WiD Forum Governing BoarD

The WiD Governing Board (GB) will play a crucial role in advancing the mission and vision of the project, acting at the core of the Women in Digital Declaration to leverage contributions for tackling the shortage of ICT specialists and building an inclusive digital Europe.

Primary objectives of the GB will be:

Providing strategic direction and oversight for the scope and operations of the WiD Forum.
Serving as international ambassadors, promoting the Forum’s growth and consolidation.

In particular, the WiD GB will strategically support the WiD Secretariat with the creation of the WiD Stakeholder Forum, a community of experts dedicated to identifying critical challenges, sharing best practices, and validating essential data to strengthen the initiative. The Forum will operate on a sustainable model, ensuring continued growth beyond the project’s lifespan.

The GB will also play an integral role in the WiD Summit, the annual recurrent event to foster direct engagement, facilitate knowledge exchange among stakeholders, and validate project outcomes. Furthermore, the GB will review and validate the annual report on the state of WiD across Europe and beyond, offering recommendations to guide strategic policy decisions.

Biography

Laure Le Bars is a Research Project Director at SAP Technology & Innovation, leading several European projects. She serves on the Board of Directors and as Vice-President of the Big Data Value Association (BDVA). She coordinates a quantum computing initiative at SAP and co-founded the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC) in 2021, where she currently serves as President. Previously, she led SAP Labs in Canada and Hungary, and won a Stevie Award for Women in Business in 2007. She holds degrees in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Economics from ENSIIE and completed a thesis in Operations Research for AI in Montreal.

WiD-Related Motivation

Laure represents SAP in the Cercle InterL diversity network and co-leads a Women & AI group developing accountability tools and training. She also founded the Business Women’s Network@SAP (France Chapter).

Biography

Luciano Pollastri, originally from Argentina, has been in Madrid since 2006 and has worked in HR since 2000. He transitioned to tech after earning an MBA in 2007 and joined Amadeus in 2010. He’s held roles from regional HRBP to global head of Employee

Experience. Since 2023, he leads Global Talent, including Talent Acquisition, Development, and Leadership.

WiD-Related Motivation

Luciano has led gender diversity efforts at Amadeus for over a decade. His motivation stems from the need for systemic, holistic changes inside and outside organizations to address gender gaps. Inspired by the ‘leaky pipeline’ concept, he sees WiD as a critical platform for impactful change.

Biography

Samia Ghozlane is a digital inclusion advocate with deep expertise in training and reskilling underserved groups in France. She has worked across sectors to promote equitable digital access and is now transitioning to a new professional role.

WiD-Related Motivation

‘I am deeply committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the digital sector. Joining the WiD Forum is a meaningful opportunity to shape a more representative digital future and support systemic change.’

Biography

Salvatore Nigro is the CEO of JA Europe, the largest provider of entrepreneurship education in Europe. He focuses on digital skills and inclusive leadership for youth. Salvatore leads initiatives that connect education, innovation, and employment across the continent, advocating for early digital engagement.

WiD-Related Motivation

‘I am honored to join the Governing Board of the Women in Digital Forum. Empowering young women with digital skills and leadership opportunities is essential to building a more competitive Europe. The WiD Forum is a powerful platform to overcome participation barriers and reach EU digital goals.’