Vicealcaldesa del Ayuntamiento de Madrid
Deputy Mayor, Madrid City Council

Miguel A. Porrúa is the Coordinator of the Data and Digital Government Cluster at the IFD/ICS Unit of the Inter-American Development Bank. Prior to this position, Miguel was a senior e-Government Specialist at the Organization of American States (OAS) where he managed the Organization´s e-Government portfolio. Previously Miguel was the Director of Government Relations for Latin America at the electronic government company govWorks, based in New York, where he oversaw various electronic government projects in the region. Prior to his arrival in the US, Miguel lived in Montevideo (Uruguay) where he managed projects related to the modernization of the public sector for the Spanish government (Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development, AECID) and the United Nations (UNDP).

Dr. Ott Velsberg is the Chief Data Officer of Estonia and a senior government official responsible for national data and artificial intelligence policy. He oversees the development of data governance, open data, and trustworthy AI, and leads initiatives that embed data and AI into public-sector decision-making and service delivery. Under his leadership, Estonia has gained a reputation as a trendsetter in data governance and artificial intelligence.

Alex has over 30 years professional experience in a series of leadership roles that has consistently focused on building partnerships to address the world’s biggest development challenges. Alex currently serves in the Office of the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for digital technologies, where he is responsible for developing and managing key engagements between the ITU and its partners, including within the UN system. He also oversees several ITU wide initiatives such as Giga, Partner2Connect, and the Digital Infrastructure Investment Catalyzer.

Prior to joining the ITU, Alex worked in both the private and not-for-profit sectors. From 2018-2019, he served as President of CG/LA Infrastructure, a US based company that promotes and develops infrastructure projects around the world. From 2000 to 2018, Alex was a member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum, an international organization for public private cooperation with a mission to improve the state of the world, where he held several leadership roles including the development and rollout of the Forum’s Global System Initiatives; heading the ICT, Media & Entertainment, Basics, and Infrastructure industry teams and related projects; and heading the Center for Global Industries Geneva. From 1988-2000, Alex worked in a variety of professional roles at Accenture as a Strategy Consultant, General Motors as a Quality Control Engineer, and the US National Parks Service.

He is a licensed Professional Engineer with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto and a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University.

Ana Rita Pereira is an experienced business leader with over 25 years of expertise in consulting, technology, sales, and management, recognized for driving growth and innovation across diverse industries. Ana Rita currently leads Microsoft’s Public Sector Industries for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, covering 128 countries.

Previously, Ana Rita held senior roles at Microsoft, including leading the Education Business across EMEA, overseeing Government & Healthcare for Western Europe, and serving as Executive Director and Board Member of the Public Sector Operating Group in Portugal. Her career also includes successful tenures at Accenture and Ernst & Young in Portugal, Angola, and Mozambique, where she honed her skills in business strategy, planning, value-based selling, and people management.

Ana Rita holds a Master’s degree in International Studies from the University of Lisbon and has completed executive programs at AESE Business School and the Portuguese Catholic University. Passionate about community impact, she serves as Vice President for Corporate Partnerships at PWN Lisbon and volunteers as a mentor with Junior Achievement Portugal, Girls in Tech, and Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome.

EU Policy Officer at European Commission

Giulio Quaggiotto is the former Head of Strategic Innovation at UNDP. He was a Research Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is also an Honorary Research Fellow at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. His career spans leadership roles at Climate KIC, Nesta, WWF, and the World Bank. Additionally, he managed the Jakarta Lab of the UN Global Pulse. His research interests include portfolio approaches to innovation and lead user innovation. Giulio’s passions include marsupials and Slavic philology, which make him the last person you want to be stuck in the elevator with.

Tamara Srzentić is a Montenegrin expert on digital transformation and innovation. She served as the Minister of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media in Montenegrin government and the cabinet of Zdravko Krivokapić, from 2020 to 2022, prior to which she was Deputy Director of the California Innovation Office.
With ~20 years of experience in government reform, policy & digital transformation leadership Tamara has developed a global reputation for introducing culture & practices of the digital era to help governments better serve the public. Over the past two California administrations she championed the course for the priority policy & digital reforms for the world’s 4th largest economy. Tamara built digital teams and led key open gov, data and digital service reform initiatives; her team was in charge of California’s digital response during a worldwide pandemic modeling radically human centered “test and learn” approach to public service delivery.

Micaela Sánchez Malcolm is a specialist in public innovation, digital policies, and communication. She holds a degree in Communication Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires, where she also teaches and conducts research, and a postgraduate degree in Public Policy Design and Evaluation from Pompeu Fabra University.

From 2019 to 2023, she served as Secretary of State for Public Innovation of Argentina, leading initiatives in digital government, connectivity, transparency, digital rights, and technology with a social and gender perspective.

She currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Presidency of the National Audit Office and is President of Géneras, the civil society organization that leads Women in Tech in Argentina and promotes the inclusion of women and gender-diverse people in STEM and technology sectors.

She is also co-host of CTRL X, a technology program by Corta, where she addresses issues related to artificial intelligence, digital culture, inclusion, rights, and public policy.

Chief Vision Officer, Serendipity tech

Mrs. Jana Krimpe is an internationally recognized digital identity and e-government visionary with over 15 years of hands-on experience implementing national-scale ICT solutions. She is the Founder and CEO of B.EST Solutions, an award-winning provider of Mobile-ID and digital signature technologies endorsed by the United Nations, OECD, NIST, and Google. Jana has been named among the Financial Times and Google “Top 100 Change-Makers,” One World Identity’s global “Top 100 Digital Identity Influencers,” Mastercard’s Women SME Leaders Award winners, and the “Top 100 Women of the Future” shaping emerging technologies worldwide.

She leads the Mobile-ID Consortium, serves as Advisor at the Global Trust Foundation, and Co-Chairs the Post-Quantum Cryptography Working Group. As founder of Femmes Digitales – Supporting Women in Tech, she is also a prominent advocate for women’s leadership. Jana is a sought-after speaker at global forums, contributing her expertise to the World Economic Forum, UN ESCAP, and multiple international reports.

