In a career spanning more than 30 years, Afonso Ferreira has held European leadership roles in institutional policy and research. As an expert in the areas of Data Control, Futures, and Policy Making, he spent six years seconded to the European Commission working as a policy and programme officer. He holds a PhD in Computer Science, is Directeur de Recherche with the French CNRS, and is currently the Programme Manager for European Affairs in Digital Matters at the CNRS, France.

Afonso has a deep understanding of the European landscape in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, research, and innovation, thanks to 15 years working in Brussels and in European-related functions. His vision and his talks are greatly appreciated for their clarity, having been invited around the world to explain European policy to audiences in Brussels, Madeira Island, Rome, São Paulo, Singapore, Tokyo, Tenerife, and Toulouse, among others.

Thanks to his large knowledge of the Digital Revolution and its widespread impacts, Afonso is advising private and public actors, which include the European Parliament and the European Commission, how to navigate the nexus of technology, futures, and policy. In addition to his Institutional experience, he published more than 100 papers and several books at the forefront of Computer Sciences research. He has been member of more than 70 Technical Committees for international organisations and events.