Speakers
Julissa Cruz Abreu
Executive Director of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (INDOTEL)
Julissa Cruz has more than two decades of experience in public service. At INDOTEL, she has been Director of International Relations, Compliance Commissioner and Head of the Regulation Department, playing a fundamental role in the creation of the regulatory framework and leading the implementation of number portability in 2009. She has directed significant projects, such as the National Broadband Plan of the Dominican Republic, the Radio Spectrum Tender for the deployment of fifth-generation networks (5G), being the second country to have this technology in the region, and the coordination of the Connectivity and Access Axis of the 2030 Digital Agenda. Her management has stood out for the promotion of regulatory measures to strengthen competition and innovation, including the identification of relevant markets and the implementation of the Regulatory Sandbox.
Ms. Cruz is currently a member of the ITU’s Board of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development and Ambassador of the Inter-American Dialogue on Connectivity for Education. Cruz Abreu has made an impact at the international level by leading the Dominican Republic’s active participation in the ITU P2C initiative. Was nominated as a finalist for the CONECTA LATAM AWARDS 2023 in the “Most Connected Woman of the Year” category. This award honors women who have truly made a difference in their company, telecommunications industry and community.
With a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a master’s degree in Corporate Finance from the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), has specialized her knowledge in Regulatory Economics, Regulation of Public Utilities, and Price Regulation in the Telecommunications Industry. In addition, she completed the Innovation and Government Leadership program at Georgetown University’s Business School.
Ebtesam Almazrouei
Founder and CEO of AIE3, Expert AI Executive and Tech Visionary Leader
Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei is recognized for her pioneering Falcon AI models, including the Middle East’s first open-source LLM, Falcon 40B, and the world’s most powerful open AI model, Falcon 180B in 2023. She also developed NOOR, the largest Arabic LLM in 2022. As a visionary entrepreneur, she founded AIE3, delivering innovative AI solutions, and serves as a Senior AI Consultant for the ITU. Her leadership extends to chairing the UAE Council for AI and Blockchain’s big data subcommittee and contributing to the WWRF. Dr. Almazrouei is named in the Leading AI Women in the World list and received the Global Leadership Women in Tech® MENA Award. An influential speaker, she has graced leader stages at the CogX Festival, AI Global Summit, UK AI Safety Summit, and AWS reinvent. Her commitment to sustainability and AI for good is evident in her roles with the UN’s SDGs. Formerly, she was the Executive Director, Acting Chief AI Researcher, and Founder of the Artificial Intelligence Cross-Center ( AICCU) at the Technology Innovation Institute. Dr. Almazrouei spearheaded AI’s Strategic Planning and Development in TII. Dr. Ebtesam is the first Emirati woman to hold a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence for Wireless Communication Engineering and Computer Science. Dr. Almazrouei’s expertise and achievements have significantly impacted the global AI landscape, marking her as a distinguished figure in the field.
Akosua Asabea Annoh
Mayor, Abuakwa South Municipal Assembly, Kyebi, Ghana
Akosua Asabea Annoh is currently the Municipal Chief Executive of Abuakwa South Municipal Assembly in the Eastern Region of Ghana, a position she has held since 2021. As the first female Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Assembly, she serves as the primary representative of the Central Government, within the Municipality assuming administrative, political and economic roles.
Prior to her appointment as MCE, Akosua held managerial positions at the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), overseeing procurement responsibilities, and served as an administrative officer at the Ministry of Manpower, Youth, and Employment, supporting the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme. With her background as an educationist, she serves as a resource person for training Auditors in basic procurement knowledge.
As an avowed advocate of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, she has been instrumental in the implementation of programs aimed at championing and localizing the SDGs within her Municipality. One of her area of interest has been the formulation of strategies aimed at building Smart and sustainable Cities. – She has been instrumental in crafting The Kyebi Model, of the Smart Sustainable Cities Concept which harnesses a synergy of Local government actors, the traditional Authorities and Academia in fostering the implementation of smart cities programs. Her leadership, commitment and direction, has led to a harmonious collaboration of all these key stakeholders culminating the certifications and recognitions received from UN-ITU and UN-HABIATAT.
With the aim of enhancing the city’s resilience and natural resource management, focusing on Climate Change Adaptation efforts, Akosua leads the Valorization of natural resources value-chain strategy.
Her passion is in the area of urban planning, conservation of natural resources, women empowerment, girl child education, and the promotion of tourism potentials of her Municipality. Akosua actively contributes her time and resources to championing these causes.
