Katharina Mänz joined the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in 2012, initially serving for seven years as spokesperson and press officer. She then became deputy head of the ministry’s parliamentary unit. Currently, she holds the position of deputy head in the BMZ’s division for digital technologies. Before entering public service, she spent over a decade working in Berlin as a TV news journalist, editor, and political correspondent.

“The beauty of the GovStack approach lies in its openess and flexibility:  GovStack does not offer any one-size-fits-all solutions. It is like an empty  house with white walls and doors and staircases in all the necessary places that link one room and floor to a completely other, with a basic kitchen and all the essential safety features like fire alarms. By this, GovStack allows its owner to customize this house, paint the walls, add tailor-made furniture or even to move in and install all their still working kitchen appliances. This is what we are aiming at with GovStack: Maximum sovereignty for our partner countries for shaping their individual digital infrastructure while assuring them they are provided with gold standards in terms of security, privacy or data protection aligned with European values.“

Kelly Ommundsen is the Head of Digital Inclusion and a Member of the Executive Committee for the World Economic Forum. She combines her expertise in technology, policy, and partnerships with a deep commitment to social equity to drive meaningful systems change. Through several flagship initiatives she is leading, including the Global GovTech Network, EDISON Alliance, and the Global Regulatory Innovation Platform, she champions public-private collaboration to modernize governance and ensure technology works for people. Previously, Kelly served as the Chief of Staff to the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum for over 5 years and was responsible for creating the Forum’s pioneering presence in the metaverse. Kelly has previously led the Forum’s government and regional partnerships for its technology agenda and was responsible for the organization’s relationship with the U.S. Government. Kelly has a diverse background in the public sector and civil society. She also holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan.

Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, a Zimbabwean national, is the Global Director for Digital Usage, World Bank Digital VPU. Since joining the Bank in 1995 as a Young Professional, Pswarayi-Riddihough has worked in four different regions; South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East and North and Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Her most recent appointment was as Country Director for Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros and Seychelles in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region. Prior to that, she served as Country Director for Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives. She has also served as Director of Operational Services from 2012 to 2014, supervising teams covering operations in financial management and procurement. She has also held various operational and corporate management positions in the Human Resources Vice Presidency, including Director of Strategy and Operations.

Marushka is an international advisor on digital transformation and artificial intelligence, specializing in public policy, regulatory frameworks, and the design of user-centered digital services. She led the development of Peru’s National Digital Transformation Policy and played a key role in initiatives such as the Digital Government Law, the National Innovation Lab, and the Artificial Intelligence Law.

She currently serves as an AI ethics advisor for civil society and as a digital transformation consultant for the GovStack initiative at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Her work supports global, regional, and local efforts to promote women's participation in technology, protect children online, and strengthen digital talent. She also serves as an Independent Director in organizations focused on sustainability and innovation and chairs the Economy Committee at ICC Perú.

Lucia Velasco serves as Senior Advisor to the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy on Technology, heading work on AI policy and governance at the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies. An economist and researcher with the Oxford Martin School and the Maastricht School of Economics, she co-chairs the OECD/Global Partnership on AI’s Future of Work stream, fostering international collaboration to ensure AI benefits people and societies. Previously, she led AI initiatives at the World Economic Forum and, within the Spanish government, directed the National Observatory for Technology and Society. Lucia has also advised the European Commission and the Inter-American Development Bank