Connecting the world and beyond

Speakers

	Mr. Manel Alcaide Dias With a career spanning more than two decades leading several companies, I have focused my mission on developing accessible technologies for people with hearing impairments through Visualfy. Our innovation is reflected in the creation of systems that transform sound signals into visual and sensory ones, facilitating communication and improving the quality of life of our users. Our app and the "Deaf Smart Space" device are examples of how, through leadership and business strategy, we have expanded the horizons of accessibility.
	Ms. Lidia Best Lidia Best is the President of the European Federation of Hard of Hearing People. With 15 years of advocacy experience, she leads EFHOH work in research, accessibility, policy, and capacity building, raising awareness and changing societal and systemic attitudes towards people with hearing loss. Lidia herself is hard of hearing. In addition to her responsibilities at EFHOH, Lidia Best is the Chair of Joint Coordination Activity on Accessibility and Human Factors (JCA-AHF) at the International Telecommunication Union. She is the editor and contributor to ITU standards of the ITU FSTP-RCSO “Overview of remote captioning services" and H.871“Safety requirements for wearable audio augmenting devices" the recommendation on personal sound amplifiers.
	Mr. Vitalie Boboc Mr. Vitalie Boboc, Head of Electronic and Postal Communications Policy Directorate, Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization of the Republic of Moldova. He is a graduate of Technical University of Moldova at the Faculty of Radioelectronic. Mr. Vitalie Boboc is responsible for transposing the European Accessibility Act into the legislation of the Republic of Moldova. From the beginning of his professional career in 1999, he has engaged in public service work in the field of electronic communications, serving as a public servant in various Ministries responsible for the ICT sector throughout his time. He participated in the development of several policy documents in the ICT field, such as the Broadband Network Development Programs for 2010-2013, the Digital Terrestrial TV Transition Program for 2018-2020, the Digital Moldova Strategy 2020, as well as the Digital Transformation Strategy 2023–2030. Also, since 2007, the Directorate in which he serves has ensured the development of normative acts that transposed the EU acquis into national legislation. Mr. Boboc considerably contributed to the successful transposition of the European Electronic Communications Code this year, one of the most important achievements in the process of legislative alignment. Currently, with the support of the ITU, he is working on identifying optimal solutions for implementing the provisions of the European Accessibility Act and European Electronic Communications Code, to ensure maximum benefits for people with disabilities and specific needs, while simultaneously avoiding excessive burdening of operators.
	Dr. Dušan Caf Dr. Dušan Caf Chairman, Electronic Communications Council of the Republic of Slovenia Director, Digitas Institute Bridging regulation, technology and inclusion. For more than a decade, Dr. Dušan Caf has shaped national digital policy, providing strategic direction on digital infrastructure and services while maintaining a consistent focus on accessibility for persons with disabilities. His leadership spans issues ranging from network neutrality and universal broadband coverage to the regulatory conditions enabling high-speed network deployment — including along key railway corridors — and the governance frameworks for accessible digital services and emergency communications. As Director of the Digitas Institute and Chairman of the Electronic Communications Council of the Republic of Slovenia, he has championed inclusive policy solutions and led practical initiatives such as the introduction of video remote interpreting services for the deaf community and enhanced accessibility of emergency communications. The Digitas Institute, under his direction, also develops and hosts community and learning platforms supporting distance apprenticeships, with a particular focus on inclusion of persons with disabilities. As a consultant to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), he led the Europe-wide ICT Accessibility Assessment, resulting in the 2021 ITU report for the Europe Region, and continues to contribute to ITU study groups on ICT and multimedia accessibility. He also lectures on internet policy, cybersecurity, information security and digital accessibility.
	Ms. Antonella Candiago Antonella Candiago works as a Policy Officer at the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL). She is a passionate disability rights advocate with a strong focus on intersectionality, gender equality, and the right to independent living. She brings experience from both EU institutions and civil society, where she has been involved in EU policy and decision-making processes related to social inclusion, equality, and human rights. Her expertise spans multiple areas, including digital accessibility and the impact of AI on disability rights.
	Mr. Daniel Casas Ballester Daniel Casas is Accessibility Policy Officer at the European Disability Forum (EDF), the umbrella organisation that defends the interests of over 100 million persons with disabilities in Europe. His work at EDF focuses on accessibility and freedom of movement, covering areas and policies such as transport, the built environment, accessibility of goods and services, ICT and new technologies and standardisation. Daniel holds a bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Spain) and a master's degree in European Integration (Belgium).
