1st Citiverse Assembly

Cristina Bueti
Counsellor, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Cristina Bueti is the ITU Focal Point on Smart Sustainable Cities and AI-powered Virtual Worlds. She is also the Counsellor of ITU-T Study Group 20 “Internet of Things, digital twins and smart sustainable cities and communities” and serves as TSB/ITU focal point for Latin America. Cristina Bueti graduated from the Faculty of Political Science, Law and International Cooperation and Development of the University of Florence, where she completed postgraduate studies in International Cooperation and Telecommunications Law in Europe. In 2003, Ms. Bueti built on her academic credentials by completing a specialized course in peace keeping and international cooperation with special focus on telecommunications at the Faculty of Laws, University of Malta, before joining the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva in January 2004. As part of the International Women’s Day 2016, she was named as one of the ten Geneva-based inspirational women working to protect the environment. She has authored over 40 reports on telecommunication and emerging technology issues. A native Italian speaker, Cristina is also fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Sameer Chauhan
Director, United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)

Mr. Chauhan was appointed Director of the United Nations International Computing Centre on 1 December 2019 by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
The Director is the Chief Executive and has the responsibility to lead all aspects of UNICC’s strategy and operations to facilitate the provision of services to more than 100 Clients and Partner Organizations, to establish the UNICC strategy, to develop a biennial business plan and budget, and to implement the approved plan.
With the advice and backing of the MC, Mr. Chauhan has effectively led a strategic transformation of UNICC since he assumed his post. This has enabled UNICC to become the preferred strategic digital partner for the whole UN system and has empowered the organization to successfully build capabilities in areas such as cybersecurity, AI, data, quantum encryption and cloud computing, as well as in key business areas like treasury, finance, and HR.

Karl-Filip Coenegrachts
Chair of the Board of Directors and Executive Director, Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC), Belgium

Karl-Filip is Chair of the Governing Body and Executive Director of Open & Agile Smart Cities & Communities, an international network of 190+ local and regional authorities supporting its members in their digital transformation journey with a strong focus on interoperability.
He is also Head of the Data, Governance and Communities Unit at the imec research group SMIT of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (imec-SMIT, VUB). The main focus of the work of his unit is on governance and business aspects of urban digital transformation and urban innovation, including data spaces, local digital twins and personal data management. Currently, he also serves as Senior Policy Advisor Smart Cities, Data Spaces, Local Digital Twins and CitiVerse at FARI, the AI for the Common Good Institute in Brussels.
Before joining SMIT, he served in government for 24 years, working at the local level as Chief Strategy Officer of the City of Ghent and at the Belgian FPS Justice on digital policies and digital transformation programmes. He holds a master of laws degree, specialized in European and International Law.

Andreia Rosa Collard
Director of Competitivity, Innovation and Sustainability, Secretariat of Economy, Government of Madeira

