Advisory Board Members biographies

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Dr. Sam Pitroda
Former Advisor to the Prime Minister of India
ITU Broadband Commission Member
C-SAM Inc.

Mr. Sam Pitroda is an internationally respected development thinker, policy maker, telecom inventor and entrepreneur who has spent 49 years in information and communications technology (ICT) and related human and national developments. Credited with having laid the foundation for and ushered in India’s technology and telecommunications revolution in the 1980s, Mr. Pitroda has been a leading campaigner to help bridge the global digital divide.
During his tenure as Advisor to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Mr. Pitroda led six technology missions related to telecommunications, water, literacy, immunization, dairy production, and oil seeds. He was also the founder and first Chairman of India’s Telecom Commission. In these roles, he helped revolutionize India's development policies and philosophies with a focus on access to technology as the key to social change.
Mr. Pitroda was recently Chairman of India’s National Knowledge Commission (2005-2009), set up to provide a blueprint for reform of the knowledge-related institutions and infrastructure in the country. The Commission has offered a series of recommendations on various aspects of the knowledge paradigm to help India meet the challenges of the 21st century. 
Mr. Pitroda recently served as Advisor to the Prime Minister of India on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovation, with the rank of a Cabinet Minister. He serves as the Chairman of the Smart Grid Task Force Committee to reform public broadcasting, modernize railways, deliver e-governance, and other developmental activities. He is also a founding Commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Digital Development.
Mr. Pitroda holds close to 100 worldwide patents and has published and lectured widely in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia.

H.E. Mrs. Omobola Johnson
Minister, Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, Nigeria

Mrs. Omobola Johnson is Nigeria's Honorable Minister of Communication Technology. Prior to her ministerial appointment, she was Country Managing Director of Accenture, Nigeria.
Mrs. Omobola Johnson has over 25 years consulting experience and has worked with a cross-section of companies in a variety of industries; successfully transforming them into more competitive and dynamic organisations.
Mrs. Johnson is also the founding Chairperson and member of Board of Trustees of Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ) a non-governmental organisation that seeks to improve the success rate of female entrepreneurs and increase the proportion of women in senior positions in corporate organisations.
Mrs. Johnson holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Manchester and a Master's degree in Digital Electronics from King's College,London. She is nearing completion of a doctorate degree at Cranfield University; her research focuses on corporate leadership practices in emerging markets. 

H.E. Mr. Diego Molano Vega
Minister, Ministry of Information, Technologies and Communications, Colombia

Mr. Molano is Electronic Engineer and Master in Economy. Diego Molano Vega is an outstanding international expert in the telecommunications world, area in which he has been working during twenty years in entities as the Colombian Regulatory Commission of Telecommunications (CRT) and multinationals.
Minister Molano`s experience also includes policy advise in the information technologies and Communications. Diego Molano Vega graduated in electronic engineering in 1991 from Javeriana University where he also obtained an MA in Economics in 1994.
In 2001 he received an MBA at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland. In his career he has been General Vice-chairman of Telefonica`s Corporate Relations at the main headquarters of the Company in Madrid, Spain from 2005 to 20010. In this position he supervises researches and publications on the impact of technology on public health, banking, judicial sector, education, Pymes, productivity and competitivity as well as about innovation in Latin American.
Also, within this conglomerate that operates in fourteen Latin American countries led business activities in support of Free Trade Agreement between Latin America counties, Europe and, the U.S.A. He was also director of Government Regulatory Affairs of the U.S.A international telephone company Bellsouth with headquarters in Atlanta (Georgia) between 2002 and 2005.
Between 1996 and 2000 Molano was a member of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Colombia for a period of two years, from there he issued the regulation that introduced competition in the land line, mobile and long distance which attracted foreign capital and increase the penetration of telecommunications Services. He also designed and executed social telecommunication projects. Between 1992 and 1996 he served at Ascom as Manager of Telecommunications and, between 1988 and 1990 as Sales Manager at the Texas Instrument (Texins).

 
H.E. Mr Binali Yıldırım
Former Minister, Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications, Turkey

H.E. Mr. Binali Yıldırım graduated from the Technical University of Istanbul with a Bsc Degree in Faculty of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in 1977. He studied Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration between 1990 and 1991 at the World Maritime University (WMU) - Malmoe/Sweden under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) where he was granted Msc degree on Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration.
He worked as an engineer and at various managerial levels of General Directorate of Turkish Shipbuilding Industry and Camialtı Shipyard from 1978 to 1993. He was appointed as the General Manager of Istanbul Sea Buses Corporation (IDO) under the roof of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in 1994 and managed the company until the year 2000. He was awarded the "Quality in Tourism Award" by Skal International in 1999 owing to his great contributions to maritime public transportation and tourism as the General Manager of IDO.
He was appointed as the Minister of Transport and Communications in the 58th (Gül Government) the 59th (Erdoğan Government) the 60th (Erdoğan Government) and the 61st (Erdoğan Government)Governments of the Republic of Turkey. Mr. Yıldırım was appointed as the Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications on 2 November 2011.
He is a member of the Board of Governors and Executive Board in the World Maritime University since 2007.
He is the member of various Non-Governmental Organizations as well as the Head of "Piri Reis Maritime Foundation" and "Culture and Co-operation Association of Refahiye". 

 

 

 

Mr. Housseynou Ba
Former Minister of Health, Mauritania

Since February 2013: Consultant and Professor at Nouakchott University. February 2011- February 2013: Minister of Health. March 2010 - February 2011: Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development. August 2009: Secretary General of the Ministry Delegate to the Prime Minister in Charge of Administration Modernization and Information Technology and Communication. October 2008: Director office of the Secretary of State for the Modernization of administration and Information technology and Communication. May 2007: Secretary General of the Department of Employment, Integration and Professional training. May 2001: National Director of Information Technology and Communication to the Secretary of State to the Prime Minister in Charge of New Technologies. January 2000: IT Director of the National Company of Telecommunications, MAURITEL. March 1989: IT Director of Telecom and Post Office. WORK AND STUDIES UNDERTAKEN:
1997: Study and realization of the first National Node of The Internet in Mauritania to the telecommunications operator.
2000: Study and realization of the National Network of the incumbent IP Telecommunications.
2001: Study and implementation of IP Network Intranet Broad Band fiber optic for Mauritanian Administration.
2002: Participation in the establishment of a national network for e-Health.
2004: Design of the transmission network for the first network bank electronic payment of Mauritania ( GIMTEL).
Several studies realized in IP Networks, e-Health, projects evaluation, Information System, e-gov; for African Development Bank, World Bank, International Telecommunication Union, World Health Organization, Economic African Commission; between 2000 to 2013.
Engineering degree in Telecommunications from the National Institute of Telecommunications in Rabat, Morocco in June 1981. Senior Engineering degree in computer science and electronics of the High National School of Electronics and its Applications ( ENSEA), France in July 1985.
Professor at the faculty of science and technology: 1986 - 1994, and since April 2013.
President of the Mauritanian internet society ( 1998-2001).
National Medal of recognition of Mauritania.

 

 

 

 

Ms. Anne Bouverot
Director General, GSMA, and ITU Broadband Commission Member

Anne Bouverot is Director General of the GSMA and a Member of its Board. Anne brings to the GSMA a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in the highly dynamic mobile industry. With a deep understanding of the opportunities and the challenges facing mobile operators today, she leads the GSMA as the essential industry partner for its operator members around the world, enabling their continued success through driving innovation, providing thought leadership and advocating for the industry.
Before joining the GSMA, Anne was Executive Vice President for Mobile Services for France Telecom Orange, where she defined the strategic transformation programmes for a business serving more than 120 million customers and revenues of more than 14 billion euros at the time. Prior to France Telecom Orange, Anne led a 600-person business unit of Equant and was responsible for developing IT services for Equant's multinational business customers. She began her career in telecommunications as project manager for Telmex in Mexico in 1991.
Anne holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mathematics and computer science from the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris and an M.S. degree from Telecom Paris.
She also serves as a non-executive director of Groupama, a major French insurance company, and as a non-executive director of Edenred, the world leader of prepaid corporate services.

   
Mr. Iñigo Arenillas
Director of Africa and Middle East, Real Madrid Foundation

Iñigo Arenillas learnt Sports Management and Development Cooperation and he finished his University studies in 1998, since then he has been involved in Development Cooperation programmes, first as a volunteer for the NGO Madreselva in Tanzania,Colombia and Venezuela, then in 2002 he continued with a specialization in the Project Cycle Management and Promotion of NGOs and Foundations. He has a master's degree in International Relations of the Spanish Diplomatic Academy. From 2004 to 2007 he worked for the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation (AECID)in West Africa with special focus on the Spanish Action Plans for Senegal,Cape Verde, Gambia and Guinea Bissau. Between 2007 and 2008 he launched several projects for the Spanish Ministry of Trade in Mali, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Angola, Cape Verde and Ghana. He is now responsible for International Projects at the Real Madrid Foundation, he promotes Sport as a working tool for long-term development projects and emergency aid. He also promotes the creation of social sports academies in Africa and in the Middle East.

