AI Chamber appoints former CEE ministers and tech leaders to new Board of Advisors

The AI Chamber – an organisation dedicated to advancing AI innovation across Central and Eastern Europe – is doubling down on its ambition to become CEE’s leading voice on artificial intelligence, unveiling a high-profile, increasingly international Board of Advisors composed of former government ministers, senior policymakers, and top-tier technology experts from across the region.

The newly formed body aims to bring together leaders from 11 Central and Eastern European countries, including former ministers responsible for innovation and digital transformation, alongside AI governance specialists and industry executives. The move signals a shift from a regional initiative to a coordinated, cross-border platform shaping AI policy, investment, and innovation at scale. 

Leadership and Composition of the Board

The Board of Advisors will be chaired by Jan Kavalírek, CEE AI Ambassador, former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and Government Commissioner for AI, who has led national implementation efforts around the EU AI Act, AI infrastructure strategy, and Europe’s bid for large-scale AI computing capacity. Members include also:

• Milena Stoycheva, former Minister of Innovation and Growth of Bulgaria, a venture network lead at Precede Ventures, powered by JA Europe, and a recognized leader in entrepreneurship and education, who previously led Junior Achievement Bulgaria and worked extensively on startup development and digital transformation policy; 
• Eglė Markevičiūtė, former Deputy Minister at Lithuania’s Ministry of Economy and Innovation, who oversaw reforms in digital, innovation, and space policy and has held senior advisory roles in European digital governance bodies (i.e. Innovation Agency Lithuania, the Ministry of Health’s E-Health Board, the Lithuanian Research Council); she is also an advisory board member at ESNA (Europe Startup Nations Alliance);
• Mark Boris Andrijanič is a former Minister for Digital Transformation of Slovenia and former lead EU Council negotiator on the DMA and DSA, who serves as senior advisor to European scaleups in AI, cybersecurity, and quantum computing. He is also a member of the Governing Board of the EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology), Visiting Policy Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, and Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, where he focuses on European tech competitiveness, digital government, and defence innovation;
• Ivo Emanuilov, AI governance and intellectual property expert, head of the Experimental Governance Lab at GATE Institute, EU-level advisor on AI regulatory frameworks, and contributor to European Commission working groups on general-purpose AI codes of conduct; 
• Dariusz Jemielniak, professor of management at Kozminski University, faculty associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, and Vice-President of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Jemielniak is internationally recognised for his work on social data science, collaborative digital communities, disinformation, and open knowledge ecosystems. He previously served three consecutive terms on the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees and in 2024 was appointed by the European Commission to the governing board of the EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology);
• Marcin Olender, currently Director of Public Policy at the AI Chamber, will transition into the role of Secretary of the Board, overseeing coordination of the Chamber’s advisory, governance, and strategic policy activities across the region.

Together, they represent a rare concentration of public-sector experience and private-sector expertise at a time when the region is racing to define its role in the global AI economy.

More Than Advisory

“The board provides a unique ‘C-level Peer Construct,’ bringing together top C-level leaders and experts from 11 countries,” said Jan Kavalírek, Chair of the AI Chamber Board of Advisors. “This is not just a formal exchange – it is a working environment where experience meets execution. We are creating a space where former ministers, industry leaders, and AI practitioners will sit at the same table and collaborate on shaping the direction of the artificial intelligence landscape in Central and Eastern Europe. It is an unparalleled opportunity to build meaningful relationships, exchange insights across sectors and borders, and collaborate with some of the most influential minds in the region on challenges that will define the next decade of economic and technological development.”

Positioning CEE in the Global AI Race

For members, the role goes beyond advisory. Advisors will directly influence AI policy and market development across the CEE region, while gaining access to high-level partnerships and investment opportunities. The Board also serves as a platform for collaboration across sectors, connecting decision-makers and enabling faster alignment on key issues such as regulation, talent development, and AI deployment.

The expansion underscores a broader trend: as Brussels pushes forward with AI regulation, CEE countries are increasingly coordinating their approach to remain competitive and avoid fragmentation. By consolidating expertise from across borders, AI Chamber is positioning itself as a central node in that effort – and a platform where former policymakers and technology leaders are aligning to shape the next phase of Europe’s AI transformation.