Andreia Rosa Collard is a lawyer with over 20 years international experience in the areas of Defense and Security, Transport, Space, Information and Comunication Tecnologies (ICT) and Renewable Energy.
A Specialist in Compliance and European Economic Criminal Law, Andreia is also a registered Privacy Officer by the International Association of Privacy Professionals and trained in Data Protection, Cibersecurity and in ITARs/EARs (International Trade in Arms Regulations and Export Administration Regulations). Being a former Head of Legal for global companies, she was nominated as Most Innovative Counsel by the GC Powerlist Legal 500 for consecutive years.
Forever surrounded by cutting edge technology environments, in 2020 she embraced the Digital Transformation of Madeira, Portugal, accepting to be the Regional Government´s ICT Director and leading the digital acceleration of the islands. Her work in creating innovative projects and initiatives, strategic planning, securing funding, management and implementation of projects contributed to the digital transition in the region, positioning Madeira as a choice in the tech industry and motivating a greater focus on economic growth through her “Mandala Method” , a people centered transformationwhereby infracstructures, tools, education, interoperability and security unite to create inclusion, accessibility and social impact.
Co-author of the Government Program “Madeira 2030” and an avid advocate for inclusivity in the digital age, Andreia has created several sustainability and digital acceleration policies and initiatives such as the “eQuantum Forum”, #SomosTodosTecnologia, “Cantinho Digital” and “5GIsland”. She became a digital literacy mentor for the elderly in the national program INCoDe.2030, contributed to the “Seeds for the Future” scholarship program which aims to increase female and youth participation in technological fields, as well as being a speaker at several international events. She is a member of the Urban Economy Forum UEF7 Organization Committee and a co-founder of the Business Development Women´s Inner Circle for Africa and Beyond, which in 2025 awarded her with the global “Transformative Initiative Award” for her leadership and vision.
Recently, Andreia lead a working group in the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI “Discovering the Citiverse” , providing the first deliverable on cities urban planning, community and transformative solutions that support sustainable development through the use of emerging technologies in the areas of Education, Economic Development and Tourism.
Currently appointed by the Madeira Government as Director for Competitiveness, Innovation and Sustainability she remains focused on the acceleration of the digital transformation centered on humanity, sustainability, a circular economy, quality of life and the importance of traditions and culture being passed to the new generations as the baseline for a successful evolution.

Ernesto Faubel Cubells
Head of Smart City & Data Management Department, Valencia, Spain

Ernesto is a Computer Engineer with a Master’s in CAD/CAM/CIM from Universitat Politècnica de València. His educational achievements include a diploma in ‘Advanced Course in Local Government’. Ernesto has served as a part-time teacher at UPV for 22 years.
In his professional career, he has largely split his time between municipal service and academia in Valencia. Starting as a Senior Computer Technician, he now leads as the Head of the Smart City Service since September 2022.
Since 2017, Ernesto has been pivotal in major projects including the coordination of the European MAtchUP project until September 2023, managing the southern supernode of the CitCom.ai Artificial Intelligence project from January 2023, and chairing the EDIC of Local Digital Twins toward CitiVERSE from June 2023. He also co-chairs the U4SSC Working Group on City Platforms and coordinates a working group within the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI).
Beyond his roles, Ernesto serves on the Advisory Board of SmartCityWorld and has spoken at over 100 national and international events. He holds CISA, ITIL, and PRINCE2 certifications, and is Vice-President of the Professional Board of Computer Engineers in the Valencian Region.

Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio
Deputy Chief Executive of Pension Administration, UN Joint Staff Pension Fund

In October 2025, Mr. Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio of Italy (Western European and others States) was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief Executive of Pension Administration of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (D-2), following his service as Chief Information Officer (D-1) since January 2017.
Before joining the UNJSPF, Mr. Dell’Accio served as Chief of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Audit in the Office of Internal Oversight Services, and Information Security Officer in the ICT Service Division of the United Nations Secretariat. Previously, he served as Internal Auditor/ICT Auditor in UNICEF.
Prior to his assignments with the United Nations System, Mr. Dell’Accio worked as Internal Auditor and Business Process Analyst in the Institute for Loans and Deposits of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Mr. Dell’Accio holds several qualifications and professional certifications in ICT Management and Security, Auditing and Accounting. He holds Master’s degrees in Internal Auditing and ICT and Telecommunications Laws.

Paola Cecchi Dimeglio
Steering Committee Vice-Chair, Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI & Professor, Harvard University

Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Ph.D., J.D.,LL.M., M.Sc., is a globally recognized expert in AI, Big Data, behavioral science, and talent analytics. She advises senior executives at Fortune 500 companies, global law firms, and public institutions on using advanced analytics and behavioral insights to optimize decision-making, develop high-performing talent, and shape future-ready workforce strategies.
At Harvard University, she holds dual appointments at the Law School and the Kennedy School of Government and serves as Faculty Chair of the Executive Leadership Research Initiative for Women and Minority Attorneys (ELRIWMA), where since 2011 she has led pioneering research—using AI and Big Data—at the intersection of leadership, organizational behavior, decision science, and talent strategy. She is the author of Diversity Dividend (MIT Press, 2023) and the forthcoming Building a Thriving Future: Metaverse and Multiverse (MIT Press, 2025)—a strategy-driven guide to the AI-powered Metaverse, offering business and government leaders practical frameworks to lead digital transformation and build adaptive, human-centric digital ecosystems that support talent growth and innovation.
As CEO of People Culture Drive Consulting Group, she leads a global behavioral science and AI firm that developed I.D.E.A., a patented platform that enhances talent analytics by ensuring consistency, fairness, and transparency in performance evaluations and succession planning—transforming how organizations identify, retain, and advance top talent.
She advises international institutions including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the World Bank, the United Nations, and the European Commission. Her research and publications have received multiple honors, including awards from federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for her behavioral and data visualization tools, and a 2017 Azbee Award of Excellence from the American Society of Business Publication Editors.
Dr. Cecchi-Dimeglio has authored over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles and regularly contributes to leading business and legal publications including Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, Business Insider, Bloomberg Law, Reuters Legal, and Forbes, where she is a senior contributor on leadership, strategy, and AI. Her insights and tools are used by organizations worldwide to transform how they hire, evaluate, and promote talent.
Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, and she is widely recognized for her thought leadership on AI-powered talent development, workforce transformation, and data-driven decision-making.

Carlos Duarte
Associate Professor, LASIGE, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa

Carlos Duarte is an Associate Professor at the Faculdade de Ciências of the Universidade de Lisboa and a senior researcher at LASIGE, where he leads the Inclusive Human-Computer Interaction Research Line. His primary research focus revolves around digital accessibility, encompassing a range of topics such as automated accessibility evaluation mechanisms, the accessibility of mixed reality environments, the transformative role of AI in enhancing accessibility, and the development of effective digital accessibility curricula in higher education. He has published over 100 refereed scientific papers and edited three books on the topic of accessibility. He co-chairs the W3C Accessibility Conformance Testing Rules Community Group where he contributes to establishing a harmonized interpretation of accessibility conformance testing. He was part of the W3C Education and Outreach Working Group Task Force that redesigned the curriculum for teaching Web Accessibility.

Okan Geray
Chair of Steering Committee, Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI

Dr. Okan Geray has more than 25 years of experience in consulting and advisory roles across various industries. He has consulted for a number of organizations in Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Turkey and Dubai. He worked at A.T. Kearney global management consulting firm for 6 years and was a member of the Global Telecommunications and Higher Technology core team before he joined Dubai Government in 2002. He has worked as the Strategic Planning Advisor in Dubai eGovernment, Dubai Smart Government, Smart Dubai Office and recently Dubai Digital Authority. His responsibilities include Strategic Planning, Strategic Performance Management and Policy Making among others.
Dr. Geray is the U4SSC Chair (U4SSC is a UN initiative coordinated by ITU, UNECE and UN-Habitat and supported by other 16 UN bodies, that help support the development of institutional policies and strategies which encourage the use of digital technologies to facilitate digital transformation and ease the transition to smart sustainable cities). He is leading several thematic groups globally for U4SSC namely “Guidelines on Strategies for Circular Cities”, “City Science Application Framework”, “AI in Cities”, “Enabling People-Centered Cities through Digital Transformation”, and “Digital Wellbeing”.
Dr. Geray is the Co-Rapporteur of the ITU Study Group 20, Question 7 on “Evaluation and assessment of Smart Sustainable Cities and Communities”. He is a member of the IEC-ISO-ITU Joint Smart Cities Task Force (J-SCTF). He is Co-Chairing the Working Group “Economic, regulatory & competition aspects” in the ITU Focus Group on metaverse (FG-MV). He was also the Co-Chair of the “Data Economy Impact, Commercialization and Monetization” Working Group, part of the ITU Focus Group on Data Processing and Management.
Dr. Geray holds a double major B. Sc. degree in Industrial and Computer Engineering from Bosphorus University in Istanbul Turkey, an M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. degree in Systems and Control Engineering from the University of Massachusetts in the US. He has published several journal and conference papers and was an adjunct lecturer in management for 15 years.

