João Dias

My passion is to promote digital transformation and cultural change of organisations by taking the most of the latest technologies and empowering people to reach their full potential. I believe that only human centred and innovative organisations can thrive.

I was in charge of AICEP's digital transformation between 2017-2022. The national platform for exporters ("Portugal Exporta") was the first achievement, nominated with the prize of "best digital project" at Portugal Digital Awards in 2020.

We were pioneers in launching a national program to promote international eCommerce (Online Exports) among Portuguese SMEs.
I responsible for developing the "Portugal Brand Program". This national program aims to increase the perceived value abroad of Portuguese products and brands and all that is "made&created" in Portugal.

Previously I led the digital transformation of EMEL (Mobility and Parking Lisbon Municipal Company). The launch of the payment App (ePark) and the electric bike sharing system (Gira) both had a big impact in the city.

I was nominated Best Digital Leader at Portugal Digital Awards in 2018.

As member of the board of Prio Energy (an emerging Portuguese Oil and Gas retailer) and CEO of its spin-off Prio Electric (dedicated to electric mobility) I was responsible for digital, innovation and new products.

As economic adviser to the Prime Minister (2005-2011) I had the opportunity to understand how the world economy really works and developed a deep knowledge of the Portuguese economy. One of the biggest learnings (that I remember every day) was how to combine policy with politics.

Economic strategy, economic and technological trends, Innovation and foreign investment attraction were the topics I focused the most.

From 2009-11, I was at charge of the National Office to promote Electric Mobility in Portugal. At that time Portugal was the first country in the world to establish a nationwide charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

I started my career as a trends and futures analyst in a public office of the Ministry of Finance (Prospective and Planing Department). Since then, the discipline of looking forward for future trends and thinking strategically became part of my mental model.

I believe that my baseline background both in Economics and Psychology have served me as great tools for an integrated vision and understanding of the economy (world economics, corporations and technology) and people. At the end of the day, both corporations and economies are ran by people.