Members

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.

Omar is a distinguished telecommunications and regulatory expert with over 18 years of experience in regulation, telecommunications, competition policy, marketing, sales, and international partnerships. His expertise spans both the telecom industry and regulatory sectors, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping policies that promote fair competition, foster investment, and enhance market efficiency.

As Deputy Governor of the Regulation and Competition Sector, Alrejraje has led comprehensive regulatory reforms that have enhanced competition, improved service quality, facilitated market entry for new telecom operators, and expanded consumer choices. His leadership has been instrumental in modernizing licensing frameworks, strengthening regulatory oversight, and driving digital transformation initiatives to support the growth of the ICT sector.

In addition to his regulatory expertise, Alrejraje has extensive experience in telecom industry operations, having worked in leading telecom companies in various strategic roles. His insights into industry challenges and market dynamics have enabled him to bridge the gap between regulators and service providers, ensuring that regulatory frameworks align with industry best practices while fostering innovation and sustainable growth. Alrejraje has also played a key role in international collaborations and policy discussions, representing the sector in global forums and advocating for policies. His contributions have helped shape a progressive and investment-friendly telecom landscape.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and is recognized for his strategic leadership, regulatory expertise, and commitment to fostering a competitive and evolving ICT ecosystem.

Actuel Président du Collège de l’Autorité de Régulation de la Poste et des Télécommunications du Congo (ARPTC), Christian KATENDE est une figure de proue de l’écosystème numérique en République Démocratique du Congo. Sous sa direction, l’ARPTC a renforcé son rayonnement international et son rôle de moteur du développement technologique. Sa carrière dans la régulation débute dès 2005, lorsqu’il est nommé Vice-Président de l’ARPTC, une fonction qui lui a permis de poser les jalons de la gouvernance actuelle du secteur.

Son leadership s’étend au-delà des frontières nationales. Il occupe actuellement la Présidence de l’ARTAC (Assemblée des Régulateurs des Télécommunications d’Afrique Centrale). Son parcours est jalonné de responsabilités stratégiques au sein des plus grandes instances régionales, ayant notamment exercé comme : Président du Conseil d’Administration de l’Union Africaine des Télécommunications (UAT) ; Président du Forum des Régulateurs Postaux au sein de l’Union Panafricaine Postale (UPAP) ; et Président de l’Association des Régulateurs des Communications de l’Afrique Australe (CRASA).

Il débute sa carrière au sein de Starcel (ex-Telecel RDC), où il officie pendant cinq ans à des postes clés, notamment comme Directeur Commercial puis Directeur Général Adjoint. Cette connaissance du terrain le conduit à devenir le premier Président du Comité Professionnel des Télécommunications de la RDC au sein de la Fédération des Entreprises du Congo (FEC), consolidant ainsi le dialogue entre l’État et le secteur privé. Son expertise s’est également exportée avec succès à l’international, où il a occupé les fonctions de Directeur Général d’Intercel (ex-Telecel Madagascar).

Ms. Helena Fernandes is a prominent figure in the telecommunications and postal sectors of Mozambique, currently serving as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at INCM. Since September 2021, she has also held the pivotal role of Executive Board Member overseeing Corporate Affairs, a position she will continue until July 2024. Previously, she was the Director of Administration and Finance at INCM and led the Department of Finance at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education.

Under her leadership at INCM, Ms. Fernandes has made significant contributions to the advancement of Mozambique’s postal and telecommunications infrastructure, ensuring that the sector remains responsive to the needs of the community and aligned with international standards.

On the global stage, Ms. Fernandes was the Chairwoman of the Council of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) and, from 2024 to 2025, served as Chairwoman of the Executive Committee of the CTO, further solidifying her commitment to enhancing telecommunications standards and practices. She has made her mark as the Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee for the CTO and has served similarly for the Communications Regulatory Association of Southern Africa (CRASA) for seven years. Her leadership extended to the international conference arena, where she chaired the Finance Committee at the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-17) in Buenos Aires and vice-chaired Committee 3 of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-18) in Dubai.

Moreover, she has been instrumental in driving financial and management reforms within both the CTO and the Portuguese Speaking Countries Telecommunication Regulatory Association (ARCTEL-CPLP).

Ms. Fernandes holds a degree in Economics and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), equipping her with the knowledge and expertise to navigate the complexities of the telecommunications landscape effectively.

Petros Galides is the Deputy Commissioner of the Cyprus Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services and the Digital Security Authority. He also serves as the EMERG Chair for 2024.

He holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an MBA from the London Business School. Petros has extensive experience in the postal, electronic communications, and cybersecurity regulation sectors, as well as in both the service and manufacturing sectors. He has served on several company boards, performed consulting work in Cyprus and the UK, co-authored pioneering published papers, and held key positions in private, public, and international companies before being appointed Deputy Commissioner in 2013.

Ms. Ekaterine Imedadze has been a commissioner of the Georgian National Communications Commission (ComCom) since March 2021. Prior to taking up her position, she headed the Telecommunications Market Regulation Department at ComCom.

Ekaterine has over 15 years of professional experience in telecommunications with a global perspective. Ekaterine has held several key positions at the international telecommunications group company VEON Ltd., leading the Global Process unit responsible for the group’s digital transformation. She also served as the group’s internal control and risk management lead for several years. Ms Imedadze had previously served as the Head of Finance and Operations for a number of large private organisations, as well as a business consultant for leading ICT companies.

Ms. Imedadze holds an MBA from the University of Bradford School of Management and completed the Innovation Leadership programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Previously, she earned a master’s degree in physics as well as a postgraduate diploma in artificial intelligence and fuzzy logic from Tbilisi State University, and she is currently pursuing an LL.M. in competition law and economics at the Brussels School of Competition (BSC).

Ekaterine was appointed as the Board Member of the Digital Regulation Network (DRN) at the International Telecommunication Union from 2025.

Chairperson of the Eastern Partnership Electronic Communications Regulators Network (EaPeReg) in 2023.

Héctor Lizárraga is the Director of Technical Assistance at the Regional Technical Commission of Telecommunications (COMTELCA), where he leads, coordinates, and carries out specialized activities related to the technical assistance provided to all member countries and organizations of the Commission, as well as those involving cooperation with or requested by other institutions. He also manages the administrative coordination of the Commission’s four Technical Committees and monitors the progress of their activities.
He has held executive positions in private telecommunications service provider companies and at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in Nicaragua.

He holds a degree in Electronic Engineering from the National University of Engineering of Nicaragua and a Master’s degree in Management and Administration of Telecommunications Enterprises from the Central American University José Simeón Cañas in El Salvador.