We are delighted to announce the results of the recent elections for the FIWARE Foundation Board of Directors (BoD). The Board of Directors (BoD) serves as the regulatory body of the FIWARE Foundation, providing guidance and direction to the Board of Officers while supporting the implementation of the Foundation’s strategic mission. The newly elected members bring outstanding expertise and a strong commitment that will be instrumental in shaping the Foundation’s future and in ensuring that the interests of our Gold Member Community are effectively represented.
We want to congratulate the following newly elected members:
Suna Akbayir (Artech International)
Suna Akbayir is the Founder and CEO of Artech International, a Brussels-based SME specializing in R&D and innovation management across Europe. An active member of ADRA, BDVA, and EARPA, Artech collaborates with leading European RTOs and industry players in the automotive, textile, and battery sectors. The company places particular emphasis on implementing the Digital Product Passport (DPP) and scaling innovations from the pilot stage to full commercialization.
Her expertise encompasses AI-enabled compliance systems, data spaces, regulatory frameworks, and solutions for the circular economy. She also serves as a Work Package Lead within the United Nations Transparency Protocol working groups, where she contributes to shaping global frameworks for interoperability and governance.
Rui A. Costa (Ubiwhere)
Rui A. Costa is the Co-CEO of Ubiwhere, a Portuguese company dedicated to developing innovative Smart City solutions. A strong advocate of open-source technologies, he believes they are essential to building truly intelligent and sustainable urban environments. Under his leadership, Ubiwhere has made it a mission to actively promote and support the adoption of open-source software throughout Portugal. Over the years, Ubiwhere has played an active role within the FIWARE Community, consistently implementing FIWARE technology, fostering strategic partnerships, co-exhibiting at prominent international events, and contributing to the advancement of technological solutions across Europe.
During the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 mandates, Rui served as a member of the FIWARE Foundation BoD, providing him with direct insight into the Foundation’s activities and strategic direction.
Antonio Jara (Libelium)
As CTO and CSO of Libelium, Antonio Jara leads initiatives in AI-driven environmental monitoring and the adoption of emerging technologies such as data spaces. A supporter of FIWARE since 2014, he has actively contributed to enhancing its capabilities, including the DOME Marketplace, the FIWARE Data Space Connector, and the FIWARE data economy through the integration of TM Forum Open APIs.
Antonio is a FIWARE Expert Certified professional who has served on the FIWARE Foundation BoD as a Gold Member representative from 2019 to 2025. In addition to his extensive technical and entrepreneurial background, he holds an MBA. He has completed formal Non-Executive Director (NED) training at IE Business School, demonstrating his commitment to effective governance, diligence, and fiduciary responsibility on behalf of the FIWARE Community.
We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to the outgoing members for their outstanding contributions and dedicated work over the past year: Jose Benítez (Secmotic), Björn Schwarze (ADDIX), Francisco de la Vega (FICODES), and Antonio Jara (reelected). Their leadership and commitment have been instrumental to the Foundation’s progress, and we are truly thankful for their efforts.
The Foundation continues to grow stronger thanks to the active participation and support of our entire community. We deeply appreciate their engagement.
