Speakers

SPEAKERS

Gergana Passy

President of Digital National Alliance

Gergana Passy was a key player in the EU accession talks of Bulgaria, and later when the country joined the EU she became the first European Minister of Bulgaria. She is President of Pan-Europe Bulgaria, and Founding President of Digital National Alliance. She has long championed for a digital future of Europe and Bulgaria.

Norbert Beckmann-Dierkes

Director, Sofia Office of Konrad. Adenauer Foundation

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is a political foundation active throughout Germany and abroad. Freedom, justice and solidarity are the guiding principles of the Foundation.

Kristina Eskenazi

Chairwoman of a Managing Board of Bulgarian Health & Life Science Cluster

Kristina Eskenazi is an experienced Public Relations Manager. She is a strong media and communication professional skilled in Crisis Management, Investor Relations, Corporate Social Responsibility, Crisis Communications, and CRM.

Yasen Tanev

Cybersecurity Expert at Digital National Alliance

Yasen Tanev is a cybersecurity expert at Digital National Alliance, with over 20 years of experience in the industry. He is an information analyst, chairman of BARBS, director of Zucchetti Bulgaria and the founder of digital community for Cyber Security – Safer.bg.

Dr. Monika Manolova

AI Ethics expert at Digital National Alliance

Manolova is an experienced Geographic Information System Expert with a demonstrated history of working in the management consulting industry. An information technology professional with a Ph.D. focused in Geographic Information Science and Cartography.

Vihren Slavchev

Mnemonica, CEO

Vihren himself is an expert in the field of cyber defence in medical institutions, data storage methods, and the damage from frequent threats.

Alexander Yolovski

Minister of e-Government

Alexander Yolovski is the current Minister of e-Government, and holds over ten-year experience in the planning, implementation, coordination and monitoring of activities related to administrative reform and monitoring of activities related to administrative reform and e-government. He previously led the development of the EU-funded “Good Governance” Operational Program, focusing on administrative reform and electronic governance, including electronic justice. He played a key role in negotiating its approval with the European Commission.

Valentino Megale

PhD Director XRSI Europe

Valentino Megale holds a PhD in neuropharmacology and is a digital health entrepreneur developing innovative solutions for wellbeing. He is director of XRSI Europe, and the CEO and Co-Founder of Softcare Studios a digital health startup developing innovative products to support patients’ mental well being through immersive experiences (virtual reality) and data tracking.

John C. Havens

Executive Director of The IEEE Global Initiative for Ethical Considerations in AI and Autonomous Systems

John C. Havens is Executive Director of The IEEE Global Initiative for Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems and The Council on Extended Intelligence. He is the author of Heartificial Intelligence and Hacking Happiness (Penguin/Random House) He is also a contributing writer for Mashable, The Guardian, and The Huffington Post. A former EVP for a top-ten global PR firm, he has counseled clients like Gillette, HP, and Merck on emerging and social media issues, and has been quoted on issues relating to technology, business, and well being by USA Today, Fast Company, BBC News, Mashable, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Forbes, INC, PR Week, and Advertising Age. Havens was also a professional actor in New York City for over 15 years, appearing in principal roles on Broadway, television, and film.

Dobroslav Dimitrov

Chairman of the Board of BASCOM and BRAIT

Dobroslav Dimitrov is an entrepreneur and investor with over 20 years in an executive role. He is the co-founder of Imperia Online, and is currently Chairman of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Association of Software Companies (BASSCOM) and Bulgarian Employers`Association Innovative Technologies (BRAIT)

Velizar Shalamanov

Chairman NCIA ASB (2019-2021)

Velizar Shalamanov is currently head of the Bulgarian delegation to the Parliamentary assembly of NATO. Due to his experience in crisis, security and defence management, governance and international organizations he was Chairman Of The Board in the NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency Supervisory Board (ASB) from 2019 to 2021. Prior to this he has held several roles, such as caretaker Defence Minister of Bulgaria, Advisor on National Security and Defence to the Chairman of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences member of Bulgaria`s Security Council and the Interagency NATO Integration Council.

Tuan Trinh

EIT Digital Regional Node Director East

Tuan Trinh is currently the Regional Director East for EIT Digital, and has over 15 years of experience as tech leader and innovator. With a broad background in ICT he has worked with prominent institutions like Ericsson Research and British Telecom, and evaluated projects for the European Commission and Hungarian government. He took a leading part in establishing two innovation centers focusing on disruptive technologies and financial technology integration at universities.

