assouan
General Directorate of Financial Stability and Operations, Banque de France
Emmanuelle Assouan
General Directorate of Financial Stability and Operations, Banque de France
Emmanuelle Assouan has been the Director General for Financial Stability and Operations – Banque de France – since January 2023. She also chairs the Banque de France Climate Change Centre.
She was previously delegated Director General in charge of Financial Stability within the Banque de France and the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution. Her areas of responsibility also covered activities related to prudential regulation of credit institutions and insurers.
Prior to financial stability, she held several positions in relation to payments and market infrastructures, but also management of foreign exchange reserves of Banque de France and implementation of monetary policy.
Emmanuelle Assouan joined the Banque de France in 1997. She is a graduate from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris.
Liviu Stirbat
Head of Industry 5.0 & AI in Science, DG for Research and Innovation, European Commission
Liviu Stirbat
Head of Industry 5.0 & AI in Science, DG for Research and Innovation, European Commission
Liviu ȘTIRBĂȚ, is the Head of Industry 5.0 & AI in Science at the DG for Research and Innovation in the European Commission. He was previously a member of cabinet for Commission Executive VP Vestager in charge of innovation, space, and sustainability. He was Deputy Head of EU Adaptation to Climate Change, and Deputy Head of better regulation for research (including Horizon Europe). Prior to the European Commission, he worked for the OECD and the World Bank. He holds degrees in astrophysics and economics from Harvard, Leiden, and the Paris School of Economics.
Carlo Comporti
Commissioner, CONSOB (National Commission for Companies and the Stock Exchange), Italy
Carlo Comporti
Commissioner, CONSOB (National Commission for Companies and the Stock Exchange), Italy
Carlo Comporti is Consob Commissioner since 7th February 2022.
From 2011 to 2022 he holds the position of CEO of Promontory Italy and COO of Promontory Europe (Business Unit of IBM Consulting), after having been Director General of Promontory France.
In 2011 Acting Secretary General and Senior Advisor to the President at the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) in Paris. From 2003 to 2010 at the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR) in Paris, holding the functions of Secretary General and, previously, Deputy Secretary General.
In 2002 he was seconded to the European Commission, DG Internal Market, in Brussels. In 2001 he was seconded to the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.
From 1994 to 1997 he joined Consob at the Intermediaries Division in Milan and the International Relations Office in Rome.
From 1999 to 2007 contract lecturer for the annual commercial law course at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Siena.
He graduated from the University of Siena in 1991 and in 1995 obtained a Ph.D. in Banking and Financial Market Law at the University of Siena.
Dr Ritu Nalubola
Deputy Director for the Office of Policy, Legislation and International Affairs, US FDA
Dr Ritu Nalubola
Deputy Director for the Office of Policy, Legislation and International Affairs, US FDA
Dr. Ritu Nalubola is the Deputy Director of the Office of Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs, within FDA’s Office of the Commissioner. In this role, she supports the Deputy Commissioner and FDA leadership to advance FDA’s policy, legislative, and global programs, as well as engagements with Congress and global and domestic partners. Prior to assuming this role, Dr. Nalubola was based in Brussels for nearly five years serving as the Director of FDA’s Europe Office, advancing the priorities of both the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the region. An FDA veteran of more than two decades, Dr. Nalubola served various roles, including as a senior policy advisor leading FDA’s efforts to support innovation in agricultural biotechnology, nanotechnology, and other emerging science-policy areas. She is currently engaged in the Office of the Commissioner’s efforts to consider challenges and opportunities for the use of AI in FDA’s regulatory and administrative operations and decision-making
Magali Durieux
Head of Digital Transformation, Belgian Competition Authority
Magali Durieux
Head of Digital Transformation, Belgian Competition Authority
Today: Head of Digital Transformation ( Belgian Competition Authority )
- Strategic project Coordinator (FPS Economy )
- HR & ICT Change Manager ( National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance)
- Program & ICT Account Manager ( Chancellerie du Premier Ministre )
- ICT Manager (Federal Agency for Medicines products)
- E-HR Manager (FPS Public Health)
- HR recruitment (SELOR, Unique Interim)
Today : ChairWoman (CEO) Felink
Study :
Sarah Jacquier Pelissier
Board Member, Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications, Posts and Press Distribution (ARCEP) – France
Sarah Jacquier Pelissier
Board Member, Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications, Posts and Press Distribution (ARCEP) – France
Sarah Jacquier Pelissier holds a PhD in law from the Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas, and a Master’s in telecommunications and new media management from the Université Paris Dauphine. She began her career in 2001 as a lawyer with the firms Baker & McKenzie and later Hogan Lovells. In 2010, she was appointed legal director of HADOPI before joining the European Commission in 2014, as the national expert seconded to the Directorate-General for Communication Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT). In the "copyright" unit, she contributed to the reform of the neighbouring right of press publishers.
