 Abubaker Matovu Waswa
Head, Department of Computer and Communications Engineering Makerere University, Uganda
Dr. Abubaker Matovu Waswa lectures and undertakes research in the field of telecommunications and computer engineering within the Department. He also leads a multi-disciplinary team of researchers within the Department undertaking state of the art research in smart power systems, renewable energy, machine learning, artificial intelligence, computing algorithms, ICT energy management and telecommunications networking. He previously served as an Experienced Solution Architect at Ericsson where he was responsible for telecommunications network designs and project management of network deployments. He also held technical roles as a Network Planning Engineer with a couple Uganda’s network operators – MTN Uganda and Uganda Telecom. He has vast experience in management of network deployment projects for cutting edge technologies. He has publications in international conferences/journals with his research interests being in the engineering of evolving telecommunication systems, currently focusing on device-to-device (D2D) communication, internet of things (IoT), cyber security, e/waste management, ICT carbon footprint and smart networking. He is enthusiastic about applying/adapting the various innovations and/or information & communication technologies (ICT) to the dynamic needs and challenges of society.
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 Adrien Specker
Director of the STEP Initiative (Sustainable Electronics Platform）
Adrien Specker is Director of the STEP Initiative (Sustainable Electronics Platform), a global multi-stakeholder platform uniting governments, industry, and civil society to advance circularity across the electronics lifecycle. He is also Project Manager at the World Resources Forum, where he leads initiatives at the intersection of circular economy strategy, e-waste management, and sustainable resource use across Europe and Africa. He contributes to the DiCE project on circular economy metrics for medical devices, and supports waste management programmes in partnership with UNIDO, GIZ, and SECO. As an expert contributor to the European Topic Centre, he co-authors European Environment Agency publications on material flows, supply chain sustainability, and circular economy performance. Adrien holds an MSc in Environmental Systems and Policy from ETH Zurich. His thesis, conducted in South Africa with EMPA and the University of Johannesburg, characterised plastic waste flows from electronic waste — one of the first studies of its kind in the region.
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 Alex Stokell
Associate, Carbon Trust
Alex Stokell is an Associate at the Carbon Trust in the ICT practice area, specialising in avoided emissions and enablement, with experience in carbon footprinting, decarbonisation modelling, and financial analysis.She is currently the case study lead for the European Green Digital Coalition (EGDC) Phase 2 Net Carbon Impact Methodology “Moves to Action” programme, where she works with organisations deploying digital solutions and is leading the delivery of 50 EGDC-aligned avoided emissions case studies across multiple sectors.Alongside this, Alex works on a range of projects for clients across the ICT and other sectors, supporting alignment with best practice methodologies.Before joining the Carbon Trust, Alex worked in sustainability and ESG consulting on projects with clients across the energy, financial services, construction, and public sectors. Prior to this, she worked at a not-for-profit institute focused on embedding responsible leadership practices across the UK’s public, private, and social sectors to support more sustainable organisations.
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 Amy Mallett
Climate Engagement Manager GSMA
Amy serves as Climate Engagement Manager at the GSMA, where she convenes 80 mobile network operators in the GSMA Climate Action Taskforce to develop research, share best practice and support advocacy to accelerate the mobile industry transition to net zero by 2050.
Since joining the GSMA two years ago, she led the development of Climate Transition Planning Guidance for Telecommunication Companies, in collaboration with the Taskforce and the ITU. She has also facilitated industry action on Scope 3 assessment, and business case development for carbon reduction measures, as well as research into the water impacts of telecommunication companies. Her passion lies in facilitating industry collaboration and project co-design to cascade best practice across the sector, build resilience and drive emissions reductions.Amy previously worked in Government as a Climate Engagement Officer and holds an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London and a BSc in Geography from King’s College London.
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Bilel Jamoussi
Deputy Director, of ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau and Chief, Study Groups & Policy Department (SPD)
Dr Bilel Jamoussi, a distinguished engineer and diplomat, is the Deputy Director of ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau and Chief, Study Groups & Policy Department (SPD) in Geneva, Switzerland.His primary mission is to establish the international standards essential for ensuring global telecommunications and ICT interoperability, promote universal, meaningful connectivity and champion sustainable digital transformation. At the same time, Dr Jamoussi is passionate about ensuring inclusivity in standards development and adoption.A key focus for him has been to intensify industry engagement, and bolster cooperation with other standardization bodies, as well as leading in emerging tech discussions, building strategic partnerships, and pursuing organizational excellence. In an era characterized by digital transformation, he has championed greatly increased collaboration with vertical sectors such as healthcare, transportation, utility, and banking. In addition, his innovative approach has served as a catalyst to launch new standards initiatives related to emerging technologies such as IoT, Blockchain, AI and Quantum, and attracting a new wave of memberships from non-traditional players.
A standout accomplishment of Dr Jamoussi has been his work in bridging the telecommunications and financial sectors. Through this, he has paved the way for the creation of digital payments guidelines and standards that aim to foster financial inclusion on a global scale. Prior to 2010, he worked in the private sector for 15 years and held senior executive positions such as Director of Standards for Nortel. In this role, he participated in over 90 standards making bodies worldwide. In the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), he authored a number of Internet standards. As an IEEE Senior Member, he was elected to the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) Board of Governors and the IEEE-SA Corporate Advisory Group. He holds a BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in Computer Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, USA. Born in Tunisia, Bilel has lived in Canada, USA, and Switzerland, giving him a unique global viewpoint. He is fluent in Arabic, French, and English.
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Derick Simiyu Khamali
Assistant Director/ Compliance and Enforcement, Communications Authority of Kenya (CA)
Derick is a seasoned ICT Sector Officer at the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), specializing in compliance, enforcement, and regulatory standards. His portfolio encompasses telecommunications, broadcasting, and postal services, where he domesticates international standards into local operations. He plays a pivotal role in enforcing critical standards, including Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) compatibility, equipment type approval, and universal power supply mandates. A champion for inclusivity, Derick leads the mainstreaming of ICT accessibility for all persons, guided by the KS2952 standard. His commitment to sustainability is reflected in his work on Circular Economy initiatives and e-waste management to ensure environmental protection within the sector. Additionally, he monitors industry performance regarding Quality of Service (QoS) and legal adherence. Regionally, Derick is an active member of the East Africa Communications Organization (EACO), contributing to working groups on Consumer Protection and E-waste. Notably, he served on the technical team that developed the region’s inaugural E-Waste Management Strategy. Internationally, he holds leadership roles within ITU-T Study Group 5, serving as Vice Chairman and Co-Rapporteur for Question 12, focusing on EMC, lightning protection, and the environmental impact of ICT.
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Djalil Assouma
Special Advisor, Digital Financing, Smart Africa
Dr. Djalil ASSOUMA, Eng., MBA is an ICT and telecoms expert with more than 25 years of experience in digital transformation in the public and private sectors. He is currently working on Digital Infractructre Financing Solutions for Africa at Smart Africa. As a private sector digital transformation expert, Mr Assouma has provided Digital Solutions for many African Countries. Mr. Assouma was previously Chairman and CEO of Benin Telecoms SA and its subsidiaries, the national telecommunications operator in Benin; in this position and as a member of the Presidential Digital Council, he played a key role in the digital transformation of his country and deployed national broadband networks, including 4G/LTE. He also worked in Canada for major telecommunications companies such as MTS/Allstream and Telus Communications. Mr. Assouma holds an executive Doctorate in Digital Inclusion at Dauphine University/Paris Sciences et Lettres, holds an MBA in finance and strategy from Concordia University, a Master of Science in mobile computing and a Bachelor of Engineering in telecommunications from the École polytechnique de génie de Montréal (CANADA). He is a member of the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ), a team leader with excellent interpersonal skills and the motivation necessary to succeed in any environment.
