A purpose-driven leader with profound expertise in the areas of science, policy, technology and innovation for the common good, Julia Stamm has long-standing leadership and management experience in national and international organisations, such as COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), the G20 and the European Commission, as well as as founder and entrepreneur. 

Julia regularly advises a broad range of stakeholders in academia, civil society, policy-making and business, helping them find new ways of thinking and acting to meet the challenges our societies are facing and build sustainable and equitable futures. 

In 2019, she founded The Futures Project, an international non-profit initiative aiming to build better futures by ensuring that innovation and technology serve the real needs of people and planet. She serves on several board and committees, such as the International Programming Committee of MTL Connect. In 2021, she received the Digital Female Leader Award, category “Global Hero”.

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Dr. Stefaan G. Verhulst is an expert in using data and technology for social impact. He is the Co-Founder of several research organizations including the Governance Laboratory (GovLab) at New York University, which focuses on using advances in science and technology to improve decision-making and problem-solving. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the open-access journal Data & Policy and has served as a member of several expert groups on data and technology, including the High-Level Expert Group to the European Commission on Business-to-Government Data Sharing and the Expert Group to Eurostat on using Private Sector data for Official Statistics. 

Stefaan has been recognized as one of the 10 Most Influential Academics in Digital Government globally. He has published extensively on these topics, including several books, and has been invited to speak at international conferences, including TED and the UN World Data Forum. He is asked regularly to provide counsel on data stewardship to a variety of public and private organizations.

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Laura Sandor is a data governance specialist holding a certification with The London School of Economics and Political Science in "Data: Law, Policy, and Regulation". She earned an MSc in Social Policy and Public Health from Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Her research included investigating European policies around AI and developing an ethical framework for its application in pharmaceutical promotion and marketing strategies.

Currently also a 2022-2023 Research Fellow at the Datasphere Initiative, Laura investigates prevalent localization policies and measures within the healthcare sector, and the possible limiting effects it may have on a micro-/macro- level. Laura has previously worked as an assistant for the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Utrecht University and gained an Honours BSc in Developmental Psychology from Carleton University in Canada. Alongside her studies, she was an Officer Cadet for the Canadian Armed Forces.

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Alvaro Guijarro May is a passionate industrial engineer who believes in the power of data to foster continuous improvement in technology, productivity, and societal well-being. With a background covering a range of industries, Alvaro has extensive experience in utilizing data analysis and visualization to support effective decision-making.

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After obtaining his Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia, Alvaro has continued his education by pursuing a Master of Data Science for Public Policy from the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany. He recognizes the critical importance of data literacy and implementation in policy development, and is using his master's degree to acquire the tools needed to make a positive impact in this area.

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Natalia Mejia Pardo is a political scientist with a keen interest in data-driven policies. She holds a Master's in Public Policy from the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany, and a BA in Political Science and Government from Rosario University, Colombia. Natalia has previous experience in public finances, formulation, and evaluation of investment projects, gained through her work in the Colombian National Planning Department. 

In Berlin, Natalia has worked as a researcher and project leader with different NGOs on projects related to the health sector, blockchain, social innovation, and the SDGs. In 2022, she was a cohort member of the Vision Health Pioneers Incubator, working as a data analyst in a digital health startup. Natalia is interested in the intersection between innovation, technology, and social impact, especially in the health and education sectors.

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Shauna Blackmon is a communication specialist with a keen interest in exploring the interplay between technology and humanity. She has collaborated with various NGOs and start-ups throughout her career, focusing specifically on the idea of tech for good. She is passionate about emerging technologies and how they can be utilized to help make the world a better place.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Kansas in the US, and a Master's degree in international relations from the University of Portsmouth in the UK, where she focused on the use of novel technologies at EU borders.

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