Akosua holds a master’s degree in Supply Chain Management from Coventry University, UK, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Ghana, Legon.
Carlos Baigorri
Executive President and President of the Board, Anatel
Graduated in Economics from the University of Brasília (UnB), with master’s and doctoral degree in Economics from the Catholic University of Brasília (UCB). In the telecommunications field since 2006, he worked as a consultant and sectoral information analyst for an association of mobile operators. He also served as an undergraduate professor at the Catholic University of Brasília (UCB), at the Institute of Higher Education of Brasília (IESB), and at the Brazilian Institute of Capital Markets (IBMEC). He has written articles and book chapters published in Brazil and abroad. He has been a tenured civil servant at the National Agency of Telecommunications of Brazil (Anatel) since 2009, where he held positions such as Executive Superintendent, Competition Superintendent, Chief of Technical Advisory, and Control of Obligations Superintendent. He served as a Commissioner from October 2020 to April 2022, when he became the Executive President and President of the Board of Anatel.
Manuel Barreiro
CEO & Founder, Aston Group
Manuel Barreiro Castañeda is the founder and chairman of the Aston Group, a private equity firm with $1 billion in investments to date. The firm develops real estate projects and makes private equity investments with a focus on North America and Europe. Mr. Barreiro Castañeda is a strategic leader with over 20 years of high-level experience in international real estate, successfully advising public and private sector stakeholders on the intersection of technology, sustainability, mobility, and smart cities. Committed to sustainability, he works to ensure that his firm’s development projects benefit the local community by improving quality of life, reducing inequality gaps, and positively impacting the environment according to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Actively involved in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), he serves as Vice Chairman of the ITU’s “Working Group 8 on the Metaverse – Sustainability, Accessibility & Inclusion,” addressing sustainability, accessibility, and inclusion. Complementing his industry experience, he completed the Oxford Real Estate Programme and the Oxford Programme on Valuation of Private Assets at the University of Oxford. He also holds an Executive Master of Science (MSc) in Cities from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he further developed his knowledge in sustainable urban development, mobility, and water management to enhance the quality of life in large cities and small urban areas. This degree also sparked his interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), which will be at the center of his projects in the near future.
Mr. Barreiro Castañeda also holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business and a Bachelor’s in International Business from Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. He completed academic exchange programs at higher learning institutions in Japan and Argentina, where he realized the importance of using technology for the benefit of vulnerable groups. This realization became his life’s mission — to create better cities for the future, starting in his native Mexico
Per Beming
Chief Standardization Officer, Ericsson
Per Beming is Chief Standardization Officer at Ericsson. In this capacity he drives the technology leadership work in Standardization, and industry initiatives, including open source, for the Ericsson Group.
In previous roles Beming was responsible for Radio’s 5G program targeting 5G RAN products and demos, in addition to driving the architecture at Business Area Networks. Beming has been Director of RBS Systems at Development Unit Radio, Business Unit Networks. Beming has also held a role of Expert in Radio Access Architecture at Ericsson Research and being the head of Ericsson’s delegation to 3GPP RAN for WCDMA, HSPA and LTE standardization.
Beming joined Ericsson Research in 1994 and holds an M.Sc. in Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering (1994).
Philip Besiimire
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Vodacom Tanzania
Philip is currently the MD of Vodacom Tanzania Plc and is responsible for running all facets of the business.
Prior to that, Philip held various senior roles across sub-Saharan Africa including Chief Sales, Distribution and Regional Operations Officer in South Africa, Executive Regional Operations in South Africa, Chief Executive Officer in South Sudan, Chief Marketing Officer in Zambia and Chief Marketing Officer and Acting Chief Executive Officer in Swaziland.
He has over 15 years’ experience in leadership and commercial execution working with one of the largest telco companies in Africa. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Netherlands and a Bachelor of Arts in Social
Sciences from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Philip brings international leadership experience and valuable knowledge to this important role. He has an exceptional track record of growing businesses and delivering strategic transformation. Philip is also sitting as chairman of the Tanzania Mobile Network Operations Association ( TAMNOA).
Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Secretary-General, ITU
Doreen Bogdan-Martin took office as Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.
With over three decades of leadership experience in global telecommunications policy, Ms. Bogdan-Martin has emphasized the need for digital transformation to achieve economic prosperity, job creation, skills development, gender equality, and socio-economic inclusion, as well as to build circular economies, reduce climate impact, and save lives. Her historic election by ITU Member States in September 2022 made her the first woman ever to head the nearly 160-year-old organization. Known for mobilizing innovative partnerships, she aims to promote meaningful connectivity, intensify cooperation to connect the unconnected, and strengthen the alignment of digital technologies with inclusive sustainable development.
