Speakers November 2024 – Session 4

Dr. Ignacio Sanchez is a European Commission official at the Joint Research Centre (JRC), serving in the Cybersecurity and Digital Technologies unit within the Digital Transformation and Data directorate. In his role, he leads several scientific projects focusing on Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity. Additionally, Ignacio is a co-leader of the Trustworthy AI portfolio, which coordinates the JRC’s efforts to address the multidisciplinary scientific and policy challenges posed by the increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence.
Ignacio holds a M.Sc. degree in Computer Engineering and a Ph.D. in cybersecurity. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) with over 20 years of expertise in the field of cybersecurity. This current research is focused on Artificial Intelligence and cybersecurity, exploring the interplay of these fields in the context of the related technical and EU policy frameworks.

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) provides independent, evidence-based science and knowledge, supporting EU policies to positively impact society. As a department of the European Commission, we play a key role at multiple stages of the policy cycle in almost all EU policy areas. We work closely with other Commission departments, EU institutions and agencies, as well as with scientific partners and policy organisations in Europe and internationally. We offer scientific expertise and competences from a very wide range of scientific disciplines. Our headquarters are located in Brussels (Belgium), and we have research facilities in Belgium (Geel), Germany (Karlsruhe), Italy (Ispra), The Netherlands (Petten), Spain (Seville).

He spearheads the development and deployment of QAnswer, a platform enabling the combination of enterprise data with the power of LLM. His current focus lies in bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and real-world applications across diverse industries.

The QA Company is a leading developer in the field of generative AI. It specialises in building solutions that allow enterprises to unlock the power trapped within their data. Our flagship product, QAnswer, enables users to seamlessly query diverse data sources – from PDFs and internal wikis to complex knowledge graphs – using natural language.
With QAnswer, organizations can build powerful AI assistants tailored to specific needs. These assistants can be integrated into existing workflows across multiple platforms such as Microsoft Teams, web widgets, Slack, and more. Our innovative technology has attracted notable clients including the European Commission (DG Connect, DG Regio, DG Comm, and DG Budg initiatives) as well as prominent American companies.

Daan Voets is a Solution Lead at Quantexa, specializing in fraud detection, security, and crime prevention for government sectors, including law enforcement, intelligence, customs, and border control. Leveraging advanced AI and network analytics, he supports agencies globally in combating fraud, terrorism financing, security risks, and misdeclarations. With over 15 years of experience, Daan has crafted strategic roadmaps and risk solutions for major government institutions. He is a frequent speaker at events hosted by the World Customs Organization, Frontex, and ISS, sharing insights on AI-driven risk and crime prevention.

Quantexa is a global leader in Decision Intelligence for the public and private sectors, empowering organizations to establish confidence in their data, reach new levels of organizational efficiency and business resiliency.
Through advancements in generative AI, Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning and advanced analytics, Quantexa’s Platform improves understanding of data by connecting siloed systems and visualizing complex relationships.
Quantexa’s Decision Intelligence Platform enhances operational performance with over 90% more accuracy and 60 times faster analytical model resolution than traditional approaches. Founded in 2016, Quantexa now has more than 750 employees in 14 offices worldwide, and thousands of users globally.
For more information, visit www.quantexa.com.

A long-time US Federal contractor, Jason Langone was involved in deployments supporting various US and Coalition missions around the world. Langone joined Nutanix in 2011 and spent 8 years building the US Federal business. In 2018 Langone rejoined the startup world to broaden his professional skills and experiences. During his 4 years away, Langone led a generative AI automation startup from seed fundraising through a successful A Round raise. He returned to Nutanix at the beginning of 2024 to run their AI business globally.

As a global leader in cloud software, Nutanix transforms the way organizations do business. We offer a single platform to run all your apps and data across on-premises, public clouds, hybrid environments, and at the edge, while simplifying operations and reducing complexity. Our hybrid multicloud platform unifies management with one-click, applies intelligent AI-driven automation, and helps ensure always-on availability. Building on our legacy as the pioneer of hyperconverged infrastructure, we’ve earned a reputation for customer satisfaction, powering hybrid multicloud environments consistently and cost effectively. This enables companies to remain focused on achieving successful business outcomes and new innovations. Learn more at Nutanix.com.

Jonas Ingelstrom is a seasoned tech leader with over 20 years of experience, currently responsible for the Identity product strategy at iProov. Prior to joining iProov, he founded Svipe, a decentralized identity company. Earlier in his career, Jonas was CEO of RegTech company Zignsec, leading its growth from a single employee to a Nasdaq First North IPO in 2019. His expertise spans sales, product management, strategy, and business administration, making him a key player in the evolution of secure online identity solutions.

iProov provides science-based biometric identity solutions that combine exceptional user experiences with the highest levels of assurance. Its Biometric Solutions Suite enables secure and effortless remote onboarding and authentication, streamlining digital and physical access experiences. Backed by a unique blend of scientific expertise, AI, and proactive threat intelligence, iProov safeguards high-value transactions and empowers organizations seeking innovative identity verification that outpaces evolving threats without compromising usability. iProov is a trusted partner for governments and enterprises, including the Australian Taxation Office, GovTech Singapore, ING, Rabobank, UBS, U.K. Home Office, UK National Health Service, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Philippe Harant has been the Head of Unit for Strategy, Capabilities and Coordination in eu-LISA since 2020. The Unit is in particular in charge of research and innovation activities in the Agency and as such in charge of the organisation of the Industry Roundtable.
He has extensive experience, working in international organisations, and managerial experience at national level and in other EU Agencies for the past 15 years. He holds degrees in political sciences from ‘Sciences Po’ Bordeaux, a post-master degree in public law from University Montesquieu in Bordeaux and a diploma in management from the French EHESP School.

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).

Kata Bencze, former lawyer, is currently serving in public administration at the Ministry of Justice of Hungary. Her role involves responsibility for European e-Justice cooperation, digitalisation of justice and policy making on artificial intelligence. Her work is focused on improving the efficiency of justice systems through digital technologies, including international cooperation, EU regulation and the promotion of further judicial digitalisation. Furthermore, in light of the accelerated advancement of artificial intelligence in recent years, she is committed to leveraging the potential of AI to enhance access to justice and judicial efficiency, with a particular focus on harnessing the synergies between European Member States. She has participated in the Council of Europe’s CAHAI/CAI committee, contributing to the development of the convention for artificial intelligence.

The presidency of the Council of the European Union rotates among the 27 EU member states every six months. The country holding the presidency guides the work of the Council and represents all member states in negotiations with other EU institutions. Between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024, Hungary will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second time.