	Mr. Karl-Filip Coenegrachts Karl-Filip is Chair of the Governing Body and Executive Director of Open & Agile Smart Cities & Communities, an international network of 190+ local and regional authorities supporting its members in their digital transformation journey with a strong focus on interoperability. He is also Head of the Data, Governance and Communities Unit at the imec research group SMIT of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (imec-SMIT, VUB). The main focus of the work of his unit is on governance and business aspects of urban digital transformation and urban innovation, including data spaces, local digital twins and personal data management. Currently, he also serves as Senior Policy Advisor Smart Cities, Data Spaces, Local Digital Twins and CitiVerse at FARI, the AI for the Common Good Institute in Brussels. Before joining SMIT, he served in government for 24 years, working at the local level as Chief Strategy Officer of the City of Ghent and at the Belgian FPS Justice on digital policies and digital transformation programmes. He holds a master of laws degree, specialized in European and International Law.
	Dr. Carlos Duarte Carlos Duarte is an Associate Professor at the Faculdade de Ciências of the Universidade de Lisboa and a senior researcher at LASIGE, where he leads the Inclusive Human-Computer Interaction Research Line. His primary research focus revolves around digital accessibility, encompassing a range of topics such as automated accessibility evaluation mechanisms, the accessibility of mixed reality environments, the transformative role of AI in enhancing accessibility, and the development of effective digital accessibility curricula in higher education. He has published over 100 refereed scientific papers and edited three books on the topic of accessibility. He co-chairs the W3C Accessibility Conformance Testing Rules Community Group where he contributes to establishing a harmonized interpretation of accessibility conformance testing. He was part of the W3C Education and Outreach Working Group Task Force that redesigned the curriculum for teaching Web Accessibility.
	Dr. Lodovico Folin Calabi Lodovico Folin Calabi was appointed as UNESCO Representative to the European Union in March 2025. Prior to this, he served as Senior Crisis Coordinator at UNESCO Headquarters, leading the organization's overall response to the war in Ukraine (2022-2024) and was Chief of Taskforce in the Director-General's Cabinet (2019-2022), supervising the Organisation's flagship recovery and reconstruction initiatives Revive the Spirit of Mosul (since 2019) and Li Beirut (since2020), coordinating the large-scale efforts for the reconstruction and recovery of the Old City of Mosul in Iraq and of Beirut after the August 2020 blast. He has been UNESCO Representative to Palestine and Head of the UNESCO National Office for Palestine from 2014 to 2019. From 2012 until 2014, he was the UNESCO Representative to Libya and Head of the UNESCO Project Office in Tripoli, where he coordinated the reactivation of UNESCO's overall development cooperation with Libya after the 2011 conflict. Previously, Lodovico Folin Calabi worked with the UNESCO Culture Sector since 2003, first at the World Heritage Centre until July 2011, and then at the Executive Office of the Assistant Director-General, where he was in charge of the overall coordination of the UNESCO flagship initiative “Culture: a Bridge to Development" in South-East Europe. His work also focused on historic cities and contemporary development and he coordinated the steps leading to the adoption of the UNESCO's Recommendation on Historic Urban Landscape. He previously coordinated the World Heritage related training and research centres established under UNESCO's auspices in China, Bahrain, Brazil, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, Spain and Italy. Lodovico studied international corporate law and holds a Ph.D. in Urban History, with a thesis on the urban development of São Paulo, Brazil, and is alumnus of the U.S. Department of State's “International Visitor Leadership Programme".
	Ms. Ana Gallego Ana Gallego is the Director-General for Justice and Consumers at the European Commission since November 2021. Before joining the European Commission she was Director-General of International Legal Cooperation and Human Rights in the Ministry of Justice in Spain. She has a degree in law from the University of Granada, Spain and studies in Translation and Interpretation from the same university.
	Ms. Chiara Giovannini Chiara Giovannini works for ANEC since 2002, first as Programme Manager and presently as Senior Manager, Policy & Innovation and Deputy Director General. Apart from deputising for the Director General, she leads ANEC's works on Accessibility and Digital Society and is responsible for horizontal and strategic policy issues. Prior to working for ANEC, Ms. Giovannini worked at Swiss Consumers Organisation. She holds a Master degree in European Law. Ms Giovannini represents ANEC at high-level events, committees and research Advisory Boards. For example, she was a member of the European Commission High Level Group on Artificial Intelligence and Ethics and in now a Sherpa of the High Level Forum on standardisation. ANEC is the European consumer voice in standardisation. ANEC defends the European consumer interest in the creation of technical standards and European laws and public policies making use of standards.