Ulrich Dropmann
Head of Standardization and Industry Environment, Nokia
Ulrich heads the external standardization engagement for Nokia. He is responsible for global and regional standardization including radio spectrum aspects. Ulrich is a Vice President and Executive Committee member of the Global Mobile Supplier Association (GSA). He also serves in the Board of the Metaverse Standards Forum. Between 2022 and 2024, he served as a board member to the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network Global Forum (IOWN-GF). From 2018 to 2022 he was also Board Member of the 5G Association for Connected Industries and Automation (5G-ACIA).
Prior to his current role Ulrich was responsible for Nokia Networks Industry Environment activities. Between 2007 and 2012 Ulrich lead the NSN 3GPP standardization team and has served as Head of Delegation to 3GPP.
Between 1996 and 2007, Ulrich held various positions in R&D of Siemens Mobile Networks unit. He was responsible for standardization activities of the core network business unit and managed Siemens 3GPP activities. Ulrich had instrumental role in the definition of the UMTS architecture as well as in set up of project management in 3GPP.
Ulrich holds a Ph.D. from Télécom ParisTech from 1996; his research area was the definition of 3G Radio Interface and his research was part of EU collaborative research program (RACE II ATDMA). He holds a Master Degree (Dipl-Ing) in Telecommunication from the RWTH, Aachen from 1992.
Jan Ellsberger
Director-General, ETSI
Jan Ellsberger is a globally recognised leader in the ICT industry with more than 30 years of experience with research and innovation, industry ecosystem development, standardisation, policy development & regulation, and strategy development in the telecommunications and automotive industries. From 2000-2012 he was leading Ericsson’s global standardisation operations. He has also served in leading positions in several industry associations such as 3GPP, 5GAA, ERTICO and the Horizon Europe CCAM Association.
Paul J. Foster
CEO and Board Member of the Global Esports Federation
Paul J. Foster, CEO and Board Member of the Global Esports Federation since March 2021, leads the organization’s strategic growth. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Advisor during the GEF’s establishment. With 30 years of global leadership experience, he’s acclaimed for convening and mobilizing partnerships, utilizing technology for sustainable development, and advancing inclusive global progress. Paul was a Vice President at World Expo 2020 Dubai, overseeing start-up operations, budgeting, and vision-setting. He dedicated over two decades to the Olympic movement, including significant roles at the International Olympic Committee. He consults for various entities, advising on vision setting and strategy. He holds degrees in Business, Economics, International Affairs, Diplomacy and Protocol, with additional studies in AI from MIT Sloan School of Management and the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). Fluent in English and Italian, as well as with capacity in French and Spanish, Paul is also an Associate Professor in International Relations and a certified Yoga teacher. As Chairman of the Board of the World Technology Games organization, he continues to help shape the future of global esports, sports, technology, and innovation
Daniel Goldscheider
Founder and Executive Director, the OpenWallet Foundation; Vice Chair, Supervisory Board of Valamar Riviera
Daniel Goldscheider is founder and Executive Director of the OpenWallet Foundation and serves as Vice Chair of the Supervisory Board of Valamar Riviera d.d., Croatia’s largest tourism company.
Before that he started yes.com, an open banking scheme and co-founded Mediaguide with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers as well as Aureus Private Equity (today Invision).
Anna M. Gomez
Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission, United States of America
The Honorable Commissioner Anna M. Gomez is the first Latina-American to be confirmed to the FCC in over two decades. Commissioner Gomez is committed to ensuring we have a vibrant, strong, competitive telecommunications and media marketplace that promotes U.S. economic prosperity and security while also meeting the needs of all consumers.
Commissioner Gomez brings over 30 years of public and private sector experience in domestic and international communications law and policy to her position. She previously led U.S. preparations for the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 for the State Department. Commissioner Gomez has held numerous leadership roles in the federal government, including Deputy Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Deputy Chief of the FCC’s International Bureau, and as Senior Legal Advisor to then-Chairman William E. Kennard. Born in Orlando, Florida, Commissioner Gomez spent her childhood in Bogota, Colombia before her family relocated to New Jersey. Commissioner Gomez earned her B.A. in Pre-Law from Pennsylvania State University and her J.D. from George Washington University Law School.
