Meet ITU’s next top elected officials: Doreen Bogdan-Martin

“I’d like to see an ITU that inspires, includes, and innovates,” says Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General-elect of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Following her historic election victory on 29 September at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-22), she will become the first woman to take the helm of the 157-year-old organization.

Bogdan-Martin previously made history as the first woman ever elected to serve on ITU’s top leadership team four years ago, when she won her current position as Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT).

At the recently concluded #Plenipot in Bucharest, Doreen Bogdan-Martin spoke about her vision for the organization she will lead from 1 January 2023.

“The role of the ITU has never been more important,” Bogdan-Martin said. “We are 157 years old, but what we represent – connecting the unconnected, bringing digital technologies to all the world’s people – it’s never mattered more.”

She went on to emphasize the importance of bringing more women and girls into the information and communication technology (ICT) sector and in the work of the ITU.

“We’ve hit just over 30 per cent at this Plenipotentiary Conference; I think we’d all like to see 50/50,” she added, on the number of women delegates participating in PP-22.

Bogdan-Martin also spoke about how to achieve Internet connectivity for everyone, everywhere, how to make connectivity meaningful, and her plans for her first 100 days in office as Secretary-General.

Watch the full video interview: