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\n \"Background\n
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\n
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World
Telecommunication
ICT Indicators
Symposium<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n

WTIS-26 speakers<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>
Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin<\/font>


Secretary-General
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava<\/font>


Director
Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Ms Rabia Awan<\/font>


WTIS-26 Chair
Deputy Director General (BS-20)
Population Census Section\/PSLM Section
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
H.E. Ms Sarah Maria Q. Sison<\/font>


Undersecretary for Policy and Legal
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)
Philippines (Republic of the)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Mr Rodney Taylor<\/font>


Secretary – General
Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Dr Iza Razija Me\u0161evi\u0107<\/font>


Chairwoman
Council of the Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui<\/font>


Principal Secretary
State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy
Kenya (Republic of)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Mr Moritz Stefaner<\/font>


Truth and Beauty Operator
Germany (Federal Republic of)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Dr Georges-Simon Ulrich<\/font>


Director General
Federal Statistical Office (FSO)
Switzerland (Confederation of)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Mr Alexandre Barbosa<\/font>


Head
Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br)
Brazil (Federative Republic of)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Ms Linah Ngumba<\/font>


EGH Chair
Head
ICT Statistics Section
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Mr Marco Marini<\/font>


Division Chief
Statistics Department
International Monetary Fund (IMF)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Mr Panayiotis Kyriakides<\/font>


EGTI Chair
Economist
Office of the Commissioner for Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation (OCECPR)
Cyprus (Republic of)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Dr Richard Benjamins<\/font>


CEO
OdiseIA
Spain<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Mr Henri Numbi Ilunga<\/font>


Head
Market Observatory
Regulatory Authority for Post and Telecommunications of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (ARPTC)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Ms Latifa AlShehhi<\/font>


Director of Investment Data Department and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO)
Ministry of Investment
United Arab Emirates<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Ms Sibille Radka<\/font>


Digital Policies and Trade Coordinator
Universal Postal Union (UPU)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Mr Nils Berglund<\/font>


Research Associate
European University Institute
Robert Schuman Centre<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Dr Kola Ijasan<\/font>


Research Director
Research ICT Africa<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Mr Azeddine Gati <\/font>


Director
Department for Networks and IT Environmental Impact Assessment
Orange <\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Mr Thierry Geiger<\/font>


Senior Economist and Head of the Data and Analytics Division
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Professor Frauke Kreuter <\/font>


Chair of Statistics and Data Science
LMU Munich
Germany (Federal Republic of)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Mr Deniz Susar<\/font>


Senior Governance and Public Administration Officer
Digital Government Branch
Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Ms Haoyi Chen<\/font>


Officer-in-Charge Data Integration
Web Development and Data Visualisation Section
United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Mr Fredrik Eriksson<\/font>


Data Scientist
ICT Data and Analytics Division
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Professor Tina Ambos<\/font>


Professor of International Management
Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM)
University of Geneva
Switzerland (Confederation of)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Dr Daniel Power<\/font>


Managing Director
Flowminder Foundation<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Ms Esperanza Magpantay<\/font>


Senior Statistician
ICT Data and and Analytics Division
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div>

<\/a>
Mr Benjamin Makai<\/font>


Senior Manager for Technology for Development (T4D)
Safaricom
Kenya (Republic of)<\/font><\/p><\/center><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin<\/p><\/div>

Doreen Bogdan-Martin took office as Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.
\r\n
\r\nMs 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.
\r\n
\r\nAs 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.
\r\n
\r\nAs 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.
\r\n
\r\nShe 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.
\r\n
\r\nWithin 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.
\r\n
\r\nFrom 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.
\r\n
\r\nBefore 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.
\r\n
\r\nMs 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.
\r\n
\r\nMs Bogdan-Martin is married with four children.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava<\/p><\/div>

Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava took office as Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.
\r\n
\r\nWith 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.
\r\nPrior 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.
\r\n
\r\nFrom 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).
\r\n
\r\nPreviously, 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.
\r\n
\r\nEarlier, 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.
\r\nThroughout his career, he has focused on closing the digital and skills divide and accelerating digital transformation to achieve socio-economic development for all.
\r\nDr 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.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Ms Rabia Awan<\/p><\/div>

