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After an extensive selection process, we are thrilled to announce the Top 5 GovTech Groundbreakers 2023 and the Top 10 Honorable Mentions. These exceptional individuals have demonstrated remarkable leadership within the GovTech community and showcased a deep commitment to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration within the public sector.

This year's theme revolved around #innovation, #sustainability, and #collaboration. We sought individuals who actively explore novel approaches within government, harness emerging technologies to pave the way for public innovation, and are committed to creating a sustainable future by gradually integrating sustainable practices and revolutionizing governance through the fusion of technology and sustainable management. Additionally, we looked for those who are addressing the evolution of governance through inclusive private-public initiatives, championing civic engagement, and sparking innovation in the public sector.

Alongside our incredible partners – Agência Moove, PUBLIC, BrazilLab, IA LAB, and CG Moving Co. – who have accompanied us throughout this journey and to whom we extend our heartfelt thanks for joining our initiative, we have uncovered a wealth of talent within the GovTech ecosystem and have arrived at our final decision. It’s time to meet our GovTech Groundbreakers 2023!

🏆 Top 5 GovTech Groundbreakers of 2023

Maria Carolina Martins de Faria (Brazil): Carol serves as an ISV Partner Manager and Startup Ambassador at Oracle, having graduated from the University of São Paulo. Prior to her tenure at Oracle, there was no dedicated realm within the Oracle sphere exclusively focused on GovTech. To date, she has collaborated with 60 GovTech companies, facilitating their utilization of Oracle's technology and connecting them with Oracle's Public Sector Customers. 

Notably, Carol has played a pivotal role in the development of 'The GovTech Study 2023,' a collaborative effort between BrazilLab and Oracle, scheduled for publication in December 2023. She has also pioneered the creation of Oracle Open House events, which have brought over 30 GovTech startups to Oracle's Headquarters in São Paulo.

Ana María Cáceres (Colombia): Ana María currently holds the position of Undersecretary of Smart City at the Mayor's Office of Medellín, Colombia. Although she began her career as a lawyer, having graduated from the University of Medellín, she decided to take a new direction by bridging the gap between law and technology. She holds a Specialization in New Technologies, Innovation, and City Management, as well as a Master's degree in Government and Public Policies.

Ana María's remarkable efforts have transformed Medellín into a pioneering city in the realm of public innovation procurement, overseeing the development of 11 ongoing solutions. She is the driving force behind MedeINN, the Public Innovation Laboratory of the City of Medellín, and has launched four open innovation calls resulting in the implementation of 11 technological solutions. Additionally, Ana María is a founding member of the Ibero-American GovTech Laboratory Network of the IDB and played a pivotal role in establishing the country's sole 'Regulatory Design Center,' dedicated to facilitating the adoption of technologies within the government.

Enrique Zapata (Mexico): Enrique serves as the Coordinator for Data Intelligence, GovTech, and Open Government at the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF). He has spearheaded several groundbreaking initiatives, including the establishment of the first dedicated investment facility for GovTech startups in Latin America and the Caribbean. Enrique has also taken the lead in creating The GovTech Index, which stands as the inaugural GovTech index in Iberoamerica.

Throughout his career, he has actively contributed to significant projects, including the development of Mexico's National Open Data Policy, the creation of the National Digital Platform for the National Anticorruption System in Mexico, and the formulation of the Data Governance Model for Colombia's National Data Infrastructure.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Enrique was honored with an award as one of the "100 Future Leaders: The World's Most Influential Young People in Government | 2019" by Apolitical.

Arune Matelyte (Lithuania): Arune holds the role of Manager and Co-Founder at the GovTech Lab within the Innovation Agency Lithuania. She is dedicated to fostering the development and utilization of innovative solutions within the public sector. In recognition of her outstanding work, she was honored with the European Innovation in Politics Award in 2019 and received acclaim as the creator of the best public sector project in Lithuania in the same year, as recognized by the PMO. Furthermore, Arune achieved a remarkable achievement by ranking in the top 3 at the GovTech Awards hosted by PUBLIC in 2022.

She has pioneered the GovTech Challenge Series, successfully addressing nearly 100 challenges, and established the GovTech Innovation Academy tailored for Public Sector Officials. In addition to her domestic contributions, Arune has served as a national expert at the OECD, where she has actively worked on enhancing our understanding of GovTech ecosystems and their management, both within and across borders.

Carlos Santiso (France): Carlos currently serves as the Head of the Division for Digital, Innovation, and Government at the OECD and is a member of the Advisory Group on Public Governance at the United Nations. Previously, he held prominent roles, including membership on the Advisory Council on Anti-Corruption at the World Economic Forum, the position of Director of Digital Innovation in Government at the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), and Division Chief of Innovation in Citizen Services at the IDB, among others. Carlos boasts an impressive academic background with multiple degrees related to the GovTech ecosystem from prestigious institutions, including Harvard Kennedy School and Columbia University.

In recognition of his remarkable contributions, Carlos earned recognition as one of the "World's 50 Most Influential People Navigating Disruption in 2021" and was honored as one of the "100 Most Influential People in Digital Government" by Apolitical.

👏🏼 Honorable Mentions

In addition to our Top 5 GovTech Groundbreakers 2023, we are delighted to acknowledge the following individuals with Honorable Mentions for their outstanding contributions:

Constance Bommelaer de Leusse, Executive Director at Project Liberty.

Andrea Motta, UK-Brazil Tech Hub Director at UK in Brazil.

Diego Fernandez, Secretary of Innovation and Digital Transformation of the City of Buenos Aires Government.

Ibrahim Köran, GovTech Lead at PwC Deutschland.

Téo Foresti Girardi, Ad Hoc Consultant at the Secretariat of Innovation, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and Director of Innovation at UPF Parque.

Juan Ignacio Gowland, Government Relations Manager - Cluster South (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia) at BASF.

Matt Fox, Founder at Phantasiai Ltd.

Juan Carlos Bochicchio, Director of Data Architecture of the the City of Buenos Aires Government.

Jimena Sánchez Velarde, Focal Point Peru of Alliance for Integrity.

Idoia Ortiz de Artiñano, Co-Founder and CEO at GOBE.

These amazing 10 GovTech leaders represent the epitome of dedication and excellence in the GovTech community. Their accomplishments serve as a beacon of hope and motivation for all of us committed to advancing GovTech and building a better future for citizens around the world.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to these outstanding leaders who are driving positive change in the public sector, and to everyone who participated in the GovTech Groundbreakers 2023. 

Stay tuned to learn more about our GovTech Groundbreakers! This won't be the last you hear from them!

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