Tiago C. Peixoto is a Senior Digital and AI Specialist and the World Bank’s focal point on AI and Digital Services for the Western Balkans and Europe. Since joining the institution in 2010, he has worked with governments to design and implement digital solutions that improve public policies and service delivery. Before joining the World Bank, Tiago managed projects and consulted for several organizations, including the European Commission, the OECD, and the United Nations. He has been recognized as one of the 20 Most Innovative People in Democracy and one of the 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government. He is also a recipient of the Louis Brownlow Award from the American Society for Public Administration. His work has been featured in both mainstream and specialized media, and he has published in leading academic journals. Tiago holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Political and Social Sciences from the European University Institute, as well as an M.A. in Sociology of Organizations from Sciences-Po Paris.

Board Advisor at Curcio Capital. Distinguished Fellow at Future Government Institute. Former Executive Director and member of the Honorary Board of Directors of the Digital Government and Information and Knowledge National Agency (AGESIC), which is responsible for designing the strategic lines of AGESIC and supervising their execution, proposing and advising the Executive Branch in the formulation of policies related to the Information Society and the informatics development of the State, and evaluates the performance and results obtained in the management. I was also member of the Digital Health Advisory Council, whose main task is to incorporate the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the field of health, in order to improve the quality and continuity of care for all people living in the country.

I was member of the Executive Board of the State Procurement Regulatory Agency (ARCE), whose purpose is to promote and propose actions aimed at improving the management and transparency of public procurement and, in general, of public sector procurement.

I was member of the Executive Council of the Electronic Certification Unit (UCE), which is the regulatory body of the advanced electronic signature and digital identification ecosystem. The UCE has powers of accreditation, control, instruction, regulation and sanction. I was member of the Executive Councils of the Public Information Access Unit (UAIP) and of the Regulatory and Personal Data Control Unit (URCDP); and former President of the Human Rights Council of the Presidency of the Republic.

I also held the position of Director General of the Presidency of the Republic of Uruguay. I was responsible for the coordination and management of various services provided by that office.

During the last term, I held the position of Secretary General of the Senate in the Uruguayan Parliament, where I coordinated the agenda of the Chamber’s sessions,

prepared and distributed documents, interacted with the different members, conducted meetings, among other tasks of such position.

I was elected to the Montevideo Electoral Board two consecutives terms.

Internationally, I was Executive Director for Uruguay and member of the Board of Directors – Gealc Network. (IADB-OAS) as Executive Director of Agesic, I served as President of eLAC until 2024. (ECLAC), Senior Executive of Uruguay in Digital Nations, Representative Authority of Uruguay to the Working Group on AI Ethics (UNESCO/CAF), Representative of AGESIC in the EU-LAC Digital Alliance.

Eduard Mihalas is the Regional Adviser on Population and Data at UNFPA Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office. He leads UNFPA’s work on population and data, by advising governments in the region on building strong data systems and leveraging the potential of data in addressing the demographic shifts.

He previously served as a Resource Mobilization and Partnership Specialist with the Public Funding and Financing Branch in New York. In that capacity, he engaged with various donors and governments to position UNFPA’s mandate and the SDGs, successfully managing relationships with traditional partners and leading diversification efforts, particularly with emerging donors. He also led the resource mobilization efforts for the ICPD30 Global Dialogue on Demographic Diversity and positioned UNFPA’s work on demographic shifts with the largest donors of the organization.

Prior to this role, Eduard was a Population and Development Analyst for UNFPA Moldova. There, he spearheaded innovative programs that supported the Moldovan Government to take a robust shift in building demographic resilience and worked with the National Bureau of Statistics in moving towards a register-based statistical system. His work enabled Moldova to revise for the first time in 30 years the population estimates at national and sub-national level and, for the first time, to estimate international migration, in alignment with the Eurostat requirements. He also initiated strategic collaborations with the private sector to foster family-friendly policies and intergenerational solidarity.

Before joining UNFPA, Eduard was a prominent civil society leader, actively involved with the Open Government Partnership and the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. As President of the National Youth Council, he launched groundbreaking initiatives to empower young people and established new youth policy frameworks across Moldova and Eastern Partnership countries.

Manuel Kilian is Managing Director of the Global Government Technology Centre (GGTC) in Berlin, a collaboration between GovTech Germany and the World Economic Forum. He previously founded and served as CEO of GovMind, a leading provider of GovTech intelligence, which he sold in 2024. Prior to that, Manuel worked as an Investment Manager in the FinTech space, as a Principal at Axel Springer’s technology consultancy and as Chief of Staff to the President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI). He also gained experience as a Guest Researcher at the UK Cabinet Office.

Manuel holds a Master of Philosophy in Public Policy from the University of Cambridge and completed earlier studies at Lund University, Maastricht University, and Sciences Po Paris. His career has focused on driving innovation and fostering technology adoption in the public sector.

Daniel Abadie is a global digital transformation leader with extensive experience driving large-scale public sector innovation. He serves as Head of Technology & Partnerships at the Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure (CDPI), working with governments and international organizations worldwide to scale impactful digital public infrastructure systems, with the goal of enabling one billion people to benefit from DPI-powered services.

He was recognized by Apolitical in 2019 as one of the 20 most influential people in digital government in the world. Previously, Daniel was Undersecretary of Digital Government of Argentina (2015–2019), where he led the design and delivery of major digital public services, including Mi Argentina (a unified citizen services platform and digital wallet), the first ever legal digital driving license, and Argentina.gob.ar, the country’s single domain for government services. During Argentina’s G20 presidency, he led discussions on government transformation and advanced citizen-centric digital policy.

Daniel is a published author, speaker, and advisor on digital government, transformation strategy, digital public infrastructure, and AI. He works with organizations such as the World Bank, UNDP, IDB, and governments around the world to make digital services more accessible, effective, and equitable.

Pedro Tavares is Co-Founder and CEO of GovHorizon, an AI-powered platform that helps organizations anticipate regulatory changes, policy shifts, and governance challenges before they happen. The platform processes global large scale daily sources to provide early-warning intelligence for strategic decision-making across public and private sectors.

Previously, Pedro served as Portugal’s Secretary of State for Justice, where he launched Europe’s first GovTech program in the Justice sector and led digital transformation initiatives that contributed to reducing case backlogs by 25%. He also managed the BUPi Digital Land Registry project, using AI and satellite imagery to map over 30% of Portuguese properties in two years, helping to contribute to sustainable resilience and smart territories policies. Both initiatives were recognized by the OECD in its 2024 report on Portugal’s justice modernization.