Ms Rabia Awan is a senior statistician and development professional with over 25 years of experience in official statistics, census and survey management, data governance, monitoring and evaluation, and evidence-based policymaking. She currently serves as Deputy Director General at the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), where she leads the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey (PSLM), Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES), and major national census initiatives. She played a leading role in the implementation of Pakistan’s first Digital Population and Housing Census and has overseen the design and execution of numerous nationwide socio-economic surveys. Rabia has extensive experience in SDG monitoring, poverty measurement, digital transformation, ICT statistics, and international statistical reporting. She has also led the integration of ICT modules into regular PSLM and HIES surveys in accordance with ITU standards, strengthening Pakistan’s ICT data ecosystem and international reporting mechanisms. She is an active contributor to digital inclusion initiatives and served on the Research and Data Collection Working Group for Pakistan’s Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

H.E. Ms Sarah Maria Q. Sison<\/p><\/div>

Undersecretary Ms Sarah Maria Q. Sison serves as the Undersecretary for Policy and Legal and the Head of the Gender and Development (GAD) Program of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). In this capacity, she exercises direct supervision over the National ICT Planning, Policy, and Standards Bureau and the Legal Service.
\r\n
\r\nCompleted her Bachelor of Arts Major in Humanities at the Ateneo de Manila University where she also obtained her Juris Doctor degree in 2008. Upon passing the bar in 2009, she commenced litigation practice with the Escudero Marasigan Vallente and E.H. Villareal Lawfirm. She then worked in the Office of the President and the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office in Malaca\u0441ang Palace from 2010 to 2016. She became a Partner at Reyes Rojas and Associates Lawfirm in 2022.
\r\n
\r\nShe moved to Geneva, Switzerland for further studies and in 2017 obtained her LL.M in International Dispute Settlement from the University of Geneva and Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. In 2018, she obtained her second LL.M in International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution from the National University of Singapore where she was an NUS Center for International Law Merit Scholar. She is a founding member of the Young Philippine Institute of Arbitrators and is currently the VP for International Initiatives of the Philippine Institute of Arbitrators.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Mr Rodney Taylor<\/p><\/div>

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.
\r\n
\r\nHe previously served as Chief Digital Technology Officer in Barbados\u2019 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.
\r\n
\r\nHis current work emphasizes regional coordination for resilient infrastructure, cybersecurity, harmonized policy, meaningful digital inclusion and connectivity for small island developing States.
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\r\nHe holds a master\u2019s 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.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Dr Iza Razija Me\u0161evi\u0107<\/p><\/div>

Dr. iur. Iza Razija Me\u0161evi\u0107 is the Chairwoman of the Council of the Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and a full professor of law at University of Sarajevo and Prince Sultan University in Riyadh, specialized in Intellectual Property Law (IP) and AI & Technology Law. In some of her other capacities, she is also the Lead legal expert for drafting the first Law on Innovations of Sarajevo Canton, trainer in the field of IP for the Centre for the Education of Judges and Prosecutors of the Federation of B&H and a TEDx speaker. Professor Me\u0161evi\u0107 is the author of numerous monographs and research papers in the field of IP. In the last few years, her research is predominantly focused on the issues which emerging digital technologies and phenomenon pose on IP rights.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui<\/p><\/div>

Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, CBS, is the Principal Secretary in Kenya\u2019s State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy, where he leads the country\u2019s digital transformation agenda. He oversees national efforts to expand digital infrastructure, strengthen data-driven governance, and implement progressive ICT policies aligned with Kenya\u2019s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
\r\n
\r\nWith over 25 years of experience across the public and private sectors globally, Eng. Tanui brings deep expertise in large-scale technology deployment, institutional reform, and international partnerships. He holds a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Electrical and Communication Engineering and an MBA in International Business.
\r\n
\r\nHe has been instrumental in advancing flagship initiatives such as Konza Technopolis, positioning it as a leading smart city and innovation hub in Africa. His work continues to shape Kenya\u2019s role as a regional leader in digital innovation, connectivity, and inclusive digital economy development.
\r\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Mr Moritz Stefaner<\/p><\/div>

