Leaders TalkX: Future-ready: enhancing skills for a digital tomorrow


WSIS

Session 419

Wednesday, 9 July 2025 10:45–11:15 (UTC+02:00) in 14 hours Physical (on-site) and Virtual (remote) participation Plenary Room C, Palexpo Real-time captioning Interpretation: EN/FR/AR/ZH/ES/RU Leaders TalkX

This Leaders TalkX discussion focuses on the imperative of ensuring universal access to ICT skills and literacy for all individuals. It emphasizes the need for domestic policies integrating ICTs into education and lifelong learning, eradicating illiteracy through ICT programmes, and promoting e-literacy skills. Additionally, it highlights initiatives to empower marginalized groups, address gender disparities in ICT education, and enhance local communities' capacity in ICT use. The discussion also underscores the importance of regional and international cooperation in capacity-building efforts.

 More information available related to Action Lines, WSIS 2003: https://www.itu.int/net/wsis/docs/geneva/official/poa.html

Panellists
Ms. Cheryl Miller
Ms. Cheryl Miller Vice President, Digital Policy US Council for International Business High-Level Track Facilitator Moderator

 Cheryl Miller is Vice President of Digital Policy. Miller is an accomplished technology executive and a strong advocate for a safe, secure, interoperable and open Internet. She joined USCIB in 2024 and brought with her a broad range of experience in the digital space across government agencies, the private sector and the nonprofit sector.
Miller’s experience in government includes serving as Assistant Chief Counsel for Telecommunications and Technology and the US Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, and Deputy Staff Director for Technology and Innovation for the US Senate’s Small Business Committee. In both roles she worked closely with key agencies such as the FCC, FTC, DOJ, and US State Department on key regulatory and legislative issues in the digital space.
Her previous private sector roles include serving as the Director of International Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs for Verizon, an International Organizations Policy Manager for Meta, and a Manager for Regulatory Affairs at France Telecom. She has also served as a private sector member of the United Nations’ Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) for the Internet Governance Forum, a Vice Chair for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN’s) NomCom Committee which reviews and selects ICANN board members and has been a part of numerus international delegations on digital issues.
Miller is also a former professor at The George Washington University, where she helped to launch their Intellectual Property Law Program as part of their Paralegal Studies Program. She is dedicated to helping disadvantaged students access advanced technology, and in her past role as Executive Director of the Kuma Foundation, helped to launch their first Kuma Lab in Pune, India.


H.E. Ms. Liisa-Ly Pakosta
H.E. Ms. Liisa-Ly Pakosta Minister Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs

Liisa-Ly Pakosta is the Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs of Estonia. With a strong background in history, law, and public service, she has played a key role in shaping Estonia’s digital and legal landscapes. Her previous roles include Member of Parliament, Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner, and Director General of the Estonian National Heritage Board.
A passionate advocate for equal rights, digital innovation, and cultural preservation, she brings both policy expertise and a human-centered approach to leadership. Liisa holds degrees in history and law and is currently pursuing her PhD in law at the University of Tartu.
Outside of her official duties, she is a mother of five, a devoted craft enthusiast, and an active promoter of sustainable living.
 


H.E. Mr. Jerry  William Silaa
H.E. Mr. Jerry William Silaa Minister Ministry of Communication and Information Technology for the United Republic of Tanzania, Tanzania

 Currently, Hon. Jerry William Silaa serves as the Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology for the United Republic of Tanzania and is the elected Member of Parliament representing the contry's most populated Ukonga Constituency in the Dar es Salaam Region since 2020. At 42 years old, he has established himself as one of Tanzania's most accomplished young politicians.
Mr. Silaa's political career began at the grassroots level within the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, where he has climbed the ranks over 26 years to serve on the National Executive and the 34-member Central Committee for 13 yrs. He has had the honor of working under the party Chairmanship of both Presidents H.E. John Pombe Magufuli and H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete. Many of his peers from the party amd its youth league have advanced to significant roles in government, including ministers, deputy ministers, and regional and district commissioners.
Beginning his government political journey as a ward councilor in 2005 at the age of 23, Mr. Silaa progressed to Deputy Mayor at 27 and in 2010 was elected as the Mayor of Ilala Municipality in Dar es Salaam City at 28, where he achieved numerous accomplishments during his tenure.
He served as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Public Investment in 2022, before his appointment as Minister for Lands, Housing, and Human Settlement Development on August 30, 2023, and subsequently as Minister for Information, Communication, and Information Technology on July 22, 2024.
 


