Baltic Miltech Summit Agenda 2025

Gediminas Guoba is a co-founder and CEO of Granta Autonomy. He is a professional engineer, team leader, and speaker for the last 20+ years with experience developing smart autonomous systems, from “simple” high scalability business systems to complicated and multi-discipline reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for armed forces. He has vast experience working with startups where speed, agility, and innovative ideas are essential. 

Dominykas (Dom) Milašius is a DeepTech entrepreneur and investor, with a decade of previous experience in strategic and geopolitical risk advisory across EMEA. As a co-founder of Delta biosciences, he manages the venture’s commercial strategy, including the radiation countermeasure testing in orbit. He is also an investment scout with BSV Ventures, a member of LitBAN and EBAN’s Space & Defence committee, and alumnus of the Paris Institute of Political Studies. 

Nataliia Kushnerska is the CEO of the Ukrainian defense tech cluster Brave1, leading its efforts to unite and develop the innovation ecosystem for the Security Forces of Ukraine. Under her leadership, Brave1 helps create asymmetric solutions that neutralize the enemy’s resource advantage, setting a unique model for other countries.

Kaspars Pollaks is the Director of LMT Defence, the Defence Technology Department of LMT, and a Board Member of the Latvian MilTech Association. LMT is a pioneering mobile communications operator with over 30 years of experience. As a system integrator, LMT Defence develops advanced digital solutions for the defence sector, including mission-critical battlefield information management systems, 5G-enabled UAVs, and bespoke defence technologies. In 2020, in collaboration with the Latvian Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, LMT Defence established Europe’s first 5G military test site at a military base, reinforcing its position as an industry leader in defence innovation. The company is actively engaged in high-profile NATO and EU (EDF) projects, driving the development of next-generation, high-value defence technologies. By harnessing big data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and the latest mobile technologies, LMT Defence continues to deliver cutting-edge solutions for national and international defence customers.

Andrius Kubilius is a Member of the European Commission responsible for Defence and Space (since December 2024). From 1990 to 1992, he served as a Secretary-in-Charge of Lithuania’s pro-independence Sąjūdis movement and was the Chairman of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats from 2003 to 2015. A. Kubilius was a member of the Lithuanian Parliament from 1992 to 2019 and served twice as Prime Minister, from 1999 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012. Andrius Kubilius was a Member of the European Parliament from 2019 until December 2024, during which he chaired the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (until July 2024).

Staff Sergeant Matthew Miranda is an Innovation Strategist with the State Partnership Program, leveraging experience across Headquarters Air Force, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the private sector. He focuses on integrating emerging technologies into military capabilities, accelerating tech adoption, and strengthening multinational defense collaboration. 

Kadi Silde is the Director for European Engagement at Helsing, where her work is focused on Europe´s Eastern Flank, EU and NATO. 

Prior to that, she worked in various roles in NATO and the private sector, accelerating defence tech start-ups. She helped set up NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic), as Head of the transition team, and subsequently as Chief Operating Officer. 

 She previously served as Undersecretary for Defence Policy at the Estonian Ministry of Defence in 2019-2022.  

She joined the Ministry of Defence in 2008, holding various positions including the director of policy planning. She joined Estonia’s EU Council Presidency team at the Estonian Representation to the EU in 2017, coordinating defence efforts and subsequently worked in the European Commission on defence industry inititatives. 

As the Chief Information Officer, Ms. Macha securely delivers the foundations of digital transformation to the NCIA – which is the principal C3 capability delivery organisation and CIS service provider to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Ms. Macha oversees the internal IT ecosystem for the NCIA and as such enables delivery to support Alliance goals, driving forward the organisational, technical and cultural changes needed to continually evolve digital platforms to ensure fit for purpose. This also includes coordinating and implementing cyber security policy and the coherent implementation of cyber security tasks, including asset/configuration/access management, vulnerability assessments and threat risk management within the Agency.
As Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), her responsibilities include developing the Information Security (IS) vision and strategy; establishing informational security governance; CISOA authority for the Agency to the Enterprise, accreditation oversight and execution; and delivering CIS training for the full Agency to ensure the protection of Agency and Alliance information assets.

Kazimieras Sadauskas is a recognized cybersecurity expert and co-founder of CBRX, where he leads the development of AI-driven solutions against emerging cyber threats. With over a decade of experience in Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), Cyber Threat Intelligence, and information security, he has managed R&D initiatives and built high-impact defense and security products. Kazimieras also served as an official expert in deploying the Cybersecurity Capacity Maturity Model for Nations created by the Oxford University, focusing on technological controls, education, training, and cyber culture maturity. Today, he’s dedicated to ensuring that sectors like renewable energy remain resilient in the face of evolving cyber risks. 

