Lucia Velasco

Lucia Velasco stands out as a leading voice in the global conversation on Artificial Intelligence, uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology, society, and policy. As the Co-Chair of the Global Partnership on AI and current AI Policy Lead at the United Nations, she helps shape the global AI agenda with a focus on ethical innovation, social equity, and governance. She is also currently the Director General of the National Observatory on Technology and Society in Spain.

With a robust career beginning in the Spanish Parliament, she initially served as a Policy Advisor Civil Servant, progressing to higher-profile roles such as a Policy Advisor within the Prime Minister’s Office, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation in Spain, Executive Director of ONTSI, and a board member of INCIBE. Lucía brings real-world policy experience to her thought leadership. Her time spent as an AI Senior Policy Lead for the World Economic Forum and at the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology for the United Nations highlights her hands-on expertise in digital transformation and cybersecurity.

As an advisor to the European Commission and the Inter-American Development Bank, Lucia contributes to shaping the transnational regulatory landscape. She is an affiliate PhD Candidate and Researcher at Maastricht University, continuing to research the socio-economic effects of AI, contributing to scientific publications and media columns. She is the author of ‘Will an Algorithm Replace You?’, which explores how AI and automation are reshaping everyday life, reflecting her commitment to bringing attention to the implications of AI and her desire to make complex issues accessible to a broad audience.

Lucía is also a frequent speaker on the economic, societal, and geopolitical consequences of AI. Her ability to bridge policy, academia, and real-world impact makes her a compelling and authoritative speaker. She is featured in the ‘100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics’ 2025 list and recently spoke on a panel at the World Summit AI USA Programme about what the future of AI looks like and who oversees its usage. With a clear focus on AI’s influence on the workplace, power dynamics, and society, Lucía brings not only expertise but also a deep ethical awareness to one of the most pressing issues of our time.