Speakers November 2024 – Session 3

Dr Aleksandrs Cepilovs is a research officer at the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) and a research fellow at Tallinn University of Technology, where he obtained his PhD in Public Administration/Technology Governance. Previously he has worked as a research fellow and project manager at Tallinn University of Technology and was a civil servant in Latvia.

The European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) was established to provide a long-term solution for the operational management of large-scale IT systems.
The Agency currently manages Eurodac, the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the Visa Information System (VIS). Further to these, eu-LISA is developing the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information Authorisation System (ETIAS). These systems and the pre-existing ones are being built/adapted to ensure Interoperability – improved access to information stored in EU information systems and identity management at an EU level. In addition, the Agency’s portfolio has been enlarged within the justice domain: with the development of the European Criminal Records Information System – Third-Country Nationals (ECRIS-TCN), the management of e-CODEX and the development of the Collaboration Platform for Joint Investigation Teams (JITs).

Greg Mounier (PhD) is the Head of the Europol Innovation Lab, which leads research and development projects for innovative investigative tool with national LEAs. The Lab also hosts the EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security. Greg worked as policy advisor in the office of the Director of Europol and led Europol’s External and Strategic Affairs team. Greg was also Head of Outreach at the European Cybercrime Center (EC3) where he was responsible for the cooperation with the private sector. He led Europol’s engagement on Global Internet Governance (encryption, DNS, IP space) and represented Europol at ICANN, RIPE and IETF.

Europol is the European Union’s agency for supporting and coordinating the fight against serious and organized crime, terrorism and cybercrime. Europol listens to what EU Member States need and analyses crime trends in the EU. The Agency supports investigations initiated by Member States, though Europol officers never arrest citizens or instigate investigations. Europol’s work usually consists of dealing with crimes that require an international approach and cooperation between several countries, inside and outside the EU.
Europol was mandated by the Justice and Home Affairs ministers from all the EU Member States at the end of 2019 to create an Innovation Lab to support the law enforcement community in the area of innovation. The Lab aims to identify, promote and develop concrete innovative solutions in support of the EU Member States’ operational work.

Emmanuel started his career in Brussels, where he probably got his passion for EU policies and public sector organizations. However, he decided to gain experience abroad in private banking, leasing and large corporation planning. At CANCOM today, his role as a Public Sector Strategy Officer and International Sales Director leverages over two decades of strategic insight to craft market segmentation and ecosystem frameworks. The mission is to position ICT solutions effectively within the public sector, ensuring a robust go-to-market strategy that maximizes CANCOM’s portfolio’s impact from products to comprehensive solutions.

As a leading Digital Business Provider, CANCOM enables companies, organizations and the public sector to move into the digital future. The range of services and solutions includes classic system house IT solutions as well as data-based digital solutions, managed services and cloud services. We accompany the digital evolution of our customers with passion and technology and support them in reducing the complexity of their IT and developing new business models. We offer a holistic portfolio for all IT and business requirements.

Peter’s project management experience spans banking, investment banking, FinTech, automotive, healthcare, capital markets, and retail, as well as joint German government projects focused on innovation management and digital platform product design. This includes leading the development of key digital initiatives such as trading systems, open banking APIs (KYC, fraud detection), connected car payment systems, early crisis detection platforms (with/without AI), data APIs, and comprehensive healthcare platforms. Peter has been working with AI since his university days and have dealt extensively with AI topics in these fields.

At Alpin Insight AI, we build products that support trust in data and AI by improving processes across both government and industry. Our solutions include Data as a Service and AI as a Service offerings, deploying multiple AI models through agent-based setups, like MOMO, to address complex challenges. We fine-tune existing open-source models to expand their knowledge and enhance them with “memory” and “references,” ensuring consistent, repeatable results within AI workflows. Our products also function as SaaS solutions, operate in zero-trust environments, and are compatible with air-gapped infrastructures, providing secure, adaptable AI solutions that inspire confidence and meet evolving needs.

Brecht Seifi started his career in analytics consulting, where he combined his passion for leveraging data with artificial intelligence to improve the technological capabilities of large public sector organizations. Today, Brecht is lead advisor for the European Institutions, helping them to become more data driven by translating their business needs into analytics and AI solutions that can help EU institutions to improve policy design, efficiency and implementation.

SAS is a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI), providing innovative solutions that transform data into actionable insights. With expertise in AI, machine learning and advanced analytics, SAS empowers organizations across industries to solve complex challenges, enhance decision-making, and drive growth. From improving business operations to advancing sustainability initiatives, SAS’s technology enables customers to leverage the power of data for better outcomes. Trusted by governments, financial institutions and major enterprises, SAS is known for its deep commitment to customer success and fostering a data-driven future.

Angus has been involved in information, intelligence and security for more than 20 years, spanning both the Defence and Civil sectors. As a former frontline Operator, Angus is always concerned about how data can support decision making to produce more effective operational outcomes. Angus now helps central government organisations in the UK and Europe to harness the potential of Publicly Available Information using Artificial Intelligence to better manage physical and cyber risks, events and crises.

