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M. Blaya

Strategic Advisor | Digital Sovereignty & Data Economy | Trustworthy AI Frameworks

About Me

Driving Value at the Intersection of Data Ecosystems, Strategic PMO, and AI Governance. Executive Technology Leader bridging the gap between complex data infrastructure, strategic delivery, and business alignment. With over 25 years of international experience in the telecommunications and data sectors (including leadership roles at IDSA, DSSC, Vodafone and M-Pesa), I focus on moving the data economy from conceptual frameworks to scalable, real-world deployment. I have built my career on a simple principle: technology only delivers value when it is aligned with strategic business goals and executed with operational discipline. My Strategic Pillars: - Technology: Data Spaces • AI • Cloud - Performance: Strategy • Delivery • Business Alignment What I bring to the table: - Digital Sovereignty: Designing and operationalizing sovereign data spaces based on European standards and blueprints. - Data Economy: Strategy, governance, and interoperability for complex, multi-stakeholder ecosystems to drive market adoption. - Trustworthy AI Frameworks: Integrating AI readiness, ethical guidelines, and regulatory compliance (EU AI Act & Data Act) into modern data infrastructures. Where I would like to go next & Current Initiatives: My vision is centered on driving the next generation of digital services through the convergence of Data Spaces, AI, and Cloud. Rather than just exploring, I am actively shaping the ecosystem through concrete strategic initiatives: - Trustworthy AI: Applying the PMI-CPMAI (Certified Professional in Managing AI) framework to help organizations bridge data infrastructures with ethical, compliant, and resilient AI governance. - Data Space Sustainability: Coordinating the DAMA Working Group dedicated to the long-term sustainability of data spaces, establishing benchmarks for the future data economy. - Digital Sovereignty Advocacy: Shaping industry standards by authoring a Digital Sovereignty Manifesto and actively contributing to high-level panel discussions and debates across the EMEA region.

Jurisdiction

Spain

Experience

Seniority LevelDirector
Years of Experience20+ years
Current StatusActive
Director of Delivery and PMOInternational Data Spaces Association
2022 - Present

• Lead strategic and cross‑functional initiatives across the European data spaces ecosystem, aligning IDSA’s goals with industry needs and EU priorities. • Oversee PMO governance and delivery of 25 funded projects and 30 internal initiatives, ensuring quality, compliance and successful EC audit outcomes. • Drive key ecosystem assets such as the Data Spaces Radar (250+ entries), the Connector Report (40+ connectors evaluated), and lead the Data Space Adoption Forum (50+ participants) to enable large‑scale adoption and streamlined onboarding across Europe. • Coordinate 12 Hubs, 6 Competence Centres and the IDSA training programme (400+ trained, 150 certified). • Foster stakeholder engagement and ecosystem growth by speaking at and moderating high-level international forums and organizing flagship events such as the Data Space Symposium. • Serve as Work‑Package Lead at the Data Spaces Support Centre (DSSC), representing IDSA on the Steering and Management Boards and leading a 25‑person team delivering the DSSC Blueprint and evaluating 30+ data space solutions (target 50 by 2026).

Chief Technology and Project OfficerBlaya Robotics
2022 - 2022

• Founded and led Blaya Robotics, defining strategy and exploring opportunities in AI, data economy and digital transformation. • Designed and coordinated TecnoQAcompaña, an AI‑driven programme supporting vulnerable groups, leading a multidisciplinary team and piloting modules such as "Mayores Activos" y "Cuidando a quien cuida". • Built partnerships with the University of Castilla‑La Mancha to advance research and concept development in conversational interfaces and cloud‑based services. • Strengthened technical depth through hands‑on experimentation with cloud‑native architectures, serverless patterns and conversational AI, contributing to software prototypes and early‑stage AI solutions.

Release/Program Manager + Transition-to-Operations and Quality ManagerM-Pesa
2013 - 2022

• Managed release processes across 11 countries and 5 suppliers, ensuring operational excellence across hybrid infrastructures (on‑prem, private and public cloud). • Led risk management, stakeholder alignment and continuous improvement initiatives, driving effective communication and timely decision‑making. • Designed and optimised the Release Management framework, procedures and tools, strengthening quality, reliability and delivery performance. • Led transition‑to‑operations processes, ensuring operational readiness, seamless handover and alignment across technical and business teams. • Defined and implemented Quality Performance Indicators (QPI) and improved Operational Acceptance Test (OAT) procedures to strengthen reliability and efficiency. • Developed a structured quality‑gates framework, enhancing compliance, delivery assurance and overall project quality.

Education

Masters of Computer Science and EngineeringUniversidad Politécnica de Madrid
1986 - 1993

Certification

Total Certifications4

Project Management Professional (PMP)®

Project Management Institute

2007 - 2029

Credential ID: Credential ID: #453367

PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)®

Project Management Institute

2011 - 2029

Credential ID: Credential ID: #1441606

PMI Certified Professional in Managing AI (PMI-CPMAI)™

Project Management Institute

2026 - 2029

Credential ID: Credential ID: #4355102

Agile Hybrid Project Pro

Project Management Institute

Skills

Core skills10
Interests8
Languages3

Skills

Horizon Europe projects
Data Economy
PMO for AI projects
Project delivery
Digital Sovereignity
Ecosystem Orchestration
Data Spaces and Interoperability
Partnership Development
Agile Project Management
DMBoK

Interests

Data Economy
Trustworthy AI
Digital Sovereignity
Multi-cultural environment
Public speaking
Innovation
Social Impact
PMO

Languages

English
German
Spanish