Since 2018, she has been an advisor on platform and digital law to the head of the legal and international affairs department of the Ministry of Culture. She is a member of the control commission of the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (France’s National Centre for Cinema/CNC) Regulatory oversight committee since 2021.
Sarah Jacquier Pelissier has been appointed to the Arcep Executive Board by Decree of the President of the Republic, dated 23 March 2023 and is replacing Monique Liebert-Champagne
Ahmed Baladi
Partner and the co-chair of Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group, Gibson Dunn
Ahmed Baladi
Partner and the co-chair of Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group, Gibson Dunn
Ahmed Baladi is a partner in the Paris office of Gibson Dunn. He specializes in Information Technology & Digital Disruption, Data Privacy and Cybersecurity.
His practice covers:
- Strategic digital transformation, such as acquisition or development of innovative solutions (lnternet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Fintech, big data and cloud-based solutions);
- Data privacy and cybersecurity, including compliance and governance projects in light of the GDPR, cross-border litigation requiring data transfer and BCR;
- Complex commercial transactions, particularly in the technology, energy, aerospace and pharmaceutical industries.
Ahmed Baladi is an active member of the Fondation Prospective et Innovation and regularly speaks at Sino-European conferences including the BOAO Forum and the International Capital Conference (ICC).
Zoe Kardasiadou
Legal and Policy Officer, Data Protection Unit, DG JUST, European Commission
Zoe Kardasiadou
Legal and Policy Officer, Data Protection Unit, DG JUST, European Commission
Zoe Kardasiadou is working as legal and policy officer for the European Commission, at the Data Protection Unit of DG JUST. Before her current position, she worked at the EDPB, EDPS and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. Zoe also worked for 10 years at the Greek data protection authority and headed the Department for policy and supervision. Zoe is a lawyer by education and has worked in the field of ICT law and data protection law. Her doctoral thesis addressed issues of product liability and medical malpractice in relation to expert systems.
Priscilla Koo Wilkens
Senior Economist, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bank for International Settlements
Priscilla Koo Wilkens
Senior Economist, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bank for International Settlements
Priscilla Koo Wilkens is a Senior Economist in the Monetary and Economic Department’s Innovation and Digital Economy unit at the Bank for International Settlements. Prior to this, she served in various roles at the Central Bank of Brazil, including heading the Pix Management Division and co-leading the development of the Brazilian Credit Information System. Priscilla holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo and a master's degree in Public Administration with a concentration on Economics and Finance from Cornell University.
Dr Laura Caroli
Senior Policy Advisor, European Parliament
Dr Laura Caroli
Senior Policy Advisor, European Parliament
Laura Caroli is a Senior Policy Advisor at the European Parliament where she has worked since 2014 for MEP Brando Benifei (S&D), on whose behalf she has led negotiations on the AI Act at technical level. Experienced in Internal Market, AI, digital affairs as well as foreign affairs, defence and human rights. She previously worked at the Italian Parliament and the Italian think tank “Italianieuropei” in Rome. She holds a PhD in Geopolitics from the University of Trieste.
Stephen Gilbert
Professor of Medical Device Regulatory Science, Dresden University of Technology
Stephen Gilbert
Professor of Medical Device Regulatory Science, Dresden University of Technology
Stephen Gilbert is Professor of Medical Device Regulatory Science at the Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Digital Health, Technische Universität Dresden where he teaches and conducts research on regulatory science with a team of colleagues. He worked in senior MedTech and Digital Heath roles in industry for 5 years, before returning to academia in 2022.
His research goal are to advance the regulatory science of software as a medical device and AI-enabled medical devices. Innovative digital approaches to healthcare must be accompanied by innovative approaches in regulation to ensure speed to market, to maximum access of patients to life saving treatments whilst ensuring safety on market. My main research interests are in: (i) data sharing and the European Health Data Space; (ii) approaches to market approval of adaptive AI enabled medical devices; (iii) drug<->digital/AI-enabled medical device product realisation; (iv) digital/virtual twins: as an organising concept of the future of healthcare
Antonio Krüger
Managing Director, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Antonio Krüger
Managing Director, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Antonio Krüger is CEO and scientific director of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence GmbH (DFKI) and head of the department “Cognitive Assistants” at DFKI. He is a full professor for Computer Science at Saarland University (since 2009), Head of the Ubiquitous Media Technology Lab and scientific director of the Innovative Retail Laboratory (IRL) at DFKI. Prof. Krueger is an internationally renowned expert on Man-Machine-Interaction and Artificial Intelligence. In 2010 he has established the Mediainformatics study programme at the Saarland University and directs it to this day. Antonio is a co-founder of the Saarbrücken-based technology company Eyeled GmbH, which focuses on the development of mobile and ubiquitous information systems. Many of his research findings have found their way into applications in retail and other industrial domains. From 2004 to 2009 he was a professor of computer science and geoinformatics at the University of Münster and acted as the managing director of the institute for geoinformatics. He studied Computer Science and Economics at Saarland University and finished his Ph.D in 1999 as a member of the Saarbrücken graduate school of „Cognitive Science“. Antonio has published more than 200 scientific articles and papers in internationally recognized journals and conferences and is member of several steering committees, editorial boards and scientific advisory committees.