Inder Gopal
CEO, India Urban Data Exchange and Research Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Inder is the CEO of IUDX Program and is also Research Professor at IISc. He was previously Vice President of Software at Ericsson, where he was instrumental in launching their Edge computing efforts. Before that, he was Vice President of Networking at IBM, where he had responsibility for all of IBM’s hardware and software networking products. He has also served as Chief Architect of AT&T and Chief Technology Officer of Prodigy.
He has founded, built-up, and successfully sold two venture-funded start-up companies, ReefEdge and Iptivia, and is an investor and board member in a few others. He served as the Founding Chairman of a leading open source networking software group, OpenDaylight, recruiting dozens of top-tier companies to participate.
Inder has also had a distinguished research career in the area of computer networks, with 20 patents and more than 70 technical publications to his credit. He worked at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Centre, earning two IBM Outstanding Innovation Awards. He has served as editor of several technical journals and was elected Fellow of the IEEE. He has a PhD from Columbia University, New York and a BA from Oxford University, England.
Alberto Hernando de Castro
CEO and Founder, Kido Dynamics
Dr. Alberto Hernando de Castro is a distinguished physicist and entrepreneur with over 15 years in scientific research and a decade of C-level experience in private companies. He earned his PhD in Computational and Quantum Physics from the Universitat de Barcelona and has worked at prestigious European institutions, including the French CNRS and the Swiss EPFL, where he focused on Quantum Physics, Complex Systems, and Social Physics. In 2015, he co-founded the deep-tech startup SThAR, where he served as CEO, utilizing data analytics to innovate in major electoral campaigns globally. Since 2018, he has been the founder director and CEO of Kido Dynamics, driving innovation in transportation, retail, tourism, marketing, and real estate. He leverages mobility analytics and integrates technologies such as AI, satellite imagery, connected vehicles, and geoposition data from Mobile Phone Network Operators to enhance business strategies and decision-making processes. His collaborations span public institutions like Eurostat and the World Bank, major cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, and São Paulo, and private international companies like Uber and JCDecaux. Through his leadership, Kido Dynamics has become a key player in transforming how data is utilized across various sectors, promoting smarter and more efficient urban and commercial planning.
Bilel Jamoussi
Deputy Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU
Tunisian born, Dr Bilel Jamoussi is Deputy Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU in Geneva Switzerland. Since 2010, he has been leading the bureau’s standards-making activities into a new era characterized by rapid convergence and the need for increased collaboration with vertical sectors and partnership between developed and developing countries. Prior to 2010, Jamoussi worked for a Telecommunication equipment and solutions provider for 15 years in Canada and then in the United States where he held several leadership positions and was granted 22 US patents in diverse areas including packet, optical, wireless, and quality of service. He holds a BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in Computer Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, USA. He is fluent in Arabic, French, and English and speaks some Spanish and German.
Anuradha Kanamarlapudi
Technology Manager, GE Healthcare, India
Anuradha Kanamarlapudi heads the Healthcare Technology and Innovation Center at GE HealthCare, Bangalore. She leads a multi-disciplinary team of researchers who work across multiple competency areas to develop and incubate solutions for healthcare products. She has more than 28 years of experience in research & development, product delivery, managing large interdisciplinary missions spread across the globe.
While at GE Corporate Research, she was the Technology Manager for the Physical and Digital Analytics Research lab and Exponential Market Solutions Leader responsible for incubating and running innovation missions spanning physical and digital technology areas. She has significant experience in the healthcare domain and is currently heading the 5G Special Interest Group at the center. She has 10+ patents rated to be filed in the area of AI in healthcare.
During the initial days of her career, she has worked in organizations such as Siemens and Philips in the areas of software platform and product development in Telecom and Consumer Electronics domain.
She is currently pursuing a doctoral program in Indian Institute of Management, Indore specializing in Strategy management on a part-time basis. Her areas of interest are in the area of frugal innovation.
