BOARD OF EXPERTS
Paula Aitkenhead is the Global Accessibility Lead at Schneider Electric, supporting the DEI & WB transformation, working on key issues around disability inclusion and care. Paula began her career in New Zealand and moved to France in 1992. In 2003, she joined Schneider Electric, drawn to the company’s values. Her roles within the organisation have been diverse, including executive assistance, communication, industrial design support, company-wide project management. Paula integrated the global Well-Being team during its build phase in 2015 and is passionate about the people agenda at Schneider Electric. She graduated from l’Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle (ENSCI) in 2013 with a Specialised Masters degree in “Innovation by Design”, and also holds a diploma in Positive Psychology and Wellbeing.
Kat Borlongan is a 2023 Obama Foundation Leader and a member of the European Innovation Council, the European Commission’s €10 billion flagship program for deep tech. Recognized by UNESCO in 2022 as one of the 50 Minds of the Next 50 Years, she is a prominent advocate for technology as a catalyst for progress. A national of both France and the Philippines, Kat has led presidential initiatives for both countries. In the Philippines, she spearheaded Developers vs. Haiyan, a tech volunteer program launched after the strongest tropical storm in history. Under the Macron administration in France, she served as Director of La French Tech, creating the French Tech Visa, the Next40/120 program, a meta-accelerator for underprivileged founders, and supporting thousands of startups during the COVID-19 crisis. As an early figure in France’s open data movement, Kat advised the Prime Minister’s Office and co-founded the open innovation company Five by Five, which was later acquired by Capgemini. More recently, she was a Chief Impact Officer at Contentsquare, driving the company’s transformation towards a purpose-driven focus on DEI, digital accessibility, climate action, and digital trust.
Nicole Büttner is an AI entrepreneur, investor and board member. She is the founder of Merantix Momentum and member of the management board of Merantix, Digital Leader at the WEF, and was selected twice as 40 under 40 by Capital Magazine. She sits on the supervisory boards of several companies and associations and is Vice-President of the German Startup Association. She has worked as a hedge fund portfolio manager and led global business development for Auctionomics, Nobel Prize winner Paul Milgrom’s firm. Nicole trained in econometrics at St.Gallen, Stanford, and the Stockholm School of Economics.
Raph Crouan is a distinguished Ecosystem Supporter, Founder, CEO, Board Adviser, and Impact Investor with extensive experience in Sales, Marketing, and Strategic Business Development. With over a decade at companies like Apple, Raph has become a key figure in the tech and investment landscape. He’s currently the European Managing Director for Technology Clients at Orrick, the nb1 Tech Law Firm in Europe where he drives opportunities for clients and serves as the interface between the European tech ecosystem at large and the Orrick partnership in all European countries. Raph is also the President and Founding Board Member of the French Tech organization in the UK (French Tech London). As a Growth Senior Adviser & Angel Investor, Raph manages a portfolio of 25 active companies and is a sought-after International Keynote Speaker. He previously founded and managed the Startupbootcamp IoT Program (until 2018), screening over 1,500 companies annually and investing in about 10 each year. He was also a Founding Management Board Member and Chair for SMEs in the AIOTI at the European Commission, and a Founding Board Member of the French IoT Think Tank. His insights have been featured in Forbes, including a notable piece on the program’s closure in 2019
Magdalena Cymerys is a Policy Officer in the Innovation Policy and Access to Finance Unit at DG Research and Innovation. She is the coordinator of the New European Innovation Agenda on accelerating and strengthening innovation in European Innovation Ecosystems across the EU and addressing the innovation divide, including the Regional Innovation Valleys initiative. She is also responsible for women in innovation and technologies and oversees topics on social, frugal and reverse innovation. Magdalena has over 8 years of professional experience in project management, communications and policymaking. She holds a B.A. in French studies from Adam Mickiewicz University, a Master’s degree in Development Economics of Latin America from the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris, and an M.A. in Interdisciplinary European Studies from the College of Europe (Natolin).