	Dr. Lourdes González Perea Lourdes González Perea, Head of Accessible Technologies at Fundación ONCE. She and Social Communication and an Executive MBA. Her passion for ICT Accessibility began in 2003, and since then she has had the privilege of leading accessibility assessments, training initiatives, technology certification processes, and R&D projects. She is also part of the management team of AccessibleEU, where she coordinates activities related to accessibility, communication, and technology, striving to make a meaningful impact in these fields
	Dr. Jesús Hernández Galán PhD Engineer with highest honors, Cum Laude. He has over 30 years of experience in innovation and accessibility, leading diverse teams. From 2000 to 2003, he served as General Director and CEO of the consultancy Vía Libre. In late 2022, he was appointed Director of the European Accessibility Resource Centre, a role he combines with his current position as Director of Accessibility and Innovation at Fundación ONCE, which he has held since 2003. He received the 2024 National Innovation Award and was honored with the Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards. His academic background includes IESE (PDG and Executive Program for Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer Institutions – PADIIT), Stanford University (Professional Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship), and the London School of Economics (Social Innovation). He is an expert in business management and innovation, a certified professional coach, professor, and speaker.
	Dr. Mario Hernandez Ramos Mario Hernández Ramos is a Professor of Constitutional Law at the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain). He obtained his PhD with Extraordinary Doctorate Award and Doctor Europeus Mention. Between 2018 and 2021 he worked as a legal advisor at the Ministry of Justice of the Government of Spain in the Cabinet of the Minister, in the Secretariat of State, and in the Directorate General of International Legal Cooperation and Human Rights. Since its creation in 2019, he has been the head of the Spanish delegation of the Committee on Artificial Intelligence of the Council of Europe, where he has coordinated several working groups on Artificial Intelligence, human rights, the rule of law, and democracy. On 18 September 2024 he was elected Chair of the Committee.
	Mr. Klaus Höckner Klaus Höckner is CEO of the Hilfsgemeinschaft der Blinden und Sehschwachen/Access Austria, based in Vienna. With more than 7000 members and about 70 employees it is the leading privately funded organisation helping visually impaired persons in Austria, existing since 1935. He was a member of the board of the Austrian Disablity Forum – the Austrian umbrella for organisations for persons with disabilities, representing more the 80 organisations with 1,4 million me60mbers, in IAAPs Global Leadership Council and in several conference boards (ICCHP, AAATE). He works together with Access Israel and Zero Project, acting as an Ambassador in this world wide-initiative. Klaus has an ICT background, working for nearly 20 years in ICT and standardisation in the context of european (i.e. in the European Disability Forum EDF) and inter/national level (CEN, CENELEC/ISO/ITU). From 2018 to 2020 he was a member of the High Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence at the European Commission. Recently he was selected as Expert of the Accessible EU platform. His mission is to make the world accessible for all.
	Dr. Tawfik Jelassi Dr. Tawfik Jelassi has, since 2021, been the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information. He is responsible for the Organization's programs on building inclusive knowledge societies, leading digital transformation, building capacities in artificial intelligence, strategizing the role of ICT in education, and fostering freedom of expression and access to information. He holds a Ph.D. doctorate in information systems from New York University (USA) and postgraduate diplomas from the University of Paris Dauphine (France). Dr. Jelassi has extensive experience in higher education, scientific research, and information & communication technologies. He held academic, corporate and government leadership positions in Europe, the USA, and Tunisia. He was Professor of Strategy & Technology Management and Program Director at IMD Business School in Lausanne (Switzerland), and Minister of Higher education, Scientific Research and Information & Communication Technologies in Tunisia. Prior appointments included Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ooredoo Telecom in Tunisia, Dean at Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (Paris), and Professor & Chairman of the Technology Management Department at INSEAD (Fontainebleau)
	Mr. Rafał Kanarek Rafał represents Poland in the WADEX expert group at the European Commission, which advises on the implementation of the Web Accessibility Directive for websites and mobile applications. As a web accessibility expert with solid linguistic competences, he also played an essential role in preparing Polish translation of the European Norm ETSI EN 301 549 which is the European harmonized standard that defines accessibility requirements for ICT products and services. He is actively involved in shaping national and EU-level digital policy, particularly in the areas of e-government, and cross-border digital cooperation. As a blind professional, Rafał brings a unique and deeply informed perspective to digital accessibility. He is a recognized advocate for inclusive technology and has contributed to multiple international projects, including the Erasmus+ “Missing Tile" initiative, which promotes assistive technologies and best practices for accessibility in collaboration with European partners. Rafał regularly speaks at conferences and expert panels, including events organized by the Polish Association of the Blind, the European Commission, and national institutions. His recent presentations have addressed topics such as the state of digital accessibility in public administration, user-centric design for assistive technologies, and policy frameworks for inclusive digital transformation. He is also an author of numerous articles related to assistive technologies and accessible ICT solutions for the visually impaired.