Dr. Hans Christoph Atzpodien – Managing Director Federation of German Security & Defence Industries (BDSW).

Sabine von der Recke is responsible for Political Relations and Communications at OHB SE. She is a member of the Management Board of OHB System AG, one of Europe’s leading space technology companies and the Group’s largest subsidiary, as well as a member of the Management Board of the German Offshore Spaceport Alliance (GOSA).  

From 2014 to 2021, she was Board Representative for Political and Government Affairs at OHB SE in Berlin. Prior, Sabine von der Recke worked as a research assistant and office manager in the German Bundestag from 2008-2014, including being an advisor to the Aviation and Space Group in the German Parliament. She studied political science at the Philipps University of Marburg. 

Sabine von der Recke has been Honorary Consul of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Bremen since 2023. She is a member of the DLR Senate, Vice President of the ZARM Sponsors’ Association and a board member of the Luxembourg-Germany Business Club. 

For many years, Wolfgang Koch, Fellow IEEE, is working for the German armed forces and defence industry. His work comprises all aspects of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance ISR, Electronic / Navigation Warfare, resources management, and Manned-Unmanned Teaming. Being the Chief Scientist of Fraunhofer FKIE and Head of “Sensor Data and Information Fusion” , he manages R&D activities related to digitalization in the defence and security domain. For the national technology development of the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) , he coordinates all defence-related Fraunhofer Institutes. At the international level, he is active in the International Information Fusion Society ISIF, the IEEE Aerospace and Electronics Systems Society AESS, and the NATO Science and Technology Organization STO. Wolfgang Koch earned his PhD in theoretical physics at the RWTH Aachen and his habilitation degree in computer science at the University of Bonn. There he teaches on signal processing, sensor data fusion, artificial intelligence, and technical autonomy. In these fields he has published a monograph, edited several handbooks, and wrote numerous technical handbook chapters and articles.

James Appathurai was appointed to this post in September 2021. As DASG, he works on policy development and implementation in the fields of Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, cyber security, energy security, the security implications of climate change, the protection of critical infrastructure, and hybrid defence. Mr. Appathurai previously served as DASG for Political Affairs and Security Policy, as well as Special Representative to Central Asia and the Caucasus. He was NATO’s Spokesperson from 2004 to 2010. He served as Deputy Head and Senior Planning Officer in the Policy Planning and Speechwriting Section of NATO’s Political Affairs Division from 1998 to 2004. He served in the Canadian Defence Department from 1994 to 1998.

Rita Sakus is a co-founder and board member of the Lithuanian Business Angel Network and a re-elected board member of the European Business Angel Network (EBAN), which represents early-stage investors in over 100 organizations across 50+ countries. She has contributed to the development of the EBAN Space and Defense Committee, fostering cross-border investment in these critical sectors. Committed to strengthening Europe’s defense innovation ecosystem, she brings deep expertise in early-stage investing and industry collaboration. 

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Dr. Dennis Gyllensporre is the Chair of NATO DIANA Board of Directors. He is also an Associate Professor of Security Policy and Strategy at the Swedish Defence University and Vice President of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences. 

Dovilė Šakalienė Minister of National Defence of Lithuania and a Member of the 14th Seimas. Before assuming her ministerial role, Šakalienė was elected to the Seimas in 2016 and has since played a pivotal role in shaping Lithuania’s security landscape. She has been an active member of the National Security and Defence Committee and has served as Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Group for Relations with Taiwan. Since 2021, as Deputy Chair of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, she has remained a driving force in defence policymaking, making her insights invaluable for today’s discussion.

Minister of Economy and Innovation, Member of Parliament, proud husband and father, irreparable optimist and enthusiast of green, innovative and digital economy.

Capt. Vitalii Voropai has been working in cybersecurity for 16 years. His journey includes the banking sector, the state sector, private companies, worldwide enterprise, and now – the armed forces. He has held positions ranging from junior engineer to head of department. 

Founder and CEO of OpenMinds, a cognitive defence tech company providing cognitive threat intelligence and response services to over 30 governments and organisations worldwide, including Ukraine, NATO members, the European Commission, leading StratCom agencies and think tanks.

