Ms. Dominique Hyde, Director of External Relations, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Moderator
| Ms. Dominique Hyde is the Director of External Relations at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She is responsible for partnerships with governments, civil society, UN agencies, and the private sector, as well as communications and advocacy, in support of the UN Refugee Agency’s protection and assistance programmes. Dominique began her career working for the Canadian Government (Senate, House of Commons and Ministry of Foreign Affairs). She later joined the International Organization for Migration in Haiti. From 1997 to 2010, she worked for the United Nations World Food Programme where she held different positions in Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Iraq, Italy and Nepal. In September 2010, Dominique joined UNICEF as Representative for Jordan and in late 2013, she moved to New York as the Deputy Director of the Public Partnership Division. In 2017, she joined the World Health Organization as the Director for Strategic Engagement at their HQ in Switzerland, before joining UNHCR as the Director of External Relations in January 2019. Dominique has an M.A. in International Relations from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, Master Courses in Economics at the London School of Economics, and a B.A. in Communications from the University of Ottawa, Canada.
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Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Panelist
| Dr Cosmas Zavazava took office as Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.
With more than 30 years in telecommunications, including over 20 years in ITU's Development Sector, Dr Zavazava has promoted and implemented impactful information and communication technology projects around the world.
Prior to his election as BDT Director, he served as ITU's Chief of Partnerships for Digital Development , overseeing development-related projects, strategic partnerships, and resource mobilization between 2019 and 2022, while launching new initiatives that have boosted the engagement of industry, private-sector and academia members in ITU's work.
Previously, as ITU's Chief of Projects and Initiatives, he oversaw development projects focused on gender, youth, and people with special needs, along with capacity building, emergency telecommunications, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and e-waste management.
Earlier, Dr Zavazava headed the Republic of Zimbabwe's Government Telecommunications Agency and served as a senior diplomat. He also taught MBA classes at the UK's Nottingham Trent University.
Throughout his career, he has focused on closing the digital and skills divide and accelerating digital transformation to achieve socio-economic development for all.
Dr Zavazava holds a PhD in Multilateral Trade from Business School Lausanne (Switzerland), and a Master of Laws degree in Telecommunications and Information Technology from the University of Strathclyde (UK), as well as a Master's in International Relations from Webster University (US), and an MBA from the University of Zimbabwe. He also holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration and diplomas in Telecommunications and Systems Engineering.
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Mr. Max Lamesch, Deputy Director for Humanitarian Affairs, Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Panelist
| Mr. Max Lamesch was appointed Director for Humanitarian Affairs in the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in August 2021. Prior to his current position, he was Chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Luxembourg in Ouagadougou covering Burkina Faso and Niger (2016-2019) and head of the Asia department in the Directorate of political affairs of the MFA (2019-2021). Before becoming a diplomat, he worked for several nonprofit organisations and was part of an international rehabilitation team in Haiti from 2010-2012. Max Lamesch holds diplomas in German and English literature and in international relations.
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Ms. Erin Connor, Director, Cisco Crisis Response & Strategic Partnerships, Social Impact and Sustainability office, Cisco
Panelist
| Ms. Erin Connor leads Cisco’s Crisis Response (CCR) program and partnerships within Cisco’s Social Impact and Sustainability office. She oversees cash and product grant portfolios for nonprofit organizations that leverage technology to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief. Additionally, she manages a team of technical experts and emergency responders who deliver technical assistance, consulting, training, deployment support, and Cisco technology to ensure secure connectivity for agencies and communities affected by crises.
With over 20 years of experience in the social impact sector, Erin has worked across both corporate and nonprofit environments. Before joining Cisco, Erin spent over a decade in the NGO sector, launching and expanding offices in Indonesia and Kenya, and managing post-disaster, financial inclusion, and technology-for-development programs throughout Asia and East Africa.
Erin holds a B.A. with High Distinction from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in International Development from American University.
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Mr. Gerardo Franco, Director of Global Workforce Partnerships, Microsoft Elevate
Panelist
| Mr Gerardo Franco is an AI workforce transformation leader, former diplomat, and strategy consultant with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of technology, policy, and economic development. As Director of Global Workforce Partnerships at Microsoft Elevate, he builds global coalitions, partnerships, and policy ecosystems that help governments, employers, institutions, and workers navigate the transition to an AI-powered economy. Building on his previous leadership as AI Skills Director, he focuses on strengthening workforce systems, accelerating responsible AI adoption, and expanding inclusive economic opportunity at scale.
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