Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology
Tiit Riisalo is the Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology. In 2016–2021, he was the Director of the Office of the President of the Republic. He graduated from the University of Tartu in 1995 with a degree in public administration and furthered his education in the same field at the University of North Carolina, USA, in 1993. In 2011, he studied social psychology at Stanford University and New York University.
Chief AI Officer at HealthAI; Global Future Council Member of the World Economic Forum
As the inaugural global head of Data & AI at both Merck Healthcare and The Adecco Group, he led the creation and management of impactful AI products in healthcare, biotech, electronics, and employment. Mentor of the United Nations Global Compact, Merck-Deloitte Digital Champion, IBM Distinguished Speaker, he has been recognized as one of the nation’s outstanding young engineers by the US National Academy of Engineering and as the US Big Data Chair of the Japan-America Frontiers of Engineering.
AI Adviser to the Secretary of State Government Office
Kristel Kriisa has a strong background in educational technology and AI in the public sector. Currently, she serves as the AI Adviser to the Secretary of State in the Government Office, where she plays a pivotal role in elevating Estonia’s AI capabilities. Kristel’s passion for AI stems from her previous position as the AI Project Manager at the Estonian Information System Authority. There, collaborating extensively with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Information Technology as well as cutting edge private sector developers and universities, she worked to inspire, foster, and then implement AI-based services in public sector organisations. Her experience includes having worked on ensuring global visibility of Estonia's AI capabilities and contributing to Estonia’s third National AI Strategy. Kristel’s commitment to safely leveraging AI underscores her influential role in advancing digital governance and AI integration in Estonia’s public services.
Founder and CEO of ANRA Technologies
Amit Ganjoo is the Founder and CEO of ANRA Technologies with offices in London, Washington DC, Tallinn and New Delhi. ANRA is a global provider of end-to-end uncrewed aircraft operations and traffic management solutions for enterprises, operators, and airspace managers. He has over 20 years of aviation, telecom, robotic, and wireless experience in both the federal and the commercial space. He is an engineer and licensed pilot, a Board Member of GUTMA, Co-Chairs ASTM Standards Working Group for UTM and Co-Chairs ASTM UAM Interoperability Working Group. He was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to the FAA Advanced Aviation Advisory Committee (AAAC).
International Relations Manager at AI Sweden
Ebba serves as International Relations Manager at AI Sweden, where she oversees the coordination and advancement of international initiatives. For the first four years at AI Sweden she was the Project Manager for the Data Factory. Ebba has a Master of Law from Gothenburg University, School of Business, Economics and Law in Sweden. She has experience from working at law firms in USA and Sweden, Court Practice at Gothenburg District Court and as a corporate lawyer. Ebba is also the Director of Nordic Nodes of Silicon Vikings, a non-profit networking organisation supporting innovation and tech in the New Nordics and Silicon Valley.
Former Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology
Mr Andres Sutt is a Member of Parliament (Reform Party) and a former Minister of Entrepreneurship and IT. He is currently a member of the Economic Affairs Committee and a member of the Supervisory Board of Eesti Pank. As a Minister he oversaw the development of the e-Estonia ecosystem, raised investments in cybersecurity and launched the 5G rollout. He promoted Estonian startup ecosystem and collaboration in innovation between the businesses and universities.
Head of eHealth Strategy in Estonian Government
Jaanika Merilo has over 25 years of combined experience in digital transformation and over 10 years in health tech. Since 2015, Jaanika has played a significant role in driving digital transformation in Ukraine, earning nominations in 2015 from Google and the Financial Times. for the NE100 "Innovators whose innovations change the world for the better" and winning the "Best City Digital Transformation Award" at the Smart City World EXPO in 2019.
Since 2015, Jaanika has been an active Deputy Mayor of Dnipro, an advisor to several ministers of Ukraine, and, since 2019, an advisor to the Advisor to Vice Prime Minister - Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. Jaanika has been active in Estonia's Ministry of Social Affairs since March 2023, and since January 2024, she has been the Head of eHealth Strategy.
MIT Director & Lecturer
Gene R. Keselman is currently a Lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management, the Executive Director of MIT Mission Innovation Experimental (MIx) and Managing Director of MIT’s venture studio, Proto Ventures. He is formerly the Executive Director of the MIT Innovation Initiative.
