Meet the high-level digital transformation speakers participating in the Conference

For three days in May 2021, the e-Governance Conference will gather high-level officials, hands-on experts, and business leaders from around the world to discuss the future of digital transformation, and the digital challenges of keeping the countries going and people served despite lockdowns and uncertain restrictions. 

The list of the speakers is topped by the President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, and Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships of the European Commission, who both are keen supporters of sustainable development and digital collaboration between countries. After the opening of the conference by the President of Estonia, a discussion of the European Union’s high-level leaders on joint digital steps towards a sustainable future will follow.

20 May will feature another speaker from the European Commission – Anthony Whelan, Digital Advisor to the President Ursula von der Leyen. He was previously the Director for Electronic Communications Networks & Services of the European Commission since 2013, designing and negotiating EU initiatives on topics such as open internet, roaming reform, the revision of the telecoms’ regulatory framework, and the financing of advanced broadband networks. At the conference, he will present the European Union’s perspective on the next normal for governments, followed by a keynote of Sir Geoff Mulgan, Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy and Social Innovation at the University College London.

Sir Geoff Mulgan has advised many governments, foundations and companies, chaired an international advisory committee for the Mayor of Seoul, and has sat on advisory committees for the Prime Minister’s office in the United Arab Emirates, the Scottish Government and SITRA, the Finnish innovation agency. Right now he is a World Economic Forum Schwab Fellow. At the conference, he will talk about COVID-19, climate change, and what the next horizons create for e-governance development.

The e-Governance Conference 2021 will also feature digital leaders from Ukraine and Mongolia. From Ukraine we welcome on stage the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the author of the „Government in Smartphone“ initiative, Mykhailo Fedorov, and his Deputy Minister, Valeriya Ionan. The challenges and successes of digital transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia will be presented by the Chairwoman of the Communication and Information Technology Authority of Mongolia, Bolor-Erdene Battsengel.

The last day of the conference will be opened by the Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology of Estonia, Andres Sutt. He will shed light on how Estonia has adapted to the new normal, and what are the plans of the government to challenge the next normal in digital transformation.

At the event will have a great opportunity to listen to the novel and thrilling thoughts of a futurist, investor, author, and entrepreneur, Trond Arne Undheim, on the future of the e-government. After his speech, you can join the discussion of the former President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Trond Arne Undheim on the next normal for governments and ‘digital only’ approach, where government services will prioritise the digital way of administration and interaction.

The practitioner’s view on the trends that governments should follow in their digital transformation plans will be shared in the discussion between the Estonian Government’s CIO Siim Sikkut and Programme Director and IT-Visionaire Linnar Viik. 

As CIO of the Estonian Government, Siim Sikkut sets the strategy and policies, launches and steers strategic initiatives for the development of digital government and society in Estonia. He is also one of the founders of Estonia’s groundbreaking e-Residency programme. Linnar Viik is well-known in the European tech scene, being a former executive at Skype and Fortumo, and now a Board Member of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology. He has been advising Estonia and many other governments on ICT and innovation policy.

Moreover, we are happy to welcome on stage the Vice-Chair of the CyberPeace Institute Eli Sugarman. Being an international, technology, and public policy leader, with more than 15 years of combined private sector, non-profit, and government experience, he talks about how companies can better include public interest in the technology sector, and participates in the panel discussion about technology and the corporate view on digital responsibility.

Check the latest updates to the list of speakers of the e-Governance Conference 2021 at egovconference.ee/speakers