Before joining government, Pedro worked in digital transformation roles at IT consulting firms, where he led enterprise modernization projects across public and private sectors.

Pedro is a founding member of the UNU AI Global Network. He holds a Master’s in Media and Web and is pursuing a PhD in Information Management at NOVA IMS, focusing on AI-enhanced strategic foresight for digital policymaking.

Estefanía del Azar is the Communications Manager at GSTC, she has a solid background in advertising and marketing, and is passionate about telling stories that inspire and connect. With an entrepreneurial mindset, she co-founded her own advertising agency, working for almost a decade with various agencies and media companies. Estefanía holds a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations from Antonio de Nebrija University, as well as an MBA and additional training in areas such as Corporate Social Responsibility, Team and Talent Management, and Online Marketing. She is a passionate learner about technology, innovation, and sustainable travel. In addition to her professional work, Estefanía volunteers in her community by leading its book club which celebrated its fourth anniversary this year. She is also an advocate for neurodiversity and inclusion, drawing on her lived experience as an AuDHD adult to promote visibility and understanding of invisible disabilities. She is based in the western mountains of Madrid, Spain where she lives with her family and beloved animals.

Angie is a Director at Public Digital who helps organisations build high-performing delivery teams and achieve digital transformation, with deep experience across the public sector, charities, and international development.

She has worked globally with clients including Bloomberg, the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations, NHSX, and multiple government bodies, leading major modernisation and data-driven initiatives. Previously a policy advisor in the Argentine public sector, Angie also serves as a trustee and charity officer, supporting community-focused organisations.

Désirée Heutschi is Co-CEO of Procivis and Head of Corporate Development at its parent company, Orell Füssli Ltd, based in Zurich. Before joining Orell Füssli in 2020, she served as CEO of Swiss Startup Factory, an innovation consultancy and venture-building firm in Zurich. Prior to that, she held various leadership roles at Microsoft Switzerland, focusing on digital transformation across different customer segments. From 2000 to 2004, she worked in business development and strategy at Genesys in San Francisco. Désirée holds an Executive Master of Business Law from the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and a Master’s in International Relations from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Internationales (HEIP) in Paris.

State Attorney and Lead Counsel for Science, Technology, and Innovation for the State of São Paulo, Brazil. IDB Consultant for Public Procurement of Innovation in Brazil and Latin America. PhD and LL.M. at the University of São Paulo and Fellow in AI and Machine Learning at the World Economic Forum.

Johannes Mikkonen is a Senior Policy Expert at Demos Helsinki, where he works on the societal impacts of digital technologies and AI. He has conducted case studies on AI and automated decision-making in the Nordic public sector and has advised ministries, Prime Minister’s Offices, and EU institutions on digital transformation and AI policy. Johannes has also developed frameworks for non-discriminatory AI and contributed to several large European research initiatives on democracy and anticipatory technology governance. Previously, he served as an advisor on AI, data, and digital policy at the European Parliament. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science.

Idoia is a recognized expert on govtech and advises local and national governments on govtech innovation ecosystems and public policies. She holds an MBA from MIT, a MA in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, and in 2019 was recognized by Apolitical as one of the world´s 100 most influential people in digital government.

Laman Ibrahimova heads up the newly established ASAN AI Hub, leading the digital platform’s efforts to bring together government, business, and academia on a unified digital platform to promote artificial intelligence (AI) innovation in Azerbaijan. In parallel, Laman serves as Advisor to the Director of Innovations Center, operating under the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. She has previously conducted independent research into Responsible AI Stewardship in the Public Sector through the University of Sheffield and the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

Under her leadership, the ASAN AI Hub is fostering open AI innovation by openly posting technical challenges on the platform, enabling users to submit solutions and compete for prize funds. Through this work, Ibrahimova is positioning ASAN AI Hub as a catalyst for responsible, collaborative AI innovation that connects public-sector challenges with diverse expertise across society.

Kelly Ommundsen is the Head of Digital Inclusion and a Member of the Executive Committee for the World Economic Forum. She combines her expertise in technology, policy, and partnerships with a deep commitment to social equity to drive meaningful systems change. Through several flagship initiatives she is leading, including the Global GovTech Network, EDISON Alliance, and the Global Regulatory Innovation Platform (GRIP), she champions public-private collaboration to modernize governance and ensure technology works for people.

Previously, Kelly served as the Chief of Staff to the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum for over 5 years and was responsible for creating the Forum’s pioneering presence in the metaverse. Kelly has previously led the Forum’s government and regional partnerships for its technology agenda and was responsible for the organization’s relationship with the U.S. Government.

Kelly has a diverse background in the public sector and civil society. She also holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan.

Secretari de Telecomunicacions i Transformació Digital de la Generalitat de Catalunya

As Head of GovTech at Heliad, Ibrahim is responsible for a dedicated GovTech & DefenseTech investment strategy. He previously headed the GovTech division at PwC and, as a venture developer and shareholder representative. He has also been involved in the GovTech Campus in Berlin since its establishment. Before focusing on venturing activities, he spent many years advising the public sector at KPMG & PwC at EU and federal level on strategic digitalization initiatives and the establishment of new organizations, e.g. in the area of digital sovereignty and security.

Dr. Libby Maman is a researcher, speaker, and consultant expert in trust, governance, measurement, and regulation. Her award-winning research has been published in leading political science and public administration journals, providing a rigorous foundation for her work with governmental bodies, corporations, and NGOs. She is a lecturer at ESADE and is the founder of Luminata Consulting.

Sandra Martigue is the Digital Business Development Director for EMEA at SICPA, where she leads strategic collaborations with governments, regulators, and industry partners across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In her role, she focuses on strengthening SICPA’s digital trust portfolio, including solutions in traceability, tokenization, data integrity, and advanced digital security.

Her work includes supporting key solutions such as SICPA Guardian®, which is dedicated to allocating social subsidies and shaping social welfare policies, and SICPA Detect®, which helps enforcement authorities protect regulated markets from illegal activities. Together, these solutions enhance authenticity, transparency, and resilience in critical ecosystems by enabling real-time monitoring, fraud prevention, and the protection of high-risk or high-value goods.

