International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience

The International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience was established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) in November 2024, with the aim of promoting dialogue and collaboration on potential ways and means to improve the resilience of this vital infrastructure that powers global communications and the digital economy.

​The Advisory Body, co-chaired by H.E. Minister Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Prof. Sandra Maximiano, Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Communications Authority of the Republic of Portugal (ANACOM), will address ways to improve cable maintenance, prevent damage from natural hazards and accidental human activities, ensure faster recovery times after disruptions, increase redundancy and promote sustainable practices in the industry.

With an initial term of two years, the Advisory Body comprises 42 leaders and experts from the public and private sectors, including representatives from submarine cable operators, telecommunic​a​tions companies, government agencies, maritime authorities, and international ​organizations, as well as relevant UN agencies that are serving as advisors. 

The Advisory Body’s members represent countries ranging from small island states to major economies, and capturing the perspectives of those whose livelihoods, economies, and digital futures depend on the operation of submarine telecommunication cables, as well as those who work to deploy, maintain and protect this vital infrastructure.

Terms of Reference: see here.

Meet the members:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Co-Chairs

Photo of H.E. Minister Bosun Tijani​, candidate

H.E. Minister Bosun Tijani​

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Econo​my Federal Republic of Nigeria Country: Nigeria CV
Photo of Prof. Sandra Maximiano, candidate

Prof. Sandra Maximiano

Chairwoman, Board of Directors AN​ACOM Country: Portugal CV

Members

Photo of Mr. Vincent Lemaire, candidate

Mr. Vincent Lemaire

VP Special Projects Alcatel Submarine Networks
Photo of Mr. Rui Faria, candidate

Mr. Rui Faria

Executive Director Angola Cables
Photo of Ms. Nadia Krivetz, candidate

Ms. Nadia Krivetz

Director, Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Australian Government Country: Australia
Photo of ​Ms. Nomsa Muswai, candidate

​Ms. Nomsa Muswai

Co-Founder, ASEF-Africa
Photo of Mr. Gustavo Borges, candidate

Mr. Gustavo Borges

Executive Superintendent, Anatel – National Telecommunications Agency Country: Brazil
Photo of Dr. Jane Munga, candidate

Dr. Jane Munga

Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Photo of ​Mr. Rodney Taylor, candidate

​Mr. Rodney Taylor

Secretary-General, Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU)
Photo of H.E. Mr. Zhiguo Zhao, candidate

H.E. Mr. Zhiguo Zhao

Leading Expert on Submarine Cables, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, People’s Republic of China
Photo of Mr. Xiaowei Luan, candidate

Mr. Xiaowei Luan

Executive Vice President China Telecommunications Co. Ltd.
Photo of Mr. Hanwu Zhu, candidate

Mr. Hanwu Zhu

Senior Vice President, China United Network Communications Group Company Limited
Photo of ​Dr. Youssouf Hamidou Issoufa, candidate

​Dr. Youssouf Hamidou Issoufa

Director General, Comores Cables
Photo of Mr. Michael Cunningham, candidate

Mr. Michael Cunningham

CEO, Crosslake Fibre
Photo of ​Ms. Deemah AlYahya, candidate

​Ms. Deemah AlYahya

Secretary-General, Digital Cooperation Organization
Photo of ​H.E. Mr. Mohamed Shamroukh, candidate

​H.E. Mr. Mohamed Shamroukh

Executive President, National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) Country: Egypt
Photo of Mr. Peter Jamieson, candidate

Mr. Peter Jamieson

Vice Chairman, European Subsea Cables Association (ESCA)
Photo of ​H.E. Mr. Jarkko Saarimäki, candidate

​H.E. Mr. Jarkko Saarimäki

Director General, Finnish Transport and Communications Agency-Traficom Country: Finland
Photo of ​Ms. Jo Conroy, candidate

​Ms. Jo Conroy

Technical Programme Manager, Google
Photo of ​Mr. Sigurd Zhang, candidate

​Mr. Sigurd Zhang

Executive Vice President HMN Tech Co. Ltd.
Photo of H.E. Mr. Amit Agrawal , candidate

H.E. Mr. Amit Agrawal

Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India Country: India
Photo of ​Mr. Koji Ono, candidate

​Mr. Koji Ono

Company Executive Director, Submarine Cable Networks, KDDI
Photo of H.E. Mr. Jesmond Bugeja, candidate

H.E. Mr. Jesmond Bugeja

Chief Executive Officer, Malta Communications Authority Country: Malta
Photo of Ms. Kelly Donohue, candidate

Ms. Kelly Donohue

Global Head of Network Infrastructure Policy Meta Platforms, Inc.
Photo of ​Mr. Károly Mátrai, candidate

​Mr. Károly Mátrai

CEO, MVM Group
Photo of ​Mr. Andy Palmer-Felgate, candidate

​Mr. Andy Palmer-Felgate

Vice President, North American Submarine Cable Association-NASCA
Photo of ​Dr. Eduardo Mateo, candidate

​Dr. Eduardo Mateo

Chief Strategy Officer, Submarine Network Division, NEC Corporation
Photo of ​H.E. Mr. Ernst Noorman, candidate

​H.E. Mr. Ernst Noorman

Ambassador-at-Large for Cyber Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Country: Netherlands
Photo of ​Mr. Abdullah Al-Mubadal, candidate

​Mr. Abdullah Al-Mubadal

Deputy Governor, Telecommunication Sector of Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) Country: Saudi Arabia
Photo of Mr. Ng Cher Pong, candidate

Mr. Ng Cher Pong

Chief Executive Officer, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) Country: Singapore
Photo of ​H.E. Mr. Mustafa Yaasin Sheik, candidate

​H.E. Mr. Mustafa Yaasin Sheik

Director General, National Communications Authority Country: Somalia
Photo of ​H.E. Ms. Nonkqubela Thathakahle Jordan-Dyani, candidate

​H.E. Ms. Nonkqubela Thathakahle Jordan-Dyani

Director-General, Department of Communications and Digital Technologies Country: South Africa
Photo of ​Mr. Mohamed Nasr, candidate

​Mr. Mohamed Nasr

CEO & Managing Director Telecom Egypt
Photo of ​Mr. Carlos Dasi, candidate

​Mr. Carlos Dasi

Chief Technology Officer, Telxius (A Telefonica Company)
Photo of ​H.E. Mr. Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, candidate

​H.E. Mr. Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu

Minister, Ministry of Transport and Communications Country: Timor-Leste
Photo of Mr. Semisi (James) Panuve, candidate

Mr. Semisi (James) Panuve

Chief Executive Officer, ​Tonga Cable Limited
Photo of ​H.E. Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, candidate

​H.E. Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan

Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Country: Türkiye
Photo of H.E Eng. Majed Al Mesmar, candidate

H.E Eng. Majed Al Mesmar

Director General, Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority Country: United Arab Emirates
Photo of Mr. Kevin Adams, candidate

Mr. Kevin Adams

Director (Interim), Digital Infrastructure, Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (United Kingdom) Country: United Kingdom
Photo of Mr. John R. Mills, candidate

Mr. John R. Mills

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP), U.S Department of State Country: United States
Photo of H.E. ​Mr. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, candidate

H.E. ​Mr. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki

Executive Secretary, West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA)
Photo of Mr. Sangbu Kim, candidate

Mr. Sangbu Kim

VP, Digital World Bank

​​​​​​​​Executive Secretaries

Photo of ​Tomas Lamanauskas, candidate

​Tomas Lamanauskas

ITU Deputy Secretary General CV
Photo of Kent Bressie, candidate

Kent Bressie

ICPC Legal Adviser CV