Susana de Antonio joined Euronext in April 2017 to define and develop the strategy of the capital markets operator in the Spanish market, with a focus on the tech sector. Since June 2019 she is also led Euronext activities in Germany, Italy and Switzerland and currently leads Euronext Spanish local team. Prior to that, she accumulated 16 years’ experience in Private Equity. She started her career at Netjuice Capital, an internet companies‘ incubator. After that she moved to the middle market Private Equity industry, where she spent most of her career at Vista Capital (owned by Banco Santander) and L Capital (sponsorised by LVMH Group) as Investment Director. She has been part of Pepe Jeans & Hackett and El Ganso Board of Directors. Susana holds a Bachelor Degree in Management and Finance Administration from CUNEF and participated in the Executive program for women in senior management Promociona organised by ESADE.
Shiva Dustdar currently serves as the Head and Director of the EIB Institute, which brings the values and mission of the EIB Group close to society through philanthropic, academic, social and cultural activities supporting its climate, innovation and development priorities. Shiva has 30 years of experience in the financial industry working for large private and public institutions in New York, London and Luxembourg. Since joining EIB in 2003, she has worked in risk management, lending, investing and advising in innovative companies. Shiva started her career in 1993 at J.P. Morgan in Investment Banking in New York before joining Fitch Rating Agency in 1999 to set up its European High Yield rating business. She holds a BA (Magna cum Laude) in Economics from Columbia University in New York and an Executive MBA from London Business School (LBS). Shiva is an innovation finance expert and regular speaker on innovation and impact financing, gender smart investing, digital and green financing and actively engaged in networks that promote sustainable and mission-oriented financing. In 2006, Shiva was nominated as one of the “Top 50 Women in Credit” by Credit Magazine and in 2023 received the WIN-Women International Global Inspiring Women Worldwide Award for being an “authentic, courageous feminine leader in the global stage”.
Michael Jackson is a seasoned venture capital expert with a diverse portfolio of innovative startups. He brings strategic foresight and dynamic business development skills to his roles as Venture Partner at Wilbe, Member of the Advisory Board and Investment Committee at Redstone Quantum Fund, and Venture Partner at Multiple Capital. Additionally, he serves as a Member of the Advisory Board and Investment Committee at QDNL Participations, an Advisory Board Member at Techleapnl, and a Member of the European Defense Investor Network. With degrees from HEC Paris, New York University, and Princeton University, Michael’s academic background complements his practical experience. Since 1999, he has been involved in founding, investing in, mentoring, and serving on the boards of various companies, contributing significantly to the innovation and entrepreneurship landscape.
Mary McKenna is a seasoned technology entrepreneur, serial angel investor, and cross-border dweller. She co-founded the successful Derry-based online learning company Learning Pool in 2006 and exited in May 2014 to focus on early-stage startups. Mary is dedicated to helping start and grow indigenous Irish and British tech companies, particularly supporting first-time and female entrepeneurs. She is one of Said Business School’s (University of Oxford) Entrepeneurship Experts, an Expert Advisor to the EU, a co-founder of AwakenHub, and trustee of CAST The centre for acceleration of Social Technology. As a consultant and expert advisor, Mary works with national governments and scaling technology businesses. She has a deep appreciation for the arts, serving as a non-executive director on the board of Derry’s Millennium Forum & Theatre, and she sits on the boards of WestBIC and the Western Development Commission. In recognition of her contributions to digital technology, innovation, and learning, Mary was awarded an MBE by HM the Queen in the 2014 New Year’s Honours.
Valentina Milanova is at the forefront of gynaecological health research and development and is dedicated to closing the gender pain gap and challenging historical gender biases in medical research and product innovation. She is a published researcher with breakthrough publications in menstrual pain management and the importance of the vaginal microbiome for gynaecological health. She has transformed the landscape of women’s health with Daye’s pioneering work. Under her leadership, Daye introduced the world’s first tampon designed to alleviate menstrual cramps in 2020. The company’s approach extends beyond period care products. Daye’s tampons are used for endometriosis relief, as well as STI and HPV detection. Daye’s commitment to sustainability and social impact is evident, as Daye’s tampons are produced in-house, providing employment opportunities for women who escaped human and sexual trafficking trafficking. Daye also maintains a fully carbon-neutral operation. Valentina has raised $25m in private and public funding for Daye, and her educational background is in law, economics, medical device law, and public health with degrees held from The University of Buckingham and specialisations from Harvard Law School and Imperial College London.