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 Dominique Würges
Chair, ITU-T Study Group 5 I Director, Orange
Dominique Würges is Chair of ITU-T Study Group 5 (Environment, climate action, circular economy and electromagnetic fields) and Director of Institutional Relations for Standardisation within Orange. He is responsible for managing relationships with international organizations involved in standardization activities. He is active on many topics addressed by SDOs and foras, such as ICTs and environment, relations between carriers, and the evolution of broadcasting standardisation and systems. At the European Commission, he has been Member of the European High-Level Forum for Standardisation (HLF), and of the ICT Standardisation policy multi-stakeholder platform for ICTs standardization. He also served as a member of the Strategic Committee of the French National Standardisation Organisation (AFNOR CCPN) and is vice-chair of the Strategic committee for Digital. Previously, he has been responsible for France Telecom’s External Relations and multilateral affairs, leading international negotiations on telecommunications and spectrum /radiocommunications matters. Before that, he headed the Data and Directories Department of France Telecom.
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 Eric Franklin Kamdjo
Operations Director, Namey Recycling
Mr. Eric Franklin Kamdjo is an expert in environmental management and sustainable development, with over ten years of experience in designing, managing, and evaluating waste management systems in Central Africa.As Chief Operations Officer of Namé Recycling SARL, a plastic waste recycling company based in the industrial zone of Douala, Cameroon, he leads a circular economy model rooted in African realities: collecting post-consumer bottles through structured buy-back points — the Nameboxes —, transforming them into recyclable pallets and strapping bands, and supplying leading regional industrial players.His expertise in economic incentive mechanisms applied to solid waste streams and circular economy makes him a key voice on the challenges of sustainable environmental transition in Africa.
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Fariha Mawla
Research Associate, Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI)
Fariha Mawla has been working as a Research Associate at Fraunhofer HHI since November 2024. Fraunhofer HHI is a world-leading research institute in the fields of optical and mobile communication networks and systems. In her current role, she is responsible for the implementation of ITU-T L.1480, a standard that guides the environmental impact assessment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions using life cycle assessment methods aligned with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. She is a sustainability professional with a strong academic background in environmental and resource management and several years of experience in life cycle assessment, sustainability reporting, carbon footprint management, and implementing ISO-based approaches. Her professional experience spans both industry and research environments in Germany and Bangladesh, giving her a broad perspective on sustainability challenges across sectors. In addition, she has completed specialized training in carbon footprint accounting and environmental management systems. She is a CQI/IRCA-certified ISO 14001:2015 Lead Auditor and has received extensive training in ISO 14064 (Corporate Carbon Footprint) and ISO 14067 (Product Carbon Footprint).
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Helen Brüggmann
Researcher, Wuppertal Institute
Helen is working on topics of Digital Transformation in Circular Economy, like the Digital Product Information System and Data Sharing in value chains. She has a background in Industrial Engineering and Information Systems. She joined Wuppertal Institute in 2024 and is doing her PhD in the topic of data quality in circular supply chains.
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 Helen C. Nakiguli
Manager, Environment Management at the Uganda Communications Commission
Helen C. Nakiguli is an ICT environmental sustainability and regulatory professional with over 15 years of experience in communications infrastructure, environmental management, technical compliance, policy advisory, standards development and project management. She is the Manager, Environment Management at the Uganda Communications Commission, where she coordinates initiatives that promote safe, sustainable and environmentally responsible development of the communications sector. She serves internationally as Chair of the ITU-T Study Group 5 Regional Group for Africa, Vice-Chair of ITU-T Study Group 5, and Rapporteur for Question 3/5 on the assessment of human exposure to electromagnetic fields. Her work contributes to global and regional standardization on EMF exposure, green ICTs, circular economy, e-waste management, climate action, energy efficiency and sustainable digital transformation.Helen is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®). She holds an MSc in Environmental Management and Sustainability from the University of Derby, a Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management.
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 Hiroshi Yamamoto
Director, Head of Standardization Office R&D Planning Department, NTT, Inc
Mr. Yamamoto has worked at NTT, Inc, where he has been involved in research and development in the field of communications quality and traffic, and network architecture, as well as in international standardization activities. Since 2015, he has served as the company's Primary U.S.A. Liaison, representing the company in various U.S.-based standardization organizations, such as TIA, ATIS, Broadband Forum, MEF, and IEEE, as well as OSS organizations such as the Linux Foundation, and contributing to the widespread dissemination of the company's R&D results around the world. He has also been active and contributed to the field of research funding, such as obtaining R&D funds in the quantum field from the National Science Foundation (NSF). In 2023, he was appointed Director, Head of the Standardization Office, which oversees entire NTT Group standardization planning and activities, and has been involved in the overall management of the group's international standardization activities. He has also served in various international standardization roles both in Japan and overseas, including Member of Information and Communications Council ITU Division, Chair of Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) WTSA WG1, member of the Japan Industrial Standards Committee (JISC) Electronics Technical Committee and Information Technology Technical Committee, member of the IEC High Level Correspondence Committee and Market Strategy Board (MSB) Correspondence Committee, Chair of the Telecommunications Committee (TTC) IOWN GF Technical Committee, and leader of the International Cooperation Advisory Group, etc.
