Mr Randol M. A. Dorsett is a Bahamian Attorney-At-Law and specialist in international and commercial law, with extensive experience spanning legal practice, regulatory affairs, telecommunications, corporate governance, and academia.

Mr Dorsett holds a First-Class LL.B. degree from the University of Buckingham and an LL.M. in International and Commercial Law, with a specialization in World Trade. He was called to the New York Bar in 2004 and the Bahamas Bar in 2005. He has developed a broad litigation and dispute-resolution practice. He has served as a Partner at one of leading firms in The Bahamas. His legal practice has encompassed a wide range of commercial matters, including banking, labour, and employment, personal injury, fraud, contentious real estate, and trust litigation.

Mr Dorsett has also made significant contributions to public-sector regulation. He has served as Chairman of the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), The Bahamas’ independent regulator for the electronic communications and energy sectors. During his tenure, he provided leadership during important developments in the liberalization of the country’s cellular mobile market and the expansion of URCA’s regulatory mandate. He also chaired the 17th International Telecommunication Union Global Symposium for Regulators (ITU GSR-17), held in The Bahamas.

His professional interests extend to legal education and capacity building. He has served as a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of The Bahamas and as a Tutor at the Eugene Dupuch Law School.

Mr Dorsett brings to international policy discussions a combination of legal expertise, regulatory experience, and practical knowledge of the telecommunications and commercial environments of The Bahamas. His career reflects a sustained engagement with issues at the intersection of law, commerce, regulation, technology, and public interest.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin took office as Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.

Ms Bogdan-Martin has held leadership positions in the field of international telecommunications policy for over two decades, with a track-record of brokering innovative partnerships to expand digital inclusion and connectivity for everyone around the world. Following her historic election by ITU Member States in September 2022, she became the first woman ever to head the organization, which was first established in 1865 and became a UN specialized agency in 1947.

As ITU Secretary-General, she aims to drive innovative solutions, maximize ITU’s relevance for its 193 Member States, intensify global cooperation on connecting the unconnected, and strengthen the alignment of ITU’s programmes with the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations. Ms Bogdan-Martin has consistently emphasized the need for digital transformation to achieve economic prosperity, job creation, skills development, gender equality, and socio-economic inclusion, as well as to build circular economies, reduce climate impact, and save lives.

As Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau for a four-year term starting in 2018, she helped put sustainable digital development at the forefront of international cooperation, including with the private sector and civil society. Among other ITU development priorities, she actively promoted the Partner2Connect initiative, which has mobilized unprecedented pledges of funding and support for meaningful Internet connectivity in developing countries.

She was previously instrumental in establishing the ITU-UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, serving as its Executive Director for more than a decade; contributed to the success of ITU’s Global Symposium for Regulators as the pre-eminent worldwide meeting for digital policy makers; and led ITU’s youth engagement strategy. She also pioneered ITU’s ongoing contribution to the EQUALS Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age and initiated ITU’s collaboration with UNICEF on the Giga project to connect every school worldwide to the Internet.

Within ITU, she has promoted gender equality and encouraged bringing more women into the workforce, as well as helping women grow professionally and contributing to networks of women pursuing gender-balanced participation in conferences and policy making.

From 2008 until 2018, Ms Bogdan-Martin served as Chief of ITU’s Strategic Planning and Membership Department, overseeing corporate communications, external affairs, corporate strategy, and membership. Earlier, she headed the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau’s Regulatory and Market Environment Division and Regulatory Reform Unit.

Before joining ITU in 1994, she worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce as a Telecommunication Policy Specialist in the National Telecommunication and Information Administration.

Ms Bogdan-Martin holds a Master’s in International Communications Policy from American University in Washington, DC, a post-graduate certification in Strategies for Leadership from the Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, and a certification in Accountability and Ethics from the UN Leaders Programme. She is also a qualified amateur radio operator.

Ms Bogdan-Martin is married with four children.

The Hon. Philip Edward “Brave” Davis became the Fifth Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas following the general election of
September 16, 2021.

Mr. Davis was born June 7, 1951, to Brave Edward Davis of Old Bight, Cat Island and Dorothy Davis (nee Smith) of Alexander, Exuma.

He received his early education at the Eastern Prep School, Eastern Jr. School and St. John’s College. Upon graduating from St. John’s at the age of
16 with six GCE ‘O’ Levels, he was employed as a construction worker. Later, Mr. Davis secured employment at Barclay’s Bank before resigning to
pursue a career as an articled clerk with Wallace-Whitfield and Barnwell. Mr. Davis was called to the Bar of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas on
March 5, 1975.

Mr. Davis was first elected the Member of Parliament for the Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador Constituency in 1992. He was defeated at the
polls in the 1997 General Election by the Free National Movement candidate James H. Miller. However, in the 2002 General Election, Mr. Davis
defeated Mr. Miller to return to Parliament as the representative for the Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador Constituency. He continued as the
representative of that constituency following wins in the 2007, 2012, 2017 and the 2021 General Elections.

Following the general election of 2017, Mr. Davis was sworn in as Leader of the then Opposition.

On September 17, 2021, Mr. Davis was sworn in as Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and on September 18, 2021 the Governor-
General presented him with his instruments of appointment to the Office of Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Prime Minister
Davis is also the Minister of Finance.

Up to his appointment as Prime Minister, Mr. Davis was a practicing attorney-at-law in the law firm of Davis and Co. He is a former partner in the law
firm of Christie, Davis and Co. and he has served as president and vice-president of the Bahamas Bar Association. He has sat on the Council of Legal
Education and its Executive Committee as well as the Academic Committee of the Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica. He has served as a
chairman of the National Insurance Board and as a Magistrate in The Bahamas court system.

An Anglican, Mr. Davis has served as a member of St. Christopher’s Anglican Church Vestry Board and also as the Parish’s Synod representative.

He is the father of six and is married to the former Ann Marie Austin. His hobbies include swimming, softball, jogging and reading.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin took office as Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.

Ms Bogdan-Martin has held leadership positions in the field of international telecommunications policy for over two decades, with a track-record of brokering innovative partnerships to expand digital inclusion and connectivity for everyone around the world. Following her historic election by ITU Member States in September 2022, she became the first woman ever to head the organization, which was first established in 1865 and became a UN specialized agency in 1947.

As ITU Secretary-General, she aims to drive innovative solutions, maximize ITU’s relevance for its 193 Member States, intensify global cooperation on connecting the unconnected, and strengthen the alignment of ITU’s programmes with the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations. Ms Bogdan-Martin has consistently emphasized the need for digital transformation to achieve economic prosperity, job creation, skills development, gender equality, and socio-economic inclusion, as well as to build circular economies, reduce climate impact, and save lives.

As Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau for a four-year term starting in 2018, she helped put sustainable digital development at the forefront of international cooperation, including with the private sector and civil society. Among other ITU development priorities, she actively promoted the Partner2Connect initiative, which has mobilized unprecedented pledges of funding and support for meaningful Internet connectivity in developing countries.

She was previously instrumental in establishing the ITU-UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, serving as its Executive Director for more than a decade; contributed to the success of ITU’s Global Symposium for Regulators as the pre-eminent worldwide meeting for digital policy makers; and led ITU’s youth engagement strategy. She also pioneered ITU’s ongoing contribution to the EQUALS Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age and initiated ITU’s collaboration with UNICEF on the Giga project to connect every school worldwide to the Internet.

Within ITU, she has promoted gender equality and encouraged bringing more women into the workforce, as well as helping women grow professionally and contributing to networks of women pursuing gender-balanced participation in conferences and policy making.

From 2008 until 2018, Ms Bogdan-Martin served as Chief of ITU’s Strategic Planning and Membership Department, overseeing corporate communications, external affairs, corporate strategy, and membership. Earlier, she headed the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau’s Regulatory and Market Environment Division and Regulatory Reform Unit.

Before joining ITU in 1994, she worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce as a Telecommunication Policy Specialist in the National Telecommunication and Information Administration.

Ms Bogdan-Martin holds a Master’s in International Communications Policy from American University in Washington, DC, a post-graduate certification in Strategies for Leadership from the Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, and a certification in Accountability and Ethics from the UN Leaders Programme. She is also a qualified amateur radio operator.

Ms Bogdan-Martin is married with four children.

Mr. Gomez joined Cable Bahamas Ltd. in 2001 as Director of Engineering. In 2003, he was appointed Vice President of Engineering and in May 2016 he assumed his current position as CEO BeAliv. Prior to joining Cable Bahamas Group of Companies, Mr. Gomez served in senior positions at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (B.E.C).

He is a transformational executive with foresight and an impressive history of surpassing ambitious business goals by delivering revolutionary technological innovations. He currently heads a highly qualified team responsible for the strategic management and operations of the only Quad-play telecommunications company in The Bahamas. He has an innate ability to quickly identify and actualize valuable ideas, employing strategies that maximize organizational capabilities, operations, service offerings and staff performance.

Mr. Gomez holds an MBA in International Business from the University of Miami and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology. He is also a Registered Professional Engineer (Electrical). Mr. Gomez currently serves on the Board of CANTO.

He enjoys reading, playing tennis, gardening, photography and spending time with his family.

Oscar G. Leon-Suarez is Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) of the Organization of American States. He has more than 30 years of experience in telecommunications, spectrum policy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and emerging technologies.

Since 2015, he has led regional initiatives to strengthen secure and resilient digital infrastructure, expand broadband connectivity, promote responsible AI governance, and foster public-private cooperation across the Americas.

Previously, he served as Director General of Colombia’s National Spectrum Agency, where he led national spectrum strategies and internationally recognized regulatory initiatives, and held senior advisory and regulatory roles in Colombia’s ICT sector.

He holds an MBA, a postgraduate degree in telecommunications project management, and a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering, with a thesis focused on artificial intelligence.

His work promotes digital inclusion, sustainable development, investment, and regional cooperation.

Rodney Taylor, a national of Barbados, has served as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union since 2021. He supports collaboration among Caribbean governments and ICT stakeholders on regional policy and national digital-transformation strategies.

He previously served as Chief Digital Technology Officer in Barbados’ Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology, where he led public-sector digital transformation, and held senior roles in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and at the CTU.

His current work emphasizes regional coordination for resilient infrastructure, cybersecurity, harmonized policy, meaningful digital inclusion and connectivity for small island developing States.

He holds a master’s degree in Management and Information Systems from the University of Manchester and a postgraduate diploma in Public Sector Management from the University of the West Indies.

The Hon. Pia T. Glover-Rolle is the Member of Parliament for Golden Gates and the Minister of Labour, Public Service, and National Insurance in The Bahamas.
Her ministerial tenure has been marked by bold reforms and measurable progress. She has led the modernisation of the public service, delivering salary increases, enhanced pension benefits, improved recruitment and onboarding systems, and the first service-wide promotional exercise in more than nine years. She has also advanced digitalisation, significantly reduced the promotions backlog and strengthened industrial relations, contributing to the signing of more than 60 industrial agreements.
Minister Glover-Rolle is the first Deputy Leader of Government Business in the Parliament of The Bahamas and serves on the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee and the Parliamentary Services Commission. Internationally, she serves as an Internal Auditor of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and chairs the Organization of American States’ Working Group on the Future of Work for the Americas.
An entrepreneur and advocate for opportunity, she founded a talent agency in 1999 and later established a successful immigration consultancy and employment agency. She is also a Certified Labour Advocate and Justice of the Peace.
A lifelong member of the Progressive Liberal Party, Minister Glover-Rolle has held several party leadership positions, including National Vice Chairman. She remains deeply committed to her faith, community and family and is a devoted wife of 26 years and proud mother of three daughters.

Karis Moss is a young and STEM innovator with a strong record of academic achievement, leadership and determination. A student at St. Augustine’s College, she serves as a student council representative, maintains a place on the honour roll and has distinguished herself in accelerated courses, particularly Mathematics, English and the sciences.
Karis’s commitment to excellence has been evident throughout her academic journey. She was selected as St. Thomas More Catholic School’s nominee for the 2022 Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year programme, where she placed fifth runner-up among 106 students. She later achieved strong results across ten Bahamas Junior Certificate examinations and received national recognition from the Ministry of Education.
In 2025, Karis joined the FEM STEM Bahamas programme. As a member of the six-person Smart Steps team, she helped develop an affordable smart cane made from recycled plastic to support the mobility of people with visual impairments while promoting environmental sustainability. The team represented The Bahamas at the 2026 International Greenwich Olympiad in London, earning a silver medal in the Environmental Science category.
With a particular interest in Biology and Chemistry, Karis aspires to become a neuroscientist. She hopes to use scientific research and innovation to contribute to discoveries that improve lives and inspire other young people to pursue opportunities in STEM.

Marena Strachan is a young Bahamian scholar and STEM innovator with a strong record of academic achievement, public speaking and international engagement. Her interest in global competitions developed through the World Scholar’s Cup, where she distinguished herself in debating and collaborative academic challenges at regional and international rounds, earning numerous awards and medals. Her growing interest in orthotics, prosthetics and engineering was strengthened through an internship with Lewis Orthopedic. She later joined FEM STEM Bahamas, where she became part of the six-member Smart Steps team. As such, she helped develop an affordable smart cane made from recycled plastic to support the mobility of people with visual impairments while promoting environmental sustainability. The team represented The Bahamas at the 2026 International Greenwich Olympiad in London, earning a silver medal in the Environmental Science category.
She is preparing to begin Grade 12. She has also been accepted into the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute’s dual-enrolment programme in Electronic Engineering and hopes to pursue a future career in STEM

Dr. Tan Eng Han is the Founding Director of the Global Youth Leadership Development Council (GYLDC), a Singapore-based non-profit advancing global youth leadership and cross-border collaboration. He concurrently serves as Executive Director of OSG Youth Alliance, which he established in 2017 to champion youth-led sustainability and entrepreneurship across ASEAN, China, and India — building a global alumni network of over 20,000 youth and anchored by the ASEAN-China-India Youth Leadership Summit, which draws over 8,500 youth annually across 12 countries. GYLDC and OSG are now jointly launching new flagship programmes, including GAICA, the Global Smart Cities Leadership Program, and the Odyssey Global Challenge.
Eng Han is also the Director of the Global SDGs and Leadership Development Center (GSLDC), an institution focused on knowledge platform-building and capacity-building in support of the UNSDGs. GSLDC partners closely with a range of UN agencies — including the ITU, ITC, UNIDO, UNDRR, and UNITAR — to connect international organizations, governments, academia, and industry, translating SDG frameworks into scalable, real-world programmes spanning youth leadership, digital economy governance, and sustainable innovation. Together, GYLDC and GSLDC have delivered more than 20 international initiatives across over 40 countries and regions, engaging thousands of participants and building partnerships with more than 30 institutions, including multiple UN agencies.
He previously served as Vice President (Asia) at ACT, the U.S. educational testing and assessment organization, from December 2022 to April 2026, having earlier held the role of Regional Director (Asia) from 2018. During his tenure, he drove a 250% growth in ACT’s network of partner schools between 2019 and 2023 while quadrupling revenue across all product lines, through the launch of several learning programmes tailored to international institutions’ needs.
He has served as Secretary-General of the Singapore-China Association since 2023 and is a Venture Partner at VU Venture Partners with a focus on education technology investments.
He holds an Accountancy degree from Nanyang Technological University, an MBA from the University of Hull, and a DBA from Adelaide University.

Ms. Regina Fleur BESSOU has over 24 years of experience in the telecommunications, ICT and postal sectors. She currently serves as Technical Advisor to the Director General of the Telecommunications/ICT Regulatory Authority of Côte d’Ivoire (ARTCI), where she oversees matters related to digital inclusion and international relations.
In November 2025, she was elected Chair of the Telecommunication Development Advisory Group (TDAG) of the International Telecommunication Union, becoming the first African to hold this position. TDAG is the advisory body guiding the strategic priorities of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D).
Prior to this role, Ms. BESSOU served as Chair of ITU-D Study Group 1 from 2017 to 2025, where she was also the first African to hold this position. She additionally served as Vice-Chair of TDAG and as Africa Representative within the Network of Women for ITU-D (NoW ITU-D).
At the regional level, she played a leading role in coordinating the African preparatory process for the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-2025) and contributed to the work of both the African Telecommunications Union and the International Telecommunication Union in preparation for major international conferences.
Ms. BESSOU is also Founder and Executive President of the International Network of Women Digital Experts (RIFEN), the first women-led organization to obtain sector membership within the ITU, which promotes the participation of women, youth and persons with disabilities in digital governance and leadership.
In Côte d’Ivoire, she has contributed to the development of universal access policies, rural connectivity initiatives, consumer protection frameworks and pro-competitive regulatory environments, supporting the sustainable development of the telecommunications and ICT sector.
She holds degrees in legal, administrative and tax sciences, a BADGE Specialized Master’s degree in Telecom/ICT Regulation, and a certification in Gender Engineering (UNESCO/EFPOD).
Major Contributions
• Strengthening regulation: establishment of fair tariff frameworks, consumer protection measures, and the promotion of healthy competition within the telecommunications sector.
• Digital inclusion: strong initiatives to increase the participation of women and youth, including persons with disabilities, notably through the revision of Resolution 55 at the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-22).

Kendrick Aurelio Rolle is a beloved Aries, celebrating his birthday on 14th April each year. He is the son of an educator and police officer, thereby, heavily incorporating learning and discipline as key factors of his up-bringing and he demonstrates these values throughout his professional, spiritual and social life.

Upon graduating high school in 1991, he explored careers in the hotel industry, Sales, Real Estate and Development. After an unfortunate incident in 2001 which left him visually impaired and eventually blind, he found himself with new careers in Community Planning, Project Management, Disability Rights Advocacy, Disability Sensitivity and Etiquette Training Consultant.

Today, he serves as the founder and lead consultant of the Disability Empowerment Outreach Group, Special Projects and Programs Officer in the Department of Social Services, Disability Affairs Division, former Deputy Chairman of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities,Chairman of the Bahamas Coalition of Advocates for Disability Awareness and Services Non-Profit Organization, founder of the Chosen Ones ALL Inclusive Junkanoo Group and Beep Ball Bahamas inclusive outdoor games for blind and visually impaired, Managing Director of Camp Inclusion, and past President of the Bahamas Alliance for Blind and Visually Impaired…

Ms. Sandrea Maynard, LLB (Hons), LLM, SFHEA, is Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Affairs at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), where she leads the University’s internationalisation strategy, global partnerships and multilateral engagement across the Caribbean and internationally.
A Barrister-at-Law with more than 25 years of experience spanning legal practice, higher education leadership and international development, Ms. Maynard has held senior leadership positions in both the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. She has worked in private practice and with the United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service before transitioning into academia, where she has served as a Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor of Law and senior university executive.
Ms. Maynard leads The UWI’s engagement with governments, multilateral organisations, industry and global university networks to advance regional priorities in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, climate resilience and sustainable development. She is actively strengthening Caribbean collaboration on AI governance, digital policy and workforce capacity through strategic partnerships with organisations including the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), International Telecommunications Union (Global Hub) Intellibus, World Digital Governance (WDG), and other international partners.
Throughout her career, she has led multidisciplinary teams through major periods of transformation, secured significant government and international contracts, and developed executive education and leadership programmes for public and private sector organisations.
Her current work focuses on positioning Caribbean higher education as a catalyst for innovation, policy development and economic transformation, ensuring that emerging technologies support digital sovereignty, sustainable development and an inclusive, future-ready workforce for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Sofie Sittenauer is an Advisor on Gender and Digital Transformation at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), working on international digital policy and inclusive digital transformation. Her current work focuses on women’s leadership in ICT, as well as AI governance and meaningful connectivity in the context of EU-LAC digital cooperation.