Sami Moughrabie has over 18 years of technology investment experience in Venture Capital and with Family Offices and was named one of the Top 100 University of Chicago Alumni in Tech. His investment expertise lies in the commercialization of innovative technologies for Industry with a strong focus on core science, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum technologies and Sustainability. Mr, Moughrabie is an advisor to the UK Government’s National Quantum Strategy and currently sits on the Advisory Board of Imperial College’s Climate-tech pre-accelerator and Cambridge Future Tech’s venture builder and is an advisor to numerous companies, Family Offices and governments in the fields of next generational technologies. He also founded the venture capital firm ATMOS Ventures in 2018 which specializes in the commercialization of scientific R&D through its global partnerships with Universities, Governments and Multinational Corporations. Mr. Moughrabie graduated with honors in Economics from the University of Chicago where he is also the President of the alumni board.
Tanya Suarez has over 20 years’ experience in Strategy, Digital Transformation and entrepreneurship, working with multiple public and private sector clients in projects involving new technologies. In 2021, she was named among Top 50 Women in Tech at London Tech Week and is a passionate supporter of women in tech. She is a World Economic Forum European Digital Leader, most recently contributing to the WEF working group on supporting women founders through corporate investment. Tanya is also an active EIC Accelerator jury member and has an in-depth understanding of how juries operate in topics ranging from Energy to Quantum. In this capacity, she has first-hand experience of how to assess diversity in EIC applicants and the indicators and signals that show true diversity.
Paula Aitkenhead is the Global Accessibility Lead at Schneider Electric, supporting the DEI & WB transformation, working on key issues around disability inclusion and care. Paula began her career in New Zealand and moved to France in 1992. In 2003, she joined Schneider Electric, drawn to the company’s values. Her roles within the organisation have been diverse, including executive assistance, communication, industrial design support, company-wide project management. Paula integrated the global Well-Being team during its build phase in 2015 and is passionate about the people agenda at Schneider Electric. She graduated from l’Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle (ENSCI) in 2013 with a Specialised Masters degree in “Innovation by Design”, and also holds a diploma in Positive Psychology and Wellbeing.
Susana de Antonio joined Euronext in April 2017 to define and develop the strategy of the capital markets operator in the Spanish market, with a focus on the tech sector. Since June 2019 she is also led Euronext activities in Germany, Italy and Switzerland and currently leads Euronext Spanish local team. Prior to that, she accumulated 16 years’ experience in Private Equity. She started her career at Netjuice Capital, an internet companies‘ incubator. After that she moved to the middle market Private Equity industry, where she spent most of her career at Vista Capital (owned by Banco Santander) and L Capital (sponsorised by LVMH Group) as Investment Director. She has been part of Pepe Jeans & Hackett and El Ganso Board of Directors. Susana holds a Bachelor Degree in Management and Finance Administration from CUNEF and participated in the Executive program for women in senior management Promociona organised by ESADE.
Kat is a 2023 Obama Foundation Leader and a member of the European Innovation Council, the European Commission’s €10 billion flagship program for deep tech. Recognized by UNESCO in 2022 as one of the 50 Minds of the Next 50 Years, she is a prominent advocate for technology as a catalyst for progress.
A national of both France and the Philippines, Kat has led presidential initiatives for both countries. In the Philippines, she spearheaded Developers vs. Haiyan, a tech volunteer program launched after the strongest tropical storm in history. Under the Macron administration in France, she served as Director of La French Tech, creating the French Tech Visa, the Next40/120 program, a meta-accelerator for underprivileged founders, and supporting thousands of startups during the COVID-19 crisis. As an early figure in France’s open data movement, Kat advised the Prime Minister’s Office and co-founded the open innovation company Five by Five, which was later acquired by Capgemini. More recently, she was a Chief Impact Officer at Contentsquare, driving the company’s transformation towards a purpose-driven focus on DEI, digital accessibility, climate action, and digital trust.