Sandra is passionate about advancing innovative, future-focused technologies that strengthen sovereignty and protect trust and public-interest infrastructures. She advises institutions on digital transformation strategies and promotes the adoption of trusted technologies to improve compliance, safeguard citizens, enhance operational visibility, and reduce risk. Working closely with SICPA’s leadership and regional teams, she helps build long-term partnerships and contributes to the development of digital sovereignty frameworks across EMEA.

Before joining SICPA, Sandra built over 20 years of experience in leadership roles at the intersection of technology, data, security, and innovation. She held senior business development and executive positions at global organisations including Dataminr, Nielsen, and Microsoft. In these roles, she led growth strategies, supported highly regulated sectors, and guided organisations through major technological shifts such as digitalisation, real-time intelligence, data-driven decision-making, and AI-enabled risk management.

Throughout her career, Sandra has worked closely with European agencies, national authorities, and international organisations on crisis management, digital security, and emerging regulatory frameworks. Her professional journey reflects a strong commitment to aligning innovation with the public interest.

She holds an Executive Master’s in Marketing Management and Business Strategy from HEC Paris, as well as specialised certifications in analysis and crisis management from the École de Guerre Économique in Paris.

Jaume Miralles is the Director General of Artificial Intelligence, Efficiency and Data in the Administration. He comes from the private sector, with more than 25 years of experience in ICT consulting, mainly at IBM, and specializes in artificial intelligence, data, and public sector digitalization solutions. He has also taught in various postgraduate courses and has written a book on AI projects.

PhD in Tourism. More than 25 years of experience in the tourism sector in the areas of strategy, market intelligence, tourism policy and innovation. Senior Director for Strategy & Knowledge Management at Turismo de Portugal and Chairman of OECD Tourism Committee. Vice-Chair of the UN Tourism Committee on Statistics.

Tourism Expert in several workgroups from international organizations such as EU, UNWTO, OECD, ETC and WEF.

Invited Professor at Nova School of Business and Economics, Nova Information Management School and Universidad Europea das Canarias.

Industrial Engineer (2001) with a Master’s Degree in Internet Administration and Programming. He has worked as a Java developer (2002–2008), teacher in Computer Science (2008–2014), Advisor at the ISMIE “Las Acacias” (2014–2015), and Full-Stack Developer at the Department of Education (2015–2020). Since 2020, he has served as Head of the Educational Platforms Service in Madrid Region. He also collaborates as a trainer in AI, Data Science, and Blockchain, is a frequent speaker, and a promoter of Open Source projects and HackathonLovers.

Ana has a degree in law and has worked as a legal advisor and attorney. She has skills in online marketing and experience in fi eld sales, sales development and account management in an international environment in the technical engineering and software industries. On the subject of personal interests, she is an advocate of corporate social responsibility and sustainability, and her hobbies are: cycling and photography.

Lina Viltrakienė is a career Lithuanian diplomat currently serving as Ambassador-at-Large for Digital and Tech Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. From 2019 to 2024, she served as Lithuania’s first Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the OECD. Throughout her nearly three-decade career at the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she has focused on trade and economic diplomacy. Prior to 2019, she was the director of the External Economic Relations Department at the Lithuanian MFA for a few years. During Lithuania’s EU Council presidency in the second half of 2013, she chaired the Trade Policy Committee/Deputies in Brussels. She has also worked at the Lithuanian Permanent Representation to the WTO in Geneva. Her portfolio includes EU trade policy, international economic organizations, economic security, and digital and tech diplomacy. Mrs. Viltrakienė holds an MBA in international economics from Vilnius University and is fluent in English, Russian, and speaks French.

Manuel Sierra Castañer (Dean of the Telecom Engineering School at UPM) is Full Professor and internationally recognized expert, particularly in antenna measurement and design techniques. His outstanding contributions have garnered top honors: elevation to AMTA (2019) and IEEE Fellow (2025) and the AMTA Distinguished Achievement Award (2024). His extensive leadership experience includes a decade as UPM’s Director of Development Cooperation, three years of Vice-President of EurAAP (European Association of Antennas and Propagation), and five years of AMTA European Liaison. He actively translates research into practice, co-founding the spin-off ASYSOL and collaborating with industry leader MVG. His profile is uniquely complemented by a deep commitment to social impact, currently serving as President of the EHAS Foundation, which leverages ICT for healthcare in developing regions.

I am a public-sector professional specializing in e government, records management, and digital transformation, with more than 15 years of experience in local administrations. Throughout these years, I have worked to promote more efficient, accessible services that are aligned with the real needs of citizens, always with a practical and collaborative approach.
My background in records management and my teaching experience at Universidad Carlos III have shaped the way I work: combining technical rigor with a strategic perspective, while remaining strongly committed to continuous improvement and supporting teams. I have actively participated in regional and national working groups on electronic documents, files, and archiving, contributing to initiatives aimed at improving and standardizing e administration in local government.
In 2018, I received the CNADE Award, a recognition I value greatly for what it represents within the profession and because it comes from the professional community itself.
Between 2020 and 2023, I served as Director General of the Digital Office of the Las Rozas City Council. In that role, I coordinated the digital transformation strategy, the implementation of electronic procedures, the development of the city’s digital twin, the Digital Transformation Committee, and several data governance and cybersecurity initiatives. It was a period in which I learned a great deal about public leadership, change management, and how to guide complex organizations through modernization processes.
I am currently part of the Digital Office of the Madrid City Council, where I work on coordinating and monitoring digital transformation efforts. In this position, I contribute to advancing strategic municipal projects and supporting the consolidation of a more digital, simpler, and citizen focused administration.
My contribution is based on a combination of technical expertise, a transversal understanding of the public sector, and a strong commitment to improving public service. I believe in the value of collective work, in the importance of cultural change, and in the idea that digital transformation is only sustainable when people —both public employees and citizens— are at the center.

Teresa Riesgo Alcaide (Secretary General for Innovation, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities), born in Madrid, is a Professor of Electronic Technology at the Technical University of Madrid and the current Secretary General for Innovation of the Government of Spain. After completing her studies in Industrial Engineering, she has pursued a distinguished career in academia, research, and university management.

