Over 35 years of professional experience in several intergovernmental sectors of the Council of Europe, involving standard-setting, monitoring and cooperation, as well as in the Parliamentary Assembly. She has notably worked in the field of legal cooperation, judicial reform, efficiency of justice, minority rights, gender equality and children’s rights, as well as sport. During her career she provided political advice to the Council of Europe leadership (Director of SG Private Office), led intergovernmental cooperation, developed and implemented multi-disciplinary and multi-annual strategies, as well constructed thematic cooperation platforms with other international organisations. Presently Director General of Democracy and Human Dignity, her areas of responsibility include children’s rights, trafficking in human beings, gender equality, violence against women, addressing intolerance and discrimination, freedom of expression, media, civil society and youth participation, education, culture and cultural heritage. Finnish nationality. Studied international relations (law, political science, economics) at McGill University (Canada).
Beyond the algorithm: AI and equality in Europe
Closing event organised in the framework of the Technical Support Instrument project Upholding equality and non-discrimination by Equality bodies regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in public administrations - Inclusion and anti-discrimination
17 September 2026 | 
9:30 AM – 16:30 PM |
Brussel/Online |
Register to follow the event online by 15 September 2026
Artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making are increasingly used in public administrations, shaping decisions that affect people’s access to rights and services. This can create opportunities to improve efficiency and service delivery, but also raises concrete risks of discrimination, opacity, and unequal access to redress if safeguards are not built in from the outset.
Against this backdrop, the equality bodies of Belgium (Unia), Finland (Non-Discrimination Ombudsman) and Portugal (CIG) sought support from the European Commission, through the Technical Support Instrument, to strengthen their readiness to prevent, detect and address AI-driven discrimination in public administrations in line with EU and Council of Europe standards and national legislation.
Over the course of the project which has been co-funded, and implemented by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the European Commission, this support has translated into concrete tools: country-tailored training courses, Europe-wide policy guidance for equality bodies and other human rights structures, and an assessment methodology to help investigate and seek remedies for the cases of discrimination involving AI and algorithmic systems.
Building on project’s key results, the project’s closing event provides a high-level forum for exchange among equality bodies, regulators, public administrations and stakeholders on how to move from project outputs to sustained practice, including through effective cooperation under the AI Act and the strengthening of equality bodies’ role under the new European standards.
The high-level event will be held in English with International Sign and livestreamed.
Programme
Programme17 September 2026
9:30−10:00 Opening words
10:00−10:30 Keynote: AI, structural inequality and the future of non-discrimination in Europe (working title)
10:30−12:15 High-level plenary: European pathways to equal AI – from prevention of adverse impacts to accountability and redress
12:15-13:30 Break
13:30-14:15 Tackling algorithmic discrimination cases in Belgium and at national level: a citizen’s perspective
14:15-15:00 Ensuring equality in AI governance in Finland and at national level
15:00-15:30 Break
15:30-16:15 The importance of training and AI literacy: lessons from Portugal and Europe (working title)
16:15−16:30 Closing remarks
Speakers (alphabetical order)
You will find out soon more about the other speakers and their biographies.
- Anna-Kaisa Ikonen, Minister of Local and Regional Government, Ministry of Finance, Finland (online)
- Jarkko Levasma, Government Chief Information Officer, Director General, Ministry of Finance, Finland
- Carina Quaresma, President, Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality, Portugal
- Menno Ettema, Head of Hate Speech and Hate Crime Unit; AI coordinator of the Anti-discrimination and Inclusion Department, Council of Europe
More names will be added shortly.
Practical information
Languages: English and International Sign.
Conference format: The event will be held in a hybrid format with in-person participation by invitation only.
Registration: Both online and in-person participation in this event requires prior registration. Please register to the follow event online by 15 September 2026 at Registration form – Beyond the algorithm: AI and equality in Europe (online)
Contact: For further information regarding the event, please contact: [email protected]