Tyrhonda Knowles-Glinton is an accomplished information technology strategist, compliance professional, and advocate for digital equity. She currently serves as the Director of HR Technology & Compliance at Atlantis Bahamas, where she oversees enterprise systems, HRIS infrastructure, and regulatory governance.

Prior to her executive role in the private sector, Tyrhonda was a Project Manager and Business Analyst with the Department of Transformation and Digitization (DTaD) for the Government of The Bahamas. In this capacity, she spearheaded critical public service digitization projects, most notably the launch of the government’s e-cabinet, driving government modernization and digital service delivery.

Recognized for her commitment to youth empowerment and capacity building, Tyrhonda is the Founder and President of FEM STEM Bahamas, launched in 2019 to dismantle barriers for young women entering technology fields. Under her leadership, the initiative has hosted national award programs, partnered with government ministries, and led youth delegations to global stages, including representing the nation at the United Nations in New York and achieving award-winning success at the International Greenwich Olympiad (IGO).

Regionally, Tyrhonda served as Co-Chair for the CARICOM Secretariat’s Girls in ICT and Youth in Single Space Committee, helping shape policy surrounding youth participation in the Caribbean’s digital economy.

Tyrhonda holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from The University of The Bahamas, is a Certified Business Professional in Project Management, and is a certified Youth Leader through the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin took office as Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.

Ms Bogdan-Martin has held leadership positions in the field of international telecommunications policy for over two decades, with a track-record of brokering innovative partnerships to expand digital inclusion and connectivity for everyone around the world. Following her historic election by ITU Member States in September 2022, she became the first woman ever to head the organization, which was first established in 1865 and became a UN specialized agency in 1947.

As ITU Secretary-General, she aims to drive innovative solutions, maximize ITU’s relevance for its 193 Member States, intensify global cooperation on connecting the unconnected, and strengthen the alignment of ITU’s programmes with the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations. Ms Bogdan-Martin has consistently emphasized the need for digital transformation to achieve economic prosperity, job creation, skills development, gender equality, and socio-economic inclusion, as well as to build circular economies, reduce climate impact, and save lives.

As Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau for a four-year term starting in 2018, she helped put sustainable digital development at the forefront of international cooperation, including with the private sector and civil society. Among other ITU development priorities, she actively promoted the Partner2Connect initiative, which has mobilized unprecedented pledges of funding and support for meaningful Internet connectivity in developing countries.

She was previously instrumental in establishing the ITU-UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, serving as its Executive Director for more than a decade; contributed to the success of ITU’s Global Symposium for Regulators as the pre-eminent worldwide meeting for digital policy makers; and led ITU’s youth engagement strategy. She also pioneered ITU’s ongoing contribution to the EQUALS Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age and initiated ITU’s collaboration with UNICEF on the Giga project to connect every school worldwide to the Internet.

Within ITU, she has promoted gender equality and encouraged bringing more women into the workforce, as well as helping women grow professionally and contributing to networks of women pursuing gender-balanced participation in conferences and policy making.

From 2008 until 2018, Ms Bogdan-Martin served as Chief of ITU’s Strategic Planning and Membership Department, overseeing corporate communications, external affairs, corporate strategy, and membership. Earlier, she headed the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau’s Regulatory and Market Environment Division and Regulatory Reform Unit.

Before joining ITU in 1994, she worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce as a Telecommunication Policy Specialist in the National Telecommunication and Information Administration.

Ms Bogdan-Martin holds a Master’s in International Communications Policy from American University in Washington, DC, a post-graduate certification in Strategies for Leadership from the Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, and a certification in Accountability and Ethics from the UN Leaders Programme. She is also a qualified amateur radio operator.

Ms Bogdan-Martin is married with four children.

Secretary-General’s opening address

The Hon. Philip Edward “Brave” Davis became the Fifth Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas following the general election of
September 16, 2021.

Mr. Davis was born June 7, 1951, to Brave Edward Davis of Old Bight, Cat Island and Dorothy Davis (nee Smith) of Alexander, Exuma.

He received his early education at the Eastern Prep School, Eastern Jr. School and St. John’s College. Upon graduating from St. John’s at the age of
16 with six GCE ‘O’ Levels, he was employed as a construction worker. Later, Mr. Davis secured employment at Barclay’s Bank before resigning to
pursue a career as an articled clerk with Wallace-Whitfield and Barnwell. Mr. Davis was called to the Bar of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas on
March 5, 1975.

Mr. Davis was first elected the Member of Parliament for the Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador Constituency in 1992. He was defeated at the
polls in the 1997 General Election by the Free National Movement candidate James H. Miller. However, in the 2002 General Election, Mr. Davis
defeated Mr. Miller to return to Parliament as the representative for the Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador Constituency. He continued as the
representative of that constituency following wins in the 2007, 2012, 2017 and the 2021 General Elections.

Following the general election of 2017, Mr. Davis was sworn in as Leader of the then Opposition.

On September 17, 2021, Mr. Davis was sworn in as Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and on September 18, 2021 the Governor-
General presented him with his instruments of appointment to the Office of Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Prime Minister
Davis is also the Minister of Finance.

Up to his appointment as Prime Minister, Mr. Davis was a practicing attorney-at-law in the law firm of Davis and Co. He is a former partner in the law
firm of Christie, Davis and Co. and he has served as president and vice-president of the Bahamas Bar Association. He has sat on the Council of Legal
Education and its Executive Committee as well as the Academic Committee of the Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica. He has served as a
chairman of the National Insurance Board and as a Magistrate in The Bahamas court system.

An Anglican, Mr. Davis has served as a member of St. Christopher’s Anglican Church Vestry Board and also as the Parish’s Synod representative.

He is the father of six and is married to the former Ann Marie Austin. His hobbies include swimming, softball, jogging and reading.

The Prime Minister’s opening address

Roberta dos Santos Pereira Hakme graduated in Physics and has a master’s degree in Administration. She has worked at the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) since 2005, where she had the opportunity to serve as an advisor in four areas before joining the International Affairs Office, where she has been working since 2019.

In the International Affairs Office, she has been responsible for coordinating and monitoring cooperation projects with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) since 2019. She has participated in ITU conferences, Council Working Groups and Council Sessions since 2022 and has represented Anatel with the Telecommunications Association of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (ARCTEL) since 2022.

She is also the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Brazilian Communication Commission 1 – Governance and International Regimes (CBC1) and the focal point for bilateral demands with several countries and for the organization of international events in Brazil, including CITEL’s PCC.I and PCC.II in 2024 and 2025.

Alonso J. Zeledón Carazo is a Costa Rican attorney specializing in Public Law, with more than ten years of experience in strategic positions within the public administration. He currently serves as Vice Minister of Telecommunications at the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT).

Previously, he was Head of the Legal Advisory Office of the Ministry of the Presidency and served as an Advisor to the Office of the President, where he reviewed executive decrees and administrative resolutions and coordinated legal opinions on matters of national relevance, including public procurement and competition regulation.

Internationally, he represented Costa Rica before the OECD Network of Senior Officials from Centres of Government, focusing on governance and public policy standards. His experience also includes work at the Office of the Attorney General and private legal practice.

He holds a Licentiate Degree in Law and a Specialization in Registry and Notarial Law.

Nele brings over 25 years of leadership at the intersection of technology, governance, and diplomacy, shaping digital transformation and development worldwide. She currently leads Knowledge Hub Digital for the European Commission, supporting the EU’s global digital partnerships.
As Estonia’s Ambassador for Digital Affairs (2020–2024), she built and directed the country’s digital diplomacy agenda, co-led the GovStack Initiative, co-founded the Women in GovTech Challenge, and managed a broad portfolio of high-level multi-stakeholder relations and resource mobilisation.
Her career spans digital and state reform work in over 100 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, advising political and government leaders on digital transformation and governance. She has worked across international organisations (UN, OECD) and the private sector, and serves on the WEF’s Global Future Council, the Business Excellence Institute, and the Board of the Global Tech Diplomacy Forum. She is a former Chair of the Digital Cooperation and Diplomacy Network and the Global Standards Symposium.
She holds a PhD in Political and Social Sciences from the European University Institute, was a Fulbright-Schuman Scholar, and continues to lecture on technology and foreign policy. She mentors emerging female digital leaders and serves as a Women in Tech Ambassador.
Nele is the Candidate of the Republic of Estonia for the position of Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU.

Tariq is a telecommunications specialist, leading regional and international initiatives under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), ranging from satellite and maritime communications to subsea cable resilience. There, he leverages his background in telecommunications and electrical engineering to support Caribbean countries in advancing digital transformation, with emphasis on enabling environments, and fit-for-purpose policies and regulations.

Furthermore, Tariq co-ordinates the Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (CYIGF), serving as one of the region’s representatives at the United Nations Internet Governance Forum and Youth Track; and is the Chair of the Caribbean ICT Youth Network, as well as IEEE Young Professionals, Trinidad and Tobago. Committed to regional development, Tariq is passionate about advancing digital agendas and supporting universal and meaningful connection for all through inclusive and sustainable practices.

Roberta dos Santos Pereira Hakme graduated in Physics and has a master’s degree in Administration. She has worked at the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) since 2005, where she had the opportunity to serve as an advisor in four areas before joining the International Affairs Office, where she has been working since 2019.

In the International Affairs Office, she has been responsible for coordinating and monitoring cooperation projects with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) since 2019. She has participated in ITU conferences, Council Working Groups and Council Sessions since 2022 and has represented Anatel with the Telecommunications Association of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (ARCTEL) since 2022.

She is also the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Brazilian Communication Commission 1 – Governance and International Regimes (CBC1) and the focal point for bilateral demands with several countries and for the organization of international events in Brazil, including CITEL’s PCC.I and PCC.II in 2024 and 2025.