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 Hissène Amond-Ntollo
Director of Digital and Information Systems, ARCEP: Gabon
A Telecommunications expert and graduate of the École Polytechnique de Masuku in Franceville, Mr. Hissene AMOND-NTOLO brings a rich professional background of nearly 19 years of experience at the heart of Gabon's digital ecosystem. His career is distinguished by a remarkable diversity of environments: he first built his expertise in the private sector at Airtel, a leading mobile telecommunications operator, before moving to the public sector as Central Director of Information Systems at ANINF, the national agency responsible for digital infrastructures and frequencies. He then progressed into the political and strategic sphere, contributing successively to two ministerial cabinets overseeing the Digital Economy, thereby gaining a cross-cutting understanding of public digital policies.This triple experience — operational, institutional, and political — gives him a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to ICT. Since October 2023, he has been applying this expertise to the regulation and sustainable governance of electronic communications as Director of Information Systems and Digital Affairs at ARCEP Gabon — the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts, the public institution responsible for ensuring the proper functioning and equitable development of the digital sector in Gabon.
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 James Mutandwa Madya
Deputy Director, Policy and Strategic Planning, Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe
James Mutandwa MADYA holds a Master of Science in Rural and Urban Planning from the University of Zimbabwe. With 35 years of experience, he has worked in development and project planning, road freight transport management, aviation management and policy formulation in the Housing, Logistics and Transport, and ICT Sectors of Zimbabwe. Currently, he serves as the Deputy Director responsible for Policy and Strategic Planning in the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services of the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe. James aims to share his extensive knowledge of Zimbabwean contexts while gaining insights and practical examples from colleagues across Africa and beyond.
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 Jean-Manuel Canet
WP3 Vice-Chair and Q9/5 Rapporteur, ITU-T Study Group 5 "Environment, climate action, circular economy and electromagnetic fields" / Senior Manager, Climate Biodiversity, Orange
Jean Manuel CANET is a Senior Manager in charge of Climate and Biodiversity in the CSR Department of Orange Group. He has developed an expertise in the assessment of the environmental impact of ICT goods, services and organizations. He earlier led numerous projects to assess and reduce GHG emissions related to IT, for customers such as the European Parliament, France Télévisions or Zurich Financial Services. He serves as Vice-Chair of the ITU-T SG5 Working Party 3 on “Climate change, adaptation, mitigation and net-zero emissions” and Rapporteur of the “Assessing the impact of telecommunications/ICTs on climate change, biodiversity and the environment - including the influence on other sectors” question He served as a member of the Advisory Panel of the UNFCCC “Momentum for Change” initiative. Jean-Manuel graduated from Télécom ParisTech and the MBA Programme of the “Collège des Ingénieurs”. He holds a certificate in carbon accountancy from the French National Agency for Energy and Environment and a certificate in carbon finance from Carbone 4 Academy.
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 Julia Elisabeth Fink
Senior Policy Advisor Twin Transition, Digital Transformation Programme, Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
At Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Julia Fink advises the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) on international digital policy for sustainable development. Her work focuses on the digital and green twin transition in international cooperation, multilateral cooperation, as well as the implementation of climate data and AI use cases under the Data Governance in Africa Team Europe Action. In GIZ’s digital unit, Julia coordinates activities and analytical work related to the twin transition and serves as the technical focal point for the Green Digital Action (GDA) Hub. Prior to joining GIZ, she worked at the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU), and VDI Technology Center. At DBU, Julia worked on environmental innovation, amongst others, and contributed to building a platform on sustainability and digitalization for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Julia holds an academic background in communication sciences with a focus on politics, economics, and sustainability.