Nicole Büttner is an AI entrepreneur, investor and board member. She is the founder of Merantix Momentum and member of the management board of Merantix, Digital Leader at the WEF, and was selected twice as 40 under 40 by Capital Magazine. She sits on the supervisory boards of several companies and associations and is Vice-President of the German Startup Association.
She has worked as a hedge fund portfolio manager and led global business development for Auctionomics, Nobel Prize winner Paul Milgrom’s firm.
Nicole trained in econometrics at St.Gallen, Stanford, and the Stockholm School of Economics.
Raph Crouan is a distinguished Ecosystem Supporter, Founder, CEO, Board Adviser, and Impact Investor with extensive experience in Sales, Marketing, and Strategic Business Development. With over a decade at companies like Apple, Raph has become a key figure in the tech and investment landscape. He’s currently the European Managing Director for Technology Clients at Orrick, the nb1 Tech Law Firm in Europe where he drives opportunities for clients and serves as the interface between the European tech ecosystem at large and the Orrick partnership in all European countries.
Raph is also the President and Founding Board Member of the French Tech organization in the UK (French Tech London).
As a Growth Senior Adviser & Angel Investor, Raph manages a portfolio of 25 active companies and is a sought-after International Keynote Speaker. He previously founded and managed the Startupbootcamp IoT Program (until 2018), screening over 1,500 companies annually and investing in about 10 each year. He was also a Founding Management Board Member and Chair for SMEs in the AIOTI at the European Commission, and a Founding Board Member of the French IoT Think Tank. His insights have been featured in Forbes, including a notable piece on the program’s closure in 2019
Michael Jackson is a seasoned venture capital expert with a diverse portfolio of innovative startups. He brings strategic foresight and dynamic business development skills to his roles as Venture Partner at Wilbe, Member of the Advisory Board and Investment Committee at Redstone Quantum Fund, and Venture Partner at Multiple Capital. Additionally, he serves as a Member of the Advisory Board and Investment Committee at QDNL Participations, an Advisory Board Member at Techleapnl, and a Member of the European Defense Investor Network. With degrees from HEC Paris, New York University, and Princeton University, Michael’s academic background complements his practical experience. Since 1999, he has been involved in founding, investing in, mentoring, and serving on the boards of various companies, contributing significantly to the innovation and entrepreneurship landscape.
Mary McKenna is a seasoned technology entrepreneur, serial angel investor, and cross-border dweller. She co-founded the successful Derry-based online learning company Learning Pool in 2006 and exited in May 2014 to focus on early-stage startups. Mary is dedicated to helping start and grow indigenous Irish and British tech companies, particularly supporting first-time and female entrepeneurs. She is one of Said Business School’s (University of Oxford) Entrepeneurship Experts, an Expert Advisor to the EU, a co-founder of AwakenHub, and trustee of CAST The centre for acceleration of Social Technology.
As a consultant and expert advisor, Mary works with national governments and scaling technology businesses. She has a deep appreciation for the arts, serving as a non-executive director on the board of Derry’s Millennium Forum & Theatre, and she sits on the boards of WestBIC and the Western Development Commission. In recognition of her contributions to digital technology, innovation, and learning, Mary was awarded an MBE by HM the Queen in the 2014 New Year’s Honours.
Valentina is at the forefront of gynaecological health research and development and is dedicated to closing the gender pain gap and challenging historical gender biases in medical research and product innovation. She is a published researcher with breakthrough publications in menstrual pain management and the importance of the vaginal microbiome for gynaecological health.