Stéphane Klecha studied at the Europe School of Management (EAP-ESCP), obtained a Diplôme de Grande Ecole in France, a Master of Business in the UK and a Diplom-Kaufmann in Germany. After several years in a leading international investment bank, in 2009 he founded Klecha & Co., an independent pan-European investment bank specialising in the tech sector. 

The company, with offices in Milan, London, Paris, Madrid, Benelux and New York, operates with the aim of supporting, also through consolidation processes, the development of a Europe-wide tech ecosystem, particularly in strategic sectors. 

Mark Thompson leads the Technology Transfer (T2) Program for the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC). In this role, he manages inter-agency innovation activities by leveraging the FATHOMWERX Lab, NavalX Tech Bridge Network, and the Advanced Naval Technology Exercise – Coastal Trident (ANTX-CT) to provide opportunities for emerging naval technology development. 

Izabela Albrycht is a political scientist, graduate of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. 

Since 2016 a member of the Council for Digitization within the Ministry of Digital Affairs, and since 2021 a member of the Security and Defence Council under the National Development Council. In the years 2020-2022, she represented Poland in the NATO Advisory Group for Emerging and Disruptive Technologies. 

In 2020, she co-created Polish Cybersecurity Cluster #CyberMadeInPoland and is now chair of its Advisory Board. She is member of the Supervisory Board of Asseco Poland S.A. and ComCERT S.A. She also co-founded the Women4Cyber in the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO) and has recently become president of the W4C Polish Chapter. 

She is a co-founder of the European Cybersecurity Forum – CYBERSEC and honorary member of its Programme Committee. In the past she was chair of the Polish leading think tank, the Kosciuszko Institute (2010-2021), a member of Global Future Council on Cybersecurity in the World Economic Forum (2019 – 2020). 

Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo is a Europe correspondent for Defense News. She covers a wide range of topics related to military procurement and international security, and specializes in reporting on the aviation sector. She is based in Milan, Italy. 

Author Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo | Defense News 

Dr. Sigutė Stankevičiūtė is the Head of ManuFuture Lab at the Innovation Agency Lithuania.

Prof. Šešelgytė is an Honorary Fellow at Baltic Defense College, a member at Ares Group board and member of Editorial Board of the Baltic Security and Defence Review (Baltic Defense College). Her main research interests are the EU foreign and security policy, Security and Defence Studies, International Relations, and Foreign Policy Analysis.

Timo Pesonen is the current Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS). After graduating in 1989 in International Politics from the University of Tampere, he served at the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2004 to 2014, he acted as Head of Cabinet of Vice-President Olli Rehn and from 2015-2019 he served as Director-General for Communication. He took helm of Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs in March 2019 and he accompanied the creation of DG Defence Industry and Space in 2020 as the head of the new Directorate-General.

The upcoming defence innovation event Baltic Miltech Summit will be opened by H.E. Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania. During his opening address, the President will outline key strengths of the Lithuanian defence ecosystem and his view for the future. In Lithuania, the President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the State.

The European Defence Tech Hackathon will bring together the brightest minds in tech, engineering, and defence to collaborate on solving real-world challenges. Teams will work intensively over three days to develop innovative solutions in a fast-paced, competitive environment. The event fosters cross-border collaboration, offering a platform for new ideas that could shape the future of defence technology.

The Hackathon is organised together with Brave 1.

Read more and register here: https://lu.ma/cqm5y7tt 

Vilnius Space Days is an event designed to showcase the Lithuanian space ecosystem and its potential.

Take part and discover exceptional opportunities in the space industry, discuss key space economy topics, and meet your potential partners.

Read more and register here: https://www.b2match.com/e/vilnius-space-days-2025

The Live Firing Show 2025 is a key event for the defence sector, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and military professionals for a dynamic showcase of cutting-edge capabilities.

Taking place on May 8, 2025, this unique event offers a hands-on demonstration of the latest defence technologies in a real-world environment. Attendees will have the opportunity to witness live demonstrations, engage with key decision-makers, and explore innovative defence solutions shaping the future of security.

Organized by the National Defence Foundation in partnership with the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union, the Live Firing Show has become an essential platform for fostering cooperation between industry, NATO, and EU stakeholders.

Read more and register here: https://livefiringshow.com/

Great opportunity to meet and learn about the partnership opportunities that Lithuanian and other Baltic defence and security companies can provide in terms of strengthening value and supply chains.

This exhibition is a great opportunity to explore the innovative solutions being developed by local tech entrepreneurs, with a focus on advancing security and defence technologies. Attendees will have the chance to meet founders and discuss potential collaborations or investments. Register here: https://lu.ma/uwk9z0zq