As a self-employed \u201cTruth and Beauty Operator\u201d, Mr Moritz Stefaner keeps chasing the perfect shape for information.
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\r\nWith a background in Cognitive Science and Interface Design, his work beautifully balances analytical and aesthetic aspects in mapping complex phenomena to support data\u2013driven decision making.
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\r\nMoritz has helped clients like the OECD, Google News Initiative, Salesforce, the World Economic Forum, Deutsche Bahn and the Max Planck Research Society to find insights and beauty in large and complex data sets.
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\r\nHe is the record winner of the Kantar Information is Beautiful awards and his work has been exhibited at Venice Biennale of Architecture, SIGGRAPH, Max Planck Science Gallery, Fondation EDF, and Ars Electronica.
\r\n
\r\nAs a writer, co-host of the Data Stories podcast, and sought-after keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, Moritz Stefaner continues to excite more and more people about the magic that can emerge when art and science connect deeply.
\r\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Dr Georges-Simon Ulrich<\/p><\/div>

Prof. Dr Georges-Simon Ulrich was appointed Director General of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) by the Federal Council on 1st October 2013. He studied Business Administration in Switzerland, the USA (University of Virginia, Darden Business school) and Australia, where he obtained his PhD at the University of Southern Queensland with a thesis on Stakeholder management and communication. He is also Professor in strategic management and research methods at the University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration Zurich.
\r\nBetween 1992 and 2010 Mr Ulrich worked as an entrepreneur, holding various management positions in market, social, and opinion research. From May 2011 to September 2013, he was Director of the LUSTAT statistical office in Lucerne. Georges-Simon Ulrich represents Switzerland on behalf of the FSO’s areas of responsibility (official statistics, data stewardship and data science) in various national and international committees at Eurostat, OECD and EFTA. From 2022 to 2026, he was a member of the UN Statistical Commission’s Bureau and, in 2024 and 2025, its Chair.
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X<\/a>

Mr Alexandre Barbosa<\/p><\/div>

Alexandre Barbosa, Head of the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br), linked to the Brazilian Network Information Center (NIC.br) is responsible for research projects to produce ICT-related data for the monitoring of national policies and international goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He coordinates capacity building programs in survey methodologies in Latin America and Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa. Mr Barbosa is a Member of Consultive Committee of the Brazilian Census (Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics) and member of the Board of Councelors of the Brazilian Center for Innovation in Education (CIEB). Chair of the Expert Group on ICT Households indicators (EGH) from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) from 2012 to 2017, expert at the OECD working party on Measurement and Analysis of the Digital Economy and working party on Artificial Intelligence Governance.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Ms Linah Ngumba<\/p><\/div>

As a trailblazer in the field of ICT statistics, Ms Linah Ngumba spearheads this sector at the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the National Statistics Office (NSO). She handles ICT-related research and analysis in the organization. Ms Ngumba was instrumental in establishing the ICT statistics division, introducing the Economic Survey report, orchestrating ICT enterprise and public institution surveys, and integrating an ICT module in the integrated household budget surveys and the 2019 Population and Household Census. Currently, she chairs the International Telecommunication Union’s Expert Group on ICT Household Indicators. Ms Ngumba hold master’s degrees in the fields of Communications Management and Economics, in addition to her bachelor\u2019s degree in economics and Statistics.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Mr Marco Marini<\/p><\/div>

Mr Marco Marini is Division Chief in the Statistics Department of the IMF. He leads and coordinates a wide range of projects and activities related to data governance and data analytics for the Fund, including oversight of the IMF Big Data Center. He is the author of several scientific publications on topics related to economic measurement, including national accounts, benchmarking, data revisions, forecasting, and seasonal adjustment. Prior to joining the IMF, he was a senior researcher at Istat, the Italian National Statistical Institute. He holds a PhD in Statistical Methods for Business and Economics from the University of Rome \u201cRoma Tre.\u201d<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Mr Panayiotis Kyriakides<\/p><\/div>

