Innovation & Digitalization

Michael de Ruiter is Director Public Transport at Transdev Netherlands. He has deep expertise in Public Transport as he is working for more than 22,5 years at Transdev in different roles. Formerly he was the CPO and since January 2025 he has made the switch to Director Public Transport. In his role as CPO, he did a lot for public transport, but also for taxis (Transport on Demand) and Ambulances (Witte Kruis). In the collaboration of the new Management PT, with regional directors and supporting departments, we can elevate public transport to an even higher level. This is a beautiful development that brings many benefits, such as a visible strengthening of knowledge sharing and a shared sense of responsibility.

Dr. Anna Gorczyca-Goraj is a Senior in PSE Innowacje, an R&D subsidiary of Polish TSO, PSE. She received her PhD in solid state theoretical physics from University of Silesia in Katowice. She has an academic background, continuing research in University of Economics in Katowice. She also graduated from Silesian University of Technology, Electrical Engineering Faculty. Throughout her professional career in PSE she has focused on WAMS development. In 2019 she became a member of ENTSO-E RDIC Working Group Digital & Communication. Since 2023 she has been the convenor. Digitalization tasks (especially AI and DT) tackled by WG5 under Anna's leadership are aligned with JTF DESAP activities. Consequently, Anna has been appointed a role of JTF DESAP co-chair representing ENTSO-E RDIC.

With relevant experience in the electricity sector, he has dedicated much of its activity to innovation, business development, technology and transformation, while actively contributing to the development of European energy policies and their practical translation into digital and smart grids and their contribution to a consumer and community-centred energy transition. He is currently Director of European Policies and Projects at E-REDES, the DSO in mainland Portugal, responsible for the coordination of European activities and funded projects. He is a board member of the EU DSO Entity, Vice-Chair of ETIP SNET, and an active member, since its foundation, of E.DSO (formerly EDSO for Smart Grids). He also actively participates in European forums and platforms related to the energy sector.

Vincent Berrutto is the Head of Unit responsible for research, innovation, digitalisation, and competitiveness at the European Commission Directorate General for Energy (DG ENERGY). His Unit supports research and innovation in clean energy, fosters digital energy services, and improves EU's competitiveness, with the long-term goal to decarbonise Europe by 2050. Prior to this, he was heading the Unit in charge of energy efficiency at the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-size Enterprises (EASME). He also dealt earlier with clean energy issues in other services of the European Commission, as well as in the French government. He is a civil engineer with a MSc and a PhD in building science.

David Steenmeijer works as a Data Science & AI Specialist at the Dutch DSO Enexis. With a master's degree in Data Science and in Political Science, he translates his expertise to concrete initiatives that help Enexis digitalize its distribution grid in a responsible manner. Additionally, he is also responsible for implementing the AI Act at Enexis.