Gene has held leadership positions in a range of start-ups and sits on the Reagan Institute’s National Security Industrial Base Advisory Board, supports numerous startups as a board advisor and has also been a space and defense industry consultant.
As a military officer in the Air Force Reserves, Colonel (Select) Keselman works as the senior reservist for the Vice Chief of Staff’s innovation team Morpheus. His career has spanned military fields including nuclear operations, space operations and acquisition and he has founded and run numerous operational and R&D programs in the Intelligence Community. He is published in Space journals, is Government CIO certified and fluent in Russian.
Founder & CEO of Lifeyear, Founder of Activate
Siim is a technology entrepreneur with 20 years of experience in digital innovation. He is the Founder & CEO of Lifeyear - a digital cardiovascular care company and Activate – employee health and wellbeing platform. He is also the Founding Member of DTx Estonia - Alliance of Estonian Digital Therapeutics Manufacturers and the Founding Partner of Health Founders - the first health technology accelerator in the Baltics.
Founder and CEO of Funderbeam
Funderbeam / Venturebeam operates a private network of professional investors to invest in global tech companies with secondary options. Funderbeam was awarded as the Best European Fintech startup in 2017. Kaidi is also a member of the Digital Council of the President of Estonia Mr Alar Karis and Board member of Estonian Founders Society. Kaidi is a former CEO of Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange and of the Central Securities Depository. Co-Founder of Estonian Service Industry Association. Ex Member of Startup Europe Advisory Board at European Commission. The first IT lawyer in Estonia, she co-author of the Estonian Digital Signatures Act of 2000 -- landmark legislation that enables secure digital identities and, in turn, the country’s booming electronic economy. Sixth year running listed among TOP 50 Europe’s most influential women in the startup and venture capital space. Entrepreneur of the Year, 2018, Technology Playmaker Awards (booking.com global award for women in tech). Person of a Year, 2016, Estonian ICT Association.
Operations Director, Europe Startup Nations Alliance
With extensive international experience spanning Europe, the US, and Canada, Linda Capusa is a seasoned professional in operations and startup management. Before joining ESNA as Member of the Board of Directors and Operations Director, Linda had served as COO of a mobile gaming startup and brings along a wealth of operational expertise from her tenure at one of the largest convenience retailers in the world. With a proven track record of navigating complex operational challenges, Linda is dedicated to fostering innovation and start-up friendly polices across Europe.
Fund Manager and Management Board Member of SmartCap,
Estonian Defence Industry Investment Fund
Sille Pettai is the fund manager and Management Board member of SmartCap – an Estonian state-owned fund manager managing EUR 200 million assets focused on early-stage VC funds. She is leading SmartCap Venture Capital Fund with a mission to contribute to local capital market development and SmartCap Green Fund dedicated to green transition and backing greentech companies. At SmartCap, Sille Pettai is also liaising with NATO Innovation Fund, world’s first multi sovereign VC fund created to develop dual use – both civil and military – deep technologies.
Deputy Secretary General for Economy and Innovation at Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of Estonia
Sandra Särav is the Deputy Secretary General for Business and Consumer Environment at the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. She’s been back at the Estonian government for just over a year, but it’s not her first time there - she simply made a detour to private sector, gaining experience both at the Estonian tech unicorn Bolt, as well as Meta (Facebook), and decided to rejoin the public sector in early 2022. What brought her back to government was the sense of mission of building solutions for your own country.
Head of Clinical Research Centre of Tartu University Hospital
Katrin's professional journey is marked by her significant contributions to clinical research, emphasizing her roles within Estonia’s and international Clinical research landscape. Her tenure at wold biggest Clinical research organization IQVIA as Senir Director, at University of Tartu , Institute of Clinical Medicine and TU Hospital, Head of Clinical research centre as well as executive arm of The National Centre of Translational and Clinical Research showcases her expertise and leadership in innovation and clinical research . Katrin`s engagement with multiple professional and ethical bodies underlines her commitment to high ethical standards in research. Additionally, her academic endeavors, including her Ph.D. work on project management in clinical research, highlight her focus on improving research methodologies for better healthcare outcomes.