Waldemar Gonçalves Ortunho Júnior
Chief Executive, National Data Protection Authority, Brazil
Waldemar Gonçalves Ortunho Júnior
Chief Executive, National Data Protection Authority, Brazil
Waldemar Gonçalves Ortunho Junior is an electronic engineer, graduated from Instituto Militar de Engenharia, IME. He has a postgraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Brasília, UnB.
In the academic and educational field, he represented Brazil as an advisor/instructor at the Escuela Politécnica del Ejército (ESPE) from 1996 to 1998. In addition, he was a professor for more than 20 years at several higher education institutions in the Federal District, such as IESB, Catholic University of Brasília, Faculdades Michelângelo, UniCEUB, ICESP and Faculdade Alvorada.
From 1973 to 2003, as a Brazilian Army officer, he held various operational and administrative positions in the Ministry of Defense: engineer in Army Telecommunications Directorate, head of Telecommunications Center and head of Telematics Section of the Army Command.
In 2004, he was a Grants Evaluation General Coordinator for Broadcasting Service at Ministry of Communications. He was also part of the Digital TV Management Group, responsible for choosing the Brazilian Digital Television System.
From December 2010 to January 2013, he was a Coordinator of “Brigada Braço Forte” project at Instituto Cesar.
During the major national events, 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup, he was a Telecommunications Coordinator for FIFA Local Committee.
He was a Systems Engineering Advisor at the Ingepro consortium, a supporter of the SISFRON project, from February 2014 to August 2015.
In his last role prior to being appointed Chief Executive Officer of ANPD, he was the President of Telecomunicações Brasileiras S.A. – Telebras, from January 2019 to November 2020.
Ulrich Ahle
CEO, Gaia-X
Ulrich Ahle
CEO, Gaia-X
Giorgio Metta
Scientific Director, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Giorgio Metta
Scientific Director, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Giorgio Metta is the Scientific Director of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT). He holds an MSc with honors (1994) and a PhD (2000) in electrical engineering from the University of Genoa. From 2001 to 2002, he was a postdoctoral associate at the AI-Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He worked at the University of Genoa and was Professor of Cognitive Robotics at the University of Plymouth (UK) from 2012 to 2019. From 2020 to 2021 he was Visiting Professor at the University of Manchester, UK. Giorgio Metta served as deputy scientific director of IIT from 2016 to 2019. He serves in the Board of Directors of Gefran S.p.A. and Industrie De Nora S.p.A., two listed Italian companies. Giorgio Metta’s research activities are in the field of bioinspired systems and humanoid robotics, with a focus on the design of machines that can learn from experience; he has authored or co-authored more than 300 scientific publications and worked as PI on about a dozen international and industrial research projects. He has coordinated the development of the iCub robot for more than a decade, making it the de facto platform of choice for research in AI; there are currently more than 50 robots in the world, in research labs as far as Japan, China, Singapore, Germany, Spain, the UK and the US
Jess Merryfield
Head of Policy and Campaigns, CTSI
Jess Merryfield
Head of Policy and Campaigns, CTSI
Jessica is a Chartered Trading Standards Practitioner, with a strong sense of fairness and social justice. Jessica was appointed Head of Policy and Campaigns at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute in April 2024, bringing two decades’ experience in a variety of Trading Standards, Environmental Heath and regulatory-based roles across the public and private sector.
At CTSI, Jessica is leading on CTSI’s Policy work, including helping CTSI to drive change and build influence externally, championing the work of the Trading Standards profession and workforce. She is heavily involved in horizon scanning for new and emerging trends which will impact businesses, consumers and Trading Standards professionals working in all sectors. Jessica and her team use this information to create evidence and risk-based policies and campaigns from which CTSI can raise awareness and push for change.
Jessica is a Christian and her faith has been instrumental in guiding her to the career she has enjoyed to date, using her knowledge and skills to bring the biggest benefit to as many as possible. Jessica graduated with a degree in Environmental Health, before making the switch to Trading Standards, working her way through the qualification process until she was awarded the Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS) by CTSI. It is believed that Jessica is the first person in the history of both the UK Environmental Health and Trading Standards professions to hold both qualifications.