Mr. David Atchoarena
Director, Division for Teacher Development and Higher Education, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO )

David Atchoarena is Director of the Division for Teacher Development and Higher Education at UNESCO. Prior to holding this post, he served as Senior Programme Specialist at the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), UNESCO, Paris where, since 2006, he was heading the Training and Education Programmes Unit of the Institute, including the IIEP Masters Programme in Educational Planning and Management.  Before joining the Institute, in 1991, he served as "Chargé de Mission" at the National Agency for Lifelong Education (ADEP) of the French Ministry of Education, and as Project Coordinator in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, in Saint Lucia.
David Atchoarena is also Honorary Professor in the School of Education at the University of Nottingham (UK). He holds a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne).
His research work covered several areas related to educational planning and policies, technical and vocational education and training, lifelong learning, and education for rural development.
He is author of several publications and articles on education, including lifelong learning, technical and vocational education, non-formal and adult education, financing of education, educational planning, education and rural development.
In his present capacity, in addition to issues related to teachers and education policies, his responsibilities include developing and overseeing the UNESCO education programme in higher education and in ICT in education. Current themes of work include quality assurance in higher education, recognition of degrees and academic qualifications, mobility of students, governance of universities, ICT in education policies, ICT for teachers development, mobile learning and the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs programme.

Mr. Anthony Bloome,
Senior Education Technology Specialist Founder of m-Education Alliance, USAID.

Mr. Bloome works as the senior education technology specialist in the global education offices at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Washington, DC. In this capacity, he has conceptualized, developed, and manages relevant projects, coordinates the exchange of good practice experiences in the appropriate use of information and communications technology for education (ICT4E) and provides advice to USAID staff, USG counterparts, and other international and national stakeholders. 
Recently, he has been spearheading the formation and development of two multinational initiatives, the Mobiles for Education (mEducation) Alliance and the All Children Reading Grand Challenge for Development.
Prior to joining USAID, Mr. Bloome worked as Peace Corps' global ICT specialist and as a distance education specialist at World Bank offices in Washington, DC, and Zimbabwe.
Mr. Bloome has previously served in an associate editorial capacity and written several published articles on ICTs in education. He has an M.A. in international telecommunications with a concentration in distance education for developing countries.

Mr. Evgeny Bondarenko
Vice Chairman ITU-D Study Group 2, Deputy General Director, Intervale

Ms. Kathryn C. Brown
CEO, Internet Society

Kathryn C. Brown recently retired from Verizon Communications where she served as the senior vice president of public policy development since June 2002. In that position, she was responsible for public policy development, emerging issues management and cultivating strategic alliances with key national and international organizations.
She was also responsible for Verizon's domestic and international corporate responsibility initiatives, including oversight of the Verizon Foundation with its focus on education and literacy with programs such as the Verizon Thinkfinity.org education website and safety and health, supporting initiatives that further Internet safety, and apply technology to increase access to healthcare. Before joining Verizon, Ms. Brown was a partner at the law firm of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering. Prior to joining the firm, she was the chief of staff to Federal Communications Commission Chairman William E. Kennard, managing the agenda on all telecommunications, broadcast and spectrum matters.
Ms. Brown received her J.D., summa cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law in 1980 and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Marist College in 1974. She is admitted to practice in New York and the District of Columbia.
She serves on the Advisory Boards of the Public Registry (.org); Advanced Development for Africa, and the National Museum of American History.

Mr. Robert Collymore
Chief Executive Officer, Safaricom Limited

Mr. Robert Collymore is the current CEO of Safaricom Limited, effective 1st November 2010. Prior to joining Safaricom, Mr. Collymore was the Chief Officer for Corporate Affairs in Vodacom Group responsible for the Group's Corporate Communication, Ethics and Compliance, Legal, External Relationships and Corporate Social Responsibility.
Prior to that, he was Vodafone's Governance Director for Africa where he was responsible for developing and driving Vodafone's strategy for its investments in Africa as well as representing Vodafone as a key direct foreign investor in a number of African countries.
Mr. Collymore has more than 25 years of commercial experience working in the telecommunications sector. He is also a trustee of Holding companies in Kenya and Tanzania for M-PESA, Vodafone's pioneering money transfer service.