Throughout her career, she has held various responsibilities within the Spanish R&D&I system, both in the university environment and in public administration. Among her previous positions, it is worth highlighting her role as Director of the Industrial Electronics Center at the Technical University of Madrid, her position as Director General for Research, Development and Innovation at the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, as well as her presidency of the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology and Innovation and the venture capital company Innvierte.

Sarah Gold is a global digital leader who specialises in the design of trustworthy digital services in the private and public sectors. She helps organisations change how they integrate technology to solve systemic and persistent customer challenges. Sarah is the founder and CEO of IF, a design and strategy studio for organisations using emerging technologies such as AI. IF helps their clients grow in new markets and deepen existing relationships through greater customer trust. Clients include Google, the UK Government, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. She advises the Mayor of London’s Data for London programme, and the UK Design Council on digital. Her work on legibility of complex systems has won several awards, including Forbes 30 under 30 and The Observer’s New Radical.

Gustavo Maia is the Founder and CEO of Colab, a GovTech company that develops digital public service platforms used by governments to deliver services, citizen engagement and multichannel communication.

He is a member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on GovTech and Digital Public Infrastructure and writes about digital government, state capacity and artificial intelligence in public administration.

Isabelle Hupont is a Telecommunications Engineer and holds a PhD in Computer Engineering from the University of Zaragoza, with nearly 20 years of experience in Artificial Intelligence and Human–Computer Interaction.

Throughout her career, she has worked in a variety of leading institutions across academia, research and industry, including the Sorbonne University in Paris, the Aragon Institute of Technology (ITA), the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the private sector at Herta. This diverse experience has given her a comprehensive perspective on the technology ecosystem, from fundamental research to the development and commercialization of highly innovative products.

In 2021, she joined the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, where she explored the role of science and technology in public policy, with a particular focus on the regulation of trustworthy AI. Since 2025, she has continued this path in the Spanish Government, serving as a Scientific Advisor at the National Office of Science Advice (ONAC) in the cabinet of the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities.

International Consultant and Expert in Emerging Technologies

• Multilateral Organizations
• Private Companies

Former Minister of Technology and Telecommunications of Costa Rica

Professor at the Latin University of Costa Rica

Recognized Media Source and Opinion Columnist

International Speaker

Kateryna Frolova is the Head of the Global Government Technology Centre (GGTC) Kyiv, part of the World Economic Forum’s global network of Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. She leads the Centre’s work on advancing GovTech, public sector innovation, and international collaboration with the goal of positioning Ukraine as a global leader in digital governance.

Previously, Kateryna served as Chief Digital Transformation Officer at the Coordination centre for Family Upbringing and Childcare development under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, where she led the development of national digital platforms in the field of child protection, adoption, and family-based care, improving transparency, efficiency, and access to services.

Before returning to Ukraine, she spent over seven years in the European tech sector (Twitter, Snapchat) across London, Dublin, and Paris, working with leading global technology companies on sales, partnerships, and market expansion.

Kateryna brings a unique combination of public sector leadership and private sector experience, and is passionate about scaling innovation, strengthening institutions, and driving Ukraine’s integration into the global digital economy.

Deputy Director General of Digital Transformation. Madrid City Council

Ignacio Gei is the Secretary of Smart City and Digital Transformation for the Municipality of Córdoba, Argentina, where he leads smart city and digital transformation initiatives. He designed the City’s Digital Agenda for the 2024–2027 period and currently leads the implementation of the Municipality’s comprehensive digital services platform, Mi Docta.

He has extensive experience in public administration in different provinces in Argentina, where he has led public management innovation processes, particularly in the integration of legacy systems. He has designed and promoted initiatives such as the Electronic Case File, Digital Citizen, and the Public Procurement System.

He has also served as Systems Manager and Director of E-Government in Córdoba, and as Director of New Technologies in the Province of Buenos Aires (2007–2011). Between 2015 and 2020, he served as Undersecretary of Telecommunications for the Province of Córdoba.

Almudena Maíllo Del Valle holds a degree in Business Administration, specializing in Financial Management and Accounting, from the Complutense University of Madrid. She also completed the Leadership Program for Public Management at IESE Business School.

Currently, she serves as Deputy Mayor for Tourism in the Madrid City Council, Secretary General of the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities (UCCI), and Councilor President of the San Blas-Canillejas district.

Between 2019 and 2023, she was Councilor President of the Moratalaz district; a member of the Madrid City Council for the People’s Party (2015-2019); Councilor President of the San Blas-Canillejas district (2013-2015); and Councilor President of the Hortaleza district (2012-2013). Director General of Early Childhood and Primary Education (2011-2012); Director General of Tourism for Madrid (2007-2011); Advisor to the Office of the President of the Community of Madrid (2005-2007); and Technician in the Directorate General of Foreign Relations (2003-2005).

She also worked in the Finance Department of Dragados y Construcciones and has taught courses for Foreign Trade Technicians at the Madrid Chamber of Commerce.

Stefanos is a Programme Officer at the European Commission, where he leads GovTech activities to support the digital transformation of public administrations across Europe. He is responsible for the GovTech4all Incubator and contributes to flagship initiatives such as the Public Sector Tech Watch and EU GovTech, promoting the uptake of AI and other emerging technologies in the public sector. His work focuses on interoperability, evidence-based policymaking, and collaboration with startups and public authorities to scale innovative solutions across Member States.

Nathan Ducastel (1973) is a Dutch public sector executive with a strong focus on digitalisation and effective policy implementation. He studied Political Science at the University of Amsterdam and began his career at the Ministry of the Interior and consultancy firm PBLQ. In 2017, he joined the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) as Director of Information Society Policy, and since 2020 he has served as Managing Director of VNG Realisatie, the organisation’s implementation and innovation arm.

VNG Realisatie focuses on improving digitalisation, information management, and service delivery across government and municipalities. It supports the practical implementation of policies and fosters innovation, while also providing collective services for its members, including procurement and an information security center.

In addition to his role as Managing Director of VNG Realisatie, Ducastel is an active voice in digital government and regularly contributes columns to national publications on digitalisation and public governance.