Andrey Koucheryavy
Professor of Telecommunication Networks and Data transmission, St. Petersburg University of Telecommunications
After graduating from Leningrad University of Telecommunications in 1974, A. Koucheryavy joined Telecommunication Research Institute LONIIS, where he worked till October 2003 (from 1986 to 2003 as the First Deputy Director). Dr. A. Koucheryavy holds Professor position at the Bonch-Bruevich St. Petersburg State University of Telecommunications (SUT) since 1998. There, in 2011 he became a Chaired Professor in “Telecommunication Networks and data transmission” department. Dr. A.Koucheryavy was an advisor of the Central Science Research Telecommunication Institute (ZNIIS) from 2003 to 2010. Co-founder of the International Teletraffic Seminar (1993, 1995, 1998, 2002); founder of the model network for digital networks at LONIIS (1997); co-founder of the model network for packet networks at ZNIIS (2004); co-founder of the Internet of Things Laboratory (2012) at SUT. Chair of the Scientific school on teletraffic theory in LONIIS (1990 – 2003); Founder and scientific school chair “Internet of Things and self-organizing networks” in SUT (2010 up to now); Steering committee member of IEEE technically co-sponsored series of conferences ICACT, NEW2AN and ICFNDS. SG11 ITU-T vice-chairman 2005 – 2008, 2009 – 2012. WP3/WP4 SG11 chairman 2006 – 2012, WP4 SG11 vice-chairman 2015-2016, Chairman of SG11 from 2016 up to March 2022. Host and technical program committee member of the “Kaleidoscope 2014” at SUT. Founder of the model network for telepresence services in SUT (2021). Honorary member of Popov’s society (2002).
Tomas Lamanauskas
Deputy Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Tomas Lamanauskas took office as Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.
In this key elected role, he assists the ITU Secretary-General with managing the organization, addressing the needs of ITU’s unique, global public-private membership, and pursuing key strategic objectives to promote inclusive digital transformation in line with sustainable development.
Mr Lamanauskas aims to forge impact-driven partnerships to advance global connectivity, help the information and communication technology industry cut emissions and address the climate crisis, and implement results-oriented management, with maximum transparency and accountability, to ready ITU for a dynamic future. As Deputy Secretary-General, he fosters close collaboration across varied radiocommunication, standardization, and development activities, reinforcing the collective role of ITU’s five elected officials as a single, highly effective team.
Jun Li
Vice President, China Telecommunications Corporation, China
Principal-level senior engineer and PhD of Engineering from Wuhan University with a major in photogrammetry and remote sensing. Previously, Dr. Li served as Deputy Chief Engineer of China Electronic Information Industry Development Research Institute (CCID), and Deputy Chief of the Department of Planning, Science and Technology, Chief of the Department of Planning, Science and Technology (Office of the Science and Technology Commission), Head of the General Office and Head of the Department of General Administration of China Electronic Corporation. Dr. Li is now the Vice President of China Telecommunications Corporation Limited.
Sandra Maximiano
Chairwoman, Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM), Portugal
Sandra Maximiano, Chairwoman of ANACOM’s Board of Directors since 15 December 2023, holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Amsterdam. She is an Associate Professor of Economics at ISEG – School of Economics & Management, University of Lisbon, where she is co-coordinator of XLAB – Behavioral Research Lab and of the Master’s Degree in Economics program. She is also a Visiting Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra. She was previously an Assistant Professor at Purdue University and a Research Fellow at the University of Chicago in the United States. She has also taught at the Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics and the Nova School of Business and Economics.
Her academic research spans several areas: experimental and behavioral economics, organizational and labor economics, public policy, and information management. Her research explores issues related to social and moral preferences in individual decision making and in strategic and competitive environments, gender differences in economic decisions and the dynamics of information in competitive and co-operative situations. Maximiano primarily uses laboratory and field experiments to study human economic behavior and to collect data. Her work has been published in journals such as Review of Economic Studies, Economic Journal, Experimental Economics and Games and Economic Behavior. He is currently the Associate Editor of the Portuguese Economic Journal.
Maximiano is a member of the Supervisory Board, a member of the Advisory Board and a member of SEDES observatories and working groups. Between 2020 and 2024, she was Vice-President of the Data Science Portuguese Association and a member of the ASF Forum for Market Conduct. From 2006 to 2023, she was the author of opinion columns in the Portuguese press, most notably the column “A Economia somos nós” (The Economy is Us) in the Expresso newspaper.
Karen McCabe
Senior Director, Public Affairs IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA)
Karen McCabe is a Senior Director of Technology Policy at the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA), where she leads IEEE SA’s Technology Policy Center and oversees government relations and IEEE SA’s public policy initiatives, including efforts to build and connect communities working in the standardization and technology policy ecosystem with the aim of impactful outcomes to help advance technology for the benefit of society. Karen works at the nexus of mission-driven organizations, industry, NGOs, and government bodies to raise awareness, educate, and build capacity among stakeholders in the technology sphere. She is engaged in technology policy initiatives in sustainability, ethical AI, digital transition, and global standards in trade and policy. She leads the organization’s engagement with the UN and other international and intergovernmental bodies, with a focus on engagement of the technical community at the intersection of technology, standards, regulation, and policy.