Alonso J. Zeledón Carazo is a Costa Rican attorney specializing in Public Law, with more than ten years of experience in strategic positions within the public administration. He currently serves as Vice Minister of Telecommunications at the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT).

Previously, he was Head of the Legal Advisory Office of the Ministry of the Presidency and served as an Advisor to the Office of the President, where he reviewed executive decrees and administrative resolutions and coordinated legal opinions on matters of national relevance, including public procurement and competition regulation.

Internationally, he represented Costa Rica before the OECD Network of Senior Officials from Centres of Government, focusing on governance and public policy standards. His experience also includes work at the Office of the Attorney General and private legal practice.

He holds a Licentiate Degree in Law and a Specialization in Registry and Notarial Law.

Nele brings over 25 years of leadership at the intersection of technology, governance, and diplomacy, shaping digital transformation and development worldwide. She currently leads Knowledge Hub Digital for the European Commission, supporting the EU’s global digital partnerships.
As Estonia’s Ambassador for Digital Affairs (2020–2024), she built and directed the country’s digital diplomacy agenda, co-led the GovStack Initiative, co-founded the Women in GovTech Challenge, and managed a broad portfolio of high-level multi-stakeholder relations and resource mobilisation.
Her career spans digital and state reform work in over 100 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, advising political and government leaders on digital transformation and governance. She has worked across international organisations (UN, OECD) and the private sector, and serves on the WEF’s Global Future Council, the Business Excellence Institute, and the Board of the Global Tech Diplomacy Forum. She is a former Chair of the Digital Cooperation and Diplomacy Network and the Global Standards Symposium.
She holds a PhD in Political and Social Sciences from the European University Institute, was a Fulbright-Schuman Scholar, and continues to lecture on technology and foreign policy. She mentors emerging female digital leaders and serves as a Women in Tech Ambassador.
Nele is the Candidate of the Republic of Estonia for the position of Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU.

Tariq is a telecommunications specialist, leading regional and international initiatives under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), ranging from satellite and maritime communications to subsea cable resilience. There, he leverages his background in telecommunications and electrical engineering to support Caribbean countries in advancing digital transformation, with emphasis on enabling environments, and fit-for-purpose policies and regulations.

Furthermore, Tariq co-ordinates the Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (CYIGF), serving as one of the region’s representatives at the United Nations Internet Governance Forum and Youth Track; and is the Chair of the Caribbean ICT Youth Network, as well as IEEE Young Professionals, Trinidad and Tobago. Committed to regional development, Tariq is passionate about advancing digital agendas and supporting universal and meaningful connection for all through inclusive and sustainable practices.

Dr Cosmas Luckyson 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.

From 2010 until 2019, he was Chief of the Projects and Knowledge Management, responsible for ITU’s project portfolio, statistics, capacity building, and emergency telecommunications activities, as well as coordinating special assistance to least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and small island developing states (SIDS).

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.

Aaron has over 25 years of experience in international strategy for the technology sector, primarily in telecommunications and cybersecurity. Prior to founding Welchman Keen, Aaron was President, International at Silent Circle, a leading Geneva-based company providing encrypted communications hardware and software.

As Chief Strategy Officer of ABI Research, Aaron led the company into the cybersecurity space and built a collaborative relationship with the ITU, resulting in the development of the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) and the ITU Regional cyberDrill programme, which was provided training to over 120 governments.

Aaron was a fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), where he co-directed courses on National Cybersecurity Policy and Cyber Defence for over 30 governments. Aaron was awarded the ITU Silver Medal for his contribution to cybersecurity.

Dr. Jerry Christopher Butler is a senior financial services executive, corporate director and international business strategist with more than 30 years of experience in finance, economic development, technology and public policy across the Caribbean, United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Dr. Butler has advised world leaders, governments, financial institutions and private-sector leaders on investment, infrastructure development and emerging economic opportunities. He was previously Vice President of the largest commercial bank in Canada and the Caribbean, and was also elected three times serving as Dean and chaired multiple Board committees from 2004 to 2019 as Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB) in Washington DC. Dr. Butler’s public sector service was as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chief Accountant at the National Insurance Board, Deputy Managing Director of The Bahamas Development Bank and Deputy Chairman of the Bahamas Securities Commission. He was selected for the Caribbean Public Service of the Decade Award in 2018 in Washington, DC. He is also a Bahamas Court Justice of the Peace (JP). As Founding Chairman of the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF), since 2008, he has helped to build the region’s leading platform connecting governments, investors and industry around infrastructure, energy transition and sustainable development. Dr. Butler brings a distinctly Caribbean perspective to global conversations on how technology, innovative finance, investment and public-private collaboration can accelerate inclusive economic development and create new opportunities for small and developing economies.

Norhani Mohamad Adzhar is Head of the International Affairs Division at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), where she leads the Commission’s international engagement and represents its interests across global and regional telecommunications and digital-policy platforms. She has represented Malaysia in negotiations and policy discussions at the United Nations and other international organisations, particularly on cybercrime, cross-border cooperation and digital governance. She previously headed MCMC’s Investigation and Prosecution Departments and began her career as a Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia. A lawyer by training and former law lecturer, she completed the Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies executive programme at Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. Her multidisciplinary experience shapes her interest in sustainable digital transformation, greener ICT ecosystems and communications/digital regulations.

Sulyna Abdullah is the Chief of Strategic Planning and Membership, and Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a position she took up from 1 October 2023. Sulyna joined the ITU in April 2021 as the Chief of the Digital Knowledge Hub in the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) and was the Executive Director of the ITU-UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development until the Commission transitioned in 2025.
Prior to that, she spent close to two decades at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) where she held various positions including Chief Officer for Corporate Strategy and Chief Transformation Officer.
After MCMC, Sulyna had a short stint in the private sector taking up a position in Netflix as Director of Public Policy for Southeast Asia.
Throughout her career, Sulyna has held numerous positions on the international front representing Malaysia, focusing on public policy issues.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin took office as Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.

Ms Bogdan-Martin has held leadership positions in the field of international telecommunications policy for over two decades, with a track-record of brokering innovative partnerships to expand digital inclusion and connectivity for everyone around the world. Following her historic election by ITU Member States in September 2022, she became the first woman ever to head the organization, which was first established in 1865 and became a UN specialized agency in 1947.

As ITU Secretary-General, she aims to drive innovative solutions, maximize ITU’s relevance for its 193 Member States, intensify global cooperation on connecting the unconnected, and strengthen the alignment of ITU’s programmes with the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations. Ms Bogdan-Martin has consistently emphasized the need for digital transformation to achieve economic prosperity, job creation, skills development, gender equality, and socio-economic inclusion, as well as to build circular economies, reduce climate impact, and save lives.

As Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau for a four-year term starting in 2018, she helped put sustainable digital development at the forefront of international cooperation, including with the private sector and civil society. Among other ITU development priorities, she actively promoted the Partner2Connect initiative, which has mobilized unprecedented pledges of funding and support for meaningful Internet connectivity in developing countries.

She was previously instrumental in establishing the ITU-UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, serving as its Executive Director for more than a decade; contributed to the success of ITU’s Global Symposium for Regulators as the pre-eminent worldwide meeting for digital policy makers; and led ITU’s youth engagement strategy. She also pioneered ITU’s ongoing contribution to the EQUALS Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age and initiated ITU’s collaboration with UNICEF on the Giga project to connect every school worldwide to the Internet.

Within ITU, she has promoted gender equality and encouraged bringing more women into the workforce, as well as helping women grow professionally and contributing to networks of women pursuing gender-balanced participation in conferences and policy making.

From 2008 until 2018, Ms Bogdan-Martin served as Chief of ITU’s Strategic Planning and Membership Department, overseeing corporate communications, external affairs, corporate strategy, and membership. Earlier, she headed the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau’s Regulatory and Market Environment Division and Regulatory Reform Unit.

Before joining ITU in 1994, she worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce as a Telecommunication Policy Specialist in the National Telecommunication and Information Administration.

Ms Bogdan-Martin holds a Master’s in International Communications Policy from American University in Washington, DC, a post-graduate certification in Strategies for Leadership from the Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, and a certification in Accountability and Ethics from the UN Leaders Programme. She is also a qualified amateur radio operator.

Ms Bogdan-Martin is married with four children.

Allyson Maynard-Gibson, KC is a Bahamian lawyer, former Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, and a longstanding advocate for women and children, people-centred justice and good governance. The first woman to take Silk in The Bahamas, she is also the longest-serving living former Attorney-General. During her two terms as Attorney-General, she championed the use of technology, data and simplified systems to improve access to justice.
She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of University of The Bahamas – the first woman to hold that position- and is a Consultant with Clement T. Maynard & Company. She is a member of the Justice Leadership Group and Board of Trustees of Barry University, Member of the Board of the CHANCE Foundation, the first Caribbean woman to serve on the Advisory Council of the Club de Madrid, and the first Bahamian elected an Overseas Bencher of The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.

A former Member of Parliament and Senator and former President of the International Women’s Forum, Maynard-Gibson led The Bahamas delegation to the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Busan, Korea, in 2014, as The Bahamas strengthened its engagement with the ITU and pursued its ambition ultimately to serve on the ITU Council. During her tenure as Attorney-General, The Bahamas’ partnership with the ITU also contributed to New Providence being recognised as the first Smart Island in the Western Hemisphere.