	Mr. Jamie Knight I'm Jamie, and this is Lion. We're an autistic duo who focus on being helpful and making things We have 20 years experience building digital products for web, mobile, game platforms & beyond. We centre our approach around understanding & removing barriers. Using our expertise & experience in digital accessibility, inclusive design & neurodiversity we support organisations large & small to build better products & services. We have worked with leading brands such as BBC, Apple, HSBC, Sky & many others. We have direct experience of using AI to remove day to day barriers around food preparation and safety. Outside of our accessibility work we also develop a financial crime detection platform, which screens Billions of dollars of payments for money laundering and people trafficking Millions of people use the products we've worked on and we contribute to books, podcasts and journals.
	Ms. Anna Königseder Anna Königseder is the Zero Project's Director of Business Partnerships and Operations. In this role she oversees our business outreach efforts and the development of international business partnerships. Growing up with a brother with down syndrome, she was fueled with a passion for disability inclusion from a very early age. Thus, after working for ten years in the private and industrial sector in Austria and internationally, Anna joined the Zero Project in 2019. As the team's key lead on process management, she is also responsible for all operational matters, as well as the digitization effort underway at the Zero Project. Apart from that, she is also in charge of managing and coordinating all business sector related activities that bolster the Zero Project Network. Anna Königseder graduated from the University of Vienna with a Master's degree in Translation, and holds a Master's degree in International Economics from the Université Paris Nanterre.
	Ms. Susanna Laurin Susanna Laurin is Managing Director and Chair of the Funka Foundation, a Research and Innovation Centre focusing on end user involvement, disabilities, empowerment and accessibility. She has been a thought leader in the field of digitalisation, inclusion and e-government for more than 20 years and she is a frequent international lecturer and debater. Susanna is the Chair of the ETSI/CEN/CENELEC Joint Technical Body on eAccessibility, responsible for the development and update of the EN301549, to act as presumed conformance of the Web Accessibility Directive and the European Accessibility Act. As an internationally acknowledged expert in EU accessibility policy and legislation, Susanna is leading strategic assignments and research projects at EU level, nationally and across the world. Her area of expertise covers digital accessibility, the built environment, transportation, procurement and user involvement. She has written or co-authored several white papers and published scientific reports. Recent assignments for the European Commission include the formal review of the Web Accessibility Directive and a study on cognitive accessibility. Susanna is a co-founder, Representative to the EU and also Past Honorary Chair of IAAP, the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, as well as the Representative to the EU for the UN-initiative G3ict.
	Ms. Sarah Malelu Sarah Malelu is the Team Lead for the Global Disability Summit (GDS) Team at the German Development Agency (GIZ) and a core member of the GDS Secretariat. In this capacity, she and her team support the implementation of the Amman-Berlin Declaration on Global Disability Inclusion, adopted by over 100 stakeholders at GDS2025 in Berlin. Her team's work now focuses on translating these high-level commitments into action — particularly by promoting data-driven, inclusive development. As part of her role, Sarah coordinated all disability-data initiatives tied to the GDS: she worked on the Global Disability Inclusion Report, cooperated with the World Bank on the Disability Data Hub, and organized the Disability Data Forum, which convened data experts, policymakers, and organizations of persons with disabilities during GDS2025. With nearly 20 years of experience at GIZ, Sarah brings a strong background in network management, multi-stakeholder processes, and the design of inclusive development approaches. Her work is driven by the belief that meaningful participation and high-quality data are essential to achieving lasting, systemic change for persons with disabilities worldwide.
