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Event Recording

GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Forum

GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Forum, Transforming Institutions in the Age of AI

All the plenaries will be streamed online.

The World Bank's Institutions Global Department and the Innovation for Development Impact Department are set to host the second iteration of the GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Forum on May 27-28, 2025.

The Forum will convene global experts from government, academia, industry, and civil society to explore how technology can transform public sector institutions and foster collaborations that accelerate the implementation of innovative public sector solutions.

This edition of the Global Forum is co-hosted by the governments of AustriaEstoniaKorea, and Switzerland, in collaboration with OECDUNDP, Mastercard, Microsoft and VisaMIT GOV/LAB, and Harvard CID will provide academic insights.

Participants will have numerous opportunities to engage in interactive sessions, including world caf¨¦s and deep dives, to share ideas and best practices, and co-create solutions to pressing governance challenges.

We will be updating the agenda on this page. If you want to receive notifications about this event .

GovTech co host GovTech-CoHosts - 1

Day 1 Agenda: Tuesday, May 27, 2025

08:30

Breakfast and Registration

09:00
Preston Auditorium

 
Opening Remarks  |
  • Arturo Herrera, Global Director, Institutions Global Department, Prosperity Vertical, World Bank

09:15 
Preston Auditorium

Setting the Stage: Lightning round on Institutions and GovTech

09:45
Preston Auditorium

Plenary 1 ¨C Preparing the Public Sector for the AI Revolution: Institutional Key Enablers and Building Blocks |

This session will explore the fundamental key enablers and building blocks for adoption of AI in government, including data governance, digital infrastructure, and workforce capabilities. It will share country experiences in integrating AI into public administration, highlighting key challenges such as algorithmic bias, cybersecurity, and ethical AI implementation.

Speakers:

  • Bushra Al Blooshi, Director, Cybersecurity Governance Risk Management, DESC, Government of Dubai, UAE
  • Rajiv Garodia, Senior Vice President and Global Head, Visa Government Solutions
  • Kalpana Kochhar, Director of Development Policy and Finance, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Siim Sikkut, Managing Partner, Digital Nation, Former  Estonian Goverment CIO

Moderator: Daniel Ortega, Lead Governance Specialist, Institutions Global Department, World Bank

10:45

Coffee Break

11:15
Preston Auditorium

World Caf¨¦s - GovTech in Action: Lessons from Experience

Interactive sessions on innovative GovTech initiatives lead by Governments, the World Bank, and partner organizations across the World.

  1. Austria¡¯s AI Governance in the Era of the EU AI Act: Current Structures, Implementation and Future Directions
  2. SICPA Digital Solutions for Governments
  3. Macro trends on Cyber: How Mastercard can support?government stakeholders with Threat Intelligence
  4. Estonia: Data Consent Service
  5. GovTech Skills Surveys of Public Servants
  6. How to Build Successful Public-Private Partnerships: Trust Valley Use Case
  7. Albania: Frontiers in GovTech
  8. Embracing AI in the Public Sector; Moving from ¡°Why AI¡± to ¡°How to AI¡±
  9. India: Transforming Public Service Delivery Through Digital Capacity Building
  10. Open Source and Digital Public Goods at UNDP
  11. Bridging the Gap: Digital Inclusion for Transformative Public Services in Argentina
  12. Streamlining Social Benefits with SocialCard in Germany: Lessons Learned from VISA
  13. Rajasthan : Spearheading Public Finance, GovTech and Service Delivery Reforms at Sub-National level in India
  14. The Economic Impact of Digital Public Infrastructure
  15. Timor-Leste: Early Stages of AI Adoption in Public Service System
  16. Armenia: Digitalization and Modernization of Justice Sector
  17. Guatemala: Risk Based Micro-Data Analysis for Tax Compliance
  18. Revolutionizing Public Procurement in Africa: Home-Grown e-GP Innovations in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Malawi
  19. How Does Technological Advancements Influence the Work of SAIs?
  20. NOSi Kriol: Interoperable Artificial Intelligence Platform

12:30

Lunch

13:30

Breakouts and Discovery Sprint

 

1: CivicTech for Government Responsiveness and Accountability
(MC 13-121)

The breakout will discuss how CivicTech can enhance links and trust between citizens and governments, exploring the benefits of technologies for improved responsiveness, and the co-creation of services and policies.

  • Olubunmi Agift Ajala, National Director, National Centre of AI and Robotics, Nigeria
  • Carlos Centeno, CO-Founder, SOMOS Civic Lab and Program and Engagement Director, MIT Emerging Talent
  • Catherine Nikolovski, Executive Director, Civic Software Foundation
  • Lina Oueidat, ICT, Cybersecurity and AI Advisor, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Lebanon
  • Teddy Svoronos, Senior Lecturer of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School and Affiliate, Harvard Center for International Development, USA

Moderator: Oleksii Balabushko, Practice Manager Institutions, East Asia Pacific Region, World Bank.

2: Greening GovTech for a Sustainable Digital Transition
(MC 4-800)

The breakout will discuss how to reduce the carbon footprint of the digital transition in the public sector, namely through green procurement practices, green datacenters and multichannel service delivery.

  • Florin Emanuel Hasler, Director, Open Data, Switzerland
  • Romina Kostani, Director of Digital Agenda Coordination and Foreign-Funded Projects for e-Government, National Agency of Information Society, Albania 
  • Ciro Pitangueira de Avelino, Advisor, Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services, Brazil
  • Alisa Zomer, Assistant Director, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) GovLab, USA

Moderator: , Senior Governance Specialist, Institutions Global Department, Prosperity, World Bank.

3: Skills to sustain Public Sector Transformation
(Preston Auditorium)

The breakout will emphasize enhancing workforce digital readiness, reskilling and upskilling employees for the digital era, and fostering public sector leadership in GovTech to ensure sustainable public sector transformation.

  • Michael Downey, Open Source Project Officer, Chief Digital Office, UNDP
  • Huynh Nhat Nam, Lecturer, Fullbright University, Vietnam
  • Priya Vora, CEO, Digital Impact Alliance
  • Pooja Warier, Chief Partnerships Officer, Apolitical

Moderator: Joseph Kizito Mubiru, Practice Manager, Institutions, Latin American and the Caribbean Region, World Bank.

MC C2 - 350

Discovery Sprint 1 - Partnering with the Private Sector to Digitalize Citizen Experiences

This session will discuss key pain points, benchmark global best practices, and co-design practical public-private partnership models for digital service delivery. Grounded in real-world case studies and guided by the Double Diamond design method, the session will foster structured collaboration and actionable takeaways.

  • Piers Clough, Global Head of Pre-Sales, Visa Government Solutions, UK
  • Tulsi Parida, Global Director, Multilaterals and Development Finance, Visa Government Solutions, UK

15:00

Coffee Break

15:20
Preston Auditorium
Special Remarks:
  • Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister, Cabo Verde |

15:30
Preston Auditorium
 

Plenary 2 ¨C Citizen-Centric Public Services in the Age of AI |

The session will explore how new technologies such as AI are transforming public service delivery, making government operations more efficient, responsive, and community focused. It will examine how can strengthen citizen engagement, empower communities, and foster inclusive participation through transparent and participatory processes.

Speakers

  • Natalia Avenda?o, President, Science and Technology Agency, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Argentina 
  • Hyejeong Lim, Principal Manager, Global ICT and Project Planning and Project Team, National Information Society Agency, Korea
  • Arbjan Mazniku, Minister of State for Local Government, Albania
  • Ott Velsberg, Government Chief Data Officer, Estonia
  • Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman at Capacity Building Commission, Government of India

ModeratorLisa FinneranDirector for Innovation at the World Bank Group

16:30

Breakouts and Discovery Sprint

 

4: Public-Private Collaboration: Partnering for Innovation
(Preston Auditorium)

This session will explore strategies and practices to strengthen GovTech partnerships that can drive transformative changes and improve public sector outcomes.

  • Soonmin Bae, Chief Responsible AI Officer, Head of AI Future LAB, Senior Vice President, Korea Telecom
  • Andrew Cooke, Global Policy Lead, Microsoft
  • Kelly Ommundsen, Head of Digital Inclusion, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum (WEF)
  • Praveen Pardeshi, Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra Institution for Transformation, Government of Maharashtra, India

Moderator: Stela Mocan, Manager, Technology Innovation Office, World Bank Group

5: The Future of Cloud Computing in Public Sector Institutions
(MC13 - 121)

This breakout will explore the future of cloud computing, focusing on data sovereignty, AI, and quantum computing, and their impact on institutes.

  • Bushra Al Blooshi, Director, Cybersecurity Governance Risk Management, DESC, Government of Dubai, UAE
  • Natalia Iregui, Director, public policy department, North, South, and Central America and the Caribbean, AWS 
  • Maximiliano Maneiro, Deputy Director, IT department at AGESIC, Uruguay
  • Antoine Sebera, Government Chief Innovation Officer, Rwanda Information Society Authority
  • Omid Ghaffari-Tabrizi, Head of U.S. Federal Civilian Policy, Google

Moderator : Khuram Farooq, Senior Specialist Institutions Department, Prosperity Vice presidency, World Bank

6: GovTech for Transforming Service Delivery 
(MC4 - 800)

This session will explore the essential elements required to create digital-forward public services. The format will include a short 30 minute ¡°firestarter chat¡± that will center on live examples from governments that are on different stages of their digital transformation journey for government services. It will also include facilitated round table discussions with the participants based on the themes discussed during the firestarter chat.

  • Birago Antwi-Agyei, Assistant Commissioner, Ghana Revenue Authority
  • Clemens Denner, Policy Officer, Public Sector, Data & AI, Federal Chancellery, Austria

Moderator: Yiannis Theodorou, Senior Digital Transformation Advisor, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

 

Discovery Sprint 2 ¨C GovTech in Public Financial Management: Tackling Interoperability and Data Silos 

(MC C2 - 350)

Fragmented government systems hinder effective public financial management, leading to inefficiencies, limited transparency, and data silos. This sprint challenges participants to explore how better integration¡ªthrough improved interoperability, data sharing, and innovative approaches¡ªcan enhance budgeting, spending, and financial oversight while strengthening accountability and reducing inefficiencies.

  • Anumita Raj, eGov Foundation, India
  • Gautham Ravichander, eGov Foundation, India

Facilitator: Philip John McGrath, Senior Governance Specialist, Institutions Global Department, Prosperity, World Bank

18:00

Networking Cocktail

19:30

End of Day 1

Day 2 Agenda: Wednesday, May 28, 2025

08:00

Breakfast

08:15
Preston Auditorium

Overview of Day 1

08:30
Preston Auditorium

Plenary 3 ¨CLeveraging Technology to Reimagine Core Government Systems

The session will explore how emerging technologies can be leveraged to reimagine and enhance core government systems, improving efficiency and service delivery. It will highlight the role of policy frameworks, legal structures, and governance models in ensuring responsible AI adoption and addressing emerging risks in AI-enabled decision-making.

