In artificial intelligence (AI), the Netherlands stands out as a vibrant hub of innovation, and a group of exceptional women is making significant contributions to this dynamic ecosystem. These women exemplify the diverse expertise in AI that the Netherlands has to offer, ranging from pioneering research to innovative applications that push the boundaries of AI technology. Their impact on the industry is expected to be enduring, making it crucial to shine a spotlight on these Netherlands-based women in AI as we approach 2024.
1. Noelle Cicilia Co-founder of Brush
One notable figure among these visionaries is Noelle Cecilia, the co-founder and managing partner at Brush AI. Her active contributions extend to the realm of responsible AI consultancy, where Brush AI, affiliated with Inkubis and the Cronos group, focuses on ethical AI and machine learning (ML) applications to help companies derive value from their data.
Beyond her role at Brush AI, Noelle is involved with Sigma Squared Society, a non-profit organization and global community that brings together ambitious young founders recognized for their impact-driven initiatives and ability to revolutionize industries.
Noelle’s journey includes a stint as a Graduate Intern at Bright Cape, where she researched attribute-enhanced matrix factorization for recommender systems, specifically focusing on data-driven persona creation. Her earlier experiences include serving as a Student Research Assistant at Jheronimus Academy of Data Science, contributing to the construction of a literature review on Cloud and High-Performance Computing system bugs. She has also held roles as a Growth Hacker at Leapforce, a growth hacking and digital marketing startup, and as a Barista at Starbucks.
Noelle pursued her academic endeavors at Eindhoven University of Technology, culminating in a Master’s degree in Data Science and Entrepreneurship. Currently enrolled in an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) program at the same university, her research focus is on operationalizing algorithmic fairness in practice.
As we look ahead to the unfolding landscape of AI in 2024, these women, including Noelle Cicilia, stand out as key figures driving advancements and shaping the future of AI technology in the Netherlands.
2. Cynthia Liem: Pioneering AI Research at TU Delft
Cynthia C. S. Liem holds the position of Associate Professor at the Multimedia Computing Group of Delft University of Technology. Her academic journey includes obtaining Computer Science degrees (BSc, MSc, PhD) at Delft University of Technology and Classical Piano Performance degrees (BMus, MMus) at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague.
Having undertaken substantial roles in research and software engineering at Bell Labs Europe Netherlands, Philips Research, and Google in both the UK and the USA, Liem brings a wealth of experience to her current role. Her research focus centers on advancing digital music analysis within a multimedia paradigm, emphasizing the extraction of affective, subjective, and artistic aspects from multiple sources of music information.
Liem has played a pivotal role in the FP7 PHENICX project, serving as the Dissemination Coordinator, work package leader, and an active researcher. Additionally, she leads the Social Zap subproject in the Dutch national FES COMMIT SEALINCMedia project. Her contributions to computer science have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Lucent Global Science and Google Anita Borg Europe Memorial scholarships, along with the Google European Doctoral Fellowship in Multimedia.
3. Karin van Leersum: Exploring AI and Ageing
Karin van Leersum, a postdoctoral researcher, specializes in artificial intelligence (AI) with a focus on AI and aging, as well as AI in healthcare. Her ongoing research delves into explainable AI, exploring diverse perspectives and their impact on health practices, caregiving, and social connectivity during the aging process.
Engaging with various stakeholders in healthcare and the older adult community is a key aspect of her work. Van Leersum has previously contributed to citizen science methodologies, investigating how different citizen groups incorporate innovations and new forms of information into their daily lives. Notable projects include collaborations with older adults with a migration background and patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
During her PhD, she collaborated with clients in long-term care to develop and evaluate the “What Matters to me” tool, designed to help articulate preferences and needs in their lives. As she continues to explore the intersection of AI and societal needs, Karin van Leersum remains at the forefront of cutting-edge research in AI and its applications.
4. Muriël Serrurier Schepper: Driving AI Excellence
Muriël Serrurier Schepper, a senior program/project manager specializing in data, analytics, and artificial intelligence, has become a notable figure in the field. Renowned for her ability to amalgamate data, technology, and people, Schepper has a track record of fostering internal and external teamwork. With experience in multinational teams across diverse industries and company sizes, she is recognized for her dynamism, results-driven approach, and international perspective. Holding a Master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Schepper continues to passionately contribute to the AI landscape.
5. Ksenia Belkina: Revolutionizing Healthcare with Cardiomo Care
Ksenia Belkina, the founder and CEO of Cardiomo Care, stands at the forefront of innovation in healthcare. Her company specializes in developing miniature wearable patches for continuous, real-time, remote health monitoring, particularly to detect and predict medically actionable cardiovascular events. Belkina’s entrepreneurial journey extends to her role as a Partner at Health Valley and CEO of Alternative Charitable Foundation in Kyiv City, Ukraine. Armed with a Master’s degree in International Relations and a Master’s in Psychology, Belkina has not only ventured into the startup domain but also made significant contributions to healthcare in the Arnhem-Nijmegen Region.
6. Anastasia Borovykh: Leading AI Research at Imperial College London
Anastasia Borovykh, currently an Assistant Professor at Imperial College London, is a driving force in AI research. Leading a research lab focused on designing efficient and robust AI algorithms with applications in neuroscience, Borovykh is also a co-founder at SKIAlabs. Her entrepreneurial spirit is evident in the success of a software solution for optimizing city waste collection, recognized and utilized by the municipality of Amsterdam. With a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, Borovykh has contributed significantly to the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, emphasizing risk management in financial applications.
7. Rina Joosten-Rabou: Transforming Tech with Pera
Rina Joosten-Rabou is a transformative figure in technology, serving as the CEO and co-founder of Pera. Recognized as one of the 50 most inspiring women transforming tech in the Netherlands in 2019, Joosten-Rabou is also actively involved in the Taskforce for AI in the Netherlands. Her leadership extends to counseling think tanks on AI policies and mentoring startups. Armed with a Master of Science degree from the University of Groningen, Joosten-Rabou continues to inspire and innovate in the tech landscape.
8. Odette Scharenborg: A Pioneer in Speech Recognition
Odette Scharenborg, an Associate Professor at the Multimedia Computing Group at Delft University of Technology, is a pioneer in the field of automatic and human speech recognition. Her expertise spans speech recognition by older adults, lexically guided perceptual learning, and cognitive load. With a background in Automatic Speech Recognition and a Ph.D. from Radboud University, Scharenborg’s research has delved into challenges in low-resource languages. Before her academic role, she contributed significantly to the field as a Speech Researcher at M*Modal and a Postdoc at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica.
9. Saheli De: Transforming Greenhouse Operations with AI
Saheli De, a Senior Data Scientist at Blue Radix, is making waves in the application of AI in greenhouse operations. With over four years of experience, De is passionate about developing algorithms for operational processes in greenhouses globally. Her expertise in biomathematics, bioinformatics, and computational biology contributes to the autonomy of these processes. Through her work at Blue Radix, De plays a crucial role in supporting data and software engineers during production software development.
10. Rimma Dzhusupova: Guiding AI Initiatives at McDermott
Rimma Dzhusupova, the Artificial Intelligence Initiative Lead at McDermott International Ltd., is a dedicated mentor and leader in AI initiatives. Voluntarily guiding early-career women in AI through the Women in AI Netherlands mentorship program, Dzhusupova has also established and leads a global team focusing on AI initiatives.
With a background in Electrical Engineering, a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence in Engineering, and a Master’s degree in Electricity Distribution and marketing, Dzhusupova brings a wealth of expertise to her leadership role at McDermott International.