	Mr. Guillem Martinez Roura Guillem Martinez Roura is the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics Programme Officer at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for digital technologies. He leads strategic initiatives that shape the role of AI and robotics in tackling global challenges, fostering international collaboration on capacity building and standards development. His work is dedicated to ensuring that AI and robotics are harnessed to deliver real-world impact and support inclusive, sustainable progress worldwide. Guillem began his robotics journey participating in international tournaments and, at 15, co-founded an educational robotics competition in Barcelona. For over eight years, he led the initiative, transforming it into a leading open-source championship that engaged thousands of students each year, work he has continued at the ITU. Before joining ITU at the age of 23. he served as the EU Policy Assistant at the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia to the European Union and as the International Relations Assistant at the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia to Switzerland. He also worked as a legal trainee at Montesinos Abogados. Guillem is a Global Shaper, a Sigma Squared Society Fellow, and a Nova member. He has been a European Commission Expert Evaluator and Reviewer, a Diplocat Scholar, an EU Careers Student Ambassador, a EUTOPIA Student Career Ambassador, POLITICO's EU Studies and Career Fair Ambassador, a UNICAT Ambassador, and a member of the 1st EUSALP Youth Council. On the academic front, Guillem holds a double bachelor's degree in Law and Business Management and Administration from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona. He also participated in the one-year Swiss-European Mobility Program in Law at the University of Geneva, earning a Certificate in Transnational Law. He completed a master's degree in International Law at the Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies (IHEID), Geneva, and participated in the 59th Graduate Study Program at the United Nations Office in Geneva. He has been a speaker at leading global tech, AI, and robotics events, including the AI and Big Data Congress Barcelona, AI Expo Africa, AI Policy Summit, AI House Davos, Davos Innovation Week, European Robotics Forum, EmpoderaLIVE, GAIN Summit, Geneva IP and Digital Law Career Forum, Mobile World Congress, Smart City Expo World Congress, WSIS, Swiss Robotics Day, India Mobile Congress, iREX, and Youth Mobile Festival.
	Mr. Robin Massart Robin Massart is a Policy Officer in the Accessibility, Multilingualism & Safer Internet unit at DG CNECT of the European Commission. He supports the Commission's work on the Web Accessibility Directive with a focus on the harmonised European standard on the accessibility of ICT products and services. Before joining the European Commission in 2012, Robin spent 15 years building accessible websites, with a focus on health care information. He holds a Masters in Engineering.
	Ms. Karen Massin Karen Massin leads Google's Government Affairs & Public Policy team in Brussels. She drives the development and implementation of outreach strategies, and engages in various policy areas affecting the digital industry such as platform policies, AI, privacy, cybersecurity, content management, economic recovery and sustainability. She is a board member of DOT Europe and ITI and part of the Executive Policy Advisory Committee of DigitalEurope. Previously, Karen was one of the CEOs of a public affairs consultancy in Brussels and worked at the UN, the European Commission and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
	Dr. Klaus Miesenberger Head of Institute Integriert Studieren (http://www.jku.at/iis). R&D and teaching in Computer Science: Assistive Technology, Accessibility, Design for All, Usability, Human-Computer Interaction, Socio-technical Inclusion. Founder/CEO of JKU's Service Centre for Students with Disabilities. 250+ peer-reviewed publications and 150+ R&D grants. Chair ICCHP (Int. Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs, www.icchp.org). Scientific Chair CSUN Journal on Technology and Disability (https://w2.csun.edu/cod/journal). Founder/chair ICC (Summer school for disabled university beginners, www.icc-camp.info). Founder/chair Regional Competence Centre IT for People with disabilities (KI-I, www.ki-i.at). Founder/chair BookAccess (Accessible teaching/learning materials, www.bookaccess.at). Past-President and secretariat of AAATE (www.aaate.net). Active member www.ocg.at, www.ifip.org, www.acm.org, www.uniability.org. Expert for the European Commission and the Austrian Government for AT, Accessibility and eInclusion. Austrian board of Light for the world (https://www.light-for-the-world.org/).
	Mr. Alejandro Moledo del Río European Disability Forum (EDF) Deputy Director & Head of Policy. Mr. Moledo leads and coordinates EDF's advocacy and policy work at EU level and supports the work of the European Parliament Disability Intergroup. Among other areas, Mr. Moledo has developed policy positions and recommendations regarding political participation of persons with disabilities, accessible Information and Communication Technologies, Assistive Technologies and different standardisation activities. Mr. Moledo holds a Bachelor's degree with honours in Journalism from University of Valencia (Spain, 2005-2010), including one year at York University (Canada), as well as a Master's degree in political and corporate communication from University of Navarra and George Washington University (Spain and US, 2011-2012). During his bachelor's studies he worked as communication officer for a political group within the parliament of the Valencia Region (2009 and 2010). After working as a journalist in digital media and a communication agency in Andorra, he started working in a European public affairs company (Madrid) in 2012, before joining the European Disability Forum in 2013. Mr Moledo is also member of the Spanish Blind Organisation (ONCE), for which he worked as a journalist and regional representative of young visually impaired people inside the organisation (2008-2011).