Speakers

  • Alan Jim¨¦nez, Vice Minister of Public Administration, Ministry of Public Administration, Dominican Republic
  • Antonio de Palmas, Microsoft, Vice President Global Market Development
  • Debashish Prusty, Principal Secretary, Finance (Budget), Government of Rajasthan, India
  • Barbara Ubaldi, Senior Director, Government innovation and AI, Tony Blair Institute.

Moderator

  • Tracey Lane, Practice Manager, Global Institutions Department, World Bank

09:30

Breakouts and Discovery Sprint

 

7: Digital Procurement for Efficient and Accountable Governments
(MC4 - 800)

This session will explore how digital procurement enhances transparency and accountability, focusing on fraud detection and data-driven supplier performance evaluation.

 

  • Woldeab Demissie, Director, Public Procurement and Property Administration Agency, Government of Ethiopia 
  • Thomas Kojo Bondzi, Deputy Director of Management Information Systems, Public Procurement Authority, Ghana 
  • Maria Francesca Montes, Undersecretary and CIO, Department of Budget and Management, Philippines
  • Michael A. Moshiro, Director of Information and Communication Technology, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority 
  • Adina Popescu, Head of Analysis and Public Policy Department, National Public Procurement Agency, Romania

 

Moderator: Rita Ramalho, Lead Economist, World Bank

8: Tackling Corruption with Technology
(MC2 - 800)

This breakout will explore innovative approaches¡ªwhether through transparency, data-driven oversight, or frontier technologies¡ªto strengthen integrity and reduce corruption risks in government operations.

  • Mbinison Dorette Ratsiavahana, Director of Public Accounting, Treasury Department, Ministry of Finance, Madagascar
  • Irina Sprenglewski, Senior Manager, SAI Governance Department, INTOSAI Development Initiative
  • Saleiman Umar, Director General, Ministry of Finance, Somalia
  • Michael Jarvis, Executive Director of the Trust, Accountability and Inclusion Collaborative ¨C Funders for Participatory Governance
  • Mykola Tkachenko, CEO, SoE Prozorro

Moderator: , Lead Economist, World Bank

9:The Institutional Imperative in Digital Public Infrastructure
(Preston Auditorium)

The session will focus on how to enhance government services through robust digital public infrastructure such as digital identity, digital payments, and data management.

  • Oksanna Abrahamyan, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Justice, Republic of Armenia
  • David Eaves, Associate Professor and Co-Deputy Director, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, UK
  • Gilbert Mure Tupana Matura, Director, Smart Government Directorate, Executive Office of The President, Kenya
  • Julia Pomares, Co-Founder and Regional Lead LATAM, The Global Initiative for Digital Empowerment, Argentina
  • Aaron Snow, Advisor, International Government Transformation, AWS

Moderator: Harish Natarajan, Practice Manager, Financial inclusion and Infrastructure, World Bank

MC C2 - 350

Discovery Sprint 3 - Customizing Public Services on the Basis of Life Events

Public services often operate in silos, making it difficult to deliver seamless support at key life moments for citizens. This sprint challenges participants to explore new ways¡ªwhether through better coordination, data sharing, or innovative tools and new technologies¡ªto break down agency barriers and create more responsive, user-centered services.

  • Eoin Tunstead, Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery & Reform, Ireland
  • Trevor Vaugh, Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery & Reform, Ireland

Facilitator: Philip John McGrath, Senior Governance Specialist, Institutions Global Department, Prosperity, World Bank

11:00

Coffee Break

 

11:30
Preston Auditorium

Plenary 4 ¨C GovTech & Impact in Government Operations

This session will explore how GovTech and AI can be utilized to enhance operational efficiency in government services and processes. Participants will discuss innovative solutions and real-world applications to address key government challenges based on experiences from the different regions of the world.

  • Cem Dener, Lead Governance Specialist, World Bank
  • Silvana Kostenbaum, Senior Public Sector Specialist, World Bank
  • Saki Kumagai, Senior Governance Specialist, World Bank
  • Simon Carl O'Meally, Senior Public Sector Specialist

ModeratorAnita Sobjak, Senior Governance Specialist, World Bank

12:30

Lunch & Innovation

14:00
Preston Auditorium

Innovation Challenge

The Innovation Nexus: Public and Private Sectors Uniting for Impact

Speakers:

  • Carlos Orjales, Senior Program Manager, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Switzerland
  • Lennig Pedron, CEO, Trust Valley, Switzerland
  • Anthony Sarpong, Commissioner General, Ghana Revenue Authority
  • Moderator: Shiho Nagaki, Senior Public Sector Specialist. Institutions Department, World Bank

14:30

Breakout and Discovery Sprint

 

 

10: Enhancing a Data-Driven Public Sector
(Preston Auditorium)

This breakout session will show how governments can build a data-driven public sector to strengthen institutional capacity and enhance service delivery, focusing on the roles of data governance, open government and interoperability, and the application of advanced data analytics.

Speakers:

  • Ayanda Hlatshwayo, Acting Chief Data Analytics Officer, National Treasury of South Africa
  • Louise Holden, Global Head, Partnerships, Government Solutions, VISA
  • Vasilis Koulolias, Advisor to the President ¨C ICT, Botswana
  • Tadej Gabrijel, Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Digital Transformation, Slovenia

Moderator: Chiara Bronchi, Practice Manager 

11: Cybersecurity in Core Government Systems
(MC4 - 800)

The session will delve into the evolving landscape of cyber threats in the public sector and the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing security measures, discussing solutions to protect sensitive data and ensure robust cybersecurity.

Speakers:

  • Alissa "Dr. Jay" Abdullah, Deputy Chief Security Officer, Mastercard
  • Oren Ariav, Chief Information & Digital Officer + ICA Chair, Israel 
  • Chris Holden, Chief Client Officer, Recorded Future
  • Melanie Kolbe-Guyot, Head of Digital Policy, Center for Digital Trust, EPFL, Switzerland 
  • Judith Chilombo Kunda Beene, Director, Information and Communication Technology, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Zambia

Moderator: , Senior Digital Specialist World Bank

 

 

 

Discovery Sprint 4 ¨C  GovTech for Optimizing Public Investments and Securing Assets 
(MC C2 - 350)

Governments must optimize public investment and asset management, yet outdated processes limit efficiency and adaptability. This sprint challenges participants to identify key bottlenecks and explore how emerging technologies could enhance decision-making, transparency, and long-term value.

  • Gerhard Embacher-K?hle, World Bank
  • Kai Kaiser, Senior Governance and Public Sector Specialist, World Bank

Facilitator: Philip John McGrath, Senior Governance Specialist, Institutions Global Department, Prosperity, World Bank

16:00
Preston Auditorium

Plenary 5 - GovTech Global Partnership for a Future-Ready Public Administration

The session will discuss the expanding network of global partners involved in the GovTech Global Partnership, engaging attendees on how to further enhance collective efforts towards a coherent, inclusive, and sustainable digital transformation of public sectors worldwide.

  • , Practice Manager, Governance & Institutions ¨C Public Administration, World Bank

16:30
Preston Auditorium

Closing Remarks

  • Arturo Herrera, Global Director, Institutions Global Department, Prosperity, World Bank
16:45 End of Forum
His Excellency Jose Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva

His Excellency Jose Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva

Prime Minister, Cabo Verde

His Excellency Jose Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva?is the fifth Prime Minister of the Republic of Cabo Verde and President of the Movement for Democracy (MPD), the country¡¯s majority party. Since assuming office in April 2016, he has led Cabo Verde through sustained economic growth and critical political reform. Under his leadership, the country has seen GDP growth, reduced public debt, increased foreign investment and tourism, declining unemployment, and expanded education and entrepreneurship. He champions regional collaboration and strong municipal partnerships.

AC4D Global Forum Speaker

Arturo Herrera

Institutions Global Director, The World Bank

Arturo Herrera?is the?Global Director for Institutions in the Prosperity vertical of the World Bank.?He joined the Bank in 2010 as a Senior Public Sector Management Specialist in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, holding various roles such as Sector Manager in LAC and Practice Manager in Governance Global Practice for LAC and East Asia and the Pacific. He left the Bank in 2018, and until 2021, Arturo held leadership positions in the Government of Mexico as Co-Head of the Finance Team in Presidential Transition Team, Deputy Finance Minister and, most recently, as Minister of Finance and Public Credit. Currently, as Global Director for Institutions, Herrera leads the strategy and engagement of the Bank¡¯s work on public institutions and country-level governance.

 Siim Sikkut

Siim Sikkut

Managing Partner, Digital Nation, Former Estonian Goverment CIO

Siim Sikkut is Managing Partner at Digital Nation, an Estonia-based advisory network supporting governments in building digital societies. As Estonia¡¯s Government CIO and Deputy Secretary General for Digital Development (2017¨C2022), he led the first national AI strategy, launched a government-wide AI program, and initiated the virtual assistant #B¨¹rokratt. He also served on the EU High-Level Expert Group on AI. He has advised over 40 governments on digital transformation, including national AI strategies. He co-founded Estonia¡¯s e-Residency program and was named among the world¡¯s Top 20 most influential people in digital government by Apolitical. He is the author of Digital Government Excellence (2022), a global guidebook on public sector innovation.

Daniel Ortega Nieto

Daniel Ortega

Lead Governance Specialist, Institutions Global Department, World Bank

Daniel Ortega Nieto is a Lead Governance Specialist and Program Manager of the World Bank¡¯s Public Sector Innovation and GovTech Program, which promotes frontier technologies to transform how governments operate. He previously managed Indonesia¡¯s Public Financial Management Multi-Donor Trust Fund and led public sector operations in Brazil, where he designed the Pro-Gest?o Program, a US$1 billion credit line to improve state-level financial management. Daniel has supported governance projects across regions, including in Argentina, Bangladesh, Colombia, Croatia, Ecuador, India, Kenya, Mexico, Mozambique, and Uruguay. He holds a Master¡¯s degree from the London School of Economics and a PhD from Georgetown University.

Olubunmi Agifoto

Olubunmi Agift Ajala

National Director, National Centre of AI and Robotics, Nigeria

Dr. Olubunmi Ajala is National Director of Nigeria¡¯s NCAIR and Technical Adviser on AI, Research, and Data to the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy. A Data Scientist and Economist with a PhD and FHEA, his work spans AI policy, digital innovation, and economic research, leveraging previous roles in academia and banking. He leads Nigeria¡¯s National AI Strategy and Research Scheme, representing the country in global AI forums like AI Safety Summits. His contributions include tools for AI researcher mapping and inflation tracking. Dr. Ajala champions inclusive innovation, promoting digital solutions in agriculture and trade and contributing to indices such as the SCI Africa Trade Opportunity Index. He is a driving force shaping Nigeria¡¯s digital and AI policy landscape.