Etsè FIATSI is an Information System Architect at Agence Togo Digital, Togo’s national digital agency, where he designs enterprise architectures and leads digital transformation initiatives for multiple government institutions. He holds a dual Master’s degree in Software Engineering from the University of Lomé and UTBM (France).
With over four years of hands-on experience in the public sector, Etsè has contributed to landmark national projects, including the architecture of Togo’s National Public Digital Portal and the RESA nationwide digital platform. He has facilitated enterprise architecture workshops for government technical managers, coordinated cross-functional teams, and trained civil servants on newly deployed digital tools.
Based in Lomé, Togo, Etsè is committed to building resilient, people-centered information systems that help African public administrations deliver better services to their citizens.

Currently, Juan Corro is the Manager of the Autonomous IT Agency of the Madrid City Council. Previously, he was Director of Technology and Innovation at Madrid’s Municipal Transport Company (EMT), Vice President of the Information Technology Commission of the UITP (International Association of Public Transport), and one of the 100 experts selected by the European Commission to advise on legislative initiatives promoting multimodality in Europe.

Juan has also served as Academic Director of the Engineering Department at U-TAD, a leading digital training center affiliated with Camilo José Cela University, and as Vice President of SAYME, a technology startup specializing in IoT solutions and services. In addition, he has served as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State for Telecommunications, a member of the Board of Directors of RED.ES and Hisdesat, the company that manages Spain’s Earth observation and military communications satellites, founding President of AENOR’s CTN 178 Smart Cities Committee, and a member of the Standing Committee of the Council for Scientific and Technological Policy of the Ministry of Science.

Currently, Juan is an associate professor at the University of Alcalá and organizes seminars and workshops at think tanks on artificial intelligence and its challenges. He also served as a city councilor and member of the Governing Board of the Santander City Council.

Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) for the city of Boston and a Senior Fellow with Data-Smart City Solutions.

Natalia Rodríguez Núñez-Milara (Madrid, 1990) is a prominent telecommunications engineer, entrepreneur, and technology leader specializing in artificial intelligence (AI). She is the founder and CEO of Saturno Labs, a technology innovation laboratory dedicated to developing socially impactful solutions in areas such as health, education, and social services.

She graduated in Telecommunications Engineering from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSIT-UPM), where she specialized in artificial intelligence, completing a double master’s degree in signal processing, machine learning, and big data.

During her university years, she combined her studies with a basketball career, being part of the Spanish Women’s National Team. However, she decided to leave professional sports to focus on engineering and research. In 2014, she developed an app to connect women who were running alone, linked to the initiative “Women Who Run,” and later expanded her training in Beijing in software development and technology strategy.

In 2019, she founded Saturno Labs with the goal of applying emerging technologies, especially AI, to develop products focused on social well-being. Under her leadership, the company has created more than 20 technological solutions, including tools for monitoring hospitalized patients, mobile apps, educational platforms, chatbots, and machine learning-based systems for data analysis. Saturno Labs was the first Spanish company selected to participate in Amazon’s Alexa Prize, one of the most prestigious international competitions in conversational artificial intelligence.

In addition to her work as a technology entrepreneur, Rodríguez is a university professor and vice president of the Unoentrecienmil Foundation, an organization dedicated to research against childhood leukemia.

Her work has been recognized with numerous accolades. In 2021, she was included in Forbes’ list of “21 Protagonists of Change” and the Top 100 Women Leaders in Spain by the magazine Emprendedores. In 2023, she received the National Innovation Award in the ‘Young Innovative Talent’ category, becoming the first woman to receive this distinction. In 2024, Forbes included her in the list of 35 leading Spanish women in technology, and she was also awarded the Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Prize by the Spanish Association of Telecommunications Engineers (AEIT-Madrid).

With more than 15 years of experience across smart city technologies, innovation management, and urban data, Petr Suska has a solid track record in deploying new solutions and delivering complex projects while future-proofing cities. As a Chief Innovation/Data Officer of the City of Prague, Petr is responsible for the city´s data platform with over 120 active dashboards and dozens of smart city projects spanning numerous thematic verticals from intelligent waste management to expanding the on-street charging infrastructure. Petr held a senior urban technology director role at the Fraunhofer Institute, where he was one of the founding experts of the Morgenstadt (city of the future) initiative in 2013. He is currently responsible for strategic smart city projects with a focus on developing urban living labs through a close collaboration with private sector partners such as Microsoft, Skoda Auto and others. He also serves as an executive coach at the London School of Economics (LSE) and works closely together with the Czech national government on establishing innovation ecosystems and competitive local economies.

Rui L. Aguiar is currently a Full Professor at the University of Aveiro, responsible by the area of Networks and Systems. He has been previously an adjunct professor at the INI, Carnegie Mellon University, a Visiting Research Scholar at Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Brazil and an advisor for the Portuguese Government under the Secretaria de Estado das Comunicações. He is currently co-coordinating a research line in Instituto de Telecomunicações, on the area of Networks and Services. He is also the current Steering Board Chair of Networld Europe. He has been an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer for topics associated with novel communication systems. He has more than 500 papers published in journals and conferences across different scientific domains. He was involved in multiple groups of R&D and in the evaluation of networks and computation programmes in multiple countries, and sits on the advisory board of several entities. He has participated in more than two dozens of R&D european projects, in the areas of networks and distributed computing.

Rapid SUN is an Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications in charge of Policy, Digital Educational Ecosystem, International Relations and Digital Government Infrastructure.

With more than 20 years in ICT field for the government, he has participated in many projects and developed himself from ICT technical person to project manager and policy maker.

He had contributed extensively in formulating the Cambodia Digital Government Policy 2022-2035. Currently, He leads the team in formulating draft Cambodia Data Governance Policy 2026-2035 to address public sector’s data silos, lack of base registry, fostering data exchange, poor data quality, cultural resistance, regulatory compliance, and capacity building for effective public service delivery.

Chief Executive Officer of Madrid Digital at the Community of Madrid

Lucía is the Executive Director of Trend Smart Cities, a consulting firm specializing in smart cities (urban innovation, mobility, sustainability, governance, technology, and civic data) for companies, the public sector, investors, multilateral organizations, startups, and entrepreneurs, with a focus on Europe and Latin America.

Author of the book “Future Cities: Smart, Sustainable and Human” (2023, El Ateneo Publisher).