	Mr. Tonko Obuljen Tonko Obuljen, President of the Council at HAKOM, graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb. He has been active in the field of electronic communications ever since, which includes an engineering and managing experience in the microwave, satellite and fibre-optic systems, as well as the broadcasting. He had previously been appointed as the Executive Director at HAKOM and the Member of HAKOM's Council. During negotiations on the accession of the Republic of Croatia into the European Union he was a member of working group for Chapter 10 – Information Society. He has been the President of the Council at HAKOM since 2018, BEREC Chair 2024 and BEREC Vice-chair (2020, 2023, 2025). Tonko Rafał Kanarek is a Senior Specialist at the Digital Competences Development Centre at the Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland, where he leads initiatives in the Web Accessibility Unit. His work focuses on enhancing the accessibility and interoperability of public digital services, with a strong emphasis on inclusive design and compliance with European standards.
	Ms. Viktoriia Omelianenko Viktoriia Omelianenko is a Project Officer at the ITU Office for Europe, where she supports and implements regional initiatives on digital transformation, ICT infrastructure recovery in Ukraine, Child Online Protection (COP), and youth inclusion. She holds Master’s degrees in EU Diplomacy and International Communication and brings experience in online safety, digital diplomacy, EU affairs, stakeholder engagement, and digital development. Drawing on cross-sector experience and interdisciplinary skills that help her connect the dots, Ms. Omelianenko combines research-based insights, strategic vision, and hands-on implementation to advance resilient and inclusive digital ecosystems across Europe.
	Dr. Pilar Orero PhD (UMIST, UK) works at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) in the TransMedia Catalonia Lab. She has written and edited many books, near 100 academic papers and almost the same number of book chapters --all on Media Accessibility. Leader and participant of numerous EU funded research projects focusing on media accessibility. She works in standardisation and participates in the UN ITU IRG-AVA - Intersector Rapporteur Group Audiovisual Media Accessibility. She has been working on Immersive Accessibility for the past 6 years first in a project called ImAc, which results are now further developed in TRACTION, MEDIAVERSE, MILE, and GREENSCENT. She led until December 2022 the EU network LEADME on Media Accessibility. She was the Co-Chair of Study Group on Accessibility and Inclusion in the ITU Metaverse Focus Group, and she is leading the Digital Inclusion and Accessibility track of the ITU Virtual Worlds. She is now working on AI and accessibility in the three funded projects MOSAIC, ALFIE, and SPICE. For more info please go to: https://webs.uab.cat/pilarorero/
	Ms. Alexia Papadimitriou Senior Research and Innovation Manager at DIGITALEUROPE, where she leads European projects on accessibility, AI, cybersecurity, digital skills, and social rights. She coordinates multi-stakeholder consortia, works closely with the European Commission, and drives EU-wide initiatives that bridge policy, technology, and inclusion. She currently leads the 2025 AccessibleEU study on the accessibility resource needs of companies. She also coordinates major innovation, digital transformation, and AI-skills initiatives such as the Artificial Intelligence Skills Alliance (ARISA) and the European Network of Cybersecurity Skills Hubs (CyberHubs). With a background in Digital Society (Maastricht University) and a Master's in European Studies on Society, Science & Technology (specialisation in Law and Technology), she brings over 15 years of experience in programme management, stakeholder engagement, and research on technology and inclusion. She is also Chair of the European Multi-Stakeholder Platform on Research & Innovation under the MSP for ICT Standardisation and a frequent speaker on AI skills, accessibility, and digital policy.
	Dr. Sachin Pavithran Dr. Sachin Dev Pavithran is the Executive Director of the U.S. Access Board. In this role, Pavithran oversees the daily operations of the agency and supports the development of rules and voluntary guidelines in the areas of transportation, information and communication technology, the built environment, and outdoor recreation. With over 25 years of direct involvement in development, testing, and training for assistive technology, Pavithran has given lectures and training in accessible information technology for individuals and groups, as well as assisted in the evaluation of products related to web accessibility and design. Pavithran also has extensive experience working with the higher education community in providing access to instructional materials to facilitate transitioning from K – 12 to post-secondary education into the workforce.
	Ms. Ana Carla Pereira Ana Carla Pereira is Director for 'Equality and non-discrimination' in DG Justice & Consumers where she is responsible for policies combating discrimination on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation. Previously she served as Cabinet Expert and employment & social policy adviser to Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. As Cabinet Expert, she steered flagship initiatives such as the minimum wage directive, the platform work directive or work on social dialogue. Prior to that, she was Head of Unit in Directorate General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission, firstly being responsible for skills and qualifications policies and later on for social protection policies. She graduated in Economics at University of Coimbra (PT) and holds a MA in European Human Resources Studies from the College of Europe (BE). She speaks Portuguese as a mother tongue and is fluent in English, French and Italian.