Panayiotis Kyriakides is an Economist at the Office of the Commissioner for Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation (OCECPR) of Cyprus. He serves as Vice-Chair of the ITU Expert Group on Telecom\/ICT Indicators (EGTI) for the 2025\u20132028 term and represents Cyprus as the national focal point for the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index. He has over 15 years of experience in telecom regulation, ICT statistics, and for the past 5 years in cybersecurity indicators. He led the design of Cyprus\u2019 national ICT Observatory, contributed to the first effort to revise the ITU ICT Development Index, and co-chairs the Contact Network of the Euro-Mediterranean Regulators Group (EMERG). He has also been appointed to ENISA\u2019s informal task force for the revision of the Cybersecurity Index.
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X<\/a>

Dr Richard Benjamins<\/p><\/div>

Dr Richard Benjamins is CEO and co-founder of the Spanish observatory for ethical and social impact of AI (OdiseIA), and co-founder and CEO of RAIGHT.ai, a responsible AI product startup. He is also chairman of 28DIGITAL’s Supervisory Board, and board member of Flowminder and ACAPS, two \u201cdata for good\u201d non-profits, and trustee of the environmental non-profit CDP Europe. Until March 2024, he was Chief Responsible AI Officer at Telefonica and founder of its \u201cAI for Society and Environment\u201d area, where he played a pivotal role in shaping Telef\u00f3nica’s approach to the ethical use of artificial intelligence. Before that he was the company\u2019s Chief AI & Data Strategist. He is among the 100 most influential people in data-driven business (DataIQ 100, 2018). He is co-founder and former co-chair of UNESCO’s business council for their ethical AI recommendation, and a member of UNESCO\u2019s AI Ethics Experts without Borders. He forms part of the advisory board of the Centre for Digital Culture at the Vatican, of WEF\u2019s expert group on Resilient AI Governance and Regulation, and of MIT-Sloan’s panel on Responsible AI, and was external AI expert for the AI Observatory of the European Parliament. He was member of GSMA\u2019s AI for Impact taskforce and of the OECD\u2019s AI expert group on the AI Index. He was Group Chief Data Officer at AXA, and held during 10 years executive positions at Telefonica on Big Data and Analytics. He was a member of the B2G data-sharing Expert Group of the EC. He co-founded iSOCO, an early AI startup, in 1999, and held positions at various universities in Amsterdam, Paris, and Sao Paulo. Furthermore, he holds a PhD in Cognitive Science, has published over 150 scientific articles, is founding editorial board member of Springer\u2019s AI Ethics journal, and is author of the books \u201cThe myth of the algorithm\u201d (Spanish) and \u201cA Data-Driven Company\u201d (English, Spanish, Turkish, Chinese), and “The algorithm and I” (Spanish). He is a frequent speaker on Artificial Intelligence events, and a strategic advisor to several start-ups and companies.
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X<\/a>

Mr Henri Numbi Ilunga<\/p><\/div>

Mr Henri Numbi Ilunga is a senior telecommunications regulatory expert and statistician with more than 20 years of experience in the ICT sector. He currently serves at the Regulatory Authority for Post and Telecommunications of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (ARPTC), where he heads the Market Observatory and is responsible for market analysis, ICT statistics, and the preparation of regulatory reports.
\r\nHe has been the ARPTC focal point for ITU statistics and a member of the ITU Expert Group on Telecommunication\/ICT Indicators since 2010 and the Expert Group on ICT Household Indicators since 2013. He has also worked as an ITU consultant supporting capacity-building activities in Francophone African countries and has held leadership roles in ITU-D and African Union initiatives related to ICT regulation, market analysis, competition policy, and digital transformation.
\r\nHenri holds a degree in statistics, specializing in Mathematical Management Techniques, from the Institut Sup\u00e9rieur de Statistique in Lubumbashi. He has also completed advanced professional training in data governance, ICT infrastructure planning, leadership, change management, and telecommunications market regulation.
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X<\/a>

