Agenda

Udisha Srivastav is an India-based journalist covering startups, emerging technologies, AI, and digital transformation. She writes about Internet governance, digital inclusion, and the societal impact of technological change. Udisha is also a 2025 Youth Ambassador of the Internet Society.

As part of the Danish Siddiqui Scholarship, she worked on a digital media project about how the lack of Internet access excludes communities from tapping into opportunities while also investigating how online spaces can expose individuals — especially journalists and marginalized groups — to emotional, physical, and psychological harm.

Udisha has previously moderated high-level sessions on AI adoption, as well as discussions on how Internet penetration, especially in finance and banking sectors, has reshaped economies and public life. 

Carlos Baca is a specialist in capacity-building and community-led telecommunications. His work focuses on supporting rural, remote, and Indigenous communities in developing local infrastructure and connectivity strategies. He leads the ITU’s Training Program in ICT Network Management for Indigenous and Rural Communities in Latin America and Africa, and coordinates the capacity-building area of LocNet, a global initiative by APC and Rhizomatica. He also collaborates with REDES A.C. as International Liaison Coordinator. He is one of the founders and former general coordinator of the Center for Research on Community Technologies and Knowledge (Centro de Investigación en Tecnologías y Saberes Comunitarios – CITSAC). He holds a PhD and MA in Sociology (BUAP) and a BA in Communication Sciences (UDLAP). 

Soledad Luca de Tena is a Connectivity Solutions Specialist at the UNICEF-ITU Giga project. She brings 15+ years' experience leading programs in technology innovation, with a focus on Internet access and digital adoption in the Global South. The former CEO of an award-winning rural ISP, Soledad has worked with private, public, civil society organizations and technical communities towards solving challenges in underserved contexts. 

Soledad's experience spans working within the leading connectivity initiatives for underserved areas globally, including positions such as the vice-chair of the Internet Society’s (ISOC's) global Special Interest group on Community Networks; board member of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and committee member for the African Summit on Community Networks. She also designed and led the National School of Community Networks in South Africa, as well as its global pilot. Soledad has also been a guest speakers and contributor for key training initiatives in multistakeholder fora such as the Web Foundation’s African Summit for Women and Girls in Technology (ASWGT); the Social Development Working Group of the Internet Service Provider Association (ISPA); ITU's Academy Training for Telecomms and Radio Technical Promoters in Indigenous Communities; the IRTF’s Global Access to the Internet for All Research Group amongst others.

Additionally, Soledad has published articles, methodologies, toolkits, and training materials related to assessing, designing, and operating universal connectivity solutions. 

Abner Manzar is a digital development practitioner at the Digital Empowerment Foundation, where he documents grassroots interventions through articles, films, and field research. He has traveled to over 400 villages across India to capture stories of community leaders advancing digital inclusion and social impact. His work focuses on bridging the digital divide by promoting access, capacity building, and community-led connectivity solutions. Through storytelling and technology, he amplifies voices from underserved regions to support sustainable, community-centered development.

Abraham Selby is a seasoned digital governance advocate with over 13 years of experience spanning Information Technology, policy research, and capacity building. He holds a BSc in ICT from Ghana and a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) with a focus on Digital Transformation Policies Research from University College London (UCL), UK.

Abraham’s expertise covers multilingualism, data governance, privacy protection, digital governance, digital transformation, cybersecurity, digital inclusion, and combating misinformation and disinformation. He served as an E-Governance Surveyor with the UNDESA Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, contributing to the UN E-Government Survey.

As a lead facilitator and administrative coordinator with PAYAIG, Abraham has helped train over 2,000 young Africans across 54 countries in Internet governance. He has been a speaker at multiple Internet Governance Forums (IGFs) since 2020 and is an active researcher and contributor to IIPGH & BFT ICT Insights Publications, producing impactful work on digital governance.

Abraham is also an Internet Society Youth IGF Fellow (2022) and has served as a mentor to the Internet Society Fellowship Programs since 2023.