Hlekiwe Kachali
Advisor, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

With over two decades’ experience spanning the public, private and academic spheres, Hlekiwe is a preeminent leader in digital transformation. Her commitment lies in harnessing the transformative power of technology to confront pressing global challenges.
Hlekiwe’s expertise encompasses the spectrum of the mobile, digital, and emerging technology ecosystems with contributions ranging from shaping policy and driving standardisation to pioneering research, innovative design and impactful implementation.
A significant focus of Hlekiwe’s work is at the critical intersection of technology and child rights, with a particular emphasis on empowering marginalised communities. She has a proven track record of deploying cutting-edge technologies to enhance crisis response, expedite disaster recovery and foster sustainable long-term development initiatives.
Driven by a dedication to social empowerment, Hlekiwe is particularly devoted to utilising technology to empower underserved communities, equipping them with the essential tools and knowledge to unlock their full potential and act as their own agents of change. 

Wookyung Jung
Strategy & Policy Advisor, ICPO, Interpol

Wookyung Jung is a Strategy and Policy Advisor in the Executive Directorate of Technology and Innovation (EDTI) at INTERPOL. With over eight years of service, she has contributed to international law enforcement cooperation by providing strategic policy advice to senior management and coordinating technology-related initiatives. Within EDTI, Wookyung played a key role in developing INTERPOL Vision 2030, which was unanimously endorsed by member countries at the 91st General Assembly. She has coordinated the INTERPOL Metaverse Expert Group, engaging over 200 experts from diverse sectors, and has collaborated with the World Economic Forum and the United Nations on technology-focused initiatives. Previously, as a Policy Analyst in INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Directorate, she helped shape the INTERPOL Global Cybercrime Strategy (2022-2025) and led global cybercrime awareness campaigns that reached over 20 million users. Before joining INTERPOL, Wookyung was a Policy Advisor in the Office of the OECD Secretary-General in Paris, France, focusing on global economic governance such as G20, G7 and APEC. Earlier in her career, she worked in journalism as a reporter for NHK World, covering international news, and as an intern with ABC News in Seoul. She also gained diplomatic experience at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal in 2008. Wookyung holds two Master’s degrees: a Master of Arts in International Studies from Seoul National University and a Master of Science in Management from the ESSEC Business School in France.

Hyoung Jun Kim
Chair, ITU-T Study Group 20 “Internet of Things, digital twins and smart sustainable cities and communities”

Dr Hyoung Jun Kim is a Research Fellow at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), where he has served since 1988, including as Senior Vice President leading the Intelligent Convergence Research Laboratory. With 37 years of experience, he has contributed across multiple divisions of ETRI and currently serves as Chair of ITU-T Study Group 20 and the APT Standardization Program (ASTAP). He has held numerous leadership roles in ITU, including Vice-Chair of SG20 and SG13, Working Party Chair, and Rapporteur since 2004.
Dr Kim has submitted over 450 standardization proposals, published 150+ papers, holds 100+ patents, and transferred 20 technologies to industry. His achievements have earned him three Presidential Citations of the Republic of Korea (2003, 2009, 2023) and multiple international recognitions, including ITU-T Certificates of Appreciation.

Pilar Orero
Leader of Digital Inclusion and Accessibility Track & Professor, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Professor Pilar Orero, PhD (UMIST, UK), works at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) in the TransMedia Catalonia Lab. She has written and edited many books, near 100 academic papers and almost the same number of book chapters –all on Media Accessibility. Leader and participant of numerous EU funded research projects focusing on media accessibility. She works in standardisation and participates in the UN ITU IRG-AVA – Intersector Rapporteur Group Audiovisual Media Accessibility. She has been working on Immersive Accessibility for the past 6 years first in a project called ImAc, which results are now further developed in TRACTION, MEDIAVERSE, MILE, and GREENSCENT. She led until December 2022 the EU network LEADME on Media Accessibility. She was the Co-Chair of Study Group on Accessibility and Inclusion in the ITU Metaverse Focus Group, and she is leading the Digital Inclusion and Accessibility track of the ITU Virtual Worlds. She is now working on AI and accessibility in the three funded projects MOSAIC, ALFIE, and SPICE.

