Roberta Merialdo is an experienced professional with a background spanning biostatistics, global health research, clinical trial coordination, and academic programme leadership across multiple countries and disciplines. She holds an MSc in Global Health & Biostatistics from the University of Gothenburg and has spent over two decades working at the intersection of evidence, people, and complex systems.
In her current role within Data & AI Industrial Operations at Volvo Cars, she contributes to strategic initiatives that build visibility, community, and leadership pathways for women in data and AI, including Women in Data Nordics. Her work sits at the crossroads of organisational development, cross-functional collaboration, and more inclusive ways of shaping how data teams grow and lead.
"What interests me most about data and AI is not only what they allow us to see, but also how they can help us formulate better questions, connect ideas, and create space for more diverse perspectives."
Devashree Pillai is an international policy and sustainability professional whose career spans roles at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and Volvo Cars. She has led and supported work across legal policy, governance, strategy, risk, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on bridging global legal policy frameworks and operational practice. Her work has centred on enabling data-informed decision-making in governance contexts, bridging policy and implementation through the use of evidence, standards, and structured stakeholder engagement. At Volvo Cars, Devashree is part of the founding team supporting Christina Finlay in launching Women in Data® in the Nordic region.
“My own background sits at the intersection of policy, sustainability, governance, and institutional decision-making. That is why the Women in Data mission resonates with me. It recognises that data leadership can take many forms, and that women’s pathways into these spaces are not always linear or traditional. I am excited to help build a community that recognises the many ways women already work with data and creates more visible pathways into leadership.”
Saman Azhar is a tech oriented professional with experience in website development and working with data in real‑world, day‑to‑day environments. She has used data, reports, and performance metrics to support decision‑making, identify patterns, and improve digital workflows. With a strong interest in technology and problem‑solving, she enjoys building practical, user‑focused solutions while continuously developing her technical and analytical skills.
This programme stands out for its practical focus on connecting data, technology, and inclusion. At Volvo Cars, and with Christina Finlay leading the initiative, she is excited about contributing to meaningful change and helping build inclusive, supportive communities.
“I’m motivated by the chance to make a real difference through my work. I care deeply about helping create environments where people feel heard, supported, and valued, and I enjoy using data and technology to turn good intentions into meaningful, lasting impact.”
Fhebie Jevalyn Dioayan is a health systems and data management specialist with over ten years of experience in large‑scale global health programs. Trained as a nurse, she transitioned into monitoring and evaluation and health information systems leadership, including implementing digital health tools and coaching teams on data quality and use. She has contributed to stakeholder engagement across government, civil society, and private‑sector partners to improve health service delivery and program performance.
After relocating to Sweden, she worked as a consultant supporting health information systems implementation and capacity building. She now serves as a coordinator with the Women in Data Nordics chapter, contributing to community building, partnerships, and chapter growth. She brings a cross‑sectoral lens shaped by clinical practice, health informatics, and international development, alongside a strong commitment to making the data field more inclusive and representative.
“I love meeting people from diverse data backgrounds and learning from their stories. I believe data is ultimately about people - how we understand them, support them, and build better systems around them. Being part of Women in Data Nordics has given me new perspectives, exposed me to career paths I didn’t know existed, and given me hope that there is space to explore, a path to take, and a community that genuinely cares.”
Iryna built her career in banking and finance, beginning at Raiffeisen Bank , where she developed her foundation in financial analysis, reporting, and operational control. Over more than fifteen years she worked with numbers in environments where accuracy mattered and decisions depended on getting the data right, moving across finance and operations roles in different industries. She holds a Master's degree in Economics and has spent her career at the intersection of analytical work and real-world business decisions. When she moved to Sweden, Iryna chose to formalise the technical side of what she had been doing intuitively for years. She completed the IBM Data Analyst . Through the Jobbsprånget programme she joined as a Coordinator and is now part of the founding team in launching Women in Data® Nordics. She brings to this work the perspective of an analyst who has lived with data long before it carried that name — and who believes that the women already working with numbers across finance, operations, and analytics deserve a clearer path into the visible leadership of this field.
"I have spent most of my career working with data — I just didn't always call it that. In banking and finance, every reconciliation, every report, every spreadsheet was a story about decisions, risks, and people. What Women in Data® Nordics tells me is that this work has always counted, and that women who came into data through finance, analytics, and operations belong in the same room as those who came through engineering or research. I want to help build a community where that truth is visible, and where the path into data leadership feels possible from wherever a woman is starting."