Vivek Mohan
Co-Chair of AI Practice and Partner, Gibson Dunn
Vivek Mohan
Co-Chair of AI Practice and Partner, Gibson Dunn
Vivek Mohan is a partner at Gibson Dunn, where he is co-chair of the Artificial Intelligence practice and a core member of the Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation practice. Vivek has been recognized by Chambers Global 2024 as a “Global Market Leader” in their inaugural Artificial Intelligence rankings.
Vivek advises clients on legal, regulatory, compliance, and policy issues on a global scale with a focus on artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technology issues. His practice spans regulatory response, counseling, advocacy, and transactional matters allowing him to provide clients with strategic advice whether they are developing a new product or service, responding to a regulatory inquiry, setting up a privacy program, responding to a data breach, deploying new internal AI tools, or negotiating a complex agreement.
Vivek previously worked at Apple Inc., where he was a senior attorney on the company’s global privacy law & policy team and head of information security law. At Apple, Vivek was responsible for privacy and security legal issues associated with the company’s products, services and corporate infrastructure. Earlier in his career, Vivek was in private practice, where he counseled clients in the technology, telecommunications, healthcare and financial services sectors on privacy and cybersecurity. Vivek has worked as an attorney at Microsoft, at the Internet Bureau of the New York State Attorney General (under a special appointment), and at General Electric’s corporate headquarters (on secondment), and was previously a partner at another international law firm. For five years, he was a resident fellow and later a non-resident associate with the Cybersecurity Project at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Vivek is a thought leader recognized by the legal, academic and policy community, and has guest lectured at Harvard, Columbia, and Yale Law Schools on technology regulation. Among other publications, Vivek is the co-editor and author of the PLI treatise “Cybersecurity: A Practical Guide to the Law of Cyber Risk” (6d. 2022
Ashish Sarkar
Partner, KPMG UK
Ashish Sarkar
Partner, KPMG UK
Ashish is a Partner in KPMG’s Strategy practice, where he works with clients navigating the strategic, operational, and risk elements of their AI journey. He leads KPMG UK’s ‘Value from AI’ service, supporting clients define their AI vision and strategy, launch AI programs, and conceptualise and implement applications of AI in their business and operating models. His client base spans Financial Services, PE, Manufacturing, Aviation, Telecommunications, and Public Sector in multiple global environments.
Prior to this role, Ashish led the set up and execution of KPMG’s Global Strategy Centre of Excellence, overseeing the growth of the business to 3,000 practitioners globally. He is the creator and lead author of KPMG’s strategy methodologies for: AI Strategy, Enterprise Transformation, New Market Entry, Strategy Stress Test, Digital Strategy, and Design Thinking.
Ashish holds a Masters of Business Administration from Smith School of Business Canada, and a Bachelors of Technology in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Andy Phippen
Professor of Online Harms, University of Bournemouth
Andy Phippen
Professor of Online Harms, University of Bournemouth
Andy Phippen is a Professor of Digital Rights at the Bournemouth University and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Suffolk in the UK. He has specialised in the use of ICTs in social contexts and the intersection with legislation for almost 20 years, carrying out a large amount of grass roots research on issues such as attitudes toward privacy and data protection, internet safety and contemporary issues such as sexting, peer abuse and the impact of digital technology on wellbeing. He has presented written and oral evidence to parliamentary inquiries related to the use of ICTs in society, is widely published in the area and is a frequent media commentator on these issues.
Nell Thornton
Improvement Fellow, The Health Foundation
Nell Thornton
Improvement Fellow, The Health Foundation
Nell is an Improvement Fellow at the Health Foundation where she leads major research projects on the use of new technologies and data analytics to improve healthcare, specialising in artificial intelligence.
Nell has worked in health care for over a decade. She was previously the Senior Delivery and Business Manager for the Leeds Academic Health Partnership where she managed programmes across tech innovation and health data in collaboration with NHS providers and commissioners, universities, the local authority, and health innovation network.
Nell received a distinction in her MA Social Research from the University of Leeds where she focussed on the construction of policy narratives regarding the use of artificial intelligence in the health service.
Dr. Wassim Jouini
CTO and Head of AI, LegalPlace
Dr. Wassim Jouini
CTO and Head of AI, LegalPlace
Wassim Jouini earned his Ph.D. in AI in 2012 and has been active in the field since then. After a few years at Microsoft and later at Criteo, he currently serves as the CTO and Head of AI at LegalPlace, a dynamic scaleup in France. Alongside his responsibilities at LegalPlace, he is a dedicated Business Angel, offering support to early-stage startups in Tunisia and France
David Bassetti
CEO & Founder, Bassetti Group
David Bassetti
CEO & Founder, Bassetti Group
David Bassetti, a technology engineer, is the founder and CEO of Bassetti Group, a software and engineering company headquartered in France with subsidiaries in China, India, France, Germany, Tunisia, Canada, and the United States.
