EUVP Alumni Webinar - “COVID-19: an accelerator for digital transformation?”

• 09.30 – 09.40 Welcome message from Mr Klaus WELLE,  Secretary General of the European Parliament
• 09.40 – 09.50 Speech by Mr Karl-Peter REPPLINGER Director, Directorate for Economy and Scientific Policies, Directorate General for Internal Policies of the Union - DG IPOL, European Parliament
• 09.50 - 10.00 Speech by Ms Lorena BOIX ALONSO, Director, Digital Society, Trust & Cybersecurity, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT), European Commission
• 10.00 – 10.10 Speech by Mr Alistair KNIGHT, Director Europe, Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa Branch-International. Policy Division, National Resilience and Cyber Security Group, Department of Home Affairs, Canberra, AUSTRALIA
• 10.10 – 10.20 Speech by Ms Naoko OKAMURA, Deputy Director General of Research and Development Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Tokyo, JAPAN
• 10.20 – 10.30 Speech by Mr Aaron MANIAM, Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information in charge of Industry and information, SINGAPORE
• 10.30 –11.00 Discussion between the panellists moderated by Ms Sarah SHEIL, Head of Communication and Outreach Unit, Directorate General for External Policies of the Union - DG EXPO, European Parliament
• 11.00 – 11.30 Q&A Session

EUVP Alumni

Mr Aaron Maniam - Deputy Secretary (Industry and Information), Ministry of Communications and Information - SINGAPORE

Aaron Maniam is a Singaporean civil servant, having served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Centre for Strategic Futures, Civil Service College and Ministry of Trade and Industry. Currently Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Information, he oversees digital economics, digital regulation, digital literacy and access, and public sector broadcasting.

In his free time, he writes poetry, facilitates inter-religious dialogues, and teaches at the National University of Singapore's Scholars Programme. He is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, an Asia 21 Young Leader of the Asia Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

Ms Naoko OKAMURA - Deputy Director-General & Director-General for International Cooperation, National Space Policy Secretariat, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan - JAPAN

Naoko Okamura is a Japanese civil servant. She has been involved in science and technology policy since 1990, and has been formulating policies and promoting national & international projects in a wide range of fields such as nanotechnology, medical science, nuclear research and space.

She was invited to EUVP based on her leadership in the formulation of Japan's first nanotechnology policy.

From 2008 to 2011, she worked for the Mission of Japan to the EU as the Counselor in charge of science, technology and education, and leading diplomatic negotiations for concluding the EU-Japan Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement signed in 2009.

Currently, she is responsible for promoting space issues. As a part of this responsibility, from 2018 to 2020, she also served as the representative of Japan on the Multilateral Coordination Board of the International Space Station, and Co-Chair of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum.

Mr Alistair KNIGHT - Director, Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa Branch | International Policy Division, National Resilience and Cyber Security Group, Department of Home Affairs, Canberra - AUSTRALIA

Alistair Knight is currently Director Europe within the Department of Home Affairs’ International Policy Division where he is responsible for leading all international engagement with European counterparts for non-military national security issues. He was also previously the Department’s Director Middle East and Africa.  Prior to joining the Department of Home Affairs, Alistair held a variety of positions across Australia’s defence and national security community. His experience spans international affairs, cyber-security, counterterrorism, strategic policy, and capability development.

Alistair has cumulatively spent several years living and working in Iraq, Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar; developing a passion for the Middle East, its cultures, and history in the process. He holds a Master of Arts in Strategy and Policy as well as a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Politics. Alistair maintains an avid interest in ancient history, motorbikes, and contemporary art.

EU Representatives

Ms Lorena BOIX ALONSO, Director, Digital Society, Trust & Cybersecurity, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT) - EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Lorena Boix Alonso is Director for Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity in Directorate General for Communications Networks Content and Technology (DG CONNECT), at the European Commission.

Formerly, she was Acting Director for Policy Strategy and Outreach and Head of Unit for Policy Implementation and Planning, also in DG CONNECT. Previously, she was Deputy Head of Cabinet of Vice President Neelie Kroes, Commissioner for the Digital Agenda and also during Ms Kroes' mandate as Commissioner for Competition. She joined the European Commission Directorate-General for Competition in 2003.

Prior to that, she has worked for Judge Rafael García Valdecasas, at the European Court of Justice, as well as Deputy Director and Legal Coordinator of the IPR-Helpdesk Project and in private practice in Brussels. She holds a Master of Laws from the Harvard Law School and a Licence Spéciale en Droit Européen from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. She graduated in Law from the University of Valencia.

Mr Karl-Peter REPPLINGER Director, Directorate for Economy and Scientific Policies, Directorate General for Internal Policies of the Union - DG IPOL - EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT