Webinar – Empowering lives through people-centred smart cities
Description
Our cities are more than infrastructure—they’re the heartbeat of our communities. This webinar, organized to celebrate World Cities Day and hosted by ITU and UN-Habitat, will explore how digital tools and inclusive innovation can empower all residents, strengthen local governance, and build urban resilience. Join us to discover how people-focused technologies—ranging from participatory data platforms to AI-driven services—can bridge the digital divide, enhance transparency, and foster safer, more equitable neighborhoods.
Target Audience
Open and free to all, this webinar will share practical insights and real-world examples for making smart cities work for everyone. Register now to help shape a future where technology uplifts every life.
Note: By registering for this event, you agree for ITU (the event organizer and data controller) to process your personal data for the organization and management of the event in accordance with the ITU Data Protection and Privacy Policy. The personal data you submit as part of the registration and your participation in the event will be used by ITU for the organization, management, and follow-up of the event, including managing attendance and for internal ITU administrative requirements. The event is taking place via Zoom, and it will be recorded. You can read here Zoom’s privacy notice on how it processes your personal data. The event video recording will be made publicly available on ITU’s event webpage to raise awareness and promote standardization aiming at knowledge-transfer and bridging the standardization gap. For any questions or requests concerning your personal data, including your inclusion in video, you can contact ITU at digitaltransformation@itu.int.
Draft Programme
12:00-12:10 Opening Remarks
- Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, ITU
- Anacláudia Rossbach, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN-Habitat
12:10-12:55 From Connected to Empowered: People at the Heart of Smart Urban Innovation
This session will explore how smart city initiatives can go beyond infrastructure and efficiency to truly serve the people who live in them. By focusing on inclusion, participation, and trust, speakers will highlight how digital tools and data can be used to enhance quality of life, promote social equity, and respond to the needs of diverse communities. Through real-world examples and discussion, the session will showcase practical pathways to ensure that smart cities are not just technologically advanced—but genuinely people-centred.
Moderator: Graham Alabaster, Head, Geneva Office, UN-Habitat
- Cristina Bueti, Focal point of Smart Sustainable Cities, ITU
- Teppo Rantanen, Executive Director of Economic Policy, Competitiveness and Innovation, City of Tampere, Finland
- Mónica Zurita Vivero, Digital Government Director, City of Quito
- Sarah Watson, Project Coordinator, Human Settlements Unit of eThekwini Municipality, South Africa
12:55-13:00 Closing Remarks
- Okan Geray, Chair, United for Smart Sustainable Cities Initiative (U4SSC)