Houlin Zhao

Born on 7 March 1950 in Jiangsu (China), Houlin ZHAO graduated from Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NUPT) in 1975. Between 1979 and 1980, he studied as a visiting scholar in Switzerland. He joined the University of Essex (United Kingdom) in 1984, where he obtained a Master of Science degree in Telematics in 1985.

From 1975 to 1986, he worked as an engineer in the Designing Institute of the Chinese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (now known as "Ministry of Information Industry" (MII)), responsible for projects in the areas of telex, data communication, non-voice transmission, telephone switching and mobile networks. He took an active part in his country's experts' meetings on national telecommunication standards. He received a second prize in 1985 for his science and technology achievements in the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. In addition, his work in the Departments of Planning, Capital Construction and Network Maintenance in the Ministry earned him an engineering project prize for his outstanding performance and contributions in the planning, designing and construction of a number of major national network projects. Between 1982 and 1983, he participated in CCITT Study Group meetings. Mr. Zhao joined the CCITT Secretariat (now TSB) in 1986.

Since 1993, he has served as TSB Counsellor for ITU-T Study Group 7 (Data networks and open system communications) and Study Group 8 (Characteristics of telematic systems). He is ITU-T's coordinator with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and their Joint Technical Committee 1 (JTC 1). His record of maintaining excellent collaboration with these bodies, where he has combined technical expertise, diplomacy, firmness and flexibility, has ensured that ITU-T's interests are safeguarded in the development of joint standards.

He served as Secretary to the IXth CCITT Plenary Assembly in Melbourne (Australia) in 1988 and to the first World Telecommunication Standardization Conference (WTSC) in Helsinki in 1993 and the second WTSC in Geneva in 1996.

Mr Zhao was elected Director of TSB at the 1998 Plenipotentiary Conference in Minneapolis (USA), and took office on 1 February 1999. Mr Houlin Zhao was re-elected for a second term (2003-2006) as Director of TSB at the 2002 Plenipotentiary Conference in Marrakesh (Morocco).