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 Larissa van der Feen
Product Sustainability Information Specialist, United Nations Environmental Programme
Larissa van der Feen is an expert in measuring progress toward sustainability and circularity objectives. Guided by her motto, “what you can measure, you can manage,” she worked at academia and with industry to develop robust circularity indicators and life cycle assessment methodologies. At UNEP, she focuses on leveraging digitalization to advance Digital Product Information Systems that accelerate the transition toward a sustainable and circular economy.
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 Lennart Woltering
Lead Sustainable Innovation and Transformation,Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Lennart Woltering leads innovation scaling in the Digital Inclusion portfolio at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. With over 20 years of experience across agricultural research, development, and the private sector, he specializes in innovation, scaling, and systems change in the Global South. He drives business and organizational development at the interface of digital innovation, AI, and food systems transformation—including the Artemis project for smartphone-based crop phenotyping. Based in Tanzania, he holds a PhD from Wageningen University on systems approaches to agricultural innovation.
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 Leona Verdadero
Programme Specialist, UNESCO
Leona Verdadero is a Programme Specialist at UNESCO working on sustainable digital transformation and policy innovation. She works on initiatives to advance inclusive and rights-based approaches to data and AI governance, with a focus on energy-efficient AI ("greening AI") solutions, ethical frameworks, and multilateral engagement. Named one of the "100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics" in 2024, Leona brings experience from UNDP, the World Bank, and OECD, and holds degrees from Columbia University and NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
At UNESCO, she leads the development of practical tools and capacity-building programs that support governments and civil society, particularly across Africa, Latin America, and Europe, in navigating the opportunities and risks of digital transformation. Her work spans the design of data governance frameworks, multilingual AI policy resources, and cross-sectoral partnerships with a range of international and intergovernmental organizations. |
 Mathieu Rama
Senior Programme Manager, Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS)
Mathieu Rama contributes to ecodesign regulatory and standardisation activities, and supports a number of EU projects, all with a focus on product policies for long-lasting, repairable and, overall, circular electronics.
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Ngoy Nsenga
UN Resident Coordinator a.i
Dr. Ngoy Nsenga is an expert in public health, epidemiology, health systems, and health emergency management, with over 30 years of experience in health programme management in Africa. An international official of the World Health Organization for 19 years, he has contributed significantly to various health programmes, including the management of large-scale health crises on the continent. He holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD), a Master of Public Health (MPH), and a PhD in Epidemiology. He is fluent in English, French, and Swahili. A seasoned professional in public health and international programme management, he has experience at all levels of the health system, from the peripheral to the central level. He has led strategic initiatives in collaboration with global partners, including international NGOs, United Nations agencies, government institutions, and regional bodies. At WHO, he has demonstrated leadership in partner coordination and health policy advisory, health systems strengthening, human resources development, and community-based approaches. He specialises in multisectoral partnerships and innovation for health resilience. As an epidemiologist, he is recognised for his analytical skills and evidence-based strategy formulation. His command of both English and French facilitates international communication and cooperation.
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Niccolò Comini
Senior Digital Specialist,World Bank Group
Niccolò Comini is a Senior Digital Specialist at the World Bank where he leads digital transformation initiatives across Latin America. He advises governments on telecommunications policy, digital and data infrastructure, and AI adoption, serving as the focal point for engagement in several countries. He has led the design and implementation of major digital investment programs, including large-scale projects in Argentina, Mexico, and Peru. His work focuses on leveraging technology to drive economic development, inclusion, and institutional modernization. Prior to his current role, he served as an Economist in the Chief Economist’s Office of the World Bank’s Infrastructure Vice Presidency, where he contributed to analytical work on data infrastructure and digital economy policy. Earlier in his career, he worked at the OECD in Mexico City and Paris as a competition expert and held positions in the Chief Economist’s Department of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority and the Economic Consulting team of Deloitte in London. Niccolò has authored multiple publications on competition policy, connectivity, and digital development. He holds an MSc in Competition and Market Regulation from the Barcelona School of Economics and an M.A. in Law and Economics from the University of Bologna.