David Bassetti graduated from the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble and has a PhD in Materials Science. At that time, and long before the AI Revolution started, David applied numerous AI algorithms such as fuzzy logic, expert systems, genetic algorithms for neural networks to various engineering problems. Trustful in his technological abilities to resolve corporate issues, he founded Bassetti in 1992 and grew his company from a small start up to a multinational group consisting of 400 engineers developing and integrating its proprietary software.
TEEXMA is the only modular and configurable, end-to-end software solution designed to capture, leverage and process technical and scientific data for industry. As an obvious stakeholder of the Artificial Intelligence groundswell, Bassetti Group keeps exploring technological opportunities ; using for instance AI-powered chatbot, data cloud and constraint programming.
Nowadays, over 600 companies worldwide and 200,000 users across various industries rely on TEEXMA to improve product design, transmit knowledge, and optimize processes.
Juan Ventura
Research and Patient Engagement Director, Cancer Patients Europe
Juan Ventura
Research and Patient Engagement Director, Cancer Patients Europe
Juan-Jose studied Pharmacy and obtained his PhD at the University Complutense of Madrid. He has conducted basic research in international institutions such as EMBL, HHMI, CNIO, University of Cambridge and KU Leuven. He has aimed to find target cells and molecular biomarkers that could be used for diagnosis and therapy of several cancers (Liver, Colon, Lung). After switching his career path, he moved to work as patient advocate. He has participated in more than 20 EU research projects and helped to bring the voice of patients to the latest research trends.
Regina Becker
ELSI Fellow, Luxembourg National Data Service (LNDS)
Regina Becker
ELSI Fellow, Luxembourg National Data Service (LNDS)
ELSI Fellow (Ethical, Legal and Social Implications), Luxembourg National Data Service (LNDS)
Regina Becker has a background in the ethical, legal and social implications of secondary use. She has focussed for many years on the ethical and legal side of data governance in reconciliation with the technical and scientific challenges and the approach to create a win-win approach. Becker is leading the ELSI working group and the legal implementation of the governmental 1+ Million Genome Initiative, a joint pursuit of 24 EU Member States as well as Norway and the UK to create a harmonised genomic data space that could become a sub-space of the European Health Data Space (EHDS). She is also engaged in the EHDS discussions directly and participated in the EHDS negotiations as expert for Luxembourg.
Prior to her work for the LNDS she worked at the University of Luxembourg and the European Bioinformatics Infrastructure ELIXIR. A physicist by training, Becker brings in the data science in parallel to the data protection and ethical components of processing sensitive data for research and innovation. Regina Becker holds a PhD from the RWTH Aachen University in Germany.
Elias Papadopoulos
Policy Director, DOT Europe
Elias Papadopoulos
Policy Director, DOT Europe
Elias is the Policy Director at DOT Europe. Before joining the team, he worked for a decade in public affairs consulting, where he represented large multinational firms, as well as trade and professional associations focussing, but not limited to, the tech sector. He has covered a range of policy areas, such as cybersecurity, data, AI, consumer protection, taxation and tourism, with a focus on technology industry stakeholders. Elias has substantial experience in devising public affairs strategies and executing advocacy campaigns, as well as advising stakeholders on potential risks and opportunities stemming from EU policy.
At DOT Europe, he oversees the association’s various workstreams and provides strategic advice on positioning and outreach activities. He also works on horizontal issues and contributes to the wider strategy of the association.
Elias holds a Master’s degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science; and a Bachelor’s in Journalism and Mass Media from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Cassandra Gaedt-Sheckter
Partner and the co-chair of Artificial Intelligence Practice Group, Gibson Dunn
Cassandra Gaedt-Sheckter
Partner and the co-chair of Artificial Intelligence Practice Group, Gibson Dunn
Cassandra Gaedt-Sheckter is a partner in Gibson Dunn's Palo Alto office, where she co-chairs the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) practice, and is a key member of the Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation practice, including as the leader of the firm’s State Privacy Law Task Force. With extensive experience advising companies on AI, data privacy, and cybersecurity issues, Cassandra focuses on strategic product counseling, regulatory compliance counseling, global program development, regulatory enforcement matters (including in connection with the California AG’s Office, CPPA, and FTC), and complex transactional representations (including assisting companies with targeted assessments in M&A, partnerships, vendor and outsourcing agreements). Cassandra advises clients in various industries, including technology, retail, luxury fashion, gig economy, financial, energy/oil and gas, and transportation.
Noémi Bontridder
Member of the Information Ethics Working Group, UNESCO
Noémi Bontridder
Member of the Information Ethics Working Group, UNESCO
Noémi Bontridder is a researcher at the Research centre information, law and society, Namur Digital Institute, University of Namur, Belgium and a member of the Information Ethics Working Group, Information for all programme, UNESCO. Her research focuses on the European regulation of artificial intelligence. She is also guest lecturer at ISEN Lille – Junia and in the DU AI Ethics Officer at University of Artois.
