Digital transformation has fundamentally reshaped the financial sector. From real-time payments and AI-driven risk management to cloud-native infrastructures, technology now forms the backbone of institutional operations and innovation.
However, this transformation also brings a growing challenge: digital dependence. Many financial institutions have become increasingly reliant on a limited number of global, often non-European cloud and AI service providers. While these solutions enable speed, scalability, and efficiency, they also introduce significant strategic and operational risks that demand attention.
About the event
In a world marked by geopolitical uncertainty, regulatory evolution, and rapid technological advancement, digital sovereignty has become a strategic imperative. No longer a theoretical debate, it represents a critical dimension of resilience, trust, and long-term competitiveness.
This digital roundtable convenes thought leaders from ECSO, DNB, and Eraneos to discuss how financial institutions can reclaim control over their digital assets, data, and decision-making capabilities
Together, we will explore
- How to balance innovation with autonomy in a cloud-first environment
- The evolving role of European and national regulations in safeguarding technological sovereignty
- Practical approaches to assess and mitigate dependency on external providers
- New strategies for building secure, resilient, and trustworthy digital ecosystems
Digital sovereignty is not about isolation it is about empowerment: the capacity to make independent, well-informed, and secure decisions in an interconnected global economy.
Join this discussion to discover actionable strategies that strengthen technological resilience and lay the foundation for a more sovereign digital future.
Meet the speakers
Joanna Świątkowska, PhD
Joanna Świątkowska, PhD
As Secretary-General of the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO), Joanna Świątkowska, PhD, leads on advancing Europe’s cybersecurity strategy. Formerly Director of Supply Chain Cyber and Information Security at UBS, she specialises in managing complex cyber risks. Joanna initiated CYBERSEC, one of Europe’s largest cybersecurity events, and is recognised as one of Eastern Europe’s top tech stars and Poland’s top women in cybersecurity. She also serves as godmother to the regimental colours of the Regional Computing Center Kraków and is an IQNet ISO 27001 Internal Auditor.
André de Groot
Employed at DNB since 2019, with a background in IT audit. Started at DNB conducting on-site inspections focusing on IT and operational risks. During that time, became involved with DORA, which was then still a European Commission (EC) proposal. In late 2023, transitioned to the Supervision and Policy Division, where I continued working on the DORA file and contributed, together with colleagues, to the development of DORA technical standards. In addition, I have been actively involved for some time with the FIDA EC proposal (Financial Data Access) and am directly engaged in a recent AFM-DNB study on IT dependencies and digital sovereignty.
Willem van der Valk (moderator)
Willem is Partner and Practice Lead Cybersecurity & Privacy at Eraneos. With over twenty years of experience in cybersecurity and risk management, he supports organizations in strengthening their digital resilience and embedding security in business strategy. At Eraneos, Willem leads the Dutch cybersecurity and privacy practice and collaborates internationally to drive innovation. Previously, he was Group CISO at Achmea and headed Security Strategy & Transformation at Deloitte.
Eduvigis Ortiz
Eduvigis has over 30 years of experience in business consulting and information technology, holding leadership roles in well-known companies like EY, Capgemini, and Prosegur. She is an expert in cybersecurity, big data, and AI and is recognized for her dedication to diversity and inclusion in the tech sector. Ortiz is the founder and president of Women4Cyber Spain and actively collaborates with organizations such as the European Cybersecurity Organization (ECSO) and the World Economic Forum. She was also named one of the 50 Latina women to watch by Forbes in 2025. Her career highlights innovation, leadership, and advocacy for women in cybersecurity and technology.
Marcel Blommestijn
Marcel is our Sourcing expert with over 25 years of management consulting experience, advising executive leadership across industries on technology-driven business transformation and operational optimization.
At Eraneos, Marcel has led numerous projects focused on enterprise agility and digital transformation, emphasizing the value of ecosystem partnerships and agile ways of working for both business and IT.