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Nompumelelo Obokoh
Head, Climate Change and Food security, WIPO
Nompumelelo Obokoh (PhD) is Head of Climate Change and Food Security at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), within the Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector. She leads global efforts at the intersection of innovation, intellectual property, and sustainable development, advancing climate resilience and strengthening food systems through strategic partnerships and technology deployment. She oversees WIPO GREEN, which connects technology providers and solution seekers to accelerate the diffusion of green technologies, particularly in developing and climate-vulnerable regions. She holds a Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology from the University of Cambridge and has over 20 years of experience across science policy, innovation governance, and multilateral cooperation. Her work focuses on harnessing intellectual property and innovation ecosystems to address climate change, food security, and the transition to low-carbon, resource-efficient economies. Dr. Obokoh has held senior leadership roles including CEO of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, Chairperson of the National Research Foundation, Commissioner on South Africa’s Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and CEO of Africa. She also served on the Independent Science for Development Council for the CGIAR. Her contributions have been recognized through the Mandela Cambridge Scholarship and the UK–Rothamsted International African Research Fellowship.
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Olivie Nakamatte
Senior Officer, Environment Management, Uganda Communications Commission
Eng. Nakamatte Olivie is a Telecommunications Engineer and Environmental Management professional with over 16 years of experience in the Information and Communications Technology sector. She currently serves as Senior Officer, Environment Management at the Uganda Communications Commission, where she contributes to initiatives on ICT environmental sustainability, RF-EMF exposure assessment, environmental compliance, and sustainable communications infrastructure development. Her experience spans spectrum propagation, spectrum compliance, regional technical operations, environmental management, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory oversight of communications infrastructure. Eng. Nakamatte is actively involved in regional and international standardization work. She is a member of the East African Communications Organisation Working Group 7 supporting development of regulatory frameworks on E-waste Management and Green ICTs, and ITU-T Study Group 5, where she serves as a Working Group Leader for the ITU-T SG5 Regional Group for Africa on Smart Energy. She holds a Master’s in Management Studies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from Uganda Management Institute, a Bachelor of Engineering in Telecommunications Engineering from Kyambogo University.
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 Ralph Payet
Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions
Dr. Rolph Payet, former Minister for Environment and Energy of Seychelles, has served as the Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions since 6 October 2014. A highly respected global authority on environmental policy, chemicals and waste management, climate change, ocean biodiversity, and island sustainability, Dr. Payet’s career spans academia, government, and international diplomacy. His visionary leadership has played a pivotal role in advancing global environmental efforts. He was instrumental in founding the first university in Seychelles, launching the world’s first ocean blue bond, and establishing the Global Island Partnership. Between 2012 and 2014, as Seychelles’ Minister for Environment and Energy, Dr. Payet spearheaded transformative initiatives in environmental conservation and renewable energy, shaping the country’s approach to sustainable development and energy transition.
As the current Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions under the United Nations, Dr. Payet oversees global efforts to manage hazardous chemicals and waste responsibly, while integrating these priorities across the broader UN agenda. His contributions, particularly in island sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation, have earned him numerous international awards. Known for his interdisciplinary approach, Dr. Payet seamlessly combines natural sciences, economics, business, multilateralism and diplomacy to create innovative solutions for complex environmental challenges, particularly in the Global South. As a prominent voice in the global environmental arena, Dr. Payet continues to shape policy and practice, driving impactful change in sustainability initiatives worldwide. His leadership and vision remain crucial in the pursuit of a sustainable future.
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Régis Ondo Moro
Director of Markets, ARCEP: Gabon
An expert in Embedded Electronic Systems and a graduate of the University Henri Poincaré Nancy 1 (France), Mr. Régis ONDO MORO has over 10 years of experience at ARCEP Gabon — the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts, the public institution responsible for ensuring the proper functioning and equitable development of the digital and postal sector in Gabon. He has successively held the positions of Advisor to the President of the Regulatory Council and Director of Regulation, before assuming his current role as Director of Markets. His expertise covers the development of regulatory frameworks, market analysis, and compliance monitoring in the telecommunications and postal sector.
