Distinguished Lecture Series: Leadership in Technology with Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. over Zoom

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About the event:

The Distinguished Lecture Series: Leadership in Technology invites you to hear from industry leaders and find inspiration in their journeys related to the transformative power of technology.

Join Dr. Ravi Pendse, vice president for information technology and chief information officer at U-M, for a conversation with Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the president of Estonia from 2006-16. The conversation will cover the intersection of technology and government, cybersecurity, and more — President Ilves was in office when Estonia was a victim of a massive cyber-attack, believed to have originated in Russia, in 2007.

President Ilves is renowned for making Estonia one of the most digitally advanced nations through innovative policies that invested heavily in the future. He used his office to further the country’s leadership in digital governance as well as in cyber security. His interest in computers stems from an early age — he learned to program at the age of 13 — and he has been promoting Estonia’s IT-development since the country restored its independence. He was born to Estonian refugees and raised in the United States, and holds a BA from Columbia and an MA from the University of Pennsylvania.

Students, staff, faculty, and community members are invited to submit questions in advance, during the registration process, or live in the session. For additional information, visit: its.umich.edu/speakerseries