Lina Oueidat

Lina Oueidat

National Coordinator for ICT, Cybersecurity and AI Advisor, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Lebanon

Dr. Lina Oueidat, a dual Lebanese-French national, graduated in Electronic Engineering from USJ and ENSTA. She holds two PhDs in Engineering¡ªElectronic and Biomedical¡ªfrom SUPELEC Paris XI, France, four European patents in engineering and medical fields, and a Master in Philosophy from the Lebanese University. A senior expert in ICT, cybersecurity, and AI, she has served since 2017 as National Coordinator for ICT, Cybersecurity, and Counter-Terrorism at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. A professor at the Lebanese University in modern telecommunications, AI, real-time embedded systems, physics, lobbying, and decision-making. Owner of ECS Consulting and EDITRA, an international consultant for EU, UNESCO, WHO, WB, KFAED, etc. PhD supervisor, published in cyber sciences, contributor to Lebanon¡¯s AI ethics guidelines.

Carlos Centeno

Carlos Centeno

CO-Founder, SOMOS Civic Lab and Program and Engagement Director, MIT Emerging Talent

Carlos is Program & Engagement Director at MIT Emerging Talent, building partnerships to equip learners from migrant, refugee, and displaced communities with computer science and life skills to become leading change agents. He co-founded SOMOS Civic Lab, collaborating with civil society and public sector to democratize ethical AI deployment.

Catherine Nikolovski

Catherine Nikolovski

Executive Director, Civic Software Foundation

Catherine Nikolovski is the Executive Director of the CivicTech Software Foundation in Thailand, where she leads efforts to build open-source digital tools that promote civic participation, transparency, and accountable governance. With a background in civic technology and digital rights, she has worked across Southeast Asia to support community-led innovation and responsible tech use in public institutions. Under her leadership, the Foundation has developed platforms for public feedback, open data, and citizen engagement. Catherine advocates for ethical tech design, open government, and digital inclusion, working closely with civil society, government agencies, and multilateral partners. She also supports capacity-building for local technologists and policymakers to ensure contextually appropriate, sustainable digital solutions across the region.

Teddy Svoronos

Teddy Svoronos

Senior Lecturer of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School and Affiliate, Harvard Center for International Development, USA

Teddy Svoronos is a Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), teaching rigorous statistical methods to inform and improve public decision-making. His work focuses on leveraging technology to scale interactive learning globally, researching the critical intersection of pedagogy, technology, and evidence adoption. At HKS, he is Faculty Lead for the Evidence for Decisions area of the online Public Leadership Credential and Faculty Liaison for Pedagogy and Digital Learning, fostering innovation. Teddy co-founded Teachly, a web application for creating effective and inclusive learning environments, and PingPong, a platform using AI for unique learning experiences. He holds a PhD in Health Policy from Harvard University and an MPH from Columbia University.

Oleksii Balabushko

Oleksii Balabushko

Practice Manager Institutions, East Asia Pacific Region, World Bank

Oleksii Balabushko is a Practice Manager for Institutions Practice in the East Asia and Pacific region. He has over 20 years of professional experience across four regions (ECA, EAP, Africa and MENA) and in the PEFA Secretariat. He served as Co-Chair of the Public Expenditure and Financial Management Community of Practice at the World Bank. A public sector economist, he has with in-depth expertise in public finance, tax policy and tax administration. His extensive operational and analytical work includes delivery and implementation support for large operations across regions, and publications in international journals. Oleksii holds a Master¡¯s degree in Economics from Florida State University and a Bachelor¡¯s degree in Economics from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy of Ukraine.

Florin Hasler

Florin Emanuel Hasler

Director, Open Data, Switzerland

Florin Hasler leads Opendata.ch, a Swiss nonprofit committed to using data in the public interest. After working in foreign policy and political communications, he found his passion in technology-related advocacy and open innovation. At Opendata.ch, he supports the public sector's journey to become more open. Furthermore, he advocates for a digital transformation that works for the people and the planet. He is convinced that a more inclusive and collaborative approach is necessary to tackle today¡¯s societal and climatic challenges. Before becoming Director, he managed Opendata.ch's Prototype Fund, a support program for civic and public interest tech.

Ciro Avelino Retrato

Ciro Pitangueira de Avelino

Advisor, Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services, Brazil

Ciro Pitangueira de Avelino graduated in design and specializes in strategy, people management, and IT. He holds a master's in public policy. A third-generation public servant with over 20 years at Brazil's largest public bank, he has held leadership roles, including Former Director at the Regional Bank of Bras¨ªlia. He has contributed to Brazil's digital transformation for a decade, serving the GOV.BR Platform team as Deputy Secretary, Chief of Staff, and Senior Advisor. Co-founder of movements like GovHackers and IGOVNights, and a pioneer in collaborative networks like INOVAGOV. He lectures at ENAP and other private academic institutions. Citro is deeply committed to public innovation and transformative people-centred policies and technology.

Joao Ricardo Vasconcelos

Jo?o Ricardo Vasconcelos

Senior Governance Specialist, Institutions Global Department, Prosperity, World Bank

Jo?o Ricardo Vasconcelos is a Senior Governance Specialist in the World Bank¡¯s Governance Global Practice, where he leads cross-cutting GovTech work and builds global communities around key digital government priorities. He manages the World Bank¡¯s GovTech Global Partnership, including flagship initiatives such as the GovTech Maturity Index, the GovTech Global Forum, and the GovTech Working Groups. His expertise spans whole-of-government digitalization, green GovTech, CivicTech, AI in the public sector, data governance, interoperability, digital skills and culture, and inclusive service delivery. Prior to joining the World Bank, Jo?o was a Digital Government Policy Analyst at the OECD, leading initiatives like the E-Leaders Working Party. He also held leadership roles in Portugal¡¯s public sector, driving digital innovation and international cooperation.

Michael Downey

Michael Downey

Open Source Project Officer, Chief Digital Office, UNDP

Michael Downey is Project Officer for the Open Source Ecosystem Enabler initiative at UNDP. With over 20 years of experience across the UN system, civil society, and the private sector, he led collaborative IT programmes in international health and finance before moving on to help lead OpenMRS, an open source health platform built in and for the global majority, earning the Free Software Foundation's Award for Projects of Social Benefit. He directed open-source programs for Digital Impact Alliance at the UN Foundation, focusing on Digital Public Goods ecosystem. At UNDP, he leads a joint effort with ITU to support countries adopt open-source software and DPG's through local capacity-building and the establishment of Open Source Programme Offices (OSPOs).

Huynh Nhat Nam

Huynh Nhat Nam

Lecturer, Fullbright University, Vietnam

Dr. Huynh Nhat Nam is a Senior Research Fellow at the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management (FSPPM), Dr. Nam Huynh provides assistance to the Dean of FSPPM for the satisfactory progress and successful completion of the big urban data analytics project funded by the Vingroup Innovation Foundation. He also assists in outlining an agenda for policy-related data intensive research at FSPPM, and in identifying prospective funding sources for these research projects. Before joining Fulbright University Vietnam, Nam has a decade working in academia and government in Australia developing data analytics and simulation models of urban infrastructure systems for government and industry-funded projects.

Rajiv Garodia

Rajiv Garodia

Global Head, Visa Government Solutions, Visa

Rajiv Garodia is the Global Head of Visa Government Solutions, leading a global team that works with governments, public institutions, and NGOs to advance inclusive and sustainable growth through digital payments. With over 20 years in payments and financial services, he has held executive roles across product, innovation, and marketing. He previously led Visa¡¯s global Real-Time Payments group and, before that, Mastercard¡¯s international Real-Time Payments and pay-by-bank businesses. Rajiv also spent 12 years at Western Union, leading operations across Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia, and managing global product functions. He brings extensive general management and market experience and has lived and worked in Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. He is currently based in London.

?

Priya Vora

Priya Vora

CEO, Digital Impact Alliance

Priya is the CEO of the Digital Impact Alliance, with over 20 years of experience empowering the marginalized communities with political voice and economic opportunity. A widely recognized leader in global development, Priya has forged strategic partnerships and networks with leading development champions worldwide and has a proven record in designing effective interventions for financial inclusion and digital development. Before joining the Digital Impact Alliance initially as the Managing Director, Priya founded Future State, a non-profit focused on inclusive data economies. Her career includes launching the Digital Development team in the USAID during the Obama Administration and establishing the financial inclusion practice at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Priya also serves as a non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institute.

Pooja Warier Hamilton

Pooja Warier

Chief Partnerships Officer, Apolitical

Pooja is Chief Partnerships Officer at Apolitical, a global network and learning platform with a mission to help build 21st century governments that work for people and the planet. Prior to Apolitical, Pooja was the Founding Managing Partner of Conduit Connect, an impact investing platform for investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders. She was also the co-founder and CEO of UnLtd India, an incubator for social entrepreneurs. Pooja has been recognised as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, an Aspen India leadership fellow and a TED India fellow.

Tulsi Parida

Tulsi Parida Global Director

Multilaterals and Development Finance, Visa Government Solutions, UK

Tulsi Parida is the Global Director of Multilateral and Development Finance Partnerships at Visa. She works at the intersection of digital transformation and the public sector, building partnerships with multilaterals and development finance institutions to advance financial inclusion through digital solutions. She brings a decade of experience at the intersection of technology, society, and business, with a focus on reducing digital inequality and promoting inclusive innovation. Prior to Visa, she led teams at startups addressing digital divides in literacy in both the U.S. and India. Tulsi holds a BSc from Northwestern University and a dual MSc/MBA from the University of Oxford. She is a recipient of the Global 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics and TechWomen 100 UK awards.

Piers Clough

Piers Clough

Global Head of Pre-Sales, Visa Government Solutions, UK

Piers Clough is the Global Head of Pre-Sales & Solution Architecture, where he leads the practice dedicated to accelerating digital transformation for government clients worldwide. With over a decade of experience at Visa, Piers held various roles across technology, innovation strategy, new product development, solution sales, and client advisory, gaining deep insights into complex digital ecosystems. Prior to Visa, he consulted for the UK public sector, specializing in enterprise architecture and change management. Holding an MBA from Imperial College London and a BA from King¡¯s College London, Piers combines strategic thinking with practical execution. His recognised superpower is collaborative solution design, development, and commercialization, enabling successful, impactful digital initiatives for public sector organisations.

Hyejeong Lim

Hyejeong Lim

Principal Manager, Global ICT and Project Planning and Project Team, National Information Society Agency, Korea

Hyejeong Lim is Director of the Global Center at the National Information Society Agency (NIA) in South Korea. She previously served as Director of the Open Data Center at NIA, where she led the development of the national open data master plan and managed pan-government open data evaluations. She is also a member of the OECD Data Expert Group. Her areas of expertise include open data, data analysis, and ICT policy. Hyejeong holds a bachelor¡¯s degree in International Business from the University of Missouri¨CColumbia.