Director of the Diploma in Smart Cities at Austral University (Argentina) and visiting professor at more than 15 universities around the world

Member of the United Nations U4SSC United Expert Group for Smart Sustainable Cities, and representative of the Buenos Aires City Legislature on the Advisory Committee of the Fund for Sustainable Urban Development. A proponent of smart cities, she has built a social media community of over 60,000 followers on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Contributor to La Nación (the most widely read newspaper in Argentina) and Tomorrow.City, the leading digital platform on urban innovation, and is regularly consulted by mass media (Clarín, TN, Perfil, among others).

Selected as one of the 10 people in the world as a “Smart Cities Influencer” by Onalytica (2022/2025). Chosen as one of the 50 women leaders of the Southern Cone by Voces Vitales (2020) and a Globant Award Finalist: Women That Build (2021).

Lawyer from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, with an MBA in Business and Big Data with double degrees from The George Washington University, United States, and ADEN International Business School, Spain.

Lucía has multicultural experience. She has visited over 350 cities in more than 40 countries and has lived in 7 different countries, exploring urban trends and studying how innovation and technology can be put at the service of people to make cities smarter, more sustainable, and human-centered

Political scientist from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, specialist in legal frameworks for innovation from Universidad Externado de Colombia. Lecturer in public innovation and digital transformation at Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana and Universidad Externado de Colombia. He has served as Coordinator of the Public Policy for Strengthening Social Organizations in Medellín, Lead of the GovTech Lab of Medellín (MedeINN), and Head of the City Lab of Bogotá. He is currently Director of Public Innovation and Open Government at the General Secretariat of the Mayor’s Office of Bogotá.

Director of the GovTech Poland Department at the Ministry of Digital Affairs. An experienced manager who has spent a significant part of his career in the ICT sector.

He currently focuses on bridging two worlds – public administration and the innovation ecosystem, including business, startups, and academia. He specializes in building and developing communities, creating collaborative ecosystems, and implementing innovative solutions in the public sector.

In his work, he focuses on solutions that can be effectively applied in practice – from concept to implementation. He supports initiatives that improve the functioning of public administration and address real citizen needs, emphasizing collaboration, efficiency, and measurable results.

Mobility & Urban Innovation, Barcelona City Council

Rodrigo Iriani is an international development specialist with over a decade of experience advancing public sector innovation across Latin America and the Caribbean. At the Organization of American States (OAS), he worked extensively with governments, the private sector, and start-ups, supporting open government, data-driven decision-making, and digital transformation initiatives. His work has focused on strengthening institutional capacity, building cross-sector partnerships, and promoting inclusive innovation.

Currently, Rodrigo works at the intersection of technology and public policy, helping subnational governments leverage data and emerging technologies to improve service delivery and drive measurable social impact at the JHU Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence (GovEx).

Juan Pablo Ramírez-Madrid is a Colombian entrepreneur and co-founder of Quipux, a GovTech company that has spent the last three decades transforming how governments deliver services to citizens.

He currently serves as Vice President of Business Development, where he is part of the leadership team driving international growth and plays a key operational role in turning strategic opportunities into real, large-scale projects across Latin America, Africa, and beyond.

Juan Pablo has been directly involved in more than 40 government transformation initiatives, helping design and deploy systems that manage millions of citizen interactions every day—from mobility and transport to digital public services.

He holds a PhD in Administration focused on e-government adoption and brings a unique combination of academic insight and hands-on execution in complex public sector environments.

Fabrizio Santoro is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies (UK), working in the International Centre for Tax and Development. Fabrizio is the co-lead of the research program on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). His main research interests relate to digital reforms and taxation, with a strong focus on impact evaluation methodologies and statistical analysis. Fabrizio ran research in Rwanda, Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana, as well as Burkina Faso and Somalia. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Sussex.

Deputy Director of Data Strategy, Madrid City Council

I am an executive with international experience in digital strategy, innovation, and emerging technologies. My expertise lies in digital twins, IoT, edge computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and Industry 4.0, helping companies and governments leverage technology for sustainable growth and operational efficiency.

Hybrid Business & Technology Profile:

I translate business needs into high-impact digital solutions, leading cross-functional teams in global environments.

Speaker at leading international and national technology events.

Author and contributor to numerous publications on blockchain, digital transformation, and digital twins.

Professor of digital identity, digital marketing, blockchain, and Industry 4.0 at leading universities.

Areas of Expertise: Digital ecosystems, Digital Twins & Industrial IoT, Artificial intelligence, IT/OT/ET convergence, Digital architectures; Smart Cities;Business Strategy & Digital Transformation.

She holds a Law Degree from the Autonomous University of Madrid and has been a Legal Counsel for the Madrid City Council since 2006.

Throughout her career, she has held various positions of responsibility within the Madrid City Council, including:

Third Deputy Mayor from 2019 to 2023.

Councilor Delegate for the Area of ​​Territorial Coordination, Transparency, Citizen Participation, and Citizen Services for the Madrid City Council.

Secretary of the Governing Board and Chair of the Preparatory Committee for the Governing Board of the Madrid City Council.

Chair of the Standing Committee on Urban Development and Public Works and Infrastructure of the Madrid City Council.

She has also contributed several articles on public procurement to the magazine “El Consultor.”

Currently, she is the Director General for Senior Citizens and the Prevention of Unwanted Loneliness for the Madrid City Council.

Víctor Muñoz is an industrial engineer, MBA, and expert in digital transformation. He is an entrepreneur, co-founder, and angel investor in technology-based startups such as igualdades.com, 1doc3, Genial, SmartData, Guarumo, and Fractal.
He is a Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University and a Visiting Fellow of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).

In 2018, he became the first Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Colombian government, and in 2021, he served as Director (with ministerial rank) of the Administrative Department of the Presidency of the Republic. He led national initiatives to promote technologies and strategies in cloud computing, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI).

In 2020, he was recognized by Apolitical as one of the 50 most influential people in the world revolutionizing governance through his work in digital transformation, and was included in the Agile 50 list. He is the author of several articles and books, including Artificial Intelligence: Beyond Algorithms.

As Arup’s global digital services leader, I bring together the best in technology, design and engineering to redefine the built environment together with our customers.