Clara Pezuela
Strategic Alliances and Positioning Director, ITI ​

Clara Pezuela has a degree in Computer Science and Master in Innovation Management. She has over 25 years of experience in development of digital technologies, innovation management and European ecosystems. Her technical knowledge is mainly in data sharing, cloud and edge computing, data platforms, open-source communities, and digital solutions for smart cities. Additionally, she has leadership and organization competence, optimizing complex global operations and implementing scalable processes in leading international technological organizations. After her long dedication in various positions in a large international company (Atos) and a high-tech association (FIWARE), she now works for ITI, a technology center in Valencia (Spain), as Strategic Alliances and Positioning Director. She takes now the responsibility for establishing long term relationships with strategic partners and initiatives at the same time to spread the word about ITI assets and capabilities, especially in Virtual Worlds and Data Spaces. In relation to interoperability, she was engaged with ETSI on NGSI-LD, and currently, she is contributing to various standardization committees, such as CEN/CENELEC JTC25 WG2 on Data Spaces, leading the project on the Technical Specifications for Maturity Assessment of data spaces standard. Clara is also member of the Technical Council of OASC and directly involved in some of the OASC MIMs on Data Exchange and Local Digital Twin. She is also contributing to the Data Spaces Support Centre to foster the interoperability of data across data spaces in Europe.

Teppo Rantanen
Executive Director of Economic Policy, Competitiveness and Innovation, City of Tampere, Finland

Teppo Rantanen, Director for competitiveness and innovation at the City of Tampere, is responsible for several city-wide development programs, with a particular focus on smart city themes [such as the Data-Driven City for Citizens initiative], that shape the strategic economic policy of the city. He leads Tampere through collaboration in extensive international networks toward a metaverse city with a human-centric perspective. From 2002 to 2014 Teppo served as Deloitte Finland’s Chief Executive Officer and from 2014 to 2016 in London as a member of Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications Leadership Team. He is currently sitting on the board of Business Finland.
Teppo and his team from the City of Tampere were receiving the World Smart City Award in the Enabling Technologies category at Smart City Expo World Congress taking place in Barcelona in 2023.

Akhilesh Nirapure
Cloud Architect, Solution Architecture Section, UNICC

Akhilesh is a Cloud Architect at the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC), boasting over 18 years of expertise in developing, architecting, and productizing innovative digital solutions across major public cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, and GCP. His rich professional journey includes significant roles at Accenture, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Rapid Circle, a stealth start-up where he focused on envisioning and developing consumer-facing products, underscoring his influential presence in the tech industry.
With a multidisciplinary approach and deep-seated passion for problem-solving, Akhilesh specializes in architecting scalable cloud-native solutions that deliver substantial impact. He has successfully executed large-scale implementations leveraging open-source and blockchain technologies, particularly for providing digital identities rooted in blockchain using Hyperledger Indy. Currently, Akhilesh is exploring cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence applications, focusing on large language models to drive future innovations.
At UNICC, he is instrumental in guiding UN agencies towards adopting fit-for-purpose technologies, aligning solutions with strategic goals. Akhilesh maintains a strong interest in emerging technologies, continually seeking opportunities to advance digital transformation and innovation.

Dieter Uckelmann
Scientific Director, Institute of Applied Research, Stuttgart Technology University of Applied Sciences, Germany

Dieter Uckelmann is Professor of Information Logistics and Scientific Director of the Institute of Applied Research at HFT Stuttgart. He studied mechanical engineering in Braunschweig and completed his doctorate at the University of Bremen in the Department of Production Engineering. His research activities focus on applications in the Internet of Things in the areas of Industry 4.0, logistics, smart building and smart city, as well as corresponding business aspects and didactic issues. He has written more than 100 academic publications and co-published a book on “Architecting the Internet of Things”. He is leading a current project on “Urban Digital Twins for iCity” and is an executive board member of the Virtual Dimension Center (VDC). Currently, his research is more and more addressing serious Metaverse applications (e.g. Citiverse, Industrial Metaverse, EduVerse). Prior to his academic career, he worked as a managing director in several companies including start-ups in the ICT sector.