Arbjan Mazniku

Arbjan Mazniku

Minister of State for Local Government, Albania

Arbjan Mazniku has served as Albania¡¯s Minister of State for Local Government since September 2023. He was Deputy Mayor of Tirana from 2015 to 2023 and previously Deputy Minister of Education and Sports (2013¨C2015). Before entering public office, he was Executive Director of the AGENDA Institute, focused on governance, European integration, and development. From 2003 to 2007, he was active in the MJAFT Movement and previously led the National Debate Association. Mr. Mazniku studied journalism at the University of Tirana and holds a Master¡¯s in Political Communication from the University of Sheffield. He also completed executive programs at Harvard University, including ¡°Leading Economic Growth¡± (2014) and the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative (2017¨C2018).

Ott Velsberg

Ott Velsberg

Government Chief Data Officer, Estonia

Dr. Ott Velsberg is a renowned Estonian IT specialist and government official, serving as the Chief Data Officer of Estonia. He leads national data policy and public sector data initiatives, focusing on artificial intelligence, open data, citizen-centric governance, data management, and digital transformation. With extensive experience in data governance and data science, he has positioned Estonia as a global leader in these domains. Under his leadership, the country has become known for pioneering approaches in AI and open data. Passionate about technology and innovation, Dr. Velsberg continues to play a key role in advancing Estonia¡¯s digital transformation and shaping its data-driven future through strategic, forward-looking governance and inclusive, tech-enabled solutions.

Lisa Finneran

Lisa Finneran

Director for Innovation at the World Bank Group.

Lisa Finneran is Director for Innovation at the World Bank Group.? In collaboration with units across the Group, she is responsible for leading innovation initiatives that help strengthen the implementation of the World Bank Group¡¯s ¡°Evolution Agenda¡± and for building a collaborative and experimental innovation ecosystem within the institution.

Since joining the World Bank in 2022, Lisa has worked across its finance, operations and knowledge functions.??Prior to her current role, the most significant innovation she led was when she found herself out of her comfort zone upon being appointed as Director for IDA Resource Mobilization in 2014.?

Soonmin Bae

Soonmin Bae

Chief Responsible AI Officer, Head of AI Future LAB, Senior Vice President, Korea Telecom

Dr. Soonmin Bae aims to transform AI technology into meaningful services. She holds multiple positions including CRAIO and AI Future Lab Director at KT, Adjunct Professor at KAIST, Member of Presidential Committee on Digital Platform Government, and Full Member of National Academy of Engineering of Korea. Prior to industrial experiences, she received her Ph.D. and M.S. in EECS/CSAIL at MIT and earned her B.S. at KAIST.

Andrew Cooke

Andrew Cooke

Global Policy Lead, Microsoft

Andrew Cooke is Global Policy Lead at Microsoft, supporting the Worldwide Public Sector business. He heads the Global Market Development Policy Team, working with the governments and regulatory community to ensure optimized policy settings are in place to best take advantage of digital transformation technologies. Andrew is a subject matter expert in various digital transformation-related policies, including data governance and data classification, cloud first policies, centralized procurement, government framework agreements and digital identity. Andrew joined Microsoft in 2007, providing commercial legal support for the Australian and New Zealand operations before moving to Singapore in 2012 as lead commercial lawyer for Asia, late heading the region¡¯s government affairs and public policy team.

 Praveen Pardeshi

Praveen Pardeshi

Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra Institution for Transformation, Government of Maharashtra, India

Praveen Pardeshi is a retired officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), 1985 batch, with over 34 years of leadership in governance, international development, and disaster resilience. He has held key roles including Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and led ¡°Mission Karmayogi,¡± training over 100,000 public servants in citizen-centric values. Since July 2023, he has served as CEO of Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) and Chief Economic Advisor to the Hon. Chief Minister, advancing reforms toward a $1 trillion economy by FY 2028. Globally, he has worked with UNDP and UNISDR, led COVID-19 response efforts, and managed the Killari Earthquake reconstruction. He studied at LSE and Delhi School of Economics.

Kelly Ommundsen

Kelly Ommundsen

Head of Digital Inclusion, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum (WEF)

Kelly Ommundsen is the Head of Digital Inclusion and a Member of the Executive Committee for the World Economic Forum. In this role, Kelly leverages her expertise in technology, policy, and partnerships to advance social equity and systems change. She leads key initiatives like the Global GovTech Network, EDISON Alliance, and the Global Regulatory Innovation Platform, promoting public-private collaboration to modernize governance and bridge the digital divide.

Bushra Al Blooshi

Bushra AlBlooshi

Director, Cybersecurity Governance Risk Management, DESC, Government of Dubai, UAE

Dr. Bushra AlBlooshi is a global leader in digital transformation and cybersecurity, bridging strategic vision with technical expertise. She leads major national and international initiatives, including the Dubai Cybersecurity Strategy and the World Bank¡¯s Cloud Computing Working Group. As the first Arab woman on the World Economic Forum¡¯s Cybersecurity Council, she contributes to the G20 agendas, WEF task forces, and ITU mentorships. Nationally, she pioneered UAE Pass, Dubai Digital Policies, and the region¡¯s first cybersecurity regulations. Dr. AlBlooshi serves on advisory boards across government, academia, and global organizations. Holding a PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, two master¡¯s degrees and two U.S. patents. Her research spans cloud computing, digital forensics and cryptography, while mentoring the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.

Maximiliano Maneiro

Maximiliano Maneiro

Deputy Director, IT department at AGESIC, Uruguay

Maximilano Maneiro is the Deputy Director of the Information Technology Department at Agesic, the Agency of the Presidency of the Republic responsible for promoting the development of digital government and the information society in Uruguay. Maximiliano is part of the leadership team of the department tasked with researching, developing, and promoting solutions, methodologies, best practices, and tools that contribute to value creation and facilitate the effective management of information technologies within State organizations. At Agesic, he led the Emerging Technologies team and was responsible for the design and implementation of the Presidential Office¡¯s private cloud, a reference solution for the Central Administration. Previously, he worked as a consultant for technology companies in the areas of infrastructure and virtualization.

Antoine Sebera

Antoine Sebera

Government Chief Innovation Officer, Rwanda Information Society Authority

Antoine Sebera serves as the Government Chief Innovation Officer at the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), under the Ministry of ICT and Innovation. RISA is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing national ICT strategies and projects. Antoine leads key digital transformation initiatives across government sectors, promotes innovation through emerging technologies and leads the institution's efforts to support national startup ecosystem, IT workforce capacity building and skills development. Being deeply passionate about ICT for development, he brings over 20 years of experience in e-Government, software development and systems integration, IT infrastructure, broadband telecommunications networks, data centers, and cloud computing. Antoine holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Science and Software Engineering from the University of Rwanda.

Khuram Farooq

Khuram Farooq

Senior Specialist Institutions Department, Prosperity Vice presidency, World Bank

Khuram Farooq is a Senior Governance Specialist of the World Bank with over 25 years of global experience in digital transformation, spanning more than 100 operations across 50 countries. Known for combining visionary leadership with operational expertise, he is a recognized authority on PFM and GovTech. Hhe has led six global publications on Cloud Computing, AI in the Public Sector, Agile Treasuries, Mobile Government, Integrated Financial Management Information Systems, and Human Resource Management Systems. He is currently co-authoring a book on ¡®Digital Money¡¯ with the IMF. Before joining the World Bank, he was a senior civil servant in the Government of Pakistan, where he led a large-scale, whole-of-government SAP deployment for budgeting and payroll across all levels of government.

Birago Antwi-Agyei.

Birago Antwi-Agyei

Assistant Commissioner, Ghana Revenue Authority

Birago Antwi-Agyei is a Customer Service Practitioner with over 25 years¡¯ experience in Customer Service. She is a Change Expert, Customer Experience and Enablement Strategist, Training Consultant, and Corporate Social Responsibility Strategist. She is an internationally certified Trainer, Facilitator, and Coach. She is currently the Assistant Commissioner at the Ghana Revenue Authority in charge of Customer Experience. She has been responsible for setting up the unit and formulating the strategy to drive service delivery in a tax environment, including training and changing the culture of tax payment. She also leads the World Bank project on Public Financial Management for Service Delivery. She runs ACE of Spade, her consultancy focused on delivering corporate social responsibility functions.

 Clemens Denner

Clemens Denner

Policy Officer, Public Sector, Data & AI, Federal Chancellery, Austria

Clemens Denner is a Policy Officer at the Federal Chancellery of the Republic of Austria, working in the Department for Digital Strategies and Innovation within the General Directorate for Digitalisation and E-Government. The department coordinates Austria¡¯s national AI and Data strategies and implements key EU digital policies, including the AI Act, Data Governance Act, and Data Act. Mr. Denner focuses on advancing the responsible use of AI in the public sector. He leads projects on AI use case identification, transparency of AI solutions, and the development of a public sector AI blueprint. He holds a background in political science and public policy, with academic experience in Vienna, Warsaw, and Berlin, and began his career in the technology and consulting sectors.

 Yiannis Theodorou

Yiannis Theodorou

Senior Digital Transformation Advisor, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

Yiannis is a Senior Digital Transformation Advisor at TBI, leading the Advisory portfolio on Digital ID & Wallets in 25+ countries. He works directly with government leaders around the globe, helping them reimagine public service delivery in the age of AI, accelerate digital economies, and build citizen trust. With over 20 years of cross-disciplinary experience spanning law, policy, technology, user experience, privacy, and ethics, Yiannis has spearheaded strategic programmes and partnerships with prominent private sector and international development organizations, including the UN, World Bank, FCDO, the EU, and numerous donors across more than 50 countries.

Stela Mocan

Stela Mocan

Manager, Technology Innovation Office, World Bank Group

Stela Mocan leads the Technology Innovation Office at the World Bank Group CIO Office. During 2010-2015, she served as the Government of Moldova 1st Government Chief Information Officer, leading the digital transformation of government operations and public service delivery. During 2009-2010, she served as Moldova Prime Minister's advisor on governance and public administration reform. Prior to that, she led and managed governance and democracy building programs with UNDP, USAID, World Bank, international NGOs.

Anumita Raj

Anumita Raj

eGov Foundation, India

Anumita works to expand eGov's footprint globally, engaging with governments and multilateral institutions. She comes from the foreign policy and security sector, where she worked on issues ranging from terrorism and water diplomacy to human security and gender, in regions including South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Anumita has degrees in Mathematics and Diplomacy

Gautham Ravichander

Gautham Ravichander

eGov Foundation, India

Gautham leads eGov¡¯s policy initiatives with the Government of India and partner states. He started his career at Janaagraha where he led the Ward Infrastructure Index Program and was a founding team member of The Education Alliance. Gautham has a MIB degree from The Fletcher School at Tufts University where his studies focussed on social enterprises and leveraging business models to reach underserved populations. At Fletcher, Gautham organized and co-chaired the first Tufts Innovation Symposium on Scaling Innovation in Emerging Markets.

