WSA Digital Impact Days – Vienna

Join the WSA Grand Jury Meeting & Digital Impact Days in Vienna: Your Opportunity to Shape the Future of Digital Innovation

Experience a unique gathering where top digital innovators, entrepreneurs, and sustainability experts from around the globe unite to drive change and collaborate on solutions for a better future. First, the WSA Grand Jury Meeting will feature 25 renowned experts who will evaluate and select 40 WSA Winners from nominations across 182 UN member states. The WSA winners are selected in a three stage process: The Online Jury, which creates the shortlist from all the nominees, the Grand Jury, and finally, the Global Congress, where the Global Champions are selected from among the Winners. These winning solutions will set new benchmarks for innovation, addressing pressing societal challenges.

In addition, in conjunction with the jury meeting, the Digital Impact Days offers a dynamic platform for connection and collaboration, allowing you to engage in critical conversations and learn from some of the world’s most forward-thinking minds.

 

Key Highlights of the Digital Impact Days:

  • The Future of Democracy in the Digital Age – Crisis of Truth: Engage in discussions about safeguarding democratic integrity in an era of misinformation and digital manipulation. This event features keynotes, workshops, and interactive sessions with global stakeholders.
  • Digital Impact Innovation Austria Showcase: Meet Austria’s leading digital impact entrepreneurs and learn from their insights. International experts will share valuable recommendations from the innovation landscape.
  • Digital Innovation & the UN SDGs at the UN HQ Vienna: Join a global dialogue on how digital solutions are advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, hosted in partnership with UNIDO at the United Nations HQ.
  • Entrepreneurship for Social Innovation

Schedule

Wednesday, January 15

  • Throughout the day: Arrival of international delegates to Vienna
  • 15:00 - 18:00: Digital Impact Days: Democracy in the Digital Age | Crisis of Truth
  • Join this multi-stakeholder event focused on the growing challenges of maintaining democratic integrity in an era of digital disruption.
  • Shot Talks, Roundtables, Interactive Discussions
  • In partnership with ProEuropeanValues.AT

Thursday, January 16

  • 09:00 - 18:00: WSA Grand Jury Meeting (Closed meeting for jury members, selecting the 40 WSA Winners 2024)
  • Location: Hotel Schani
  • 19:30 - 22:00: Austrian Digital Impact Innovation Austria Showcase
  • WSA Austria 2024 Award Ceremony and Impact Austria Ecosystem MeetUp
  • In partnership with WSA Austria, Erste Bank Group, Impact Hub Vienna, Vienna Business Agency
  • Location: Social Hub

Friday, January 17

  • 09:00 - 11:00: futurizing_digital - Innovation & the Agenda2030
  • Discussion on how digital innovation supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • In partnership with UNIDO
  • Location: Vienna Int. Center
  • 13:00 - 20:00: WSA Grand Jury Meeting (Closed meeting for jury members, selecting the 40 WSA Winners 2024)
  • Location: Hotel Schani

Saturday, January 18

  • 09:00 - 19:00: WSA Grand Jury Meeting (Closed meeting for jury members, selecting the 40 WSA Winners 2024)
  • Location: Hotel Schani
  • Evening: Connect4Impact | WSA Networking Dinner for Jury Members & Partners

Sunday, January 19

  • 10:00: WSA Grand Jury Closing Plenary
  • Throughout the day: Discover Vienna: Culture, Innovation, Sustainability
  • After 15:00: Departure of International Delegates

Meet WSA’s Decision Makers

The jurors who will select the final winners will include a diverse group of 30 international experts from 24 different countries. Their expertise, dedication, and extensive experience will determine the final 40 WSA Winners, who will have the opportunity to pitch their innovative solutions at the Global Congress in Hyderabad, India.

Lilit Shakhulyan

Chief Operations Officer

Safe YOU

Armenia

Sachi Wickramage

Co-Founder and CEO

i4T Global

Australia

Tanja Wehsely

CEO

Volkshilfe Wien

Austria

Rodrigo Assumpção

Social Protection Management Information Systems Expert

International Labour Organization

Brazil

Sherry Kennedy

Director, Communications

SEforALL

Canada

Witman Hung

Principal Liaison Officer for Hong Kong

Shenzhen Qianhai Authority

China

Ana Maria Alvarez Monge

CEO & Founder

Migrapreneur

Costa Rica

Martin Vítek

President

Association for Entrepreneurial Czechia

Czech Republic

Dorothy Gordon

Consultant

ICT4Development

Ghana

Osama Manzar

Founder & Director

Digital Empowerment Foundation

India

Ali Hilli

The Youth & Entrepreneurship Consultant, Acting Head of CER Unit

Zain Iraq

Iraq

Michael Madara Ogot

Board Member

UbuntuNet Alliance

Kenya

Hania Sabbidin Dimassi

Associate Programme Management Officer 2030 Agenda and SDG Coordination Cluster

United Nations ESCWA

Lebanon

Malak Yacout

Founder and Executive Director

The Volunteer Circle

Lebanon

Odeta Iseviciute

Juror | Mentor | Advisor | Host | Moderator

WSA

Lithuania

Rudy Laddaga Lopez

Chief Content Officer

Citizens Company

Mexico

Harry Tomi Davies (TD)

President

The African Business Angel Network (ABAN)

Nigeria

Ryan Gersava

Founder and Chairman

Virtualahan

Philippines

Olga Rataj

Global Cleantech Innovation Programme Manager

UNIDO

Poland

Raluca Prelucă

Partner & Senior consultant

Fonduri-structurale.ro/consolid8

Romania

Richard Fekete

Senior specialist for the non-profit sector and social enterprises

Slovenská sporiteľňa (Erste Bank Group)

Slovakia

Batoul Husseini

Regional Executive Director of Government Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility

SAP

Syria/Turkiye