Dataminr delivers the earliest warnings on high impact events and critical information, far in advance of other sources.
Recognised as one of the world’s leading AI businesses, Dataminr enables faster response, more effective risk mitigation and stronger crisis management for public and private sector organisations, spanning global corporations, first responders, NGOs and newsrooms.
Harnessing the power of LLMs and multi-modal foundation models, Dataminr’s AI platform is at the forefront of AI innovation in predictive, generative and regenerative AI.

Frøy Løvåsdal is a Senior Adviser at the National Police Directorate in Norway. She has worked for the Norwegian Government for 25 years, in different agencies, mainly in the areas of innovation, technology and identity. She has worked with biometrics for 15 years and is also a trained forensic face examiner. In 2013 she headed the first pilot project in Norway on automated face recognition. She has headed, and worked in, several pilot projects aimed at improving quality, security, efficiency and user experience in different areas of Immigration, Borders and Law Enforcement. She also has close ties with academia and has co-authored scientific publications.

The National Police Directorate is the highest level of management in the Norwegian Police. It is an administrative body that lies under the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
The Directorate’s role is to implement the Government’s policy through allocations and assignments, administering regulations and additions, act as a professional adviser to the Ministry of Justice, Special Agencies and Police Districts, other public bodies, partners and the public.
The Directorate also manages the development of the Norwegian Police and is responsible for governance and competence. Moreover, the Directorate analyses crime, co-ordinates resources and develops methods.

Koen Eeckhoudt is a Cyber Security engineer with nearly 3 years of experience at Palo Alto Networks. Prior to joining the company, he worked at another Security Vendor, honing his dedication in the field. With a strong background in Networking and Telecommunications, Koen pursued his studies in Multimedia and Communications Technology. Currently serving as a Solution Consultant, he holds the responsibility of overseeing all EU IBAs. Koen brings his knowledge and security mindset to the table, ensuring effective solutions and delivering support to Palo Alto Networks’ clients across the EU.

Palo Alto Networks, the global cybersecurity leader, continually delivers innovation to enable secure digital transformation, even as the pace of change is accelerating. Our mission is to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life. What we do can best be described as enabling cyber transformation. Our best-of-breed platforms, world-class threat intelligence and expert services deliver what’s next in cybersecurity.

Dean is a seasoned Platform Catalyst at Red Hat, guiding CTOs and digital leaders in leveraging InnerSource and emerging technologies like AI to bridge skills gaps and build high-performing teams. With over a decade of experience, Dean champions open collaboration, enabling organisations to innovate collectively and inclusively. They share insights into the transformative potential of InnerSource and the power of inclusive education. Driven by a passion for technology and leadership, Dean’s strategic vision inspires others to embrace change, fostering innovation and exceptional results across the tech community.

Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to deliver reliable and high-performing Linux, hybrid cloud, container, and Kubernetes technologies. Red Hat helps customers develop cloud-native applications, integrate existing and new IT applications, and automate and manage complex environments. A trusted adviser to the Fortune 500, Red Hat provides award-winning support, training, and consulting services that bring the benefits of open innovation to any industry. Red Hat is a connective hub in a global network of enterprises, partners, and communities, helping organizations grow, transform, and prepare for the digital future.

Spyros Evangelatos received the M.Eng. degree in electronics and radio-communications, the M.Sc. degree in signal processing for communications and multimedia, the M.Sc. degree in control theory and computing and the PhD in statistical physics and communication networks from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, in 2005, 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2018, respectively. He is currently a Senior Research & Innovation expert for Netcompany-Intrasoft, acting as the Head of Presales for the Research & Innovation Development department. He has been involved in several EU-funded projects focusing on the integration of advanced technologies to enhance border security and streamline identity verification processes.

Netcompany-Intrasoft is a leading European IT Solutions and Services Group with strong international presence and expertise, offering innovative and added-value solutions of the highest quality to a wide range of international and national public and private organizations. Its expertise and strength lie in its proven capacity and successful track record in undertaking and delivering, complex, mission-critical projects. Moreover, through its Research and Innovation Development department, Netcompany-Intrasoft actively contributes to the development of innovative pre-industrial products and services, implementing innovative research prototypes and thus contributing to the strategic policy objective of enabling Europe to master and shape future developments in ICT.

Mr. Schirferneder has a degree as Dipl. Phys. Univ. from the technical university of Munich in Germany. He joined the Mühlbauer Group in the year 1995 as Head of IT and built up the international communication infrastructure of the company. In the year 2003, he changed internally to the quality management department, were he worked as a certified ISO9001 auditor. Since the year 2007, he is responsible for the business development and sales of the market area of Western Europe inside the Mühlbauer Group.

Founded in 1981, the Mühlbauer Group has evolved into a global leader in secure identity solutions and advanced digital technologies, particularly for border control. Its TECURITY® division draws on over 40 years of expertise and 300 successful ID projects to provide comprehensive digital solutions for biometric recognition and identity verification. Governments worldwide trust Mühlbauer to design, build, and manage end-to-end security systems—from data collection over the issuance of secure ID documents up to automated border control solutions. Through innovative software, customized machinery and culturally reflective document design, Mühlbauer ensures the highest standards of security in digital identity and border management.