Alan Jim¨¦nez

Alan Jim¨¦nez Mart¨ªnez

Vice Minister of Public Administration, Ministry of Public Administration, Dominican Republic

Alan Jim¨¦nez Mart¨ªnez?holds a Bachelor of Laws from Pontificia Universidad Cat¨®lica Madre Y Maestra. And a master¡¯s degree in French Civil and Private International Law from the University of Panth¨¦on-ASSAS (Paris II), and master¡¯s degree in administrative law and public Affairs with the Universidad de Salamanca. He is currently a professor of Public Law, Energy Law and Electric Utitly Services at Pontificia Universidad Cat¨®lica Madre Y Maestra. He is also a doctoral candidate at Externado University. As a public official, he has served as Deputy Director of PPP Contracts at the Direccion General de Alianzas P¨²blico-Privada. He is vice-minister of public services in the Ministry of public administration.

Debashish Prusty

Debasish Prusty

Principal Secretary, Finance (Budget), Government of Rajasthan, India

Dr. Debasish Prusty?a member of the Indian Administrative Service is now serving as the Principal Secretary Finance in the sub national Government of Rajasthan in India. He has more than 25 years of experience in designing and implementing polices in the realm of sustainable development, public financial management systems and development cooperation. Currently he is responsible for the preparation of the Annual Budget and the Finance Account through the Integrated Financial Management System for the Sub national Government. Dr.Prusty has contributed to India's initiative to launch the International Solar Alliance (ISA) platform in the year 2015. He was a member of the standing committee on Finance of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) in 2016.

Barbara Ubaldi

Barbara Ubaldi

Senior Director, Government innovation and AI, Tony Blair Institute

Barbara Ubaldi?is the Senior Director for AI and Government Innovation at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. She leads global efforts to help governments harness technology to improve public services and drive innovation. With over 24 years of experience, Barbara previously spent 16 years leading the OECD¡¯s Digital Government and Data Unit. There, she advanced digital transformation, transparency, and citizen engagement through global initiatives, country reviews, and key frameworks like the Digital Government Index. She also spent seven years at the United Nations focusing on e-government and ICT for development. A Fulbright Scholar, Barbara holds a Master of Science from Northeastern University and has been recognized among influential figures in digital government and AI in government.

Tracey Lane

Tracey Lane

Practice Manager, Global Institutions Department, World Bank

Tracey Lane?is Practice Manager, Institutions, at the World Bank. She joined the Bank in 2001 as a Young Professional. Since then, she has served in various capacities, including Senior Economist in Eastern Europe, East Africa, and South Asia; Program Leader in the Middle East and North Africa; and Lead Economist in Latin America. Recently, she was the Practice Manager in the Governance Global unit of the EFI Vice Presidency before moving to the Africa West region. With a background in U.K. government economics, Tracey's expertise spans government expenditure, fiscal policy, and public finance management. She holds BA and MA degrees in Economics from the University of Essex.

Ayanda Hlatshwayo.

Ayanda Hlatshwayo

Acting Chief Data Analytics Officer, National Treasury of South Africa

Ayanda Hlatshwayo?is the Acting Chief Data Analytics Officer of the National Treasury of South Africa, focusing on data driven policy data analytics and research analysis to inform policy and decision making; oversees the National Treasury Secure Data Facility (NT-SDF); leads the mzansiXchange initiative; and supports the Presidency's Operation Vulindela digital transformation agenda. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Stellenbosch and MCom (Economic Science) from the University of the Witwatersrand.

 Tadej Gabrijel

Tadej Gabrijel

Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Digital Transformation, Slovenia

Tadej Gabrijel?is the Deputy Director-General of the Directorate for the Development of Digital Solutions and the Data Economy at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Government of Slovenia. He has extensive experience with the development and management of government digital solutions and digital public services. He is involved in preparing strategic documents and leads or participates in various coordination and working groups at both national and international levels (e.g. the Interoperable Europe Board, EU eGovernment Benchmarking Group, OECD E-Leaders Group, coordination in the digital government field with the United Nations and the World Bank Group). In the past, he made a significant contribution to the modernization of the Central Population Register and other national basic registers. In 2011, his team developed an internationally awarded data exchange platform (UNPSA Winner 2013), which is now also used in an international context and enhanced with machine learning algorithms.

Louise Holden

Louise Holden

Global Head, Partnerships, Government Solutions, VISA

Louise Holden leads the global government partnerships team at Visa and is based in London, UK. Louise is a digital payment specialist who builds sustainable programs for organizations including governments, humanitarian and development NGOs, and the private sector. Louise¡¯s team builds and manages Visa partnerships with financial institutions, multilateral organizations, NGOs, and fintech/govtech organizations, with a current focus on creating Visa¡¯s humanitarian and development practice. She has 30 years of experience working in large multinational organizations, including roles at Barclaycard, American Express, and Mastercard. Louise has worked across Europe, Africa, and Australia, and is a Life Fellow at the RSA and on the Leadership Circle of ARISE and ActionAid.

Chiara Bronchi

Chiara Bronchi

Practice Manager, Public Institutions Data and Analytics Unit in the Governance Global Practice

Chiara Bronchi?is the Practice Manager for Public Institutions Data and Analytics in the Institutions Global Department.?Prior to that she was a Practice Manager at the Fiscal Policy and Sustainable Growth Unit in the Macroeconomics, Trade, and Investment Global Practice of the World Bank Group.

Chiara has over 26 years of professional experience in managing multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary programs in various international organizations. She started her professional career as Economic Adviser with the U.K. government, joined the OECD in 1998, and then the IMF in 2003. She served at the Head of the Fiscal Affairs Office of Kosovo under the UN Protectorate before joining the World Bank in 2008. In 2018-19 she was on external assignment as the Chief Thematic Officer of the ADB, where she provided vision and goals for the ADB thematic cluster and the ADB Strategy 2030. Chiara holds a PhD in economics from Bologna University and a MSc in economics from University College of London.

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AC4D Global Forum Speaker

Francesca Recanatini

Lead Economist, World Bank

?is a Lead Economist at the World Bank, specializing in institution building and anticorruption for over two decades. Since joining in 1998, she has integrated governance and anticorruption into development using data and stakeholder participation. She supported governance reforms across Eastern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East via data collection, coalition building, and multisector engagement.

Currently focusing on public sector reforms and multistakeholder initiatives in Latin America, Middle East and Africa, her research interests include corruption measures, accountability, state capture and fragility, and sextortion. She has published numerous papers and contributed to key reports and handbooks in the field. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Maryland at College Park.

Oksanna Abrahamyan

Oksanna Abrahamyan

Deputy Minister, Ministry of Justice, Republic of Armenia

Dr. Oksanna Abrahamyan?is leading Armenia¡¯s digital transformation in the justice sector as Deputy Minister of Justice, advancing e-governance reforms to improve judicial efficiency, transparency, and access to justice. She oversees the digitization of core justice services, reducing bureaucratic barriers and creating citizen-centered systems that are more accessible and responsive. With over 20 years of experience in international development, public policy, and institutional reform, she brings expertise in strategy design, GovTech implementation, and managing complex programs. She holds a PhD in Economics and has taught at universities and adult education programs. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP?), Accredited Contract Manager (UK Civil Service), and Erickson Certified Professional Coach (ECPC), focused on delivering reform through practical, people-centered solutions.

Gilbert Mure Tupana Matura

Gilbert Mure Tupana Matura

Director, Smart Government Directorate, Executive Office of The President, Kenya

Gilbert Matura?leads the Smart Government Department under Kenya¡¯s Executive Office of the President, where he is responsible for coordinating the implementation of digital initiatives across government. His work focuses on advancing Kenya¡¯s transformation into a Smart Government by integrating cutting-edge technologies and harnessing data to enhance public service delivery. With a mandate that spans cross-agency collaboration and innovation-driven reform, Gilbert plays a key role in institutionalizing the digital transformation agenda at the highest levels of government.

Aaron Snow

Aaron Snow

Advisor, International Government Transformation, AWS

Aaron Snow?has led national digital transformation efforts in both the United States and Canada. In 2014, he co-founded and led 18F, the U.S. government¡¯s in-house technology consultancy, and later became the first Deputy Commissioner of the Technology Transformation Service. In 2018, he was appointed the first CEO of Canada¡¯s Canadian Digital Service. He now serves as Principal Advisor for international government transformation at Amazon Web Services. Aaron was also a Presidential Innovation Fellow under President Obama and has been twice named among the ¡°World¡¯s 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government.¡± He holds degrees from Harvard College and Columbia Law School and serves on the boards of FWD50, DIGIT Governance Council, and the Foundation for Public Code North America.

David Eaves

Associate Professor and Co-Deputy Director, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, UK

David Eaves?is Co-Deputy Director and Associate Professor in Digital Government at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) at University College London. He teaches and writes on digital-era public administration, digital transformation, and the governance of digital public infrastructure. He is widely recognized for his work on digital state capacity, including establishing the digital public infrastructure map, used globally by researchers, donors, and governments. David has also published on topics such as What is Public in Digital Public Infrastructure and the Economics of Shared Digital Infrastructure. He co-founded Teaching Public Service in a Digital Age, an open-licensed curriculum used by faculty at over 70 universities in more than 30 countries.

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Kalpana Kochhar

Kalpana Kochhar

Director of Development Policy and Finance, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Kalpana Kochhar is the Director, Development Policy and Finance at Gates Foundation. She oversees an advisory group of economists and development finance experts at a foundation, using economic analysis to inform global policy and advocacy work. Before joining in 2021, she had a distinguished 33-year career at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Her senior roles included directing Human Resources, serving as deputy director for the Asia and Pacific Department, and in Strategy, Policy, and Review, where she notably launched the IMF¡¯s work on gender and women¡¯s economic empowerment. From 2010 to 2012, she was seconded as the World Bank¡¯s chief economist for the South Asia region. She holds multiple economics degrees, including an M.A. and Ph.D. from Brown University.