 
Mr. John Davies
General Manager, Vice President, Intel World Ahead Program, Intel Corporation
ITU Broadband Commission Member

Mr. John E. Davies is Vice President of the Sales and Marketing Group and general manager of the Intel World Ahead Program. The program promotes increased access to technology in emerging markets, enabling millions to be part of the computing and connected world for the first time, and has helped improve education and healthcare, stimulate economies, and enrich lives around the world.
During his 35 years with Intel, Mr. Davies has worked in various senior engineering, marketing, and management positions. He has been director of Marketing for the Mobile Computing Group and Vice President and marketing director for the Consumer Desktop Products Group. In late 90's, Davies was Vice President and general manager of Intel Asia Pacific Region, based in Hong Kong.

Davies was born in London, England. He received his bachelor's degree in Chemistry and his doctorate in Solid State Physics from Imperial College, London University. Prior to joining Intel, Davies worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at IBM and as a development engineer at Philips in the UK. Intel has awarded Davies two prestigious Individual Achievement Awards for establishing Intel in the European automotive market in 1986, and for driving Intel's mobile computing architecture into the Japanese market in 1992.

Ms. Gabrielle Gauthey
Executive Vice President for Global Government and Public Affairs, Alcatel-Lucent

Dr. Sayave Gnoumou
Chief Executive Officer and President, Nazounki Global Medical Network

Dr. Sayave Gnoumou specializes in general surgery, micro surgery, and urology and has been practicing medicine for over 20 years.
Dr. Gnoumou is the founder of Nazounki Global Medical Network, a company that takes a 360° all-inclusive approach in its care of patients seeking treatment abroad.
Nazounki uses technology to share with specialists all over the world, medical information of its "patients of the world".
Dr Gnoumou became a leader in the telemedicine field and has been a pioneer in developing ICT tools to provide the best medical care, and in particular to patients in the most remote places going abroad for treatment. As a result, he has become a reference for various organizations (e.g. AU and UNGAID) in the use of ICT in health.   

Mr. Navin Kapila
Independent Consultant and Managing Director of India at Inmarsat Plc.

Mr. Navin Kapila has been Managing Director of India at Inmarsat Plc since January 21, 2013. He was a senior official within the Indian Government's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and also served as Vice President of Corporate Development at ICO Global Communications (London), and served as its Vice President of Government Affairs and Director of Business Development.
Mr. Kapila is a seasoned professional who has, for more the past 25 years, gained vast experience in diverse fields including investment, business and product development and relationship and alliance management. He has in-depth telecommunications experience and was involved in policy formulation and market deregulation. He currently serves as a non-executive Board Member of Telkom South Africa and an International Telecommunications Union Special Adviser for Emergency Communications.
Mr. Kapila was educated at India's Punjab University. In October 2012, Mr. Kapila was presented with the only individual award by ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré at the ITU's first Humanitarian Awards ceremony.

Mr. Rahul Khullar
Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority, India

Dr. Rahul Khullar joined Telecom Regulatory Authority of India as Chairman on 14th May 2012. Prior to joining TRAI, he was Commerce Secretary in Ministry of commerce and industry, Government of India. He also served as Secretary, Department of Disinvestment, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
He is a permanent civil servant who joined the Indian Administrative Service since 1975. He has served in various capacities and at various levels in the Central and State Government. He has served as Director in the Prime Minister's Office, Private Secretary to Finance Minister, Development Commissioner for Delhi, Commissioner of Sales Tax, Delhi and Principal Secretary (Planning), Delhi. He has also served as Additional Secretary and Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry. He has been Chief Negotiator for India in the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations at the WTO. He was also Chief Negotiator for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU. 
Dr. Khullar has worked as a professional economist in the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila from 1994 to 2000. In this assignment he worked as a Lead Economist for the Pacific, and later for the Philippines, and, thereafter, for Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, etc.). He also served as Senior Economist in the Strategy and Policy Office attached to the President of the Asian Development Bank.
He has a Ph.D. in Economics and has been a Visiting Professor in the Department of Economics, Boston University (1990-91), and a Lecturer at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge USA(1982-84).  

Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny
Assistant Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)

Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny was appointed WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Innovation in November 2012. Dr. Kieny was WHO Assistant Director-General for Innovation, Information, Evidence and Research from October 2010-November 2012.
Prior to this, Dr. Kieny directed the WHO Initiative for Vaccine Research since its inception in 2001. Major successes under her leadership were the development and licensing of new vaccines against meningitis and measles, and against pandemic influenza in developing countries through pioneering the transfer of technology and know-how. Vaccines against poverty-related diseases and those that disproportionately affect poor and marginalized populations are continuing priorities since her first role in WHO with the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in 2001.
Before coming to WHO, Dr. Kieny held top research positions in the public and private sectors of her home country, France. The positions included Assistant Scientific Director of Transgene S.A. from 1981 to 1988, and Director of Research and Head of the Hepatitis C Virus Molecular Virology Group at the Institute of Virology, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) from 1999 to 2000.
She received her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Montpelier in 1980, where she was also awarded a University Diploma in Economics, and her Diplôme d'Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches from the University of Strasbourg in 1995. Dr Kieny has published over 250 articles and reviews, mainly in the areas of infectious diseases, immunology and vaccinology.
Dr Kieny was awarded the coveted Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite, au titre du Ministère de la Recherche (2000); the Prix Génération 2000-Impact Médecin (1994); and the Prix de l'Innovation Rhône-Poulenc (1991).

Mr. Sipho Maseko
Group Chief Executive Officer, Telekom SA SOC Ltd.

Mr. Sipho Maseko was appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer and as an Executive Director of Telkom on 1 April 2013. He was the Group Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director at Vodacom since 2011.
Prior to joining Vodacom, Mr. Maseko was the Chief Executive Officer of BP Africa (Pty) Limited from 2008 to 2012 and the Chief Operating Officer in 2007. He also served in various positions at BP since 1997.
Mr. Maseko is currently a Non-Executive Director of the Board of the Centre for Development & Enterprise since 2009 and of the Afrox Board since 2012. He served as Chairman of the Board of SAPREF (Shell & BP South African Petroleum Refineries Pty Ltd) from July 2010 to August 2011.    
 

Mr. Mokhtar Mnakri
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Groupe Tunisie Telecom

Mr. Mnakri has more than 25 years track in the business of Telecommunications. Since 2012 he is CEO & Chairman of Tunisie Telecom Group, incumbent operator in Tunisia (8000p,>1B$).
He previously worked for large manufacturing companies Alcatel then ALU for 20 years and was, in the early stage of Mobile networks deployments, in charge of Sales Support and Business Development in Africa & Middle East.
In the early 2000's he led for Alcatel commercial activity for mobile in North Africa, Middle East and South Asia. In 2008, he was appointed Country Senior Officer and CEO of ALU Tunisia until end 2010. He then ensured support to European and MEA companies in Business Development & Management during 2011 until his appointment in Tunisie Telecom in 2012.
Mr. Mnakri has a wide view on telecoms sector and actors. He has also developed Intercultural Management skills, along with a solid track in Management of People and Organisations. Mr. Mnakri holds a Masters in Telecommunications from «Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Telecoms», Paris, and a MSc of Civil Aviation & Aeorospace from «Ecole Nationale de l'Aviation Civile»,Toulouse, France. He speaks Arabic, English and French.

Dr. Veena Rawat
Partner and Chief Technology Officer, Expert Strategies Inc.

Dr. Veena Rawat joined Research In Motion Limited in 2011 as Vice President and RIM's Ambassador to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Dr. Rawat is a well-known expert in ITU technical circles and is responsible for representing Research In Motion ( BlackBerry now ) as an ITU member company at the executive levels.
Dr. Rawat has 34 years of senior management experience with the Federal Government of Canada in managing spectrum engineering and regulatory programs Prior to joining RIM, she served for 6 years as President of the Communication Research Centre of Canada (CRC), a Canadian government agency responsible for conducting applied research radiocommunications, broadcasting and information technologies.
Dr. Rawat has led Canadian delegations and negotiations at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations, as well as CITEL, a constituent entity of the Organization of American States and with United States.
In 2003, she became the first woman to chair the World Radiocommunication (WRC) Conference of the ITU, where issues impacting billions of investment dollars in the communications industry are addressed. The Secretary-General of the ITU awarded Dr. Rawat a gold medal for her chairmanship. Other major recognitions include Canadian Women in Communications (CWC) Woman of the Year Award; the International Leadership in Government Award from the Wireless Communications Association International; and the Public service award of excellence from the Canadian Government in 2011. Her efforts and contributions have led to a significant increase in the representation and recognition of women in leadership roles in national and international organizations.

Mr. Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi
Former Chairman, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission