Speakers

Maria-Manuela Catrina

Deputy Director, Undersecretary of State
Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate

Maria-Manuela Catrina serves in the Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate as Deputy Director, Undersecretary of State. The National Cyber Security Directorate is the competent authority at the national level for the national civilian cyberspace, including the management of risks and cyber incidents.

Starting from December 2022, Mrs. Catrina exercises the function of Deputy Director within the National Cyber Security Directorate where she coordinates the General Division for Institutional Partnerships with the main goal of creating the national framework for cooperation between public, private, education, and research institutions to ensure a realistic, common, and coherent vision and approach regarding the cyber security in Romania.

Ms. Maria Manuela Catrina has a background in mathematics and computer science, as well as extensive expertise in international relations and security. In the early 2000s she joined the high levels of government as Advisor for the Romanian Prime Minister, the path she continues in various positions in the Romanian Parliament and Government.

Ms. Catrina who was nominated among top 50 Women of Influence in Cyber-security in Europe is also a member in the Women4cyber Council since 2021. She is passionate about digital transformation, cyber security and promoting women in technology.

Between 2017 and 2019 as Secretary of State in the Ministry of Communications and Information Society, Ms. Catrina contributed to the complex preparations for Romania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Her mandate includes broader aspects as well as more specialized areas of the Digital Agenda - such as cybersecurity, AI and robotics, also promoting women in tech. In addition to handling legislative files stemming from EU’s Digital Agenda within the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, she also coordinates a number of high-level national groups tasked with ensuring the security and resilience of Romania’s IT and telecommunications infrastructure.