Ms Latifa AlShehhi<\/p><\/div>

Ms Latifa Alshehhi is a visionary data leader, AI strategist, and digital transformation expert, shaping the UAE\u2019s future through data-driven policymaking, intelligence enablement, and AI governance. With over a decade of experience, she has been instrumental in driving national data strategies, pioneering AI and analytics initiatives, and advancing digital transformation across government and sectors. She is at the forefront of intelligence enablement, smart cities, and AI-driven innovation, ensuring data and AI are leveraged ethically, responsibly, and strategically to drive economic growth, digital equity, and sustainable development. As a passionate advocate for women in AI and emerging technologies, she actively mentors and empowers the next generation of female leaders, bridging the gap between technology, governance, and inclusive innovation.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Ms Sibille Radka<\/p><\/div>

Ms Radka Sibille works as the Universal Postal Union\u2019s Digital Policies and Trade Coordinator, focusing on postal-enabled digital transformation and trade inclusion to bridge digital divides and expand MSMEs’ access to trade. She holds Master Degrees in International Relations and Public Administration from the Prague University of Economics and Business, and Ecole Nationale d\u2019Administration in Strasbourg, and has over 15 years of professional experience in diplomacy, international trade, development cooperation and multilateral affairs.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Mr Nils Berglund<\/p><\/div>

Mr Nils Berglund is a Research Associate at the European University Institute\u2019s Robert Schuman Centre and Project Lead for the Global Initiative on the Future of the Internet (GIFI), an EU-funded project on digital policy and accountability global governance. His research and publications explore multistakeholder approaches to digital policy, the future of an open and resilient internet, and how power, rights, and accountability shape international technology governance. Through GIFI, he has developed the Internet Accountability Compass, an interactive tool that promotes dialogue, transparency, and public accountability in internet governance and digital transformation policy. Previously, he worked at the EU Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) and holds an MSc in Global Media and Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
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X<\/a>

Dr Kola Ijasan<\/p><\/div>

Dr Kola Ijasan is the Research Director at Research ICT Africa, where he leads the organisation\u2019s research agenda, strategy and partnerships across the continent. His interdisciplinary work combines social science, quantitative methods and applied economics to generate evidence for inclusive digital policy. His research interests include digital inclusion, digital transformation, data-driven policy and the governance of emerging technologies in Africa. He contributes to RIA\u2019s After Access programme, which produces nationally representative evidence on how individuals and households access and use digital technologies across Africa. He holds a PhD in Housing and the Built Environment and an MSc in Data Science.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Mr Azeddine Gati <\/p><\/div>

Mr Azeddine Gati is Director of the Department for Networks and IT Environmental Impact Assessment at Orange Innovation, the research and development division of global telecommunications operator Orange. He has contributed to more than 10 collaborative projects under EU programs focused on wireless networks and green communications. He has also contributed to several standardization organizations, including ETSI, ITU, and NGMN. His current areas of interest include telecom sustainability, Net Zero transformation, and the development of green and sustainable business models.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

X<\/a>

Mr Thierry Geiger<\/p><\/div>

Thierry Geiger is Senior Economist and Head of the Data and Analytics Division at the International Telecommunication Union. Prior to joining ITU in 2020, Mr Geiger spent 15 years at the World Economic Forum in various roles. As Head of research and benchmarking within the Centre for the New Economy and Society, he was in charge of several\u00a0 benchmarking studies and initiatives, including the flagship Global Competitiveness Report and Global Gender Gap Report series, and led the development of a dozen of composite indicators. He led the Centre\u2019s competitiveness practice for Asia and the Pacific and was responsible for technical assistance and capacity-building activities. Mr Geiger also worked for the World Trade Organization and Caterpillar Inc, and co-founded Procab Studio, a Geneva-based IT company. A Swiss national, Mr Geiger holds a BA in Economics from the University of Geneva, an MA in Economics from the University of British Columbia, and was a Fellow of the World Economic Forum\u2019s Global Leadership Programme.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Professor Frauke Kreuter <\/p><\/div>