Bojana Bellamy
President, Centre for Information Policy Leadership (CIPL)
Bojana Bellamy
President, Centre for Information Policy Leadership (CIPL)
Bojana is the President of Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Centre for Information Policy Leadership (CIPL), a preeminent global privacy and data policy think tank in London, Washington, DC, and Brussels. Bojana works with global business and technology leaders, regulators, policy and law makers to shape global data policy and practice and develop thought leadership and best practices for privacy and responsible data use. Politico nominated Bojana in its inaugural 2021 Tech28 list of top people influencing digital policy in Europe and beyond. In 2019 Bojana received the IAPP Vanguard Award, which recognizes privacy professionals for outstanding leadership, knowledge and creativity. With over 25 years of experience in privacy and data policy and compliance, including former global privacy head at Accenture for 12 years, she sits on several industry and regulatory advisory boards and panels, including Mercedes-Benz Advisory Board for Integrity and Sustainability and the UK Government’s Expert Council for International Data Flows.
Serge Degallaix
Former Ambassador, Director General of the Tunisia Development Foundation
Serge Degallaix
Former Ambassador, Director General of the Tunisia Development Foundation
Born in 1947, Serge DEGALLAIX holds a master's degree in economics, is a graduate of the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris and a former student of the Ecole Nationale d'Administration. A career diplomat, he has been posted in Algiers, Yaoundé, Lomé, Tehran, and at the United Nations in New York. In France, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was in charge of the energy/raw materials office at the Directorate of Economic and Financial Affairs, DGA at the General Directorate of Cultural, Scientific and Technical Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Director at the Ministry of Cooperation from 1985 to 1989, he was Administrator of the Central Banks of the Franc zone and at the French Development Agency. Diplomatic and strategic affairs advisor to the Prime Minister from 2002 to 2005, he has served on several occasions as Ambassador, in Dhaka (1989-1992), Hanoi (1996-2001) and Tunis (2005-2009) and as chargé d'affaires in Iran (1978).
He was Associate Professor of International Economics at the Universities of Clermont-Ferrand and Tours for eight years. Founding President and Honorary President of the Association for the International Diffusion of French Actuarial Science (DIAF). He is an honorary member of the French Institute of Actuaries. Administrator of the Foundation for the Study and Research on International Development FERDI.
Elected representative of the commune of Louans from 2023 to 2014. From 2010 to 2022, administrator of SÉSAME University and president of its strategic committee. In Vietnam, he was a director and chairman of the investment committee from 2010 to 2019 of the Vietnamese life insurance company Prévoir Vietnam as well as of the Tunisian Lloyd.
From 2010 to February 2023, he was the Managing Director of the Prospective and Innovation Foundation, a foundation created by René Monory and chaired by JP Raffarin.
Since 2026, he has been the Managing Director of the Tunisia Foundation for Development.
He is the manager or director of several companies including a consulting company (SDCP), Esprit Béguinage, a social and solidarity company that helps with housing for elderly people with modest means, CIBOLA, a consulting and investment company in the green economy, LEGALTECH EURA-AFRIQUE, a company with a mission in digitalization, as well as family real estate companies.
Karine Caunes
Executive Director, Center for AI and Digital Policy (Europe)
Karine Caunes
Executive Director, Center for AI and Digital Policy (Europe)
Karine Caunes is Global Program Director of the Center for AI and Digital Policy (caidp.org) which aims to promote a better society, more fair, more just — a world where technology promotes broad social inclusion based on fundamental rights, democratic institutions, and the rule of law.
She is the head of CAIDP Global Academic Network whose main goals are to promote well-informed AI policy and cutting-edge research; provide high-quality resources and enable networking opportunities for those working in the field of AI policy; identify emerging AI policy issues and establish ethical standards in the field.
She co-authored, together with Marc Rotenberg and Merve Hickok, the CAIDP AI and Democratic Values Index (2022), the first and only global index assessing the AI policies of 50 countries worldwide, and teaches with them an AI Policy Clinic and Advanced AI Policy Clinic in the framework of CAIDP comprehensive certification program for AI Policy
She is the Editor-in-Chief of the European Law Journal (ELJ). She holds a PhD in law from the European University Institute, was Jean Monnet Research Fellow within the Center for International and Regional Economic Law & Justice at NYU and visiting Scholar at Columbia Law School. She has taught at Sciences Po Paris, Université Paris X, Université Lyon III, France; European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation, Venice, Italy; Central European University, Budapest, Hungary; Ljubljana University, Slovenia; IE Law School, Madrid, Spain; Catolica Global School of Law, Lisbon, Portugal. She has participated in EU and nationally-funded research projects and has been a consultant for European and national institutions
Peter Craddock
Partner, Keller and Heckman
Peter Craddock
Partner, Keller and Heckman
Peter Craddock is a lawyer with a software development background, offering a unique blend of legal and technical knowledge. He is sought after by a diverse clientele, ranging from start-ups to established multinational corporations, for guidance on global data strategies and EU data litigation, including appearances before the EU Court of Justice. Based in Brussels, he helps international companies find legal solutions to technical problems and technical solutions to legal problems. Peter is a prominent voice, notably in the adtech and digital advertising space and on ePrivacy evolutions.
