Thank you for inviting me.

Even from afar, it means a great deal to be part of a summit that gives the stage to the women who are shaping the future of innovation in Europe.

And this year’s theme, “Unleash New Energy”, captures exactly what so many of us feel in these uncertain times.

Across Europe, something real is shifting. Women are leading major institutions, making scientific breakthroughs, and driving public policy. And that matters not only because it breaks old barriers, but because it expands what the next generation believes is possible.

Nevertheless, we cannot take progress for granted.

Gaps remain: in leadership, in pay, in safety, and in who gets a seat at the table. And women in public life still face targeted online abuse designed to silence them and shrink our democratic space and diversity.

True equality will come when women’s leadership is not celebrated as exceptional - but accepted as normal.

By joining forces here, you are pushing that reality closer. You are not only advancing Europe’s technological capacity; you are redefining who gets to shape our future.

This brings me to artificial intelligence.

In my first year as European Ombudswoman, AI has become one of our top priorities, both inside my Office and in our oversight of the EU administration.

The benefits of AI are real: better access to public services, more efficient institutions, and new tools that can help citizens navigate complex systems. But the risks are just as real. Risks to transparency, to accountability, and to the fundamental principle that public decisions must be made by people, not by an opaque algorithm.

My Office is examining how EU institutions actually use AI: in funding evaluations, in standards‑setting, and in how the AI Act is applied in practice.

My goal is not to discourage the use of AI. It is to support the administration in using it transparently, ethically, and with effective human oversight. Because without that, we erode the trust that EU governance depends on.

Women leaders in tech can have a crucial role here. Your expertise is essential to ensuring that Europe’s digital transition remains human‑centred, inclusive, and aligned with our fundamental rights.

At a moment of geopolitical uncertainty and rapid technological transformation, Europe needs every talent, every perspective, and every voice at the table.

And never underestimate this: women do not change institutions only through numbers. They change cultures. They broaden conversations. They redefine leadership itself.

So trust your voice, trust your expertise, and use both boldly. Others will follow because they see you doing it first.

Thank you for your leadership – and for building innovation that serves people, democracy, and the future we want to share.