Erika Fille Legara

As the managing director and chief AI and Data Officer at the Center for AI Research, Erika Legara helps shape the country’s AI strategies, positioning the Philippines as a competitive player in the global tech landscape.

Her influence extends into academia, where she implemented the Master of Science in Data Science programme at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM). This top-ranked initiative equips future leaders with cutting-edge skills. Legara has also been the Aboitiz Chair in Data Science at AIM since 2019. This blend of academic leadership and industry expertise has solidified her status as a thought leader in the field.

Legara’s work has garnered significant recognition, including a nomination for the 2024 Eisenhower Fellowship, a finalist spot for the 2024 Women in AI APAC Awards, and inclusion in the prestigious Asian Scientist 100 list. Her research on complex systems and urban planning has been instrumental in developing the Philippine National AI Strategy Roadmap, a key initiative in the country’s technological future.

Her international experience, including a stint at Singapore’s A*STAR, and national honours such as the Ten Outstanding Young Men and Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service Awards underscore her broad influence. Erika Legara’s vision and contributions are reshaping AI and data science, placing the Philippines on the map as a leader in the rapidly evolving tech space.