H.E. Olesya Uluschuk

Ambassador of Ukraine to Bulgaria

In 1994, Andrea Ikic-Böhm entered the Austrian Foreign Ministry and participated in the preparations for Austria’s accession to the European Union (1 January 1995). Her professional career brought a wide range of assignments: In the MFA (Vienna): Bilateral Relations with Western and Northern Europe; Coordinator of Coreper I during the first Austrian Presidency of the EU (1998); Regional Cooperation; Arms control and Disarmament; Head of Unit for Export Control; Head of Border Traffic Department; Director General for Legal and Consular Affairs; Head of Structural Affairs and Services to Personnel Department. Posts abroad: Zagreb / Republic of Croatia (intern 1997, DHM 1999-2002, Ambassador 2011-2015); Strasbourg / French Republic (2005 Consul General and Deputy Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe); Athens / Hellenic Republic (Ambassador 2015-2019); Sofia / Republic of Bulgaria (Ambassador since October 2022)

Mykhailo Fedorov

Deputy PM and Minister for Digital Transformation of Ukraine

Mykhailo Fedorov is the youngest minister in the Ukrainian politics, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, initiator of the electronic public service Diia.

At the age of 21, he started the largest youth public movement in Zaporizhzhia Active-Z. With the USAID Foundation (the United States Agency for International Development) he has implemented the Zaporizhzhia IT Capacity Building Initiative.

From August 29, 2019, Mykhailo Fedorov is Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Digital Transformation and the youngest member of the Cabinet of Ministers in the history of independent Ukraine. Within three months, the team of the Ministry of Digital Transformation has launched a beta test of the Diia app. All services of the Ministry are designed to destroy bureaucracy and corruption and build a system where interaction with the state is comfortable and convenient for every citizen

George (Yegor) Dubynskyi

Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine

Mr. Georgii Dubynskyi is an expert on international S&T cooperation more than 20 years. His previous experience of work in the National Academy of sciences of Ukraine, Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Ministry of education and sciences of Ukraine, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Mission of Ukraine to the European Union, Embassy of Ukraine in the United States of America allows him to use his skills as well as his wide contacts with governmental agencies, research institutes, universities, NGOs, industrial companies and ministers both in Ukraine and outside to arrange international cooperation.
On May 13, 2022, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

Marisa Zalabak

CEO and Founder, Open Channel Culture

Marisa Zalabak, Educational Psychologist, AI Ethicist, Climate Advocate, Author, Researcher and Educator. A dedicated optimist, advocate, and advisor, Marisa works across sectors and fields helping provide pragmatic pathways for leaders and organizations to embrace emerging opportunities in AI responsibly and engage all stakeholders while meeting the challenges of rapid changes in technology, the planetary environment, and society for the wellbeing of current and future generations.

Founder AND CEO of Open Channel Culture, Marisa currently serves with IEEE.org as Co-Chair of the AI Ethics Education committee, as Chair of Global Methodologies for Planet Positive 2030, as a contributor to IEEE’s recommended standards for AI design and human wellbeing.

A 2x TEDx speaker, Marisa has presented in events, conferences, and summits such as Davos, IEEE, Stanford HAI/Standford Woods, NYC UNGA Climate week, The Female Quotient, and Brazilian Tech Mission.Senior Fellow with The Digital Economist, she partners with a diverse range of global leaders and think tanks such
as The Digital Economist, AllTechIsHuman, MKAI.org, UNESCO, Million Peacemakers, Women4Solutions, The Knowledge Impact Network, and Presenting Institute, and serves as an Advisory Board Member with Smart Ethics and Willie Mae Rock Camp.

Eric Hansel

Founder, The Scubaverse

Eric Hansel is a global sustainability and digital transformation expert, passionate and purpose driven, focused on driving new youth engagement.

Member of the UN Codes team, Chairman and author of 1st sustainability standard in the casino
industry, its company EGM Green won the 1st ever Eco-Friendly award at the 2009 International Gaming Award.

Prof. Markus Krebsz

Founder, Human-Ai.Solutions

Markus’ research focuses on developing policy recommendations, soft law and regulatory guidance for
governments aimed at AI,
Neurotechnology and Robotics (‘AiNR-Tech’).

He is an Honorary Professor at Stirling University, a
Clinical Professor of Practice at Woxsen University and
Founding Director of the Human-AI Institute.

Markus has been a Co-founder/NED/Board member with start- and scale-ups in the Civil society, DLT/Crypto, Neo-banking and sUAV (‘drones’) technology realms.

He develops innovative methods deploying flying robots to collect aerial data, build geospatial models and for generating digital twins of wildlife habitats.