Julia Pomares

Co-Founder and Regional Lead LATAM, The Global Initiative for Digital Empowerment, Argentina

Julia Pomares?is a public policy expert and strategic advisor focused on digital transformation, AI adoption, and governance reform. She is Regional Director for Latin America at the Global Initiative for Digital Empowerment (GIDE) and Visiting Professor at Di Tella University, where she teaches AI regulation and policy planning. She is Lead Author of UNESCO¡¯s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology for Argentina. Julia previously served as Chief Advisor to the Mayor of Buenos Aires and as Executive Director of CIPPEC, a leading Argentine think tank. In 2018, she co-chaired the T20, the G20¡¯s network of think tanks. She is a Non-Executive Director at Pampa Energ¨ªa and La An¨®nima, and a member of Women Corporate Directors. She holds a PhD from LSE.
Harish Natarajan

Harish Natarajan

Practice Manager, Financial inclusion and Infrastructure, World Bank

Harish?leads a global team at the World Bank focused on financial inclusion, payments and market infrastructures, digital finance, and credit infrastructure. He represents the Bank in several international working groups and was a lead contributor to the IMF¨CWorld Bank Bali Fintech Agenda, co-led the Future of Finance flagship paper, and co-chaired the CPMI¨CWorld Bank taskforce on Payment Aspects of Financial Inclusion. Before joining the World Bank, Harish held senior positions at Visa in business development, operations, and risk management. He holds an undergraduate degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology¨CMadras and a Post Graduate Diploma from the Indian Institute of Management¨CCalcutta, specializing in Finance and Systems.

Silvana Kostenbaum

Silvana Kostenbaum

Senior Governance Specialist, World Bank

Silvana Kostenbaum is a public sector senior specialist in the LAC region for the World Bank, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is the focal point on institutions and public sector issues for Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, providing cross support to other practices and working on projects in the region. She is a member of the GovTech Global Solutions Group and was Co-Chair of the GovTech Community of Practice. Before joining the Bank, Silvana worked for the Government of Argentina for ten years mostly focusing on the Integrated Financial Management Information System reform. Silvana holds a Master of Public Policy and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan and a Political Science degree from the University of Buenos Aires.

Cem Dener

Cem Dener

Lead Governance Specialist, Senior Governance Specialist, Institutions Global Department, Prosperity, World Bank

Cem Dener is a Lead Governance Specialist in the Institutions Global Department of the World Bank. In the past two decades he contributed to the modernization of public financial management information systems and digital government programs in over 70 countries. He has extensive system design and application development experience gained in private and public sector projects. He represents the Bank in regional and international events to share and discuss experiences and trends in digital governance, the transition to a whole-of-government approach, and the use of open-source software, AI/ML, and innovative solutions in the public sector. He holds BSME degree from Middle East Technical University, T¨¹rkiye, M.Sc. from Cranfield Institute of Technology, U.K., and Ph.D. from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.

Saki Kumagai

Saki Kumagai

Senior Governance Specialist, Institutions Global Practice, World Bank

Saki Kumagai is Senior Governance Specialist with the Institutions Global Practice in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region. She specializes in supporting governments create and strengthen more transparent, accountable, and participatory government systems that sustain and deliver citizen-centric public services. Currently, Saki co-leads the Institutions¡¯ work in Yemen on core government systems, civil service reforms, public financial management, and local governance, and continues to be engaged in service delivery operations in the MENA region and beyond. Prior to joining the Bank, Saki worked in the private sector, academia, and civil society organizations. She holds a BA in International Relations with a minor in Sociology from American University, Washington, D.C. and a MA in Human Rights from LSE.

Simon Carl O'Meally

Simon Carl O'Meally

Senior Governance Specialist, Institutions Global Practice, World Bank

Dr. Simon O¡¯Meally is a Senior Public Sector Economist and leads work on institutional reform for improved services and accelerated economic development. Simon is based in Vienna with the World Bank, focusing on supporting institutional and public sector reform lending and economic policy reform, notably in the Western Balkans. A British-Jamaican citizen, Simon joined the World Bank as a Young Professional in 2011 and held World Bank field positions in India (2012-2016) and Tunisia (2016-2020). Simon has a PhD in Political Economy and Development Studies (2009) from the University of Manchester.

Anita Sobjak

Anita Sobjak

Senior Public Sector Specialist, Institutions Global Department, World Bank

Anita Sobjak is a Senior Public Sector Specialist in the Public Administration Global Unit of the Institutions Global Department of the World Bank. She provides support to government counterparts globally on institutional modernization through lending operations, analytical and advisory engagements. Her main areas of focus are GovTech (digitalizing public services, modernizing core government systems and embedding frontier technologies) and strengthening institutional capacity by building a fit for the future public workforce.

Romina Kostani

Romina Kostani

Director of Digital Agenda Coordination and Foreign-Funded Projects for e-Government, National Agency of Information Society, Albania

Ms. Romina Kostani is the Director of Digital Agenda Coordination and Foreign-Funded Projects for e-Government at the Albanian National Agency of Information Society. She holds a MSc in Information Systems, a Master¡¯s in EU Business Law, and a Bachelor¡¯s in Business-Informatics from the University of Tirana. Romina has played a key role in the drafting and implementation of the GovTech Program in partnership with the World Bank, advancing innovation and digital governance in Albania. Her work focuses on the digitalization of public services, interoperability, open data, and alignment of national legislation with the EU ICT Acquis. She also has experience in university-level teaching in information systems and has contributed to ICT innovation, including public sector start-up incubation programs.

Alisa Zomer

Alisa Zomer

Assistant Director, MIT GovLab, USA

Alisa Zomer is the Assistant Director at the MIT Governance Lab (MIT GOV/LAB), where she leads strategic partnerships and bridges research with practical applications in governance. Her expertise encompasses urban climate governance, environmental equity, and international policy. Previously, she was a research fellow at Yale University and worked with the World Resources Institute's global governance team, focusing on environmental rights and access to information. Alisa is a World Social Science Fellow in sustainable urbanization and a member of the NSF-funded Research Coordination Network on sustainable cities. She holds a Master's degree from Yale University and a Bachelor's degree from The George Washington University.

Natalia Avenda?o

Natalia Avenda?o

President, Science and Technology Agency, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Argentina?

Natalia Avenda?o, a PhD in Economics, is an expert in international financing, public project management, and development policy design. She currently leads Argentina's Agencia R+D+i, promoting strategic science, technology, and innovation for federal productive development. Her focus includes leveraging ICTs in sectors like health, energy, and the knowledge economy from a value chain perspective. With a strong track record, she has managed multisectoral projects for state modernization and digitalization, coordinating with international agencies. She held key roles in the Chief of Cabinet, Economy, Health, and Finance ministries, focusing on policy evaluation and financing. Avenda?o also excels academically as a professor and researcher on economic development and poverty.

Omid Ghaffari-Tabrizi

Omid Ghaffari-Tabrizi

Head of U.S. Federal Civilian Policy, Google

Omid Ghaffari-Tabrizi is Head of U.S. Federal Civilian Policy at Google, leading engagement on technology, procurement, and regulatory issues. With expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and public sector procurement, he has contributed to major IT modernization across multiple U.S. administrations. His career includes roles such as Director of Cloud Policy at the Internet Association, Principal at Monument Advocacy, and an appointee to the Washington State Governor¡¯s Cloud Transition Task Force. He also held senior procurement positions at the U.S. General Services Administration, including Acquisitions Lead at 18F, focused on improving federal technology procurement. Earlier, he was a litigator and led a legal tech firm. Omid holds a B.B.A. and J.D. from the University of Miami, and an LL.M. in Government Procurement Law from George Washington University.

Natalia Iregui

Natalia Mar¨ªa Iregui Ortigoza

Director, Public Policy Department, North, South, and Central America and the Caribbean, AWS

Natalia Mar¨ªa Iregui Ortigoza?is the Director of Public Policy for North and South Latin America, including Central America and the Caribbean, for Amazon Web Services (AWS). In her role, she focuses on building relationships with government officials, representing AWS in industry associations, and advocating for regulations that allow business development. He has worked for more than 20 years in the public and private sectors, acting as a liaison between public and private companies and developing relationships with associations, embassies and legislative bodies in Colombia and throughout the region. She has held management positions in the Colombian Government, Congress and the private sector at Telef¨®nica and DIRECTV/ATT. Additionally, she is a founding member of Mujeres Tic Colombia, a nonprofit organization whose objectives include promoting and inspiring women in the world of technology as well as promoting the closing of the gender gap in the sector. Iregui is a lawyer by training, with master's degrees in public management and administrative institutions.

Mykola Tkachenko

Mykola Tkachenko

CEO, SoE Prozorro

Mykola Tkachenko - since the beginning of 2023, he has been the CEO of the state-owned enterprise "Prozorro." Prozorro is a state electronic procurement system built on the principle of "Everyone sees everything," ensuring maximum transparency and efficient use of public funds. Before joining Prozorro, he held leadership positions for over 15 years in the IT departments of? Ukrainian companies across various economic sectors, including construction, agribusiness, and telecommunications. He is now leveraging this diverse experience, understanding of technological processes, and implementation skills to help the state make the Prozorro system even more technologically advanced and user-friendly, as well as public procurement as efficient as possible. He is focused on developing the system's electronic tools, expanding its capabilities, and building a broad partnership community. Today, his key goal is to ensure the transparent reconstruction of Ukraine through innovative Prozorro solutions.

Michael Jarvis

Executive Director of the Trust, Accountability and Inclusion Collaborative ¨C Funders for Participatory Governance

Michael Jarvis is the Executive Director of the Trust, Accountability and Inclusion Collaborative¨CFunders for Participatory Governance, a platform for funder learning and collective action, leveraging over USD 500 million in active grants, at the intersection of climate, democratic and fiscal accountability. An expert in good governance and multi-stakeholder approaches, Michael advises a range of international donors. In past roles, notably at the World Bank, Michael incubated new initiatives ranging from collective action against corruption to a business alliance against malnutrition to the Open Contracting Partnership that promotes better outcomes from the estimated $9.5 trillion in public-private contracts globally. He is a board member for Publish What You Fund, Accountability Counsel and Transparency International US.

Irina Sprenglewski

Senior Manager, SAI Governance Department, INTOSAI Development Initiative

Irina Sprenglewski is a governance specialist with deep experience supporting Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) to strengthen oversight and accountability. With a Master of Science in Economics and ongoing studies in Technology Management and Digital Transformation, Irina brings a unique blend of strategic insight and digital expertise. She has worked extensively with SAIs on strategic management and ICT governance also drawing on experience in both software product management and service design thinking. At the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI), based in Oslo, Norway, Irina champions the use of technology to modernize audit institutions and promote more transparent, accountable governance. She is passionate about bridging the worlds of audit, innovation, and digital transformation to help SAIs play a pivotal role in delivering value to citizens.

Saleiman Umar

Director General, Ministry of Finance, Somalia

Saleiman S. Umar serves as Director General of the Ministry of Finance for the Government of Somalia. With over 25 years of experience across public, private, and non-profit sectors, he previously served as Senior Financial Expert Advisor within the Ministry, managing donor-funded projects and establishing robust financial control systems. Umar played a pivotal role in advancing public institution reforms, achieving economic development objectives, and was instrumental in Somalia's debt relief initiatives and public financial management reforms. His career includes senior auditor and financial consultant roles, conducting audits and evaluating internal controls for diverse clients. Umar holds a PhD in Governance, Peace, and Development, an MBA, and degrees in Accounting and Civil Engineering.