She was a member of the Task Force on Justice that produced the 2019 Justice for All report and of South Africa’s first People’s Tribunal on Economic Crime. In 2019, she was a Fellow of Harvard University’s Advanced Leadership Initiative

Member of Parliament for Kibamba Constituency;
Chairperson of the National Advisory and Monitoring Committee on Generation Equality Forum Implementation in Tanzania, which was established by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, the GEF Global Champion. From 2024 to date;
⁠ECDAN champion for Early Childhood Development;
Current Cabinet of Ministers, she serves as the Minister of Communication and Information Technology from November 2025 to date;
Further (between October 2022 and August 2024), she served as the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government) and Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, respectively;
Also Served as Advisor to the President of the United Republic of Tanzania;
In the previous Administrations (2010-2020), she served as the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office in charge of Investments, the Minister of Minerals, and the Minister of State in The President’s Office is in charge of Public Service Management and Good Governance; Deputy Minister of Land, Housing, and Human Settlement and Deputy Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs;
Before entering politics, she worked as a Parliamentary Draftsman in the Attorney General’s Chambers and as a State Attorney in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution;
Thereafter, she joined the Private Sector as Head of the Department of Ethics, Compliance, and Governance at VODACOM Group PTY. In 2012, she was on Forbes Magazine’s 20 Young Power Africans Women’s list. In 2013 and 2014, I was nominated as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum;
Law graduate, an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania, and a Member of the Tanzania Institute of Arbitrators;

Rodney Taylor, a national of Barbados, has served as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union since 2021. He supports collaboration among Caribbean governments and ICT stakeholders on regional policy and national digital-transformation strategies.

He previously served as Chief Digital Technology Officer in Barbados’ Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology, where he led public-sector digital transformation, and held senior roles in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and at the CTU.

His current work emphasizes regional coordination for resilient infrastructure, cybersecurity, harmonized policy, meaningful digital inclusion and connectivity for small island developing States.

He holds a master’s degree in Management and Information Systems from the University of Manchester and a postgraduate diploma in Public Sector Management from the University of the West Indies.

Dr. Kim Mallalieu is deputy chair of the Board of the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) and chair of the Authority’s Board Review Committee. She is senior lecturer and leader of the Communication Systems Group in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of the West Indies (UWI), chair of the UWI St. Augustine Campus ICT Steering Committee, and past coordinator of UWI’s Master’s degree in Telecommunications Regulation and Policy, MRP (Telecommunications). She also lectures in Carnegie Mellon University’s Centre for Executive Education in Technology Policy.

Dr. Mallalieu is chief rapporteur and member of the Executive Steering Committee of the Universal Safeguards for Digital Public Infrastructure Initiative of OSET and UNDP; pro bono technical supervisor of the ITU, TATT and Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) Smart Seas Project; and a member of the Caribbean Spectrum Management Task Force. She coordinates the Mentoring Programme for Permanent Consultative Committee I (PCC.I) of Inter‑American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) and, as a keen advocate for gender equality for development, she is vice chair of the Advisory Board for the Network of Women (NOW) in ITU-D, and member of the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organizations (CANTO) Women in ICT (WICT) Committee.

As Principal Investigator of the Caribbean ICT Research Programme (CIRP), Dr. Mallalieu is engaged in multidisciplinary action research with an emphasis on building the resilience of underserved populations. She holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from MIT and PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from University College London. She is a member of Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams (REACT); a licensed amateur radio and GMDSS short range operator; and the recipient of local, regional and international teaching and research awards, and other awards of distinction. She is the first woman to title a dog in the sport of Internationale Gebrauchshunde Prüfungsordnung (IGP) in Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr Cosmas Luckyson 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.

From 2010 until 2019, he was Chief of the Projects and Knowledge Management, responsible for ITU’s project portfolio, statistics, capacity building, and emergency telecommunications activities, as well as coordinating special assistance to least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and small island developing states (SIDS).

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.

Aaron has over 25 years of experience in international strategy for the technology sector, primarily in telecommunications and cybersecurity. Prior to founding Welchman Keen, Aaron was President, International at Silent Circle, a leading Geneva-based company providing encrypted communications hardware and software.

As Chief Strategy Officer of ABI Research, Aaron led the company into the cybersecurity space and built a collaborative relationship with the ITU, resulting in the development of the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) and the ITU Regional cyberDrill programme, which was provided training to over 120 governments.

Aaron was a fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), where he co-directed courses on National Cybersecurity Policy and Cyber Defence for over 30 governments. Aaron was awarded the ITU Silver Medal for his contribution to cybersecurity.

Dr. Jerry Christopher Butler is a senior financial services executive, corporate director and international business strategist with more than 30 years of experience in finance, economic development, technology and public policy across the Caribbean, United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Dr. Butler has advised world leaders, governments, financial institutions and private-sector leaders on investment, infrastructure development and emerging economic opportunities. He was previously Vice President of the largest commercial bank in Canada and the Caribbean, and was also elected three times serving as Dean and chaired multiple Board committees from 2004 to 2019 as Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB) in Washington DC. Dr. Butler’s public sector service was as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chief Accountant at the National Insurance Board, Deputy Managing Director of The Bahamas Development Bank and Deputy Chairman of the Bahamas Securities Commission. He was selected for the Caribbean Public Service of the Decade Award in 2018 in Washington, DC. He is also a Bahamas Court Justice of the Peace (JP). As Founding Chairman of the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF), since 2008, he has helped to build the region’s leading platform connecting governments, investors and industry around infrastructure, energy transition and sustainable development. Dr. Butler brings a distinctly Caribbean perspective to global conversations on how technology, innovative finance, investment and public-private collaboration can accelerate inclusive economic development and create new opportunities for small and developing economies.

Norhani Mohamad Adzhar is Head of the International Affairs Division at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), where she leads the Commission’s international engagement and represents its interests across global and regional telecommunications and digital-policy platforms. She has represented Malaysia in negotiations and policy discussions at the United Nations and other international organisations, particularly on cybercrime, cross-border cooperation and digital governance. She previously headed MCMC’s Investigation and Prosecution Departments and began her career as a Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia. A lawyer by training and former law lecturer, she completed the Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies executive programme at Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. Her multidisciplinary experience shapes her interest in sustainable digital transformation, greener ICT ecosystems and communications/digital regulations.

Sulyna Abdullah is the Chief of Strategic Planning and Membership, and Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a position she took up from 1 October 2023. Sulyna joined the ITU in April 2021 as the Chief of the Digital Knowledge Hub in the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) and was the Executive Director of the ITU-UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development until the Commission transitioned in 2025.
Prior to that, she spent close to two decades at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) where she held various positions including Chief Officer for Corporate Strategy and Chief Transformation Officer.
After MCMC, Sulyna had a short stint in the private sector taking up a position in Netflix as Director of Public Policy for Southeast Asia.
Throughout her career, Sulyna has held numerous positions on the international front representing Malaysia, focusing on public policy issues.

Sameer Bhatti is Chief Executive Officer of The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), jointly owned by the Government of The Bahamas and Liberty Latin America, which he has led for the past four years.
He brings nearly 30 years of experience across telecommunications and technology, spanning Tier 1 U.S. operators, international markets, private equity-backed companies and technology providers. His experience includes fixed and mobile networks, subsea and satellite connectivity, data centers and AI-enabled transformation.
Leading a national operator across an archipelago has shaped his perspective on resilience, digital inclusion and the intersection of public priorities, private investment and infrastructure.
Across these environments, Sameer has focused on building the capabilities that remove constraints, expand opportunity and create lasting value. His current work explores how infrastructure, investment, innovation and policy can enable those capabilities and strengthen national competitiveness as technologies such as AI reshape where and how value is created.

Smita brings over two decades of experience spanning diplomacy, national security and international development. In her previous role as Head of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund for the UK’s Cabinet Office, Smita led this £1.3 billion integrated fund to tackle the most significant threats to UK national security, from Serious and Organised Crime to Cybersecurity. During her overseas experience, Smita has served as Deputy Ambassador to Morocco and as Governance Adviser in Jerusalem supporting implementation of the Oslo Accords. Smita speaks fluent Hindi, Arabic, French and Italian. She moved into the public sector from the City where she worked for a leading strategy consultancy, Monitor Company. She has co-founded one of the most successful charter primary schools in South-West London where she also served as Chair of Governors for many years.

Engr. Abraham Oshadami is a distinguished telecommunications engineer and regulatory expert who currently serves as the Executive Commissioner for Technical Services at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and as a Board member of the NCC as well as the Nigeria Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF). Oshadami brings decades of specialized expertise in telecommunications regulation, spectrum management, and emerging technologies to his role. Throughout his career, Oshadami has established himself as a leading voice in international telecommunications governance and African telecommunications policy. He serves as Chairman of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Emerging Technologies Working Group and led the Nigerian delegation to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23). His international responsibilities extend to his roles as Vice Chairman of the ITU Radiocommunication Advisory Group (2023–2027) and his previous tenure as Vice Chairman of ITU Study Group 1 on Spectrum Management (2015–2019).

Oshadami is a Fellow of both the West African Society for Communications and Administration (WASCA) and the Chartered Institute of Information and Strategy Management, reflecting his commitment to professional excellence and continuous advancement in the telecommunications sector.

Sulyna Abdullah is the Chief of Strategic Planning and Membership, and Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a position she took up from 1 October 2023. Sulyna joined the ITU in April 2021 as the Chief of the Digital Knowledge Hub in the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) and was the Executive Director of the ITU-UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development until the Commission transitioned in 2025.
Prior to that, she spent close to two decades at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) where she held various positions including Chief Officer for Corporate Strategy and Chief Transformation Officer.
After MCMC, Sulyna had a short stint in the private sector taking up a position in Netflix as Director of Public Policy for Southeast Asia.
Throughout her career, Sulyna has held numerous positions on the international front representing Malaysia, focusing on public policy issues.

Sameer Bhatti is Chief Executive Officer of The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), jointly owned by the Government of The Bahamas and Liberty Latin America, which he has led for the past four years.
He brings nearly 30 years of experience across telecommunications and technology, spanning Tier 1 U.S. operators, international markets, private equity-backed companies and technology providers. His experience includes fixed and mobile networks, subsea and satellite connectivity, data centers and AI-enabled transformation.
Leading a national operator across an archipelago has shaped his perspective on resilience, digital inclusion and the intersection of public priorities, private investment and infrastructure.
Across these environments, Sameer has focused on building the capabilities that remove constraints, expand opportunity and create lasting value. His current work explores how infrastructure, investment, innovation and policy can enable those capabilities and strengthen national competitiveness as technologies such as AI reshape where and how value is created.