Philippe Metzger
Secretary-General and CEO, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Philippe Metzger became IEC Secretary-General & CEO on 1 February 2020. In this position, he is responsible for the global day-to-day operations of the IEC.
Prior to joining the IEC, Mr. Metzger was the Director General of the Swiss Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) from 1 January 2014, having already served as Head of OFCOM’s Telecom Services Division since 2007.
Previously, he was Deputy to the Director of the Telecommunications Development Bureau at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Director of the Trade Relations Division at the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in Geneva. He also worked for EFTA in Brussels as a Senior Legal Officer, dealing with European Economic Area matters, and served as a Senior Corporate Counsel of a US multinational IT corporation in Amsterdam.
Philippe Metzger qualified as a Swiss attorney of law and passed his bar exam in 1992 in Berne, starting his professional career at major commercial law firms in Geneva and London. He also holds a Master of Arts in European Studies degree from the College of Europe (Bruges/Warsaw).
Javier Juárez Mojica
Acting President of the Federal Telecommunications Institute of Mexico
Javier Juárez Mojica has been Commissioner of the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) since October 2016 and Acting Chairman since March 2022. He is an honorary member of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has been member of the OECD Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (AIGO), Vice-chair of the former Working Party on Communication Infrastructures and Services Policy (CISP) at the OECD (2019-2021), former president of the Technical Committee on 5G networks deployment in Mexico, and currently serves as Chair of the Small Operators Committee.
Commissioner Juárez has devoted a professional career of more than 15 years to the study of telecommunications and the promotion of innovation and competition in this sector. He has participated in conferences and lectures on interconnection, community and indigenous networks, local loop unbundling, virtual mobile operators, Internet of Things, AI, cybersecurity, and digital transformation, among others.
Author of the books Mi Neighbor is a Robot (Penguin Random House 2022), The Future of Computing in Mexico: Proposals from the Mexican Academy of Computing (2018), and several articles and book chapters on telecommunications regulation (2007) and the challenges of living with AI.
Sergio Mujica
Secretary-General, ISO
Sergio Mujica joined ISO as Secretary-General in July 2017, having spent 7 years at the World Custom’s Organization (WCO) as Deputy Secretary-General. The WCO aims to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Custom’s administrations worldwide, and within this role Mr Mujica was responsible for the design and implementation of the WCO’s strategic plan. This included simplification, harmonization and standardization of custom’s procedures in addition to capacity building initiatives aimed at the WCO members. This gave him significant experience in an international setting, building consensus within a large membership-based organization.
Prior to working at the World Customs Organization, Mr Mujica spent 15 years working for the Government of Chile with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and as the Director General of Chile Customs. A Chilean national, he has a law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and a Master’s degree in International Law from the American University in Washington DC.
Rebecca Mukite
Head of Public and International Relations, Uganda Communications Commission
Rebecca Mukite is the Head of Public and International Relations at the Uganda Communications Commission. With over 15 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, she has specialized in radio frequency spectrum planning and monitoring, telecommunications licensing, communications, public relations, and international relations.
Rebecca began her telecommunications engineering career in regulatory-level RF spectrum planning, utilization and monitoring, where she developed expertise in managing and evaluating RF systems, processes, and technical data. She then progressed into telecommunications licensing and standards development, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and contributing to the establishment of industry standards and best practices through the development of regulatory frameworks and guidelines. This experience honed her skills in strategic decision-making, translating technical aspects into socio-economic solutions for national development, regulatory compliance, and policy development.
Her career further expanded into public and international relations within the telecommunications industry. She has developed and implemented communication strategies, managed media relations, and built consensus on complex issues related to ICT public policy and regulation. This experience has provided her with a deep understanding of the vital role technology plays in enabling economic growth and development.
Throughout her career, Rebecca has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence and a passion for advancing the telecommunications industry. She holds a degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Kyambogo University and a master’s degree in communications management from Bucks New university, as well as specialized training in various thematic areas related to global communications.
Kjell Neergaard
Mayor of Kristiansund, Norway
Kjell Neergaard has been the Mayor of Kristiansund since 2015. With a background in state and municipal governance, he has over 26 years of experience in public service, including leadership roles in the Social Security Administration. Neergaard is dedicated to infrastructure development, youth engagement, and sustainability initiatives.