Mbinison Dorette Ratsiavahana

Director of Public Accounting, Treasury Department, Ministry of Finance, Madagascar

Mbinison Dorette Ratsiavahana is Director of Public Accounting at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Madagascar, leveraging over fourteen years in the Public Treasury. Starting as a Treasury Inspector, she was among the first public finance experts trained at the AfDB's African Development Institute. She ascended through key positions, including Director of the National Printing Office, head of financing agreements at the Public Debt Directorate, and Authorized Representative at the General Pay Office in Antananarivo. Holding a Master's in economic studies and management, her expertise is enhanced by certifications in public procurement, negotiation, and financial management. Passionate about innovation, she drives the modernization of financial administration and good governance, also pursuing personal development and environmental protection.

Trevor Vaugh

Trevor Vaugh

Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery & Reform, Ireland

Trevor Vaugh is Policy Design Lead at Ireland¡¯s Department of Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, advancing human-centered design across policy, services, and operations. He chaired the creation of Ireland¡¯s Government Design Principles and led the Action Plan for Designing Better Public Services. Internationally recognized for his design leadership and public engagement, he featured on RT?¡¯s The Big Life Fix. A former medical designer with over 50 patents, his work has received global recognition. He has published on public sector transformation, healthcare, and education reform, and previously lectured in strategic design at Maynooth University. Trevor serves on multiple advisory boards, promoting design as a tool for innovation, empathy, and effective public service.

Eoin Tunstead

Eoin Tunstead

Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery & Reform, Ireland

Eoin Tunstead is a Civil Servant driving digital transformation and public sector innovation in Ireland. Based in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, he leads on emerging technologies, including the development of the Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service. He is coordinating the forthcoming Digital Public Services Plan (2030) and plays a key role in cross-government initiatives, including the Government Digital Wallet. With experience across policy, delivery, and EU-funded reform tools, he champions responsible innovation and user-focused service design across the public service. He holds a Bachelor Degree in French and History and a Masters Degree in International Relations.

Philip John Mc Grath

Philip John McGrath

Senior Governance Specialist, Institutions Global Department, Prosperity, World Bank

Philip John McGrath is a Senior Governance Specialist with the Institutions Global Department of the Prosperity vertical at the? World Bank. He is focused on public administration reform and GovTech.?Previously, he led the delivery of the public service transformation programme in Ireland¡¯s Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform.

Carlos Orjales

Carlos Orjales

Senior Program Manager, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Switzerland

Carlos Orjales is Senior Economist and Program Manager at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of Switzerland. He has 20?years?of experience in designing implementing and monitoring technical assistance programs in the area of public finance management and financial sector development. As thematic lead on tax policy and administration, he represented Switzerland in several global initiatives and international fora dedicated to domestic resources mobilization. Since 2020, he is responsible for digital transformation of the public sector and GovTech. Carlos holds an MSc degree in Econometrics?and Mathematical Economics from the University of Geneva. He also studied International Relations at the Graduate Institute of Geneva, as well as Information and Communication Technology at the Centre Universitaire d¡¯Informatique.

Anthony Sarpong

Anthony Sarpong

Commissioner General, Ghana Revenue Authority

Anthony Sarpong is the acting Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). His primary function is to provide strategic guidance for assessing, collecting, and accounting for tax revenue in Ghana. Previously, he served as Senior Partner at KPMG Ghana, where he provided strategic direction and oversaw operations. With over 22 years of professional experience across Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, he specializes in Audit, accounting advisory, corporate recovery, and insolvency. Before becoming Senior Partner, he was Head of Audit and led the Financial Services sector at KPMG. He holds an MSc in Financial Risk Management from London Metropolitan University and a First-Class Honours degree from the University of Ghana. He is a member of ICAG, ICAN, and GARIA.

Shiho Nagaki

Shiho Nagaki

Senior Public Sector Specialist. Institutions Department, World Bank

Shiho Nagaki has extensive experience in economic and fiscal management, public administration reform, public employment management, and GovTech. She joined the World Bank in 2009 as an economist for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Washington D.C. Since then, she has held various positions in Africa, Europe and Central Asia and worked in about 40 countries, ranging from low-income to high-income countries. She is currently leading the GovTech Program and the Public Administration Reform work in the Global Unit of the Institutions Department. Before joining the Bank, she worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Sumitomo-Mitsui Banking Cooperation.

Adina Popescu

Adina Popescu

Head of Analysis and Public Policy Department, National Public Procurement Agency, Romania

Adina Popescu has served the Romanian public administration¡ªand above all, its citizens¡ªfor over 20 years. She began her professional career immediately after graduating from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, joining the General Inspectorate for Communications and Information Technology to work in the then-emerging field of electronic public procurement. She was part of the project team that developed and launched Romania¡¯s Electronic Public Procurement System and continued her work at the National Authority for the Regulation and Monitoring of Public Procurement (now ANAP). At ANAP, Adina leads efforts to modernize public procurement through data-driven approaches¡ªshifting from traditional analysis to advanced visual tools that enhance transparency, understanding, and oversight across the public procurement system.

Woldeab Demissie

Director, Public Procurement and Property Administration Agency, Government of Ethiopia

Woldeab holds a Master's degree in Public Procurement and Asset Management from the Ethiopian Civil Service University and possesses extensive professional experience, in public procurement and asset management. His career began as a procurement officer, progressively ascending through various middle and senior-level managerial positions across several development sectors, including serving as the Treasury Director at the Ministry of Finance. He was appointed as the Deputy Director General of the Federal Public Procurement and Property Authority. In this capacity, he has spearheaded Ethiopia's public procurement modernization agenda, successfully transitioning the federal procurement system from manual processes to digital operations. His leadership in this transformation has been pivotal in aligning government and societal aspirations with the benefits of a modernized framework.

 Maria Francesca Montes

Maria Francesca M. Del Rosario

Undersecretary and CIO, Department of Budget and Management, Philippines

Undersecretary, Attorney Maria Francesca M. Del Rosario is the Head of the Information and Communications Technology Group and Chief Information Officer of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). She previously served as Vice President and Head of Artificial Intelligence and Data Policy at Union Bank of the Philippines. She represents DBM at the National Human Settlements Board, serves as Vice Chairperson of both the Philippine National Identification System Policy and Coordination Council and the Public Finance Management Committee, and chairs the PHILHEALTH IT Governance Committee. Her leadership across these roles reflects her strong commitment to public policy, digital transformation, and good governance in both the public and private sectors.

Thomas Kojo Bondzi

Thomas Kojo Bondzi

Deputy Director of Management Information Systems, Public Procurement Authority, Ghana

Thomas K. Bondzi is Head of the MIS Directorate at the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) of Ghana, with over 30 years of IT experience across public and private sectors. He holds a Computer Science degree from KNUST and held IT leadership roles in the mining and shipping industries before joining PPA in 2009. He leads the implementation of Ghana¡¯s Electronic Procurement System, having trained thousands of procurement officers, management staff, and service providers. He also holds an MSc in Procurement and Supply Chain Management and a Commonwealth Executive MBA from KNUST, along with certifications in eProcurement and ICT strategy. A member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, he contributed to World Bank projects and procurement reforms in Ghana.

Michael A Moshiro

Michael Abel Moshiro

Director of Information and Communication Technology, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority

As Director of ICT at Tanzania¡¯s Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and Project Manager of the National eProcurement System (NeST), Michael Abel Moshiro leads the country¡¯s digital procurement transformation, integrating AI and interoperability for efficiency, accountability, and transparency. With over a decade in e-Government initiatives, he oversaw NeST's design and integration, automating bidding, contract management, and payment processes. His leadership positioned NeST as a strategic tool for procurement reform and integrity. He holds a Bachelor¡¯s degree in Computer Science and a Master¡¯s in Business, Information Management & Systems. Michael also contributed to national strategies on cybersecurity, digital governance, and public sector innovation in Tanzania and the SADC region.

Alissa "Dr. Jay" Abdullah

Alissa "Dr. Jay" Abdullah

Deputy Chief Security Officer, Mastercard

Alissa ¡°Dr. Jay¡± Abdullah is Mastercard¡¯s Deputy Chief Security Officer, leading the Emerging Corporate Security Solutions team to protect information assets and drive the future of security. She joined Mastercard in 2019 after serving as CISO of Xerox and as Deputy CIO of the White House, where she modernized IT systems with cloud and virtualization. Dr. Jay hosts Mastering Cyber and CISO 500 for Cybercrime Magazine and serves on the Boards of Smartsheet and Girls in Tech. She is also Vice Chair of BITS, the technology policy division of the Bank Policy Institute. Dr. Jay holds a PhD in IT Management from Capella University, a Master¡¯s from George Washington University, and a Mathematics degree from Savannah State University.

Chris Holden

Chris Holden

Chief Client Officer, Recorded Future

Chris Holden is the Chief Client Officer at Recorded Future responsible for the company's global intelligence deployments. He founded Recorded Future's services teams as an early employee and built the capabilities that exist today across a global client base. Chris was responsible for much of the early research and use case development applying Recorded Future's intelligence graph to cyber threat intelligence.

Melanie-Kolbe-Guyot

Melanie Kolbe-Guyot

Head of Digital Policy, Center for Digital Trust, EPFL, Switzerland

Melanie Kolbe-Guyot, PhD, is Head of Policy at the Center for Digital Trust (C4DT) at EPFL, the Swiss Federal School for Technology, Lausanne. Hailing from Berlin, Germany, Melanie has studied Political Science and International Affairs in Germany and the United States, and received her PhD from the University of Georgia. She served as an Assistant Professor for Political Science and International Affairs at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, focusing on public policy and political economy. At C4DT she leads projects on digital trust and technology policy, authors policy papers and expertise studies, and drives strategic outreach and communications. Her current research projects include the politics of data, privacy-preserving data-sharing technology and the use of AI in the public sector.

Oren Ariav

Oren Ariav

Chief Information & Digital Officer + ICA Chair, Israel

Oren Ariav is the Senior Director of Digital and Information Technologies at Israel's Population and Immigration Authority since August 2017, and a member of its management. He leads the organization's digital transformation and national strategic projects, including managing citizen, resident, and foreigner identities. His primary goal is to provide full digital government services, reducing the need for physical visits. Ariav manages substantial annual projects. He also chairs ICA (International Council for IT in Government Administration), connecting government IT leaders globally, elected President in September 2023. Previously, he served as CIO at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the homeland security office. He is a member of the Chamber of Information Systems Analysts and an outstanding CIO award recipient.

