The core team of Digital Nation consists of recognized experts and outstanding practitioners, as well as a global network of 150+ experts.
Depending on the challenge, we will enrich the team and bring to the table the very best experts from around the world.
Partners
Siim SIKKUT
Managing Partner
Siim has been hailed as one of the prime digital government leaders and thinkers globally. He led the digital policy and delivery area in the Government of Estonia for 10 years, last as the Government CIO.
Siim has seen it all on how to make good strategies happen in reality, and has a knack for (re)building the machinery of governments to successfully lead digital turnarounds or kickstart innovation.
Üllar JAAKSOO
Partner
Üllar has more than 25 years of experience in global business development and strategic management. He successfully managed companies in banking, telecom, media, retail and software platforms. He also is the founder of the region largest data center.
Üllar advised multiple public institutions including The Office fo the President of Estonia.
Taavi LINNAMÄE
Partner
Taavi has a black belt in government relations and business diplomacy as he recently finished 5 years of service at the highest stage of Estonia’s international affairs and business diplomacy advising the President of Estonia.
He is focused on digital society’s foundational elements and enhancing successful digital transformation by accelerating digital leadership skills. Storytelling, brand and sales development are his superpowers also in our team.
Team
Ave LAURINGSON
Chief Operating Officer
Ave’s past has been closely connected to building and sharing Estonia’s digital society’s foundations. During her six years with the GCIO team, she contributed to the development and implementation of Estonia’s digital and cyber strategies. However, Ave's greatest achievements have come from projects aimed at developing people's ICT skills. Most recently, she led the team at the e-Estonia Briefing Centre.
Kristo VAHER
Director of Technology
Kristo served as the Chief Technology Officer of the Estonian Government from 2018-2023 having led the architecture vision and technology strategy for the government along with government-wide technology requirements and its interoperability framework. Prior to working for the government Kristo has more than 10 years of experience in the private sector, being a hands-on senior engineer.
Helena LEPP
Director of Service Transformation
Helena has 10+ years of digital transformation experience in leadership roles both in Estonia and on the international stage. Having led the design and development of user-centric digital services at the Estonian GCIO office. Globally, she has supported African governments in identifying their digital transformation needs and opportunities, translating them into actionable projects as part of the AU-EU D4D Hub.
Karin RITS
Digital Governance Expert
Karin has 10+ years of experience shaping and delivering national digital transformation from inside government. Having worked across digital policy, strategy, and system delivery — from Estonia’s Government CIO Office to advising governments globally — Karin knows what it takes to turn digital ambition into operational reality. She has a sharp eye for identifying and co-creating the governance structures that deliver digital change in practice.
Maksim OVTSINNIKOV
Director of Interoperability
8 years of experience in the e-Governance domain has made Maksim truly grasp the intricacies of different nations' challenges to find long-lasting solutions. Between 2017 and 2021, Maksim was in charge of the technical track of Ukrainian Trembita data exchange platform, and has advised governments in 12+ countries on interoperability implementation.
Tiina REKAND
Digital Experiences Expert
Tiina has 15+ years of experience designing and improving digital public services. Having worked on some of Estonia’s most widely used digital touchpoints – including the state portal eesti.ee – as well as the country’s national design system and mobile app at the Estonian Information System Authority, Tiina knows how to make digital services genuinely work for people.
Adhele TUULAS
Director of Business Development
Over the past 6 years, Adhele has navigated the vast digital governance landscape in both technology and advisory companies. Along the way, she has built meaningful partnerships across South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, geared towards practical impact.