Professor Frauke Kreuter holds the Chair of Statistics and Data Science at LMU Munich, Germany and at the University of Maryland, USA, she is Co-Director of the Social Data Science Center (SoDa) and faculty member in the Joint Program in Survey Methodology (JPSM). She is an elected fellow of the American Statistical Association, and received the Warren Mitofsky Innovators Award of the American Association for Public Opinion Research in 2020. In addition to her academic work, Professor Kreuter is the Founder of the International Program for Survey and Data Science (IPSDS), developed in response to the increasing demand from researchers and practitioners for the appropriate methods and right tools to face a changing data environment; Co-Founder of the Coleridge Initiative, whose goal is to accelerate data-driven research and policy around human beings and their interactions for program management, policy development, and scholarly purposes by enabling efficient, effective, and secure access to sensitive data about society and the economy; and Co-Founder of the German language podcast Dig Deep.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Mr Deniz Susar<\/p><\/div>

Mr Deniz Susar is a Senior Governance and Public Administration Officer in the Digital Government Branch of the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). His work focuses on digital government, internet governance and the implications of emerging technologies for public institutions and public service delivery. He plays a leading role in the preparation of UN DESA\u2019s biennial flagship publication, the United Nations E-Government Survey, contributing to its research, methodology and analysis at both the national and local levels. His work includes the assessment of local e-government development through the Local Online Service Index (LOSI), as well as research on digital inclusion, online public services, citizen engagement and the growing use of artificial intelligence in government. Deniz also supports the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and contributes to UN DESA\u2019s work on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), including international policy processes related to digital cooperation, internet governance and AI governance. His main areas of research and professional expertise include digital and e-government, internet governance, artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies, open government, citizen engagement, digital inclusion, and open government data. Deniz holds a Master\u2019s degree in International Political Economy and Development from Fordham University in New York and a degree in Computer Engineering from Bo\u011fazi\u00e7i University in Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Ms Haoyi Chen<\/p><\/div>

Ms Haoyi Chen is the Coordinator of the Inter-Secretariat Working Group on Household Surveys; and co-Chair of the Collaborative on Citizen Data. Before she began her current position in September 2019, she led the programme on international migration statistics at the UN Statistics Division. She has also worked on various statistical areas including gender statistics, population censuses, civil registration, and vital statistics. She holds a Ph.D. degree in Statistics from the University of Florida. <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Mr Fredrik Eriksson<\/p><\/div>

Fredrik Eriksson is a Data Scientist of the ICT Data and Analytics Division of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with nearly 20 years of experience in quantitative analysis from international organisations and across the private sector. Fredrik has previously been responsible for ITU\u2019s data collection on ICT household statistics, and re-joined ITU in 2021 to focus on ITU\u2019s work on big data after spending a few years building a Data Science team in the private sector. Prior to first joining ITU, he also worked in the finance sector and spent eight years at the OECD analysing international finance flows for economic development. Fredrik holds a Master\u2019s degree in Statistics from Uppsala University in Sweden.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Professor Tina Ambos<\/p><\/div>

Tina C. Ambos is Professor of International Management and Vice-Dean for Societal Impact at the Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM) of the University of Geneva, Switzerland. She is also the Director of the Geneva Research Lab for Digital Impact, a partnership with UNICEF. Her research and teaching interests include global strategic management and innovation in the context of multinational corporations, technology start-ups and international (non-for-profit) organizations.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Dr Daniel Power<\/p><\/div>