Previously I was Strategy Lead, Applied at DeepMind, responsible for understanding the ground-breaking developments taking place in Artificial Intelligence, and working with key partners to apply them for public good in areas such as health and energy. Prior to this I was the Director General for Innovation, Growth and Technology at the Department of Health; Director General, International Energy and Climate Change at DECC, and Head of the Prime Minister’s Implementation Unit, working directly with David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

I have wide-ranging experience achieving change in areas such as digital, health, education, international energy and climate change, cybersecurity, growth and innovation. When in government, I led the creation of the world’s first network of What Works Centres, set up to provide proper evidence on effective uses of public money, and pioneered the use of transparency and crowdsourcing in policy making.

I also served as a World Bank Economist; lectured at Oxford University and Imperial College; have a Doctorate in Economics; and was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath by the Queen in 2015.

Irene Coyle is an Advisory Board Member for the Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCoE), where she provides strategic advice to support UK public authorities in strengthening cyber resilience and operating safely in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

With over 30 years in the public sector, including a distinguished career in Police Scotland, Irene brings deep operational and leadership experience in managing risk, protecting sensitive information, and responding to high-impact incidents.

As Chief Operating Officer of OSP Cyber Academy and an independent Data Protection Officer, she specialises in cyber risk, data protection, and organisational resilience. In her advisory board member role with CCoE, Irene works closely with government leaders to translate cyber threats into clear business risks, enabling effective governance, informed decision-making, and practical action. Her approach is grounded in real-world public sector experience, with a strong focus on helping organisations build safer, more resilient digital environments through leadership, culture, and capability.

Marcus Rajkowski is the Head of Public Sector EMEA at Legora, the European AI-powered technology workspace for legal and administrative work, valued at roughly €5 billion, where he leads strategy and long-term relationships with clients across government, state enterprises and public sector organizations in Europe, UK&I, the Middle East, and Africa.

Prior to joining Legora, Marcus worked with AI and the public sector at McKinsey & Company, developing expertise at the intersection of AI, governance, and organizational transformation. His work focuses on how governments and institutions can operationalize AI responsibly while unlocking efficiency, maintaining transparency, and enabling impact at scale.

Jesús Cerezo is an architect specialized in Building and Urban Planning, graduated from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.

He has collaborated on the drafting of basic and detailed design projects for the hospitals of Zamora and León, as well as for numerous primary healthcare centers.

He was a member of the technical team responsible for the 1997 Master Plan of Madrid. Since then, his professional activity has been consistently linked to municipal geographic information systems applied to urban planning. This work began with the digital transformation of the Municipal Plots Inventory and has continued —since 2015— with the integration of urban planning data into Madrid’s Geoportal and Urban Viewer.

Through the application of artificial intelligence techniques to georeferenced data, his team has significantly enhanced transparency in a field of information that has traditionally been difficult for the public to access.

Head of the Licensing Coordination and Innovation Service within the Department of Urban Planning, Environment, and Mobility of the Madrid City Council.

In this role, she leads the digital transformation of the General Directorate of Licensing, overseeing the development contract for the MADRIDdbp platform. She has spearheaded the implementation of BIM methodology for automating urban planning license supervision processes and the complete migration of procedures to electronic records.

She coordinates initiatives aimed at improving citizen services regarding licenses. She maintains direct communication with the IT teams and participates in various municipal and external working groups related to administrative modernization, innovation, and process improvement.

Director of Technology and Innovation at EMT Madrid

Deputy Director General of Regulation of Traffic and Taxi Service at Madrid City Council

Cristina San Juán holds a PhD in Engineering and a degree in Philosophy. She leads the Digital Services team at Arup Spain, a multidisciplinary team comprised of designers, software developers, data analysts, and digital product consultants. Cristina is responsible for defining the group’s digital strategy, coordinating and managing the group’s change management in our digital transformation journey, and ensuring that data and technology are at the heart of our value proposition.
She has extensive experience in managing multi-agent and innovation projects, such as the vCity Urban Digital Twin and Ascender projects in collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, the project to digitize citizen participation in Istanbul and its metropolitan area, the H2020 CitiesXChange project on positive energy balance cities, the European Commission’s Intelligent City Challenge project, and the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities Program, among others.
Before joining Arup, Cristina worked for 11 years as a senior researcher at two research centers (CIEMAT and CENER) where she gained experience coordinating, managing and developing innovation and knowledge transfer projects related to energy efficiency, the integration of renewables and real-time building monitoring, and climate-based design.

Manuel Schiappa Pietra is a global executive and purpose-driven leader with over 30 years of experience building and leading organizations across North America, Latin America, Europe and Africa. Since taking the role of President and CEO at FreeBalance in 2006, Manuel has transformed the company into a leading provider of public financial management (PFM) solutions, helping 30 governments worldwide improve transparency, accountability, and citizen trust.

Manuel’s leadership is rooted in a deep commitment to fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, and sustainable development. Under his guidance, FreeBalance became a signatory of the UN Global Compact, reinforcing its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. He also serves as Executive Director of The Happier Way Foundation, a non-profit organization promoting global well-being and mental health through education and collaboration.

An active and multilingual participant in international forums, Manuel has served as President of the International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management (ICGFM) and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s New Champions Community. In 2025, he was invited to join the Supervisory Board of the Tech Diplomacy Global Institute, a new platform developed in collaboration with UNESCO to shape international relations in the digital age. He was also appointed to advise the Portuguese Presidency on global engagement with the Portuguese diaspora, bringing leadership experience at the intersection of public finance, digital government, and international development. Through this role, he contributes to responsible innovation, inclusive prosperity, and strengthened collaboration between Portugal and its global community.

Manuel recently completed the prestigious Global CEO Program, an executive development initiative jointly delivered by IESE Business School and the MIT Sloan School of Management, focused on strategic leadership, innovation, and global business management.

A frequent speaker at global events, he was most recently invited to present in Davos on the topic of “Fragmentation or Coordination in Tech Governance”, at the World Leadership Forum in Warsaw, in Ottawa for FMI PD Week and the Tallinn Digital Summit in Estonia.

Manuel was named in the Tech Diplomacy Global Institute’s 2026 Tech Diplomacy Global 50, which recognizes the world’s most influential leaders advancing responsible technology policy, digital governance, and international cooperation. He continues to advocate for responsible governance, digital transformation, and social value creation.