Tech Diplomacy Forum Supervisory Board
Manuel Schiappa Pietra
President and CEO, FreeBalance
Executive Director, The Happier Way Foundation
Supervisory Board Member, Tech Diplomacy Forum
Member, World Economic Forum New Champions Community
Signatory, United Nations Global Compact
Since taking the role of President and CEO at FreeBalance in 2006, Manuel has transformed the company into a leading provider of public financial management (PFM) solutions, helping 30 governments worldwide improve transparency, accountability, and citizen trust.
Manuel’s leadership is rooted in a deep commitment to fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, and sustainable development. Under his guidance, FreeBalance became a signatory of the UN Global Compact, reinforcing its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. He also serves as Executive Director of The Happier Way Foundation, a non-profit organization promoting global well-being and mental health through education and collaboration.
An active and multilingual participant in international forums, Manuel has served as President of the International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management (ICGFM) and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s New Champions Community. In 2025, he was invited to join the Supervisory Board of the Tech Diplomacy Forum, a new platform developed in collaboration with UNESCO to shape international relations in the digital age.
Manuel recently completed the prestigious Global CEO Program, an executive development initiative jointly delivered by IESE Business School and the MIT Sloan School of Management, focused on strategic leadership, innovation, and global business management.
A frequent speaker at global events, he was most recently invited to present at the Global Impact Summit in Hungary and the Tallinn Digital Summit in Estonia. He continues to advocate for responsible governance, digital transformation, and social value creation.