Dr Daniel Power is the Managing Director of the Flowminder Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to utilising mobile and other data to inform and support humanitarian and development policy and decision-making. With a background in data analysis and strategic project management, Dr Power leads Flowminder’s efforts to enhance the use of mobile data in addressing critical global challenges.
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\r\nFlowminder’s work focuses on leveraging anonymized mobile operator data and other sources to provide crucial insights into population movements and resource needs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The foundation’s projects span disaster response, public health, development planning, and poverty alleviation, significantly impacting how data is used to improve lives and support sustainable development goals.
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\r\nDr Power’s expertise includes strategic leadership, underpinned by a rich understanding of the complexities involved in using big data for social good. This encompasses partnership mobilisation, data engineering, privacy protection and ethics, data analysis, and supporting the practical use of data. His leadership at Flowminder is characterised by a commitment to people-centred principles, ensuring that the organisation not only utilises cutting-edge technology but also harnesses the collective expertise of its team to make a tangible impact on global humanitarian and development efforts.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Ms Esperanza Magpantay<\/p><\/div>

Ms Esperanza Magpantay is the Senior Statistician at the ICT Data and Analytics Division of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), where she has worked since 2000. She leads the global collection, harmonization, and dissemination of ICT statistics and spearheaded the creation of the ITU Expert Groups on ICT Indicators, which have become key global mechanisms for developing methodologies and standards in ICT measurement. She represents ITU in major international forums, including the UN Statistical Commission, the UN World Data Forum, Big Data Conferences, and co-Chairs the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development.
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\r\nMs Magpantay also chairs the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics\u2019 Task Team on Mobile Phone Data, a global collaboration of over 50 experts advancing the use of mobile data for official statistics. She co-leads the ITU\u2013World Bank initiative on Putting Mobile Phone Data to Work for Statistics, which aims to support 30 countries by 2030 in using mobile phone data to inform public policy and its use for official statistics.
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\r\nPrior to joining ITU, she worked as a Statistical Officer at the International Labour Office (ILO) for seven years. She holds a Global Master in Business Analytics and Big Data from IE University in Madrid, Spain, and a Bachelor of Science in Statistics from the University of the Philippines.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Mr Benjamin Makai<\/p><\/div>

Mr Benjamin Makai is a leader in data-driven innovation and digital transformation, with over 15 years of experience applying technology and analytics to address development challenges.
\r\nAs Senior Manager for Technology for Development (T4D) at Safaricom, he leads initiatives and builds platform ecosystems that combine data, payments, partners, and financial services. He leverages data to improve decision-making, scale impact, and enhance service delivery in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education. His work has contributed to the growth of transformative platforms including Digifarm and MTIBA, reaching millions through data-enabled solutions. Benjamin is passionate about unlocking the power of data to drive innovation, inclusion, and sustainable development across emerging markets.
\r\nMr Makai holds a BSc in Computer Science from Egerton University and an MBA from United States International University-Africa. He has completed executive education at Harvard Business School and is a member of the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt Global Responsible Leaders Network. He was a 2020 Global Fellow in the League of Intrapreneurs, where he also serves as the current Council Member for Africa.
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\n Under the theme \u201cGuiding digital policy through statistics\u201d, the 21st edition of the World Telecommunication\/ICT Indicators Symposium (WTIS-26) will explore how data can better inform decision-making in a fast-evolving digital landscape. It will bring together policymakers, statisticians, and industry experts to examine emerging areas of measurement including digital inclusion, integration of new data sources to address persistent data gaps, the use of artificial intelligence, and indicators to measure the sustainability of digital transformation. Through keynotes, interactive discussions, and case studies, the symposium will highlight innovative approaches to data and strengthen the link between evidence and policy, while fostering dialogue on emerging priorities for digital development. A more detailed programme of the symposium will be made available here closer to the event.

WTIS-26 will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 7 to 8 September 2026. The symposium is organized back-to-back with the 2026 edition of the annual EGTI\/EGH meetings which will take place from 9 to 11 September 2026. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
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WTIS-26 invitation letter<\/p>\n

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Register now!<\/p>\n

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Look back at WTIS-25<\/p>\n

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WTIS-26 speakers<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/itu-d\/meetings\/wtis26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/itu-d\/meetings\/wtis26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/itu-d\/meetings\/wtis26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/itu-d\/meetings\/wtis26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/itu-d\/meetings\/wtis26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/itu-d\/meetings\/wtis26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/itu-d\/meetings\/wtis26\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}