Agenda

Cerys is a Tech Policy Analyst in the Global Government Advisory (GGA) Practice at Access Partnership, a global tech public policy firm. Cerys sits within the Multilateral Organizations & Global Governance sub-practice, with a focus on supporting public and private entities engage in international fora to contribute to global policymaking and debate surrounding the development and deployment of digital technologies.
In guiding client engagement to both shape and respond to developments in the global governance of the digital landscape, Cerys works on issues pertaining to terrestrial and non-terrestrial connectivity, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other Emerging Technologies, and digital sustainability. These projects aim to advance the digital transformation and accelerate progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mustafa Y. SHEIK is the Director General of the National Communications Authority of Somalia (NCA) since 19th November 2022. Prior to this nomination, he worked as the Deputy Director General of the National Communications Authority of Somalia (NCA) and Member of the Board of Directors, Mr. Mustafa served as the Executive Director of the Somalia Network Information Centre (SONIC) - the registry operator of Somalia .SO ccTLD - between 2018 – 2021. Mustafa worked also as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Ministry of communications and Technology between 2017-2018.
 
With over 15 years of experience in both private and public service management and leadership, Mustafa specialized in Internet governance, regulatory and policy analysis, Public-Private Partnership, and competition economics.
 
During his years of work, he participated in several specialized, workshops, meetings, forums, and associations worldwide.
  

Hon. George William Nyombi Thembo is the Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), bringing over 30 years of experience in public administration, ICT policy, and infrastructure development. His leadership focuses on advancing inclusive digital transformation and building robust regulatory frameworks to support innovation and access.

A former State Minister for ICT and Member of Parliament, Hon. Nyombi has played a central role in Uganda's digital development agenda.

Before leading UCC, he spearheaded the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), working to extend digital access to marginalized and underserved communities. He also served as Acting Director for Industry Affairs and Content Development at UCC, overseeing critical stakeholder engagement and sector development.

Internationally, he is recognized as the Chair of the ITU Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) for 2024-2025, reflecting his commitment to global best practices in communications regulation and policy innovation.

Hon. Nyombi holds a Master's degree in Development Economics and professional certifications in telecommunications regulation, ICT policy, and public-private partnerships.

In addition to his regulatory work, he is a cultural leader and artist, playwright and founding member of Ndere Troupe, promoting African arts and cultural expression.

 Dr Gift Kallisto Machengete is the Director General of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ),having been appointed to the position in December 2016. He is a member of the ITU Digital Innovation Board, and currently serves on the Boards of several institutions in Zimbabwe. 
 He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the University of Zimbabwe, a Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA) from Southern Cross University, Australia, and a Doctorate in Business Administration also from Southern Cross University, for which he graduated with a distinction, and was awarded the University Plaque for outstanding achievement.  
He has over forty-four (44) years of working experience, having worked as an Economic Counsellor at the Zimbabwe Embassy in China, Zimbabwe’s Deputy Ambassador to Malaysia and Director of  Administration in the Office of the President and Cabinet, before joining the POTRAZ in 2016. 
 He is a former part-time lecturer for the Master of Business Leadership and  Master of  Security and Intelligence Degree programmes at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE). This included working as a Research thesis Moderator. He currently serves on the Boards of several institutions in Zimbabwe. 
 

 Christopher Reckord is a seasoned technology entrepreneur with nearly four decades of experience in IT, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. As the Chairman of the National AI task Force, and the Data Protection Oversight Committee( 2022-2024) and also the Innovation & Digital Transformation Committee for the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), he plays a pivotal role in driving Jamaica's digital evolution. A former CEO of tTech Limited and co-founder of Innovative Corporate Solutions, Chris is a leader in the Caribbean tech landscape. He is also deeply involved in public service, holding various government-appointed positions, and is the co-author of "Successful Digital Transformation: Your World, Your Business, Your Life... Reimagined  

 Philip Lee is General Secretary of the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) and Editor of its journal Media Development. His publications include Communication for All: New World Information and Communication Order (1985); The Democratization of Communication (ed.) (1995); Requiem: Here’s another fine Mass you’ve gotten me into (2001);Many Voices, One Vision: The Right to Communicate in Practice (ed.) (2004); Public Memory, Public Media, and the Politics of Justice (ed. with Pradip N. Thomas) (2012); Global and Local Televangelism (ed. with Pradip N. Thomas) (2012); Expanding Shrinking Communication Spaces (ed. with Lorenzo Vargas) (2020), and Communicating Climate Justice (ed. with Lorenzo Vargas) (2021).

Over the last two decades, Mr. AHM Bazlur Rahman has undertaken numerous national, regional, and international projects, interventions, and initiatives, focusing on media development, ICT for Development, and digital transformation.

He has been recognized as a leading player in numerous international conferences and summits focused on fostering ICT innovation and the development of the ICT ecosystem and advancing digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific region since

He has led the engagement of the Bangladesh government with the International Telecommunication Union on the WSIS process since 2002 and Internet policy issues since 2006, participating in numerous international conferences and associated preparatory work. He has strong skills in policy development and people's diplomacy. Since its inception, he has been participating in a high-level track as a speaker at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum.

He has promoted the WSIS Action line C1- C11, the Report of the UN Secretary-General's High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation, the UN Secretary-General's High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation Roadmap on Digital Cooperation, and the United Nations Secretary-General's Our Common Agenda (2021) in Bangladesh as the facilitator.

He received the UN WSIS Prize as a Winner in 2016 and a Champion in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023 for the UN WSIS action line on localisation. After receiving prestigious United Nations recognition for the seventh time, he has driven multi-stakeholder engagement more effectively, resulting in a sharp rise in the research and development process to ensure a response through an equity lens and shape the Future of Media, entertainment, and society in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.