Judith Chilombo Kunda Beene

Judith Chilombo Kunda Beene

Director, Information and Communication Technology, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Zambia

Judith is a senior public officer with over 20 years of experience as an ICT and e-Government specialist, and more than six years in executive leadership as Council Secretary/Chief Executive across three Local Authorities. She has led transformative ICT initiatives, including the development of the first Local Authority website, municipal service automation, revenue enhancement systems, and policy frameworks in ICT and gender. Judith has advanced ICT governance through business continuity planning, cybersecurity awareness, and ethical ICT use. She has represented Zambia at national and international forums and served as focal point for projects with UNESCO, SIDA, the World Bank, and ICLD. She currently serves as Director of ICT in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in Zambia.

Anat Lewin

Anat Lewin

Senior Digital Specialist World Bank

Anat Lewin is an expert in digital public policy with over 25 years of experience, currently serving as the Asia Lead for Cybersecurity at the World Bank. She has a robust background in cybersecurity policy, digital government, and emerging technologies, having led significant initiatives that span 30 countries and involve substantial financial investments. Anat's career includes roles at the World Bank and the United Nations, where she has built extensive networks and provided strategic advice on cybersecurity, digital government, data governance and digital transformation. She holds a Master¡¯s degree in International and Public Affairs from Columbia University and is fluent in multiple languages, including English, German, and French.

Kai Kaiser

Kai Kaiser

Senior Governance and Public Sector Specialist

Kai Kaiser is Senior Governance and Public Sector Specialist in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region, currently based in Vienna, where his engagement is focused primarily on issues of public finance and public sector governance reform. He was also based in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Previously he was Senior Economist at the (global) Public Sector and Governance Group, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM), in Washington, DC, with a focus on issues of public finance, inter-governmental relations, natural resource-led development, and applied political economy/institutional reform issues. He takes a keen interest in how digital technologies can make a tangible difference in addressing governance challenges for improved service delivery and public infrastructure investments, including through climate change.

Gerhard Embacher-K?hle

Gerhard Embacher-K?hle

Consultant, World Bank

Gerhard Embacher-K?hle is an expert in public sector innovation and digital government transformation. As principal consultant and innovation manager of the Austrian Federal Computing Center he works with citizens, businesses, academia, and government officials to co-create innovative digital government services. In his role as a consultant to the World Bank he supports several initiatives focusing on innovation and user-centric digital government transformation.

Roby S.

Roby Senderowitsch

Practice Manager for Public Administration, Institutions Global Department, World Bank

Roby Senderowitsch?currently serves as the Practice Manager for Public Administration in the Institutions Global Department of the World Bank. Previously, he has held various positions, including Practice Manager, Governance Global Practice, Europe and Central Asia (West); Manager for Leadership, Learning & Innovation; Manager of the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA); and Country Manager in the Dominican Republic. His work at the? World Bank includes a strong focus on political economy analysis, building coalitions for change, anti-corruption, and performance-based management of public institutions. He has been a lecturer in Human Resource management in nonprofit organizations, as well as director of educational programs and community development and HR management in the private sector.

Antonio De Palmas

Antonio De Palmas

Vice President Global Market Development, Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft

was appointed Vice President of Worldwide Public Sector Market Development for Microsoft in August 2020. In this role, he leads Global Market Development operations to shape Cloud, AI, and Procurement requirements, driving digital transformation across the Public Sector. Previously, De Palmas was President of Boeing's Southern Europe region, overseeing operations and business growth. He joined Boeing in 2003, leading European and NATO Relations, engaging with European institutions, and representing Boeing in the EU and NATO. From 2000 to 2003, he was Director of Business Development for Cisco Systems, managing strategic initiatives and public sector market development. An Italian native, De Palmas has a background in economics and law.

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Rita Ramalho

Lead Economist, Public Institutions Data and Analytics , World Bank

Rita Ramalho is a Lead Economist in the Public Institutions Data and Analytics Unit of the Governance Global Practice.? Previously she was a Lead Economist in the World Bank Chief Economist's Office where she researched the links between sovereign debt and private sector development, in particular the importance of domestic arrears for firms. She was part of the 2022 World Development Report team on Finance for Equitable Recovery. Earlier, she led the Global Indicators Group which housed data products such as Enterprise Surveys, Women Business and the Law, Enabling the Business of Agriculture, as well as other indicator projects.?

Joseph Kizito Mubiru

Joseph Mubiru Kizito

Practice Manager, Institutions, Latin American and the Caribbean Region, World Bank

Joseph Mubiru Kizito is the Practice Manager for Institutions-Financial Management in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region at the World Bank, overseeing activities across 30 countries. Mr. Kizito¡¯s expertise centers around providing strategic guidance, driving business development, and enhancing development effectiveness through strengthening country Public Financial Management systems. With extensive experience in both technical and operational leadership of financial management teams, he has demonstrated a consistent ability to deliver high-quality financial management services, shape strategic directions, and cultivate collaborative relationships among team members and external stakeholders. Mr. Kizito possesses key skills including visionary leadership, problem-solving, client-oriented service, innovation, data analysis, strategic planning, active listening, and fostering collaboration.

Lennig Pedron

Lennig Pedron

CEO, Trust Valley, Switzerland

Lennig Pedron is CEO of Trust Valley, a Swiss public-private partnership initiative and Switzerland's center of excellence in digital trust and cybersecurity, part of the EPFL Innovation Park Foundation. A recognized leader in cybersecurity and emerging technologies, she was awarded European Cyber Woman 2023 in the Executive Leader category in Paris. As co-founder and president of NGO iCON, she represents an international community of over 100 digital trust experts at the Council of Europe. A Certified Board Member and former Data Protection expert for the Swiss Confederation, Lennig advises diverse audiences including police, prosecutors, and financial institutions. She has served as judge for the GCSP's 9/12 geopolitical challenge for four years, spoken at the WSIS Forum, and co-authored "The Fundamentals of Cyber Crisis Management" (Ellipses, 2022).

Contribute to the Global AI-in-Government Case Study Repository

Showcase. Share. Inspire.

At the GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Forum 2025, the World Bank's GovTech Team will be presenting a beta version of an ambitious new initiative: a global repository of real-world AI deployments in public administration. This forthcoming platform will highlight how governments around the world, at all income levels, are deploying AI to solve pressing public sector challenges.

What We¡¯re Looking For:

We¡¯re seeking fresh, practical and impactful case studies from public institutions using AI in areas such as:

  • Government administrative processes

  • HR, payroll, and recruitment

  • Tax administration

  • Public financial management

  • Justice and rule of law (civil and administrative)

  • Anti-corruption

  • Citizen engagement and participation

Whether your use of AI is just getting started or already well-established, we want to hear from you.

Why Submit?

  • Showcase your innovation to a global audience of reformers and decision-makers

  • Help other governments learn from your experience

  • Strengthen cross-country collaboration around practical AI governance

Submissions will be reviewed and may be featured in the final version of the repository. We may follow up with you to confirm or clarify details.

World Caf¨¦s - GovTech in Action: Lessons from Experience (PRESTON  Auditorium)

Interactive sessions on innovative GovTech initiatives led by Governments, the World Bank, and partner organizations across the World.

1.     Austria¡¯s AI Governance in the Era of the EU AI Act: Current Structures, Implementation and Future Directions

2.     SICPA Digital Solutions for Governments

3.     Macro trends on Cyber: How Mastercard can support government stakeholders with Threat Intelligence

4.     Estonia: Data Consent Service

5.     GovTech Skills Surveys of Public Servants

6.     How to Build Successful Public-Private Partnerships: Trust Valley Use Case

7.     Albania: Frontiers in GovTech

8.  Embracing AI in the Public Sector; Moving from ¡°Why AI¡± to ¡°How to AI¡±

9.  India: Transforming Public Service Delivery Through Digital Capacity Building

10.  Open Source and Digital Public Goods at UNDP

11.  Bridging the Gap: Digital Inclusion for Transformative Public Services in Argentina

12.  Streamlining Social Benefits with SocialCard in Germany

13.  Rajasthan : Spearheading Public Finance, GovTech and Service Delivery Reforms at Sub-National level in India

14.  The Economic Impact of Digital Public Infrastructure

15.  Timor-Leste: Early Stages of AI Adoption in Public Service System

16.  Armenia: Digitalization and Modernization of Justice Sector

17.  Guatemala: Risk Based Micro-Data Analysis for Tax Compliance

18.  Revolutionizing Public Procurement in Africa: Home-Grown e-GP Innovations in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Malawi

19.  How Does Technological Advancements Influence the Work of SAIs?

20.  NOSi Kriol: Interoperable Artificial Intelligence Platform

 

 

REGISTRATION

Tuesday, May 27th & Wednesday, May 28th: Registration and breakfast start 7:30-08:30 

We encourage attendees to come and register early!?

Event location: World Bank MC Building

Address: 1818 H St NW, Washington, DC 20433

BADGES will be provided as you register. Please make sure you bring a government-issued ID to retrieve your badge.

VISA

Please be aware that that you might have issues when entering the USA if you do not have a valid US entry visa or ESTA.  We suggest you have your invitation letter and ticket available.

ACCOMMODATION

Hotels within walking distance of the World Bank Headquarters. Should you require accommodation, kindly reach out directly to the Hotel.

State Plaza Hotel

2117 E St NW Washington, DC 20037

Tel.: 

Lombardy Hotel

2019 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20006

Tel.: 

Club Quarters

839 17th St NW Washington, DC 20006

Tel.: 

TRANSPORTATION 

Transportation options from the airport to the hotel:

A) from Dulles International Airport (IAD):

              UBER and taxis: $60-90 approximately. 

                 Train: Silver line to Foggy Bottom

B) from Washington Reagan Airport (DCA):

              UBER and taxis: $20-40 approximately.

               Train: Blue line to Foggy Bottom

MEALS

Meals and beverages will be provided at the event venue. These meals include breakfasts, coffee breaks, lunches, and an evening reception on May 27th. 

LANGUAGE

The Conference will be held in English, with simultaneous interpretation in French, Spanish and Russian.

INTERNET ACCESS  

Wi-Fi (Wireless Internet access) is available free of charge throughout the venue to all Forum attendees. Password information will be posted everywhere on-site on the day of the event. 

ELECTRICITY  

Please remember to bring a travel adapter for USA power outlets. The official voltage for the USA is 120 volts.

EVENT ATTIRE  

Business attire is recommended.

EQUIPMENT AND PERSONAL EFFECTS

Forum participants are reminded to take care of their personal equipment such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other valuables. Do not leave them unattended. Safety deposit boxes are available at the Hotel.  The World Bank Group is not responsible for any loss of personal effects.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please ensure you have your own personal travel insurance. 

EMERGENCY CONTACTS 

WBG emergency: +1 (202) 458-8888

Police and Health Emergencies: 911

Date: May 27 - 28, 2025 ET

Location: World Bank Headquarters