Executive Committee
Strategic Leadership for Global Impact
The Executive Committee provides high-level strategic direction for the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI. It brings together ministers, mayors, UN leaders, and industry pioneers. These members help guide the Initiative’s priorities, amplify its global reach, and ensure it remains grounded in real-world challenges and opportunities.
Chair
H.E. Mr Hamad Al Mansoori
Director General, Digital Dubai
Vice-Chairs
H.E. Mr Jerry William Silaa
Minister, Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology, Tanzania
H.E. Mr William Kabogo Gitau
Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Kenya
Felipe Fernando Macías Olvera
Mayor, Municipality of Queretaro, Mexico
Manuel Barreiro
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aston Group
Karl-Filip Coenegrachts
Chair of the Board of Directors and Executive Director, Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC), Belgium
Hyoung Jun Kim
Chair, ITU-T Study Group 20 “Internet of Things, digital twins and smart sustainable cities and communities”
Jaakko Mustakallio
Deputy Mayor, City of Tampere, Finland
Paula Llobet Vilarrasa
Councillor for Tourism, Digital Agenda, Innovation, and Investment, Valencia, Spain
Sameer Chauhan
Director, United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)
Jeong Kee Kim
Secretary General, World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO)
Terms of Reference for the Executive Committee of the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI – Discovering the Citiverse
The Executive Committee is composed of senior representatives from cities, governments, city organizations, NGOs, UN entities, industry, and academia. It is responsible for providing strategic guidance and oversight for the Initiative. The Executive Committee is chaired by the Chair of the Initiative, who holds the responsibility for overall leadership and direction. The Secretariat maintains an up-to-date list of Executive Committee Members, available here.
Responsibilities of the Executive Committee
Executive Committee Members contribute to the success and sustainability of the Initiative by:
- Setting the strategic vision and developing the mission statement, as well as mobilizing resources to support the Initiative;
- Reviewing and updating the title of the Initiative and its key pillars as necessary;
- Revising and approving the Terms of Reference as needed;
- Engaging with partners and encouraging broader stakeholder participation in the Initiative;
- Providing oversight to ensure the effective functioning of the Initiative;
- Promoting the Initiative’s objectives at international, regional, and local levels.
Meetings and Decision-Making
- The Executive Committee convenes at least once a year to review progress, discuss strategic priorities, and make key decisions.
- Decisions may be taken during meetings or through electronic means between meetings, as necessary.
Membership to the Executive Committee is voluntary and does not carry the expectation of employment at the ITU, UNICC, Digital Dubai, and relevant sponsors of the Initiative.
List of Executive Committee Meetings
10 February 2025
1st Executive Committee Meeting
Time: 9:30 – 12:30 Dubai time
Place: Dubai @ World Governments Summit
Executive Committee Documents (Restricted Access)
A dedicated SharePoint page provides Executive Committee members with access to working documents, meeting notes, and other materials.
Access Executive Committee Documentation Here (login required)
*If you are an Executive Committee member and need access credentials, please contact the Secretariat at virtualworlds@itu.int.