Despina Spanou in

Despina Spanou

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Deputy Director General for Communications Networks and Technology at European Commission
📍 Brussels Metropolitan Area, Belgium

Despina Spanou is a Deputy Director-General at the European Commissions DG CNECT, focusing on cybersecurity policy and digital trust. Her extensive career includes leading the EUs cybersecurity strategy, consumer policy, and serving in the cabinets of multiple Commissioners. She holds a Ph. D. in European Law from the University of Cambridge.

She is a prominent advocate for increasing diversity within the technology sector. A founding member of the Women4Cyber initiative, she actively promotes bringing more women and young people into the cybersecurity field to address the skills gap and enhance digital security across Europe.

She is a founding member of the Women4Cyber initiative, which champions female participation in the cybersecurity field.

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Experience
27 Years
Current Role
Deputy Director General for Communications Networks and Technology
Job Level
Mid-senior
Location
Brussels Metropolitan Area, Belgium
Personality Overview

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Decision Approach
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Priorities

Topics Despina cares about

Women in Cyber
As a founder of Women4Cyber, she is a vocal advocate for bridging the gender gap in the tech industry and frequently speaks on empowering women in cybersecurity.
EU Cyber Policy
She leads cybersecurity policy at the European Commission and was instrumental in negotiations for key legislation, including the EU Cybersecurity Act.
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Career

Work history

11-2025
Deputy Director General for Communications Networks and Technology
European Commission
1-2025 - 11-2025
Principal Adviser on Cybersecurity
European Commission
1-2020
Visiting Faculty Member
Harvard Kennedy School
12-2019 - 12-2024
Head of Cabinet of Commission Vice President M Schinas
European Commission
2-2017 - 12-2019
Director for Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity, Management Board member of ENISA.
European Commission
In the press

Media appearances

Despina Spanou – European Commission profile. Featured in European Commission
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Despina Spanou – Deputy Director General for Communications Networks and Technology at European Commission. Featured in The Org
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Education
1998 - 1998
Ph.D
University of Cambridge
2010 - 2010
International negotiations
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

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