Ask Women – on Artificial Intelligence
Change the narrative with the women experts from the European databases of the ENWE network.
Dear reader,
Welcome to the May issue of our Ask Women newsletter, brought to you by the European Network for Women Excellence (ENWE) in collaboration with the women experts’ databases in our network: 100esperte, Agenda d’Expertes, The Brussels Binder, Expertalia, Les Expertes, and Ona Ve.
This Edition’s Theme: International AI Day (July 4)
Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important part of our daily lives, transforming the way we work, communicate, and access information. As AI continues to evolve and become more integrated into society, it is essential not only to embrace its potential but also to understand how to use it responsibly and critically.
International AI Day (July 4) is an annual initiative that celebrates the development of Artificial intelligence and encourages reflection on its impact on society. The date commemorates the beginning of the Dartmouth Conference in 1956, widely regarded as the event that marked the birth of artificial intelligence as a scientific field.
This occasion is an opportunity to discuss the ethical, social, and economic challenges and opportunities associated with AI.
Meet the experts
Below, you’ll find the profiles and contact information for women experts in Artificial Intelligence available for interviews, panel discussions, events, and other opportunities.
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You may have to change the language setting to ENG at the top right of the 100esperte website to view the profiles in English language.
GIULIA BACCARIN
Engineer and co-founder of MIPU, a group of companies that develops AI-powered predictive analytics solutions for industrial process optimization, used in more than 1,600 plants across 32 countries. Baccarin is an award-winning entrepreneur and advocate for ethical AI, diversity in technology, and the societal impact of automation.
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PAOLA VELARDI
Former Full Professor of Computer Science at Sapienza University of Rome and Senior Associate at CNR-ISTC, she is an internationally recognized AI expert whose research has focused on machine learning, text processing, knowledge bases, and network analysis. Her work has applications across fields including social networks, e-health, e-learning, and cultural heritage, and she is featured among the women scientists showcased in UNESCO’s Virtual Science Museum.
PAOLA PISANO
Professor of Innovation and Management at the University of Turin and Director of the HighESt Lab, a research network focused on artificial intelligence. She is the founder of Deeplomacy, a startup specializing in geopolitical monitoring and forecasting, and a founding advisor of Eurix.AI. She has also held prominent institutional roles, including serving as Italy’s Minister for Technological Innovation and Digitalization.
EMILIJA STOJMENOVA DUH
Associate Professor at the University of Ljubljana and a leading expert in digital innovation, artificial intelligence, and inclusive digital transformation. A former Minister for Digital Transformation of Slovenia, she is committed to advancing digital skills, innovation, and women’s participation in STEM. In 2026, she was appointed to the Scientific Panel of the European Union’s AI Act.
Contact nowANETA IVANOVSKA
AI researcher, Associate Professor at the University of Nova Gorica, and former researcher at the Jožef Stefan Institute. Her work focuses on machine learning, data analytics, and decision-support systems, with applications in environmental and sustainability challenges.
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TJASA SOBOCAN
Researcher and PhD candidate at the Laboratory of Telecommunications, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana. She works on digital transformation, AI, digital skills, and smart rural development through the Digital Innovation Hub 4PDIH and FabLab Slovenia. She also supports startups, SMEs, and women entrepreneurs through CEED Slovenia and international innovation networks.
RAQUEL JORGE RICAT
Fulbright Fellow based in Washington, D.C., specializing in technology and digital public policy, with expertise in AI, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and emerging technologies. Has worked on projects at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center focused on EU technological sovereignty and smart cities. Contributor to media outlets and think tanks, and member of OdiseIA, the Observatory for the Social and Ethical Impact of Artificial Intelligence.
ANA OROPESA FISICA
Recognized among Catalonia’s 100 leading women in ICT in 2025, Ana holds a degree in Computer Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Valencia and master’s degrees in Artificial Intelligence and Project Management. With over a decade of experience at HP, she leads strategic data projects and promotes a strong data science culture within the company. She is also an associate professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, where she has supervised more than 40 undergraduate projects focused on social impact, data, and AI.
LORENA BILLI
Founder of Furt'Her, a leading ecosystem connecting women in AI, blockchain, and emerging technologies through strategic partnerships, trainings, events, leadership initiatives, and international collaborations.
LAURA JOUSSET
Expert focuses on the risks associated with the use of AI tools by communications professionals, in terms of the ethical and societal issues raised by such use. She is the communications manager at the FARI research institute and helps to spread knowledge in the field of AI.
NAWAL ABBOUB
PhD in cognitive science and a degree in neuroscience. She co-founded Rising Up, a company that uses cognitive science and AI to measure, develop, and certify soft skills to promote lifelong employability
CAROLE ADAM
Artificial intelligence researcher. She earned her doctorate on modeling emotions for artificial agents. Her research focuses on modeling human behavior and its irrational aspects: emotions, cognitive biases, social attachment, and so on.
ENWE is committed to fostering dialogue, promoting diversity, and amplifying the voices of women experts across Europe. With Ask Women, we aim to showcase the incredible achievements and insights of these talented professionals, helping to bridge the gender gap in the media and beyond.
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