Peter helps drive innovation and optimise data utilisation across the EU and beyond. His strategic counsel and legal support span the critical domains of privacy and data protection, data governance, AI governance, cybersecurity, e-commerce, digital transformation, and software contracting. His dual background as a lawyer and software developer uniquely equips him with the ability to analyse the possibilities offered by data protection laws and emerging technologies through a multifaceted lens.
Peter’s commitment to client success is evident in his hands-on approach to developing compliant initiatives and smart compliance tools. Notably, Peter’s data breach risk assessment tool received a “Highly Commended” accolade at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards 2019, and his GDPR fine calculation tool, DeFine, serves to clarify data protection financial risks for organisations worldwide.
Jonny Shipp
Senior Advisor, The Internet Commission
Jonny Shipp
Senior Advisor, The Internet Commission
The Internet Commission is a non-profit founded by Jonny Shipp in 2018. It works internationally to help digital organisations understand their impact on society and improve their trust and safety practices. In 2022, the Internet Commission became part of the Trust Alliance Group, which has been providing independent dispute resolution services for over 20 years. The UK Energy Ombudsman and the UK Communications Ombudsman are also part of the group.
Retained to lead on European digital policy and dispute settlement for digital platforms, Jonny is a Brussels-based strategy consultant and accredited mediator. He helps business, government, and other organisations to create new possibilities by exploring their own and their stakeholders’ interests. In leadership roles at Telefónica (2003 – 2017), Jonny pioneered approaches to online safety, data, and digital trust. He served as a senior board member at the Internet Watch Foundation (2010 – 2016), and as a School Governor he supported the turnaround of three London schools (2009 – 2020).
Karen Boers
Social entrepreneur & Managing Director FARI, AI for the Common Good Institute
Karen Boers
Social entrepreneur & Managing Director FARI, AI for the Common Good Institute
Karen is a serial social impact entrepreneur. She co-founded and developed the disruptive coding school BeCode, retraining hundreds of adults into skilled web developers no matter their background or (lack of) degree & experience. Building on the experience from creating the Belgian and European startup associations Startups.be and European Startup Network as well as the unique tech education hub BeCentral, she strives to create scalable and sustainable projects with a societal purpose. She currently heads the joint ULB-VUB initiative FARI, the AI Center for the Common Good, ensuring local stakeholders can benefit maximally from the expertise on Artificial Intelligence, data and robotics available in the region.
Isabel Barberá
AI Advisor, Privacy Engineer & Head of AI Research, Rhite, The Netherlands
Isabel Barberá
AI Advisor, Privacy Engineer & Head of AI Research, Rhite, The Netherlands
Isabel Barberá is an AI Advisor, Privacy Engineer, and Head of AI Research at Rhite, a leading consultancy and research firm in The Netherlands specializing in Trustworthy AI. With a background in computational linguistics, computer science, and law, and over 20 years of experience in software development, AI/ML, cybersecurity and privacy, Isabel offers a unique blend of technical and legal expertise.
She is the author of PLOT4.ai, an open-source AI assessment tool that helps organizations identify AI risks and build Responsible AI systems. Isabel is also a member of ENISA’s ad hoc Working Group on Data Protection Engineering and a National Expert at CEN/CENELEC, contributing to the development of the European AI standards on Risk Management, Cybersecurity, and Trustworthiness.
Guido Lobrano
Vice President, Europe, Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)
Guido Lobrano
Vice President, Europe, Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)
Guido Lobrano is Senior Vice President and Director General for Europe at ITI – the global association of the tech industry. Guido is based in Brussels, where he opened ITI’s first office in Europe.
Since 2017, he leads ITI’s engagement on the European Union’s activities impacting technology and innovation. He is in charge of the organisation’s activities on EU initiatives in areas such as Artificial Intelligence and data, privacy & cybersecurity,platform issues, environment & sustainability policy, and coordinates the work of ITI’s global team of experts on the EU international and trade activities.
Before joining ITI, Guido worked at BusinessEurope, the confederation of European industry. He was in charge of digital and tech policy and was leading the coordination of BusinessEurope’s Legal Affairs and Internal Market teams. Throughout his career, Guido covered many crucial policy debates from a cross-industry perspective, including the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Cyber Security Act, The Digital Markets Act as well as transatlantic data flows, from the Safe Harbor invalidation to Privacy Shield and the recent EU-US Data Privacy Framework.”
Boniface de Champris
Policy Manager, Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA Europe)
Boniface de Champris
Policy Manager, Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA Europe)
Boniface de Champris is Policy Manager at the Computer & Communications Industry Association’s Brussels office, primarily responsible for CCIA’s advocacy in the area of artificial intelligence (AI).
Boniface came to CCIA Europe in 2023 from a public affairs agency, where he worked on both EU and French digital policy files (such as content moderation, data flows, data protection, and platform liability) for a wide range of clients. Previously he was a trainee in the WTO team of the European Commission’s Legal Service.
De Champris has a master’s degree in European interdisciplinary studies from the College of Europe, a master in French and German law from the University of Paris Nanterre, as well as an LLM from the University of Potsdam. Boniface also holds an executive master in law and artificial intelligence from the Brussels School of Competition. He is fluent in French, German, and English.
Natascha Gerlach
Director of Privacy Policy, Center of information Policy Leadership (CIPL)
Natascha Gerlach
Director of Privacy Policy, Center of information Policy Leadership (CIPL)
Natascha Gerlach holds the position of Director of Privacy Policy for the Center of information Policy Leadership (CIPL) in Brussels. Her work is focused on a range of privacy and data related topics including cross-border data flows, AI, data ethics and data governance. Before joining CIPL, Natascha was a Senior Attorney with Cleary Gottlieb in their Brussels office, where she headed Cleary’s European eDiscovery group leveraging her experience in US eDiscovery by implementing new technologies and operationalizing the team. Natascha was also a senior member of Cleary’s Data Privacy group and advised clients on a wide array of data privacy issues, with a special focus on the cross section of international discovery and data protection. Natascha is Chair Emerita of The Sedona Conference Working Group 6 on International Electronic Information Management, Discovery and Disclosure (WG6) Steering Committee. She is on the advisory board for the Georgetown Law AEDI and has been on the ABA CBI Steering Committee since its inception in 2017. Natascha publishes regularly on data protection topics and is a frequent speaker at relevant conferences.
Emoke Peter
Head of European Public and Regulatory Affairs, Worldline
Emoke Peter
Head of European Public and Regulatory Affairs, Worldline
Emőke Péter is the Group Head of Public and Regulatory Affairs at Worldline, where she drives sustainable digital transformation of payments across the EU and globally, shaping the future of money and technology through policies. She is Executive Advisory Board Member of Vixio Regulatory Intelligence, Board member of Brussels Binder and an expert in the European Commission's Payment Systems Market Expert Group (PSMEG).
Prior to that, Emőke worked in the European Parliament, and served 6 years in the Juncker & Von der Leyen Commissions, overseeing headline policy priorities "Europe fit for digital age" and "A new push for European democracy". She holds an B.A. & a M.A. in diplomacy & EU Governmental Affairs, and she graduated this year the HULT EF Executive Educations 21’st Century Leadership Academy. Her leadership and strategic acumen have garnered significant recognition in Europe, including her recent nomination as Head of Governmental Affairs of the Year within the Global Regulatory Awards 2024, her nomination to the “Women Who Advance Associations 2024” by the Boardroom Magazine and her feature in the EU Insider 2024 Influencer list “Who to Follow: Money & Commerce”.
Sebastian-Dan Naste
Senior Analyst, Cullen International
Sebastian-Dan Naste
Senior Analyst, Cullen International
Sebastian follows EU regulation related to privacy and data protection, as well as national legislative developments covering the digital economy more broadly in Ireland and Romania. He joined Cullen International from a consultancy company in Brussels, where he was a public affairs manager. Sebastian worked at the Permanent Representation of Romania to the EU in the team dealing with cybersecurity and telecom during Romania’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2019. Previously, he worked for Deloitte Luxembourg advising the EU institutions on how to address the cyber and privacy challenges. Sebastian has an LL.M Master’s Degree in Law and Technology from Tilburg University in the Netherlands.
Lien Delvoye
Senior Legal Director, J&J MedTech
Lien Delvoye
Senior Legal Director, J&J MedTech
Lien Delvoye is Senior Legal Director at Johnson & Johnson Medtech and has been with the company since 2019.
Lien provides legal support to the Johnson & Johnson Medtech business in the EMEA region, with a special focus on commercial strategy including value-based healthcare, data and digital healthcare solutions. Prior to joining J&J Medtech, Lien was counsel at the Brussels office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. She started her career at Allen & Overy in Brussels/New York.
Lien obtained her law degree at the University of Leuven (Belgium) and was admitted to the Brussels Bar. She is registered as inhouse lawyer at the Belgian institute of company lawyers (Instituut voor Bedrijfsjuristen).