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Reinhardt Smit
COO & Co-founder Closing the Loop
Reinhardt is Co-founder and COO of Closing the Loop. In his role he is responsible for all the company’s operations, but in particular for the supply chain, managing the activities and relationships in Africa. This includes involvement in policy-making and working with local governments to ensure the company’s work aligns with ambitions on the continent. As a South African and having grown up in Ghana, he enjoys managing and supporting the Local Partners in the various countries Closing the Loop is active in and feels he can deliver real value to the continent.
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Reyna Ubeda
Advisor to ITU-T Study Group 5 "Environment, EMF, Climate Action and Circular Economy"
Reyna Ubeda studied Industrial Engineering and she completed a Master on International Management from the University for Economics and Environment Nürtingen- Geislingen in 2014. She joined the ITU’s Standardization Bureau in 2015. She is the Advisor of ITU-T Study Group 5 on Environment, EMF, climate action and circular economy. Reyna speaks English, Spanish and German.
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Saher Tanvir
Digital Specialist, World Bank Group
Saher Tanvir is a Digital Specialist at the World Bank Group, where she works at the intersection of digital development, climate action, and sustainable infrastructure. Based in Washington, DC, she supports the design and implementation of climate-smart digital operations across regions, with a focus on green digital infrastructure, energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and climate corporate commitments such as Paris Alignment in ICT investments. Her work spans operational support, analytical research, and client engagement on issues including low-carbon digital infrastructure, climate-resilient connectivity, green data centers, and the integration of climate considerations into project design and policy development. She collaborates closely with cross-sectoral teams and development partners to translate technical standards and global best practices into practical, operational guidance for country programs. Saher holds a Master of Public Policy with a concentration in climate change policy from George Mason University.
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Siddharth Singh
Office of the Chief Energy Economist • Energy Investment Unit
Siddharth Singh works in the Office of the Chief Energy Economist of the International Energy Agency (IEA) based in Paris. He is the co lead of IEA’s report and workstream on Energy and AI, and a contributing author of the World Energy Outlook. He has previously worked at the Wuppertal Institute (Berlin), Nansen Institute (Oslo) and TERI (New Delhi). He is the author of The Great Smog of India (Penguin, 2018), a book on India’s air pollution crisis.
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Stefan de Linde
Founder & CEO of Minimise GmbH
Stefan de Linde is the Founder and CEO of Minimise, an organization providing digital infrastructure for global e-waste management. Following a career in user experience and strategic consulting for major automotive corporations, Mr. de Linde pivoted to scaling digital circular economy systems in 2022. Minimise focuses on the development of traceable reverse supply chains, specifically targeting regions with developing waste infrastructure. The organization’s core contribution is a software suite provided to e-waste treatment companies in the Global South, standardizing the documentation of e-waste recovery and facilitating the formalization of informal sectors. On the back-end, Minimise's Data Registry allows global brands to verify environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact, producers to secure traceable secondary raw materials and governments with access to data for auditing national extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes. Currently operating across three continents, Mr. de Linde’s work combines environmental impact with strategic critical raw material recovery. Based in Amsterdam, he advocates for the institutionalization of circular business models, asserting that such frameworks are essential for industrial sustainability. His efforts remain focused on building the global ecosystem required to ensure electronic resources are recovered and reintegrated into the value chain.
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Stéphane Christian Jocktane-Ewomba
irector of Traffic Monitoring and Anti-Fraud, ARCEP: Gabon
Stéphane Christian Jocktane-Ewomba is a Telecommunications Engineer specialized in Radiofrequency Communication Systems, graduated from the University of Science of Lille, France. He also holds an MBA in Strategic Management for Executives obtained in 2023 from the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM), Canada. He has more than ten years of experience in telecommunications regulation, digital infrastructure supervision, telecom traffic control and analysis, and the management of national telecom monitoring and supervision platforms. Since September 2023, he has served as Director of Traffic Control and Fraud Prevention at the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP) of Gabon. In this role, he oversees telecom traffic monitoring, fraud detection, and regulatory control activities. From 2019 to 2023, he served as Director of Interconnection Systems and Platforms at ARCEP Gabon, where he was responsible for supervising regulatory platforms, monitoring telecom traffic, and governing operators’ technical data systems. Prior to this, between September 2015 and June 2019, he held the position of Head of Interconnection and International Traffic Service at ARCEP Gabon. Over the course of his career, Stéphane Christian JOCKTANE-EWOMBA has developed expertise in the regulation of telecommunications networks, supervision of digital infrastructures, analysis of voice, data, and mobile money traffic, as well as the governance and operation of national telecom monitoring systems.