Nape Nnauye
Minister, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Tanzania
Hon. Nape Moses Nnauye is the United Republic of Tanzania’s Minister for Information,Communication, and Information Technology and Member of Parliament for Mtama Constituency in Lindi Region. He is a natural communicator who can energize and inspire people towards common goals. Nape has a successful track record in public programs, contributing to important roles and positions. Born and raised in Tanzania, Nape earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Language, and Journalism with Honors from Bangalore University in India, and a Master’s in Public
Administration from Mzumbe University, Tanzania. Nape is a diligent student with Diplomas in Diplomacy and Foreign Relations and Social Sciences from the Centre for Foreign Relations and Kivukoni Academy of Social Sciences, respectively. Currently, he is a student of first degree in Law (LLB) at Open University of Tanzania.
Nape has actively served with Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), the current ruling party in Tanzania, since his primary school days. Nape played various roles within CCM and the government, contributing to their political and economic growth. Nape is a member of the National Congress, National Executive Committee, and former National Secretary for Ideology and Publicity of CCM. Nape remains passionate about Africa’s and Tanzania’s development and actively shares his unique treasure of practical knowledge and purposeful emphasis with youth. Nape is a mentor to the future development agents of Africa.
Jacek Oko
President, Office of Electronic Communications, Poland
Scientist and manager with many years of experience. Associated with the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology and the Wroclaw Centre for Networking and Supercomputing. Author of many scientific publications.
His professional interests focus on technical, economic and legal aspects of telecommunications services and data communication networks, as well as on the development of the Internet, the convergence of telecommunications, information technology and media, and the problems of the information society.
Seizo Onoe
Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU
Seizo Onoe took office as Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023. Known in the industry as “the father of LTE” (Long-Term Evolution mobile broadband), he now aims for global outreach to bridge standardization gaps, deliver the benefits of technology widely and speedily, and ensure meaningful and affordable broadband access for everyone. Before his election as TSB Director by ITU Member States, he completed an over 30-year career with Japanese mobile operator NTT DOCOMO. In 2021, he became Executive Vice President and Chief Standardization Strategy Officer for NTT Corporation and a Fellow of NTT DOCOMO. From 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Architect and President of its subsidiary DOCOMO Technology. From 2012 to 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, a Member of the Board of Directors, and Managing Director of R&D Innovation Division. Earlier, he served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO’s R&D Strategy Department and Managing Director of the company’s Radio Network Development Department. Mr Onoe holds a Master’s degree in electronics from the Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering.
Dmitry Ontoev
Advisor to the Minister, the Department of Information Technologies (DIT) of the Moscow Government, Russia
Dmitry Ontoev took office as Advisor to the Minister of the Department of Information Technologies (DIT) of the Moscow Government in 2023. At DIT he is responsible for Smart City strategy, coordination between federal and regional executive authorities and international digitalization cooperation.
Prior to that since 2018 to 2023 he served as the Deputy Head and then Head of the Analytical Directorate at DIT. In 2016-2018 he headed Project and Analysis Section of the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects at the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. Since 2014 to 2016 he was responsible for international and regional research of the Institute for Emerging Market Studies of the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO. In 2010-2014 he was in charge of government relations in Russian media outlets, including Russia Beyond the Headlines and RIA Novosti News Agency.
He is awarded with Letters of Appreciation by the Mayor of Moscow and Minister of Economic Development the Russian Federation; has several Certificates of Gratitude from DIT and the Moscow Government.
Parthsarathi Trivedi
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Skylo Technologies
Parth Trivedi is CEO and Co-Founder of Skylo Technologies. Skylo is a software-defined global service operator, connecting cellular devices directly over satellites, ensuring that you never lose coverage. Skylo’s focus is on enabling connected services for people outdoors and connected workflows for machines at work across critical industries such as agriculture, defense, maritime, logistics, mining, and others, in addition to consumer cellular devices. Skylo is backed by Innovation Endeavors, Intel, Samsung, BMW, Boeing, Next47, Seraphim, Softbank Group, DCM, and Moore Strategic Ventures.
Trained as an aerospace engineer, Parth has led various missions and aerospace projects at MIT sponsored by the US Department of Defense, Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA, Lockheed Martin, and the Federal Aviation Administration. He was nominated to the US delegation task force to the UN technical body on global aviation (ICAO). Parth and his co-founders conceived of Skylo at Stanford University, where he was co-leading research in the Space Systems Development Lab, and later spun the company out as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Innovation Endeavors.