Cesar Urbina
Chief Innovation Officer and Co-founder, IRALTA

César Urbina is Chief Innovation Officer and co-founder of IRALTA, a studio specialized in creating immersive experiences.
He holds a degree in Audiovisual Communication from Complutense University of Madrid.
Since its foundation 20 years ago, IRALTA has been innovating in content creation through the use of new audiovisual technologies, always seeking the best way to engage audiences with disruptive and transformative projects.
Under the leadership he shares with his brother and partner Ángel Urbina, they have directed and produced award-winning international projects using the latest technologies in virtual reality, augmented reality and virtual production. These projects integrate advanced technology with creative vision and new narratives, including immersive audiovisual installations, videomapping, television shows, social documentaries and marketing.
IRALTA has developed projects for multilateral organizations such as the EIB, IDB, CAF, and for brands like Iberia, Coca-Cola, Samsung, Microsoft, Mercedes, Renault, Telefónica, Vodafone, Sony Music, Repsol, Honda, RTVE, World Economic Forum…
They are currently developing the Skyjet VR project with the support of Spain’s Ministries of Culture, Industry, and Tourism, as well as the National Geographic Institute from Spain. It is an immersive and interactive flight experience designed to explore the breathtaking landscapes of our planet from the air.

Paula Llobet Vilarrasa
Councillor for Tourism, Digital Agenda, Innovation and Investment, Valencia, Spain

Paula Llobet was born in Valencia on December 27, 1977, and she studied at Colegio Domus and Colegio Esclavas de Valencia.
From a very young age Paula Llobet has had a great vocation for public service and a special concern for helping those most in need. That has led me to be a cooperator in Africa and Latin America for several years.
Studying is another of her great passions. Paula Llobet has a degree in Business Administration and Management, a degree in Law from the University of Valencia and a degree in Political Sciences and Administration from the Miguel Hernández University of Elche and a Postgraduate Degree in International Cooperation.
Paula Llobet has 17 years of professional experience in the design and management of public policies. Expert in community financing and coordination of local and transnational networks.
The areas in which Paula Llobet has developed her professional career are several, from social welfare, citizen participation, development cooperation, environmental sustainability, R&D&I, health, to urban development and smart cities, strategic planning and management of local, national and European projects.

Christina Yan Zhang
Leader of the Evaluation and Assessment Track & CEO of The Metaverse Institute

Christina is a metaverse pioneer, who started the journey in 2006 with a PhD using digital twin for the construction industry.
Christina has 19 years’ experience turning vision into successful businesses. She worked for QS, the world university rankings agency 2013-2020, as China Director. Her work impacted China’s £750bn five years funding to 3005 universities.
She has sat on 20+ committees for UNESCO, World Bank, EU, UK governments on Innovation. She served as UN ITU Co-chair on Pre-standardisation for the CitiVerse TaskGroup, exploring the use of AI and virtual worlds to develop people-centred smart cities. She is the author of “People-Centred CitiVerse” – the UN’s first approved technical report on the subject – which introduced an 8-level entry point for a people-centred and planet-friendly digital future. Her co-authorship extends to UN reports such as “Definition of Metaverse,” “Metaverse for All Part I Legal Framework,” and “Part II Survey,” alongside contributions to the “Future of Travel in the Metaverse” in collaboration with UN Tourism and the “Definition of CitiVerse.”
She sits on the Advisory Council for Centre for Science Futures of International Science Council, the world’s largest science body of 250 national/international academies of sciences. She serves The Economist Impact’s advisory board for “AI Economy”, focusing on AI’s global economic impact.