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Susanne Karcher
Founding member, African Circular Economy Network
After completing Chemical Engineering studies in Germany, Susanne Karcher started her company EnviroSense CC (an Environmental Consultancy) in Cape Town in 1999 (www.envirosensecc.co.za). Her company specialises in the planning, development and facilitation of tailor-made governmental, industrial/commercial and residential “Integrated Resource and Waste Management” programmes ultimately geared towards pollution prevention. Susanne is also a founding member of the African Circular Economy Network (www.acen.africa ). Given her solid background and experience regarding circular economy related policy development and international ISO workgroup collaboration (ISO IWA19) guiding informal waste worker integration, Susanne was mandated by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) to represent South Africa at the ISO Technical Committees on the Circular Economy (TC323). As a one-woman consultancy business Susanne specialised early in her career on furthering collaborative, safe and inclusive WEEE management. From 2020-2025 Susanne was appointed by WRF and Empa as the National Coordinator for the Phase 2 of the SRI South Africa project https://www.sustainable-recycling.org/ which assisted National Government (DFFE) with the development and promulgation of a sustainable and inclusive National WEEE policy as well as defining operational and technical minimum standards for WEEE management operators and their facilities. In addition, the SRI project guided key stakeholders including government, PROs and informal waste reclaimers with the development of WEEE educational curriculum and local WEEE project implementation frameworks. Due to the success of SRI a follow-up programme named Circular Electronics Initiative (CEI) was approved and will be further funded in South Africa from 2025-2029 through Swiss SECO. Susanne has been appointed as the project lead for CEI South Africa.
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William Mnyippembe
Principal engineer,Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA)
William Mnyippembe has 18 years of experience in telecommunications and regulations and is currently serving as a Principal Engineer with the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA). He worked for Airtel between 2006 and 2008 as a Base Station Subsystem Engineer responsible for the operation and maintenance of base stations, and transmission systems. He joined the ICT regulator in 2008 and has since been involved in National Quality-of-Service (QoS) regulatory strategy-including carrying out QoS measurement and analysis to support enforcement activities, carrying out the assessment of Radio Frequency EMF Radiation and planning for national RF radiation management, as well as developing strategies and advising on the national spectrum management policy. He has taken part in various discussions within the country on emerging technologies and strategies for digital transformation. He is currently the Vice Chairperson of the ITU-T SG 5 and ITU – SG5 AFR and has been involved in the work of ITU T study group 5. Mr Mnyippembe holds MSc. in Communications Engineering from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom (2014) and a BSc in Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (2006).
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Virginia Onyara
Green ICT & E-Waste Consultant; Transformational Leadership Coach Rapporteur, ITU-T SG5 Q7&Q13;
Member, EACO Working Group 7-E-Waste & Environment; Member, Kenya National E-Waste Management Steering Committee
Dr. Virginiah Onyara is the Founder of Green ICT Kenya and a sustainability and public policy scholar specializing in electronic waste management, circular economy, and Green ICT policy in Africa. She holds a Doctorate degree in Business Administration from the University of Nairobi, a Master’s degree in Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Education (Arts) degree from Kenyatta University. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Policy with a concentration in Environmental Sustainability at Northeastern University, Boston. Her area of focus is electronic waste management policy and program management in Africa. Through this experiential program, she engages directly with the political, policy, and program management challenges shaping e-waste governance and Green ICT transitions across the continent. She is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership at The King’s University in Texas. She has contributed significantly to regional and international policy processes on e-waste and ICT sustainability. She co-authored the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) E-waste Guidelines for Member States and has actively participated in the East African Communications Organisation (EACO) Working Group 7 as well as Kenya’s National Steering Committee on e-waste management. She has also represented Kenya at the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) Study Group 5, where she presented and contributed as one of the editors of a work item on counterfeit ICT devices.
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