Smita brings over two decades of experience spanning diplomacy, national security and international development. In her previous role as Head of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund for the UK’s Cabinet Office, Smita led this £1.3 billion integrated fund to tackle the most significant threats to UK national security, from Serious and Organised Crime to Cybersecurity. During her overseas experience, Smita has served as Deputy Ambassador to Morocco and as Governance Adviser in Jerusalem supporting implementation of the Oslo Accords. Smita speaks fluent Hindi, Arabic, French and Italian. She moved into the public sector from the City where she worked for a leading strategy consultancy, Monitor Company. She has co-founded one of the most successful charter primary schools in South-West London where she also served as Chair of Governors for many years.

Engr. Abraham Oshadami is a distinguished telecommunications engineer and regulatory expert who currently serves as the Executive Commissioner for Technical Services at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and as a Board member of the NCC as well as the Nigeria Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF). Oshadami brings decades of specialized expertise in telecommunications regulation, spectrum management, and emerging technologies to his role. Throughout his career, Oshadami has established himself as a leading voice in international telecommunications governance and African telecommunications policy. He serves as Chairman of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Emerging Technologies Working Group and led the Nigerian delegation to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23). His international responsibilities extend to his roles as Vice Chairman of the ITU Radiocommunication Advisory Group (2023–2027) and his previous tenure as Vice Chairman of ITU Study Group 1 on Spectrum Management (2015–2019).

Oshadami is a Fellow of both the West African Society for Communications and Administration (WASCA) and the Chartered Institute of Information and Strategy Management, reflecting his commitment to professional excellence and continuous advancement in the telecommunications sector.

Mario Maniewicz began his second term as Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau (BR) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.
He first took office in January 2019, following his election at the at ITU’s 2018 Plenipotentiary Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He was re-elected at the 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference in Bucharest, Romania.

Mr. Maniewicz is an electronics engineer specialized in telecommunications. He has been with ITU for 35 years, holding several management positions in the Radiocommunication and Development Sectors as well as in ITU Regional Offices.

As Director, Mr. Maniewicz is responsible for the management of the Radiocommunication Bureau, which organizes and coordinates the work of the Radiocommunication Sector aiming at ensuring the rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.

Before joining the ITU, Mr. Maniewicz occupied a managerial position in Uruguay’s main telecommunications operator and was Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Engineering of Uruguay’s main University.

Mr. Maniewicz is married and has two children. He speaks Spanish, English, French and Portuguese.

Chris Hemmerlein is a Senior Manager for Public Policy at Amazon, where he leads multilateral engagement for Amazon Leo, Amazon’s non-geostationary satellite system. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the United States ITU Association (USITUA), which he chaired in 2023. Chris worked at Facebook from 2016-2021, where he led multilateral policy engagement on connectivity issues. Before joining the private sector, Chris spent seven years at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Chris holds a master’s degree in international politics from the University of California, San Diego.

Meshaal S. Alfaiz is the Director of International Negotiations at Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST). With over ten years of experience, he represents the Kingdom in international negotiations and regulatory discussions concerning telecommunications, the digital economy, trade, and investment. His career includes senior roles at the Ministry of Investment, the National Transformation Program, and Saudi Aramco. He holds an Executive MBA from Al Yamamah University and a dual bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Affairs from Texas Southern University.

Mr Saneh Saiwong brings over 25 years of extensive experience in telecommunications, specializing in policy, spectrum management, and satellite communications. Currently serving as the principal engineering expert at the NBTC, Thailand, he is responsible for the overall supervision, policy formulation, and strategic implementation of Thailand’s national spectrum and satellite management frameworks. Mr Saiwong regularly leads the Thai delegation across all ITU-R, ITU-T, and ITU-D work programs, while actively contributing to regional bodies such as the APT and ASEAN. Before his current leadership role at the NBTC, he gained valuable industry experience in the private satellite communications sector before

Mario Maniewicz began his second term as Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau (BR) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.
He first took office in January 2019, following his election at the at ITU’s 2018 Plenipotentiary Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He was re-elected at the 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference in Bucharest, Romania.

Mr. Maniewicz is an electronics engineer specialized in telecommunications. He has been with ITU for 35 years, holding several management positions in the Radiocommunication and Development Sectors as well as in ITU Regional Offices.

As Director, Mr. Maniewicz is responsible for the management of the Radiocommunication Bureau, which organizes and coordinates the work of the Radiocommunication Sector aiming at ensuring the rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.

Before joining the ITU, Mr. Maniewicz occupied a managerial position in Uruguay’s main telecommunications operator and was Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Engineering of Uruguay’s main University.

Mr. Maniewicz is married and has two children. He speaks Spanish, English, French and Portuguese.

Chris Hemmerlein is a Senior Manager for Public Policy at Amazon, where he leads multilateral engagement for Amazon Leo, Amazon’s non-geostationary satellite system. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the United States ITU Association (USITUA), which he chaired in 2023. Chris worked at Facebook from 2016-2021, where he led multilateral policy engagement on connectivity issues. Before joining the private sector, Chris spent seven years at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Chris holds a master’s degree in international politics from the University of California, San Diego.

Meshaal S. Alfaiz is the Director of International Negotiations at Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST). With over ten years of experience, he represents the Kingdom in international negotiations and regulatory discussions concerning telecommunications, the digital economy, trade, and investment. His career includes senior roles at the Ministry of Investment, the National Transformation Program, and Saudi Aramco. He holds an Executive MBA from Al Yamamah University and a dual bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Affairs from Texas Southern University.

Mr Saneh Saiwong brings over 25 years of extensive experience in telecommunications, specializing in policy, spectrum management, and satellite communications. Currently serving as the principal engineering expert at the NBTC, Thailand, he is responsible for the overall supervision, policy formulation, and strategic implementation of Thailand’s national spectrum and satellite management frameworks. Mr Saiwong regularly leads the Thai delegation across all ITU-R, ITU-T, and ITU-D work programs, while actively contributing to regional bodies such as the APT and ASEAN. Before his current leadership role at the NBTC, he gained valuable industry experience in the private satellite communications sector before

Seizo Onoe took office as Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.

Before his election as TSB Director by ITU Member States, he completed an over 30-year career with Japanese mobile operator NTT DOCOMO. In 2021, he became Executive Vice President and Chief Standardization Strategy Officer for the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corporation and a Fellow of NTT DOCOMO, INC. From 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Architect and President of its subsidiary DOCOMO Technology.

Between 2012 and 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, a Member of the Board of Directors, and Managing Director of R&D Innovation Division. Earlier, he served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO’s R&D Strategy Department and Managing Director of the company’s Radio Network Development Department.

As TSB Director, he heads the part of ITU responsible for the coordination of technical standards and collaborative standardization processes that enable the interconnection and interoperability of information and communication technologies (ICTs) worldwide.

Mr Onoe is committed to facilitating open and inclusive standardization processes, along with promoting digital technologies to address global issues, building a new ecosystem that reflects evolving technologies, and strengthening cooperation and collaboration in ICT standardization worldwide.

Known in the industry as “the father of LTE” (Long-Term Evolution), he helped upgrade the wireless broadband standard for mobile devices and networks. He now aims for global outreach to bridge standardization gaps, deliver the benefits of technology widely and speedily, and ensure meaningful and affordable broadband access for everyone.

Mr Onoe holds a Master’s degree in electronics from the Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering.

Christopher S. Yoo is the Imasogie Professor in Law & Technology; Professor of Communication; Professor of Computer & Information Science; the Founding Director of the Center for Technology, Innovation & Competition; and the Faculty Co-Director of the Penn Center of Media, Technology, and Democracy at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of 4 books and over 130 other scholarly works and has taught at over a dozen universities around the world. Professor Yoo received his A.B. from Harvard University, his M.B.A. from UCLA, and his J.D. from Northwestern University. Before entering the academy, Professor Yoo clerked for Justice Anthony M. Kennedy of the Supreme Court of the United States and Judge A. Raymond Randolph of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He also practiced law with the D.C. firm of Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells) under the supervision of now-Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Jr. He previously taught at the Vanderbilt Law School, where he founded the Technology and Entertainment Law Program. He is frequently called to testify before the U.S. Congress, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, foreign governments, and international organizations. He recently served as a member of the Federal Communication Commission’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, a Consultant to the Administrative Conference of the United States, a member of the Board of Advisors for the American Law Institute’s (ALI’s) Project on Principles of Law for Data Privacy and the Restatement of Principles for a Data Economy (joint with the European Law Institute), and as a Non-Governmental Advisor to the International Competition Network. He is currently an Advisor to the ALI’s new project on Principles of the Law, Civil Liability for Artificial Intelligence (AI), is co-leading an initiative to create technically implementable AI standards, and is the Co-Chair of the ITU’s inaugural Academic Advisory Body on Emerging Technologies.

Deputy Assistant Secretary John R. Mills has served in the U.S. Government since the latter part of the Cold War. John is the former Director of Cybersecurity Policy, Strategy, and International Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. His service has been both in uniform and as a career civilian and included time as the DOD representative to the original NSC Cyber office. Retired Colonel Mills has served in joint, conventional, and special operations units and as a senior staff planner on the Chairman’s Joint Staff. His last uniformed military assignment was acting as a Homeland Defense liaison between Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Since retiring from Government Service, John spent time with The Aerospace Corporation, The Center for Security Policy, the Committee on Present Danger China, The Spectrum Consulting group, an adjunct Professor for two major Universities, and a National Security Media Contributor for multiple broadcast and print media.

