Ilias Iakovidis

DG CONNECT, European Commission

Ilias is currently an Adviser for Societal challenges at European Commission, DG CONNECT, coordinating the work on Digital for Sustainability ( Digital for Planet), that is about two work streams. First involves ‘Green ICT’ measures that aim at improving energy and resource efficiency (circularity) of the ICT sector itself. Examples include energy efficiency of datacentres, networks and service and improvement of durability, reparability and recycling of digital devices (e.g. mobile phones). The second includes ‘ICT for Green’ – digitally enabled solutions (based on artificial intelligence/big data, high performance computing, Internet of Things, blockchain) supporting sustainability and climate goals in other sectors. The implementation involves both policy initiatives such as the European Green Deal and digital, industrial and data strategies as well as financial support through relevant EC programmes.

Before 2017 Ilias was leading the eHealth and ICT for ageing units. He contributed to the EU Agenda for eHealth and ICT for ageing including the past Research & Innovation Programmes for over 23 years. Areas he pioneered include Integrated Care; ‘Virtual Physiological Human’; Personal Health Systems and Interoperable Electronic Health Records. Ilias was instrumental in setting up and managing the European Innovation Partnership on Active, Healthy Ageing, and the ‘Silver economy’ initiative. He developed the EU-US Memorandum of Understanding in eHealth and promoted cooperation with other non-EU countries. Ilias has a PhD in Applied Math (USA) and postdoc in biomedical engineering (Canada). In 2001 he was elected fellow of American College of Medical Informatics for his contribution to the field.

William Neale

DG ENVI, European Commission

Before 2017 he served 11 years as a Member of Cabinet (private office) of two European Commissioners for Environment, Janez Potočnik and Karmenu Vella, and for Commissioner Potočnik when he was European Commissioner for Science and Research. In cabinets he has held responsibility for relations with the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, planning, resources and budget, and advised Commissioners on development of policies on circular economy, resource efficiency, sustainable production and consumption, environmental technologies, eco-innovation, waste policy, transport, aeronautics, research infrastructures and external relations.

Mr. Neale started his career in public service working for 7 years in the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry. He previously spent 13 years in the private sector in the fields of international banking, retail and management consultancy. He holds a joint honours degree in economics and history, and a masters in political science, both from the University of Manchester (UK).

Michele Galatola

DG GROW, European Commission

Working on sustainability related aspects. In particular, currently contributing to the development of the Sustainable Product Initiative (including the digital product passport) and other initiatives linked to the Green Deal.