H.E. Ms. Maggie Jones
H.E. Ms. Maggie Jones Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Minister UK Government , United Kingdom

Baroness Jones has been Minister for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety and Minister for Legislation since July 2024. As Joint Minister across Science, Innovation and Technology and Business and Trade, she brings a unique perspective – the inner workings of industry, alongside a vision for a future made brighter by technology.  
​Her commitment to Labour has been lifelong – serving on the NEC from 1993, and joining the House of Lords in 2006. With a 30-year history in trade unions, and roles in ombudsman offices and charities, Baroness Jones’ work has always focussed on championing the cause of the citizen. 


Ms. Gisa Fuatai Purcell
Ms. Gisa Fuatai Purcell Chief Executive Officer Office of the Regulator, Government of Samoa

Mrs. Lematua Gisa Tagaloa-a-Taoa Fuatai Purcell is the Regulator and CEO of the of Samoa’s Office of the Regulator. Lematua worked in top management posts internationally before she worked as Regulator of Samoa. These management roles include Director, ICT Development Commonwealth Telecommunication Organization (CTO), London United Kingdom (2018) She was appointed Acting Secretary General for the CTO (2018 to 2020). Before that, Gisa was the ITU’s Project Manager and Pacific Advisor for the 14 Pacific Island countries plus Timor Leste (2009-2010). 
Gisa was the first woman and Pacific person to have been appointed by ITU as Head of Division at its’ Headquarters, Geneva Switzerland (2010-2016). At this role, she was heading the Division for ICT development, emergency telecommunication, Climate Adaptation, including early warning systems and Energy for least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked countries. Mrs Purcell holds a Masters of Commerce and Administration, Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand (2003) complemented by a Post Graduate Diploma in Information Systems.


Mr. Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu
Mr. Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu Chairman of the Board & President of the Authority Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), Türkiye

Mr. Ömer Abdullah Karagözoglu has been the Chairman of the Board and President of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) of the Republic of Türkiye since August 2018. He was re-appointed for a second term in August 2022 after completing his first 4-year term in this position.

He was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1975. He is an Electrical and Electronic Engineer graduated from Eastern Mediterranean University.

Mr. Karagözoglu worked as a software engineer at Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI) of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) from 2002 to 2004. Between 2004 and 2016, he held various managerial positions at BELBIM, a technology company of IMM.

He served as the Adviser to the Chairman and Board Member of BTK before his appointment.


Ms. Jennifer Corriero
Ms. Jennifer Corriero Executive Director TakingITGlobal Contributing Partner

Jennifer Corriero is a social innovator who has been mobilizing resources through technology to improve K-12 education and youth engagement since she co-founded TakingITGlobal 25 years ago.
In her role as Executive Director of TakingITGlobal, she leads digital learning programs including Connected North, which currently serves over 20,000 Indigenous students in 200 schools in northern, remote communities. Jennifer has helped to develop the skills for young people to lead community-based projects through the development of learning resources and micro-grants programs.

TakingITGlobal has distributed over 7 million dollars in grants towards over 7,000 youth-led projects. She authored the book Journey of a Social Innovator: A Guided Journal she curated and co-edited Flourish: A Workbook for Social Innovators, with 50 contributing authors.
Jennifer holds a Masters in Environmental Studies and serves the Faculty of Health at York
University as a Community Fellow with the Wellness Impact Lab (WIL), Dahdaleh Institute.


Topics
Digital Divide Digital Economy Digital Inclusion Digital Transformation WSIS+20 Review
WSIS Action Lines
  • AL C4 logo C4. Capacity building
  • AL C7 E–LEA logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-learning
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 1 logo Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
  • Goal 2 logo Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
  • Goal 3 logo Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
  • Goal 4 logo Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
  • Goal 5 logo Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  • Goal 6 logo Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
  • Goal 12 logo Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  • Goal 13 logo Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  • Goal 14 logo Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
  • Goal 16 logo Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
  • Goal 17 logo Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development