Greg Michelier serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Technology and Artificial Intelligence for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

A technologist, entrepreneur, and builder, he brings more than two decades of experience advancing innovation, digital infrastructure, and enterprise technology across The Bahamas, the Caribbean, and international markets.

Ambassador Michelier studied Political Science at the University of Ottawa and earned an LLB from the University of Buckingham. His unique blend of legal training and deep technical expertise positions him at the intersection of policy, governance, and emerging technology.

Prior to his ambassadorial appointment, Ambassador Michelier built and led a portfolio of technology enterprises that helped modernize industries across the region. Across his companies, he has been an early and hands-on pioneer in the application of artificial intelligence, architecting and deploying AI-driven platforms and intelligent agents that transform how businesses operate, automate complex workflows, and deliver smarter experiences to their customers. This practical, builder’s command of AI, grounded in software development, AI engineering, and large-scale systems integration, distinguishes his approach to technology policy and ensures that national strategy is informed by real-world implementation rather than theory alone.

As Ambassador-at-Large, he leads the development and execution of The Bahamas’ international technology and artificial intelligence agenda, operating across the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Innovation and National Development. His mandate spans AI governance, digital diplomacy, sovereign data policy, and the positioning of The Bahamas as a forward-looking, innovation-driven nation within the global digital economy.

He helped shape key technology commitments set out in national policy, including a planned AI Governance Act, a National AI Commission, a National Digital ID, and strengthened data protection. His governing philosophy, “sovereign first, not sovereign only,” reflects his conviction that small island developing states can lead, not merely adopt, in the age of artificial intelligence.

On the international stage, Ambassador Michelier represents The Bahamas in global forums on AI governance and digital cooperation, engaging with multilateral institutions, foreign governments, and leading technology organizations to advance the nation’s interests and ensure its voice is heard in shaping the rules of the emerging digital order.

Beyond his diplomatic and professional roles, Ambassador Michelier is committed to community and youth empowerment, with philanthropic involvement spanning education, animal welfare, and youth sports. Across business, public service, and innovation, his leadership is defined by a forward-looking commitment to technology, sovereignty, partnership, and national progress.

Honourable Tatenda Annastacia Mavetera has served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services since 2023, and she is an elected Member of Zimbabwe’s Parliament for Chikomba West Constituency. She previously served as the proportional representative Member of Parliament for Seke District in Zimbabwe’s 9th Parliament.
At the continental level, Honourable Tatenda Annastacia Mavetera currently serves as the President of the Smart Africa Council of Ministers in Charge of ICT, following her election at the 8th Council Meeting on 24 March 2026, providing continental leadership on digital transformation and policy coordination. In addition, she is one of only seven African Ministers appointed to the inaugural Smart Africa Artificial Intelligence Council, a high-level ministerial body established by Smart Africa in collaboration with the African Union and the International Telecommunication Union to guide Africa’s approach to AI policy, governance, ethics, and innovation.
Hon. Mavetera is widely recognised as a leading champion of youth and women empowerment, having successfully initiated the Youth Caucus in Zimbabwe’s 9th Parliament.
She has overseen the completion of Zimbabwe’s National AI Strategy, making Zimbabwe one of 17 African countries with such a framework. She is leading the finalisation of the national cybersecurity strategy and child online safety policy. She has also guided amendments to the Postal and Telecommunications Act to reflect developments in the sector. She has presided over multiple free digital skills training programs, including the Digital Skills Ambassadors Program, the 1.5 Million Coders Program, and the Cybersecurity Training Program, reaching a huge number of Zimbabweans in the initial phase.
Hon. Mavetera has received numerous awards recognizing her leadership and advocacy, including the ICDL Africa Recognition Award (2024), the Zimbabwe Achievers Award (2025) for advancing women and youth leadership, the Youth Champion Award at the Eminence Business Awards (2024), inclusion among Zimbabwe’s 40 Under 40 Most Influential Young Business Leaders (2024) by the Institute of Corporate Directors, the Marketing Champion Leadership Award (MAZ, 2024), and recognition as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Zimbabwe (ICDZ).
She holds an Honours Degree in Management and Marketing and a Master’s in Strategic Marketing, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Leadership at Midlands State University. Hon. Mavetera brings extensive experience in the ICT sector, having dedicated over a decade to advancing digital transformation, innovation, and inclusive technology in Zimbabwe.

Seizo Onoe took office as Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.

Before his election as TSB Director by ITU Member States, he completed an over 30-year career with Japanese mobile operator NTT DOCOMO. In 2021, he became Executive Vice President and Chief Standardization Strategy Officer for the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corporation and a Fellow of NTT DOCOMO, INC. From 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Architect and President of its subsidiary DOCOMO Technology.

Between 2012 and 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, a Member of the Board of Directors, and Managing Director of R&D Innovation Division. Earlier, he served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO’s R&D Strategy Department and Managing Director of the company’s Radio Network Development Department.

As TSB Director, he heads the part of ITU responsible for the coordination of technical standards and collaborative standardization processes that enable the interconnection and interoperability of information and communication technologies (ICTs) worldwide.

Mr Onoe is committed to facilitating open and inclusive standardization processes, along with promoting digital technologies to address global issues, building a new ecosystem that reflects evolving technologies, and strengthening cooperation and collaboration in ICT standardization worldwide.

Known in the industry as “the father of LTE” (Long-Term Evolution), he helped upgrade the wireless broadband standard for mobile devices and networks. He now aims for global outreach to bridge standardization gaps, deliver the benefits of technology widely and speedily, and ensure meaningful and affordable broadband access for everyone.

Mr Onoe holds a Master’s degree in electronics from the Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering.

Christopher S. Yoo is the Imasogie Professor in Law & Technology; Professor of Communication; Professor of Computer & Information Science; the Founding Director of the Center for Technology, Innovation & Competition; and the Faculty Co-Director of the Penn Center of Media, Technology, and Democracy at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of 4 books and over 130 other scholarly works and has taught at over a dozen universities around the world. Professor Yoo received his A.B. from Harvard University, his M.B.A. from UCLA, and his J.D. from Northwestern University. Before entering the academy, Professor Yoo clerked for Justice Anthony M. Kennedy of the Supreme Court of the United States and Judge A. Raymond Randolph of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He also practiced law with the D.C. firm of Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells) under the supervision of now-Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Jr. He previously taught at the Vanderbilt Law School, where he founded the Technology and Entertainment Law Program. He is frequently called to testify before the U.S. Congress, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, foreign governments, and international organizations. He recently served as a member of the Federal Communication Commission’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, a Consultant to the Administrative Conference of the United States, a member of the Board of Advisors for the American Law Institute’s (ALI’s) Project on Principles of Law for Data Privacy and the Restatement of Principles for a Data Economy (joint with the European Law Institute), and as a Non-Governmental Advisor to the International Competition Network. He is currently an Advisor to the ALI’s new project on Principles of the Law, Civil Liability for Artificial Intelligence (AI), is co-leading an initiative to create technically implementable AI standards, and is the Co-Chair of the ITU’s inaugural Academic Advisory Body on Emerging Technologies.

Deputy Assistant Secretary John R. Mills has served in the U.S. Government since the latter part of the Cold War. John is the former Director of Cybersecurity Policy, Strategy, and International Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. His service has been both in uniform and as a career civilian and included time as the DOD representative to the original NSC Cyber office. Retired Colonel Mills has served in joint, conventional, and special operations units and as a senior staff planner on the Chairman’s Joint Staff. His last uniformed military assignment was acting as a Homeland Defense liaison between Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Since retiring from Government Service, John spent time with The Aerospace Corporation, The Center for Security Policy, the Committee on Present Danger China, The Spectrum Consulting group, an adjunct Professor for two major Universities, and a National Security Media Contributor for multiple broadcast and print media.

Greg Michelier serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Technology and Artificial Intelligence for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

A technologist, entrepreneur, and builder, he brings more than two decades of experience advancing innovation, digital infrastructure, and enterprise technology across The Bahamas, the Caribbean, and international markets.

Ambassador Michelier studied Political Science at the University of Ottawa and earned an LLB from the University of Buckingham. His unique blend of legal training and deep technical expertise positions him at the intersection of policy, governance, and emerging technology.

Prior to his ambassadorial appointment, Ambassador Michelier built and led a portfolio of technology enterprises that helped modernize industries across the region. Across his companies, he has been an early and hands-on pioneer in the application of artificial intelligence, architecting and deploying AI-driven platforms and intelligent agents that transform how businesses operate, automate complex workflows, and deliver smarter experiences to their customers. This practical, builder’s command of AI, grounded in software development, AI engineering, and large-scale systems integration, distinguishes his approach to technology policy and ensures that national strategy is informed by real-world implementation rather than theory alone.

As Ambassador-at-Large, he leads the development and execution of The Bahamas’ international technology and artificial intelligence agenda, operating across the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Innovation and National Development. His mandate spans AI governance, digital diplomacy, sovereign data policy, and the positioning of The Bahamas as a forward-looking, innovation-driven nation within the global digital economy.

He helped shape key technology commitments set out in national policy, including a planned AI Governance Act, a National AI Commission, a National Digital ID, and strengthened data protection. His governing philosophy, “sovereign first, not sovereign only,” reflects his conviction that small island developing states can lead, not merely adopt, in the age of artificial intelligence.

On the international stage, Ambassador Michelier represents The Bahamas in global forums on AI governance and digital cooperation, engaging with multilateral institutions, foreign governments, and leading technology organizations to advance the nation’s interests and ensure its voice is heard in shaping the rules of the emerging digital order.

Beyond his diplomatic and professional roles, Ambassador Michelier is committed to community and youth empowerment, with philanthropic involvement spanning education, animal welfare, and youth sports. Across business, public service, and innovation, his leadership is defined by a forward-looking commitment to technology, sovereignty, partnership, and national progress.

Honourable Tatenda Annastacia Mavetera has served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services since 2023, and she is an elected Member of Zimbabwe’s Parliament for Chikomba West Constituency. She previously served as the proportional representative Member of Parliament for Seke District in Zimbabwe’s 9th Parliament.
At the continental level, Honourable Tatenda Annastacia Mavetera currently serves as the President of the Smart Africa Council of Ministers in Charge of ICT, following her election at the 8th Council Meeting on 24 March 2026, providing continental leadership on digital transformation and policy coordination. In addition, she is one of only seven African Ministers appointed to the inaugural Smart Africa Artificial Intelligence Council, a high-level ministerial body established by Smart Africa in collaboration with the African Union and the International Telecommunication Union to guide Africa’s approach to AI policy, governance, ethics, and innovation.
Hon. Mavetera is widely recognised as a leading champion of youth and women empowerment, having successfully initiated the Youth Caucus in Zimbabwe’s 9th Parliament.
She has overseen the completion of Zimbabwe’s National AI Strategy, making Zimbabwe one of 17 African countries with such a framework. She is leading the finalisation of the national cybersecurity strategy and child online safety policy. She has also guided amendments to the Postal and Telecommunications Act to reflect developments in the sector. She has presided over multiple free digital skills training programs, including the Digital Skills Ambassadors Program, the 1.5 Million Coders Program, and the Cybersecurity Training Program, reaching a huge number of Zimbabweans in the initial phase.
Hon. Mavetera has received numerous awards recognizing her leadership and advocacy, including the ICDL Africa Recognition Award (2024), the Zimbabwe Achievers Award (2025) for advancing women and youth leadership, the Youth Champion Award at the Eminence Business Awards (2024), inclusion among Zimbabwe’s 40 Under 40 Most Influential Young Business Leaders (2024) by the Institute of Corporate Directors, the Marketing Champion Leadership Award (MAZ, 2024), and recognition as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Zimbabwe (ICDZ).
She holds an Honours Degree in Management and Marketing and a Master’s in Strategic Marketing, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Leadership at Midlands State University. Hon. Mavetera brings extensive experience in the ICT sector, having dedicated over a decade to advancing digital transformation, innovation, and inclusive technology in Zimbabwe.

Seizo Onoe took office as Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.

Before his election as TSB Director by ITU Member States, he completed an over 30-year career with Japanese mobile operator NTT DOCOMO. In 2021, he became Executive Vice President and Chief Standardization Strategy Officer for the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corporation and a Fellow of NTT DOCOMO, INC. From 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Architect and President of its subsidiary DOCOMO Technology.

Between 2012 and 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, a Member of the Board of Directors, and Managing Director of R&D Innovation Division. Earlier, he served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO’s R&D Strategy Department and Managing Director of the company’s Radio Network Development Department.

As TSB Director, he heads the part of ITU responsible for the coordination of technical standards and collaborative standardization processes that enable the interconnection and interoperability of information and communication technologies (ICTs) worldwide.

Mr Onoe is committed to facilitating open and inclusive standardization processes, along with promoting digital technologies to address global issues, building a new ecosystem that reflects evolving technologies, and strengthening cooperation and collaboration in ICT standardization worldwide.

Known in the industry as “the father of LTE” (Long-Term Evolution), he helped upgrade the wireless broadband standard for mobile devices and networks. He now aims for global outreach to bridge standardization gaps, deliver the benefits of technology widely and speedily, and ensure meaningful and affordable broadband access for everyone.

Mr Onoe holds a Master’s degree in electronics from the Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering.

Christopher S. Yoo is the Imasogie Professor in Law & Technology; Professor of Communication; Professor of Computer & Information Science; the Founding Director of the Center for Technology, Innovation & Competition; and the Faculty Co-Director of the Penn Center of Media, Technology, and Democracy at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of 4 books and over 130 other scholarly works and has taught at over a dozen universities around the world. Professor Yoo received his A.B. from Harvard University, his M.B.A. from UCLA, and his J.D. from Northwestern University. Before entering the academy, Professor Yoo clerked for Justice Anthony M. Kennedy of the Supreme Court of the United States and Judge A. Raymond Randolph of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He also practiced law with the D.C. firm of Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells) under the supervision of now-Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Jr. He previously taught at the Vanderbilt Law School, where he founded the Technology and Entertainment Law Program. He is frequently called to testify before the U.S. Congress, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, foreign governments, and international organizations. He recently served as a member of the Federal Communication Commission’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, a Consultant to the Administrative Conference of the United States, a member of the Board of Advisors for the American Law Institute’s (ALI’s) Project on Principles of Law for Data Privacy and the Restatement of Principles for a Data Economy (joint with the European Law Institute), and as a Non-Governmental Advisor to the International Competition Network. He is currently an Advisor to the ALI’s new project on Principles of the Law, Civil Liability for Artificial Intelligence (AI), is co-leading an initiative to create technically implementable AI standards, and is the Co-Chair of the ITU’s inaugural Academic Advisory Body on Emerging Technologies.

Deputy Assistant Secretary John R. Mills has served in the U.S. Government since the latter part of the Cold War. John is the former Director of Cybersecurity Policy, Strategy, and International Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. His service has been both in uniform and as a career civilian and included time as the DOD representative to the original NSC Cyber office. Retired Colonel Mills has served in joint, conventional, and special operations units and as a senior staff planner on the Chairman’s Joint Staff. His last uniformed military assignment was acting as a Homeland Defense liaison between Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Since retiring from Government Service, John spent time with The Aerospace Corporation, The Center for Security Policy, the Committee on Present Danger China, The Spectrum Consulting group, an adjunct Professor for two major Universities, and a National Security Media Contributor for multiple broadcast and print media.

Greg Michelier serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Technology and Artificial Intelligence for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

A technologist, entrepreneur, and builder, he brings more than two decades of experience advancing innovation, digital infrastructure, and enterprise technology across The Bahamas, the Caribbean, and international markets.

Ambassador Michelier studied Political Science at the University of Ottawa and earned an LLB from the University of Buckingham. His unique blend of legal training and deep technical expertise positions him at the intersection of policy, governance, and emerging technology.

Prior to his ambassadorial appointment, Ambassador Michelier built and led a portfolio of technology enterprises that helped modernize industries across the region. Across his companies, he has been an early and hands-on pioneer in the application of artificial intelligence, architecting and deploying AI-driven platforms and intelligent agents that transform how businesses operate, automate complex workflows, and deliver smarter experiences to their customers. This practical, builder’s command of AI, grounded in software development, AI engineering, and large-scale systems integration, distinguishes his approach to technology policy and ensures that national strategy is informed by real-world implementation rather than theory alone.

As Ambassador-at-Large, he leads the development and execution of The Bahamas’ international technology and artificial intelligence agenda, operating across the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Innovation and National Development. His mandate spans AI governance, digital diplomacy, sovereign data policy, and the positioning of The Bahamas as a forward-looking, innovation-driven nation within the global digital economy.

He helped shape key technology commitments set out in national policy, including a planned AI Governance Act, a National AI Commission, a National Digital ID, and strengthened data protection. His governing philosophy, “sovereign first, not sovereign only,” reflects his conviction that small island developing states can lead, not merely adopt, in the age of artificial intelligence.

On the international stage, Ambassador Michelier represents The Bahamas in global forums on AI governance and digital cooperation, engaging with multilateral institutions, foreign governments, and leading technology organizations to advance the nation’s interests and ensure its voice is heard in shaping the rules of the emerging digital order.

Beyond his diplomatic and professional roles, Ambassador Michelier is committed to community and youth empowerment, with philanthropic involvement spanning education, animal welfare, and youth sports. Across business, public service, and innovation, his leadership is defined by a forward-looking commitment to technology, sovereignty, partnership, and national progress.

Honourable Tatenda Annastacia Mavetera has served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services since 2023, and she is an elected Member of Zimbabwe’s Parliament for Chikomba West Constituency. She previously served as the proportional representative Member of Parliament for Seke District in Zimbabwe’s 9th Parliament.
At the continental level, Honourable Tatenda Annastacia Mavetera currently serves as the President of the Smart Africa Council of Ministers in Charge of ICT, following her election at the 8th Council Meeting on 24 March 2026, providing continental leadership on digital transformation and policy coordination. In addition, she is one of only seven African Ministers appointed to the inaugural Smart Africa Artificial Intelligence Council, a high-level ministerial body established by Smart Africa in collaboration with the African Union and the International Telecommunication Union to guide Africa’s approach to AI policy, governance, ethics, and innovation.
Hon. Mavetera is widely recognised as a leading champion of youth and women empowerment, having successfully initiated the Youth Caucus in Zimbabwe’s 9th Parliament.
She has overseen the completion of Zimbabwe’s National AI Strategy, making Zimbabwe one of 17 African countries with such a framework. She is leading the finalisation of the national cybersecurity strategy and child online safety policy. She has also guided amendments to the Postal and Telecommunications Act to reflect developments in the sector. She has presided over multiple free digital skills training programs, including the Digital Skills Ambassadors Program, the 1.5 Million Coders Program, and the Cybersecurity Training Program, reaching a huge number of Zimbabweans in the initial phase.
Hon. Mavetera has received numerous awards recognizing her leadership and advocacy, including the ICDL Africa Recognition Award (2024), the Zimbabwe Achievers Award (2025) for advancing women and youth leadership, the Youth Champion Award at the Eminence Business Awards (2024), inclusion among Zimbabwe’s 40 Under 40 Most Influential Young Business Leaders (2024) by the Institute of Corporate Directors, the Marketing Champion Leadership Award (MAZ, 2024), and recognition as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Zimbabwe (ICDZ).
She holds an Honours Degree in Management and Marketing and a Master’s in Strategic Marketing, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Leadership at Midlands State University. Hon. Mavetera brings extensive experience in the ICT sector, having dedicated over a decade to advancing digital transformation, innovation, and inclusive technology in Zimbabwe.