Neelie Kroes, Vice President of the European Commission and European Digital Agenda Commissioner, will bring a keynote presentation on CIO CITY about the potential of ICT and the leading role ICT leaders need to take in our society.

Neelie Kroes started her political career on the Rotterdam Municipal Council, and in 1971 she was elected as a Member of the Dutch Parliament for the liberal VVD party. From 1982-1989 she served as Minister for Transport, Public Works and Telecommunication in the Netherlands. After politics Neelie was appointed President of Nyenrode University from 1991-2000, and served on various company boards, including Lucent Technologies, Volvo, P&O Nedlloyd. Prior to serving as European Commissioner for Competition from 2004-2009, her charity work included advising the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and World Cancer Research Fund, and she have an ongoing interest in mental health issues.