Parth has a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University with highest distinction, SM in Aerospace Engineering from MIT, and MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Rajkumar Upadhyay
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Project Board at Centre for Development of Telematics & Chairman of GSS-24
Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay is CEO of Centre for Developments of Telematics(C-DOT), a premier R&D Centre of Ministry of Communications, Government of India. His previous assignments include working with Prasar Bharati, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and in Defence R&D Organization. He has also been the Chairman of the working group on ‘Policy and Regulation for South Asian Regulators Council (SATRC) during 2011-12.
Currently, he is a Governing Council Member of Telecom Standards Development Society India, Broadband India Forum, Telecom Export Promotion Council, Telecom Centre of Excellence and founding member of ‘Bharat 6G Alliance’. He is also the member of National Committee on Electronics Manufacturing and National Committee on Telecom and Broadband of Confederation of Indian Industry.
He is the winner of several awards including: J.C. Bose award by Ministry of Defense, National e-Governance award by Government of India, CIO 100 award by International Data Group (IDG), Deepak C. Jain Award by IIM Bangalore. Under his leadership, C-DOT has won various awards namely Voice Data “Telecom Person of the Year”, IETECorporate Award for Telecommunication, ELCINA Award for Innovation in R&D Category, 12th Annual Aegis Graham Bell Awards across three categories for Disaster Management, Secure Messaging & Calling Solution and Covid Quarantine Alert System (CQAS), ELCINA Defennovation Awards for innovation in Defence and many more.
Dr Upadhyay holds Ph.D. in Corporate Strategy & Policy and MBA from IIM Bangalore & M.Tech. from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee.
Leon Wong
Senior Researcher, Rakuten Mobile
Leon Wong is a senior researcher at Rakuten Mobile and Rakuten Institute of Technology. He holds the role of industry research collaboration lead for the Research & Innovation Lab, dedicated to the research and realization of autonomous networking.
He has over 15 years of experience in IT & telecommunication industry working in various roles such as Engineering Lead, Solution Architect, and Subject Matter Expert in Operation Support System. Prior to taking the role in Rakuten Mobile, he built the High-Performance Computing GPU cluster for Rakuten Group and engaged in research development activities with Rakuten Institute of Technology.
He served as chairman of ITU-T Focus Group of Autonomous Networks (FG-AN), co-chair of TTC Autonomous Network Ad Hoc Group (AN-AH), and Co-convener of ITU Correspondence Group AI for 6G/AI Native for Telecommunication Networks. He is one of the main editors for Autonomous Networks related Recommendations, notably ITU-T Y.3061 – Autonomous Networks – Architecture Framework.
Masakazu Yamashina
Corporate Senior Executive Vice President and Co-COO, NEC, Japan
Masakazu Yamashina is an innovative leader in Social Infrastructure Business including Telecom Services Business and Aerospace and National Security Business as Corporate Senior Executive Vice President and Co-COO (Executive Officer) since April, 2023. During this time, Yamashina has driven Telecom Service business’s transformation to redefine its business direction successfully and Aerospace and National Security business for dynamic expansion aligned with recent strong needs for national security. As a leader of Social Infrastructure business, he committed to make the business further grow to deliver benefits to businesses and people around the world.
Previously, from 2016 till 2023, he served as Executive Vice President, to lead Public Infrastructure business and Global Safety business worldwide, where Yamashina led strategic M&As consecutively to establish and keep growing NEC’s presence in the global public and financial infrastructure domains.
Before 2023, Yamashina also held various leadership roles in system platform business as well as NEC’s personal solutions business, where he collaborated with key global partners, while managing business development initiatives with his 20 years strong R&D background, specializing in architecture and circuit design of high performance LSI.
Yamashina is an IEEE fellow and holds a phD in Engineering, from Graduate School of Tokyo Institute of Technology.
Jim Zemlin
Executive Director, Linux Foundation
Jim Zemlin’s career spans three of the largest technology trends to rise over the last decade: mobile computing, cloud computing, and open source software. Today, as executive director of The Linux Foundation, he uses this experience to accelerate innovation in technology through the use of open source and Linux.
At The Linux Foundation, Jim works with the world’s largest technology companies, including IBM, Intel, Google, Samsung, Qualcomm, and others to help define the future of computing on the server, in the cloud, and on a variety of mobile computing devices. His work at the vendor-neutral Linux Foundation gives him a unique and aggregate perspective on the global technology industry.
Jim has been recognized for his insights on the changing economics of the technology industry, and he is a regular keynote speaker at industry events. He advises a variety of startups, including Splashtop, and sits on the boards of the Global Economic Symposium, Open Source For America, and Chinese Open Source Promotion Union.