Veronica Cretu

Veronica Cretu (lead/initiator of the Task Force)

Veronica Cretu is an Open Government and Data for Development expert, co-founder of Innovating Governance Association Austria.

Professional interests:

Artificial Intelligence and Governance; Open Government and Open Data; Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation in various thematic areas; ICT4D; Internet Governance; Democracy and Demography; Eastern Partnership and the EU; Human Rights with focus on Women and Youth.

Veronica brings more than 20 years of experience in open government, digital governance, civil society development, stakeholder engagement, public administration reform and policy planning, with areas of expertise ranging from open data, governance reforms scorecard, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), capacity development, critical thinking methodology, to gender equality, community development, and strategic planning (Theory of Change).

Memberships

• Member of the Council of Europe Access Info Group, known as Tromso Convention, since January 2022;

• Member of the Committee on Artificial Intelligence, Council of Europe since January 2022;

• Member of the Ad-hoc Committee on Artificial Intelligence, Council of Europe November 2019 - December 2021;

• Permanent Dialogue Mechanism on Open Government in Moldova – Co-Chair (June 2018 - February 2022);

• Open Government Partnership (OGP) – Envoy (06/2017-Current);

• Open Government Partnership (OGP) - Civil Society Steering Committee Member (04/2013-10/2016)

• Judge, Open Government Award 2016 competition “Making Transparency Count” with OGP

• UN Civil Society Advisory Group on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Moldova– Member (2012-2015) – Representative of the National Participation Council to the UN Women

• Member of the National Participation Council of Moldova, civil society advisory body to the Prime Minister (2012-2014)

• Member of the Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group to the Internet Governance Forum (IFG) under UN Secretary General – 2011-2014

• Member of the Nominating Committee of ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), years 2014-2016

• Member of the At Large Advisory Committee of ICANN, representing EURALO years 2007-2008, 2013-2014


Awards

Global Woman Aspirational Award Winner 2019, Global Woman Club Vienna Aspirational Award winner 2019

Country specific experiences: Moldova, Austria, Ukraine, Nepal, Liberia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Mexico, Tajikistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kyrgyz Republic.

In December 2020, Veronica was included in the list of 21 Digital4Development influencers to follow in 2021 by European Digital Network Alliance: https://europeandigital.org/top-21-digital4development-influencers-to-follow-in-2021Professional interests:


Veronica holds a MA degree in Contemporary Diplomacy from the University of Malta and postgraduate diploma in Diplomacy and IT from Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies Malta. She is a graduate of short-term courses from Georgetown University, Harvard University Center for International Development, DiploFoundation.

Languages: Romanian (native); English - fluent; Russian - fluent; German - beginner; Turkish - beginner, French - beginner.


Veronica is based in Austria since August 2018.

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