	Dr. Mārcis Pinnis Mārcis Pinnis serves as the Chief AI Officer (since 2019) and Head of Research (since 2022) at Tilde. His professional involvement in AI and natural language processing (NLP) spans nearly two decades, beginning in 2006, and he has been a dedicated NLP researcher at Tilde since 2011. In his strategic roles, Dr. Pinnis manages the Research Group and directs the identification of AI application areas, the effective introduction of AI into Tilde's products and services, and the promotion and dissemination of the company's AI innovations. His current research focuses intensively on Large Language Models (LLMs), including their applications in language technologies such as machine translation, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and question-answering, as well as the benchmarking and evaluation of, data curation for, and training of LLMs. He holds a PhD in Computer Science (Dr.sc.comp.) from the University of Latvia (2015) and an MPhil in Computer Speech, Text and Internet Technology from the University of Cambridge (St. Edmund's College) (2009). He maintains academic commitments as a Researcher at the University of Latvia and an Assistant Professor at the EKA University of Applied Sciences. He has been a researcher or lead researcher in numerous major European projects, including those funded by the European Defence Fund, Horizon 2020, CEF Telecom, and other programs, covering areas such as neural machine translation, speech processing, question-answering, quantum algorithms for NLP, etc.
	Ms. Inmaculada Placencia Porrero Inmaculada Placencia Porrero is a Senior Expert in Disability and Inclusion at Directorate-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission. Her unit is responsible for the coordination of European policies for persons with disabilities. She works on European disability policies including the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020, and the EU implementation of the UNCRPD. Inmaculada holds a degree in Physics and Computer Science and worked in research and development before joining The European Commission in 1991. She has worked on research programmes addressing accessibility as well as assistive technologies and was Deputy Head of Unit for various disability-related units in the Commission. Her work in the "e-Inclusion" unit of the Directorate-General for Information Society and Media addressed accessibility policy. While at the Directorate-General for Justice she contributed to disability-related antidiscrimination legislation. She was responsible for the Task Force for the preparation of the European Accessibility Act and remains responsible since its adoption in 2015. Currently under the Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, she is also leading the team working on the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030. In June 2024 she was elected as a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
	Mr. Jaroslaw Ponder Mr. Jaroslaw K. Ponder, is the Head of the Office for Europe at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), representing ITU in Europe and directing actions, projects, initiatives and experts' groups targeting 46 countries of the Europe Region. His portfolio includes Regional Initiatives for Europe, designed by the European Member States and focusing on the ICT Infrastructure, Digitization, Digital Inclusion, Accessibility, Innovation and Cybersecurity. Mr. Ponder has managed numerous projects, activities and initiatives at national, regional and international levels. He has taken lead roles in many international conferences and summits concerning ICT innovation and development of ICT ecosystem, information society, and advancements of digital economy worldwide, while setting strategies and ensuring their timely implementation. During his professional career, Mr. Ponder has held official positions in the public sector and has been a leading contributor to legislative projects, which influenced public policy. Mr. Ponder has working for ITU since 2004 holding diverse positions in the General Secretariat, Telecommunication Development Bureau, and Regional Presence, addressing the complexity of information society development and digital transformation at national, regional, international level, including United Nations level. Mr. Ponder was appointed Head of ITU Office for Europe in 2017. For several years, Mr. Ponder has managed ITU's work in the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process, establishing the annual WSIS Forum, WSIS Prizes, WSIS Stocktaking, and others. In his current role, Mr. Ponder has established several formal coordination mechanisms facilitating the work of UN agencies in advancing digital transformation at the national and regional level.
	Mr. Boris Radanović Boris leads SWGfL's international development strategy, building global partnerships to advance digital safety and policy for children, adults and vulnerable groups. With extensive experience delivering expert missions for the European Commission, he has worked with governments, NGOs, and stakeholders across Europe to shape online safety frameworks and legislation. In his current role, Boris is focused on positioning SWGfL as a global hub for child and adult online protection, supporting the development of national clearing centres, and leading initiatives that promote ethical innovation, safeguarding, and digital wellbeing worldwide.
	Ms. Valentina Stadnic Valentina Stadnic has built an impressive career focused on fostering IT competitiveness and innovation, primarily in Moldova, and more recently, on a broader European stage through her role as Programme Officer at the ITU Office for Europe. Her efforts span from ecosystem building and driving digital transformation to shaping legislative reforms that promote a digital economy. Valentina's extensive work with both public and non-profit sectors highlights her focus on bridging the gap between policy, technology, and stakeholder initiatives. She brings expertise in knowledge sharing, capacity building, and partnership development, with a solid background in economics and international relations. Her passion for digital innovation and sustainable investments continues to impact the sector, making her a key figure in accelerating digital transformation efforts.