She has transformed the landscape of women’s health with Daye’s pioneering work. Under her leadership, Daye introduced the world’s first tampon designed to alleviate menstrual cramps in 2020. The company’s approach extends beyond period care products. Daye’s tampons are used for endometriosis relief, as well as STI and HPV detection. Daye’s commitment to sustainability and social impact is evident, as Daye’s tampons are produced in-house, providing employment opportunities for women who escaped human and sexual trafficking trafficking. Daye also maintains a fully carbon-neutral operation. Valentina has raised $25m in private and public funding for Daye, and her educational background is in law, economics, medical device law, and public health with degrees held from The University of Buckingham and specialisations from Harvard Law School and Imperial College London.
Sami Moughrabie has over 18 years of technology investment experience in Venture Capital and with Family Offices and was named one of the Top 100 University of Chicago Alumni in Tech. His investment expertise lies in the commercialization of innovative technologies for Industry with a strong focus on core science, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum technologies and Sustainability. Mr, Moughrabie is an advisor to the UK Government’s National Quantum Strategy and currently sits on the Advisory Board of Imperial College’s Climate-tech pre-accelerator and Cambridge Future Tech’s venture builder and is an advisor to numerous companies, Family Offices and governments in the fields of next generational technologies. He also founded the venture capital firm ATMOS Ventures in 2018 which specializes in the commercialization of scientific R&D through its global partnerships with Universities, Governments and Multinational Corporations. Mr. Moughrabie graduated with honors in Economics from the University of Chicago where he is also the President of the alumni board.
Dr. Albena Kuyumdzhieva is a Policy Officer at European Innovation Council Unit, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission. Her work is focused on deeptech innovation, AI and digitalisation. Albena has 20 years of international experience in advising policy makers and variety of stakeholders on ethics of new and emerging technologies, data protection, good governance and digital transformation. She has been involved in the elaboration of policy guidelines and recommendations related to ethics by design for AI and ethical processing of data in research context.
Magdalena Cymerys is a Policy Officer in the Innovation Policy and Access to Finance Unit at DG Research and Innovation. She is the coordinator of the New European Innovation Agenda on accelerating and strengthening innovation in European Innovation Ecosystems across the EU and addressing the innovation divide, including the Regional Innovation Valleys initiative. She is also responsible for women in innovation and technologies and oversees topics on social, frugal and reverse innovation. Magdalena has over 8 years of professional experience in project management, communications and policymaking. She holds a B.A. in French studies from Adam Mickiewicz University, a Master’s degree in Development Economics of Latin America from the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris, and an M.A. in Interdisciplinary European Studies from the College of Europe (Natolin).
Shiva Dustdar currently serves as the Head and Director of the EIB Institute, which brings the values and mission of the EIB Group close to society through philanthropic, academic, social and cultural activities supporting its climate, innovation and development priorities. Shiva has 30 years of experience in the financial industry working for large private and public institutions in New York, London and Luxembourg. Since joining EIB in 2003, she has worked in risk management, lending, investing and advising in innovative companies.
Shiva started her career in 1993 at J.P. Morgan in Investment Banking in New York before joining Fitch Rating Agency in 1999 to set up its European High Yield rating business. She holds a BA (Magna cum Laude) in Economics from Columbia University in New York and an Executive MBA from London Business School (LBS). Shiva is an innovation finance expert and regular speaker on innovation and impact financing, gender smart investing, digital and green financing and actively engaged in networks that promote sustainable and mission-oriented financing. In 2006, Shiva was nominated as one of the “Top 50 Women in Credit” by Credit Magazine and in 2023 received the WIN-Women International Global Inspiring Women Worldwide Award for being an “authentic, courageous feminine leader in the global stage”.
Tanya Suarez has over 20 years’ experience in Strategy, Digital Transformation and entrepreneurship, working with multiple public and private sector clients in projects involving new technologies. In 2021, she was named among Top 50 Women in Tech at London Tech Week and is a passionate supporter of women in tech. She is a World Economic Forum European Digital Leader, most recently contributing to the WEF working group on supporting women founders through corporate investment. Tanya is also an active EIC Accelerator jury member and has an in-depth understanding of how juries operate in topics ranging from Energy to Quantum. In this capacity, she has first-hand experience of how to assess diversity in EIC applicants and the indicators and signals that show true diversity.