He is currently researching how to deploy similar
automation workflows for marine and submarine
environments.

Markus has been a member of UNECE GRM since 2013.

Federica Russo

Philosophical perspectives on science, technology, and information

Federica Russo is a full professor of philosophy and ethics of technoscience. She holds the Westerdyke Chair at the Freudenthal Institute, University of Utrecht, and is Emeritus Professor at University College London(Department of Science and Technology Studies). She has been a visiting lecturer and worked on research projects at the Universities of Kent, Pittsburgh and Louvain.

Her research concerns epistemological, methodological and normative aspects that arise in the health and social sciences, with particular attention to policy contexts and the highly technologised nature of these fields. Federica has published extensively in these areas.

Federica is currently Editor-in-Chief of Digital Society; she was formerly Editor-in-Chief (with Phyllis Illari) of the European Journal for Philosophy of Science and is Executive Editor of Philosophy and Technology. She is a member of the Steering Committee of the European Association for the Philosophy of Science and an external faculty member at the Institute for Advanced Study, University of Amsterdam.

Ms. Russo also directs the international research project SOLARIS.

Keith Peter Kiely

PhD, Experienced Researcher at GATE Institute

Keith Peter Kiely is an experienced researcher at the GATE institute. He has over 9 years of experience in data analysis and research in both industry and academia.

Keith holds a MA in international studies from the University of Limerick and a Ph.D. from Queen’s University Belfast in Politics with a thesis in the area of United States foreign policy discourse and national identity.

His research interests include: Policy formation and identity, Misinformation and propaganda, identity politics, discourse analysis and practices, political philosop

Prof. Boyan Jekov

National Coordinator of Horizon Europe

Prof. Dr. Boyan Zhekov is a National Coordinator for Horizon Europe, working in the field of Informatics and Computer Science at the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Information Science at UniBIT.

Assoc. Boyan Zhekov holds a Master’s degree in Information Technology Engineering from the Technical University of Sofia, where he now teaches at the Faculty of English Engineering Education (FAIE). He is a lecturer at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, VUZF and New Bulgarian University. He has specialized in Information Technology and Economics in a number of countries and has worked as a consultant and expert on E-government at UNDP, BIA, BAIT and on projects of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Regional Development and Ministry of Education.

He is a member of the Board of the Union of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Communications (CEEC). He is the President of JICA Alumni Bulgaria, an alumni organization for graduates of training in Japan.

Lyubomir Tulev

Vice President of Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, Telelink Business Services

Lyubomir Tulev’s mission at Telelink Business Services, as Vice President of the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, is to drive the innovation, strategy, technology, and business development of cybersecurity on an international level in the company. He is а recognized cybersecurity expert, a visioner, an international entrepreneur, and an influencer in Cybersecurity, holding a dozen of industry-recognized information security certificates. Lyubomir is also a trainer at EC Council, New Horizons, and QA training centers delivering worldwide InfoSec certifications trainings but also a mentor to students and newbies willing to join the world of cybersecurity. He is a regular state and international keynote speaker at Cyber Security Conferences and Law Enforcement organizations.

Dobromir Ivanov

CEO at BESCO

Prof. Dr. Georgi Angelov

Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth of Bulgaria

Georgi Angelov is a PhD professor at the Technical University of Sofia. He graduated from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. He holds a Master’s degree in Physics. He received his PhD degree in microelectronics from TU-Sofia. Georgi Angelov is the author of over 110 scientific publications in international journals. He has participated as a researcher and leader in over 30 international and national projects.

Ianislav Trendafilov

Founder & CEO, Neuromorphica

Colonel Ass. Professor D.Sc. Borislav Genov

Director of Bulgarian Defence Institute

Colonel Associate Professor D.Sc. Borislav Georgiev GENOV is a distinguished figure in the field of defense and mechanical engineering, with an extensive and illustrious career that has spanned various roles and responsibilities.

In his career, Colonel Genov has held significant positions, showcasing his dedication to the field. Notably, he served as the Director of the “Prof. Tsvetan Lazarov” Defence Institute, where he demonstrated his leadership abilities and commitment to advancing the defense sector. His previous role as the Director of the “Development of Armaments, Equipment, Supplies and Materials” Directorate at the same institute highlights his expertise in armaments and equipment development.

Academically, Colonel Genov has achieved remarkable milestones, including a Doctor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in “Organization and Management of Logistics in OTF.” He also holds the prestigious title of Associate Professor in “Mechanical Engineering” with a scientific specialty in “Dynamics, Ballistics, and Flight Control of Aircraft.”