	Mr. Roel Van Gils Roel Van Gils is an accessibility strategist at Eleven Ways, a Belgian consultancy specializing in digital accessibility. With over twenty years of experience, he collaborates with teams and organizations to ensure their products and services are accessible to all. In 2025, he established the Inclusive Tech Hub in Ghent, a space where product teams can explore assistive technologies and test digital products alongside individuals with disabilities.
	Mr. Georges van Montfort Georges van Montfort — serving since 2021 as Deputy Director of the Brussels Representation Office of UNDP — is a dedicated development professional with extensive field and headquarters experience. Before his current assignment, he was UNDP Resident Representative in Zimbabwe, having first joined UNDP Zimbabwe as Country Director (2017–2018) and, following the UN reform agenda, becoming Resident Representative on 1 January 2019. Earlier, Georges worked at UNDP headquarters in New York as Regional Advisor and Cluster Leader for East and Southern Africa in the Regional Bureau for Africa (2011–2017), where he oversaw the work of 17 UNDP country offices in the subregion. He previously served as Deputy Resident Representative in Lesotho (2008–2011) and as Management Advisor with UNDP's Management Consulting Team (2004–2008), supporting initiatives to strengthen operational efficiency and results-based management across global, regional, and country offices. Georges began his UNDP career in Tunisia (2002–2004) as a Programme and Coordination Analyst. Before joining the UN, he worked with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) as a Management Consultant and Analyst (1998–2002), supporting post-merger integration projects in the private sector across Europe and the Americas. He holds a Master's degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Delft University of Technology (Netherlands). Georges is married and the father of two.
	Mr. Ioannis Vardakastanis Ioannis Vardakastanis is the President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), the umbrella organization representing the interests of persons with disabilities at the European level. He also serves as President of the National Confederation of Disabled People of Greece (N.C.D.P.), the leading organization of the Greek disability movement. Born in 1957 in Greece Mr. Vardakastanis has dedicated his life to human rights advocacy, making significant contributions at national, European, and international levels. Since 2010, he has been a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), representing the N.C.D.P. in Group III. He currently serves as Co-Chair of the EU-Turkey Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee of the EESC. In Greece, he is also a member of the Economic and Social Council, the National Commission for Human Rights, and the National Accessibility Authority, through which he actively advocates for the rights and interests of Greek citizens with disabilities.
	Mr. Klaus-Peter Wegge For more than 25 years, Klaus-Peter Wegge has been heading the Siemens Accessibility Competence Center. His team supports Siemens and Siemens customers in making products and services accessible. He is a computer scientist, an expert in accessible design, and has been actively involved in European and international accessibility standardization for many years. He is blind. Mr. Wegge is the long-standing chairman of the DIN Standards Committee "Principles of Accessible Design" and the Bitkom Working Group "Accessibility" in Germany. He advocates for accessibility to become a quality feature of modern information technology.
	Ms. Roxana Widmer-Iliescu Roxana Widmer-Iliescu has dedicated 27 years to the Development Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), to advance the global Digital Inclusion agenda. As Head of the Digital Inclusion Service, she advises ITU Members and leads efforts to craft inclusive digital policies and strategies, to ensure everyone's participation in the digital society, economy and environment. A passionate advocate for ICT /digital accessibility, she champions human-centered and digitally inclusive technologies -products and services- to ensure equitable access to digital opportunities for all people, regardless of their age, gender, ability, or geographical location. To support global efforts toward building a digitally inclusive world in which no one is left behind, she spearheaded the development of more than 75 ITU-D key resources aimed at fostering implementation of available, affordable and digitally accessible technologies. Prior to joining ITU, Ms. Widmer served in the International Relations Department of the Romanian Parliament. She holds a legal background with a specialization in Strategic Management of Telecommunications, and is fluent in English, French, Romanian, and Spanish.
	Ms. Hanhee Yoon Hanhee Yoon is a Digital Accessibility Junior Policy Analyst at the ITU Office for Europe, where she supports regional initiatives on digital accessibility and inclusion and develops analytical profiles on digital transformation trends. She brings experience in AI and emerging technology policy research, including previous work with the Center for AI & Digital Policy and roles in technology policy analysis across public and private sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations/Political Science.
	Dr. Cosmas Zavazava 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.