Agenda

 Mr. Alioune Sall is a telecommunications engineer and digital specialist. He was appointed in April 2024 as Minister of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital of the Republic of Senegal. 
He graduated from the École Supérieure d’Ingénieurs Léonard de Vinci and holds a University Diploma of Technology (DUT) in Networks and Telecommunications from the IUT of Villetaneuse (France). He has over 15 years of experience in the telecommunications, digital, and territorial development sectors. 
He began his career in France, notably with the telecom operator SFR, where he held positions of responsibility in network deployment and optimization. He then expanded his scope as a digital development consultant for local governments and as an entrepreneur in digital technologies, strengthening his knowledge of issues related to connectivity, inclusion, and digital governance. 
With this diverse background, Alioune Sall has committed himself to the digital transformation of Senegal, with a vision resolutely oriented towards Africa. He focuses on service accessibility, infrastructure modernization, and digital sovereignty. As head of the Ministry, he is leading ambitious reforms in areas such as universal connectivity, cybersecurity, digitalization of public services, and support for technological innovation. 
His pragmatic approach, technical expertise, and strategic vision make him a committed actor in digital transformation, serving sustainable development and the integration of Senegal into the global digital economy. 
 

James Chisholm is currently Deputy Secretary, Communications and Media Group at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA). In this role James is responsible for broadband, telecommunications, media and digital platform industry policy, infrastructure investment and consumer policy, radio-communications policy, online safety as well as oversight of the government’s shareholding interests in Australia Post and the National Broadband Network.
Most recently James was the Chief Executive Officer of the Net Zero Economy Agency. James was formally Deputy Secretary of the Net Zero Economy Taskforce in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), leading the cross-agency Taskforce which is providing advice on how best to support regional communities as Australia transforms to a net zero economy.
James has also led a number of Divisions in PM&C, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, and the Department of Environment and Energy.
James also spent a number of years in the Department of Treasury in the areas of competition policy, financial markets policy and international finance and development.

Philip Marnick is the General Director of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). 
Mr. Marnick leads the TRA, including the development of consumer protection initiatives and resolving disputes. The TRA develops regulatory rules that promote competition, innovation, and investment in broadband services and facilities, as well as developing a more comprehensive and competitive framework that aligns with international best practices. Ensuring that Bahrain remains a center of innovation and that its telecommunications sector serves everyone while supporting Bahrain’s strategic objectives. 
Mr. Marnick has worked in the telecommunications sector for over 30 years. He has served as a senior executive in technology, operations, and strategy. Mr. Marnick has worked in both start-ups (from inception to sale) and major corporations, in firms such as UK Broadband, O2, Orange, BT, J-Phone in Japan (now Softbank Mobile), Extreme Mobile, and SpinVox (now Nuance). 
From analogue to 5G, he has engaged across every mobile generation. Throughout his carrier he has been at the forefront of industry developments – in both fixed and mobile. He has collaborated on the first deployments of mobile networks utilizing new technologies and standards, this has also included innovative products such as the first camera phone and photo messaging service, as well as mobile internet and hosted voice services.

As Chief Enforcement Officer, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Eneng’s role is to provide strategic leadership on all matters relating to the enforcement of all laws within the Commission’s jurisdiction. 
She served MCMC for 25 years, 15 years of which at Senior Management level; headed divisions responsible for industry monitoring and regulation, consumer protection, strategic communications as well as advocacy and outreach. 
Eneng holds an LLB Hons Business Law and LLM Master of Laws.

 Thibaut Kleiner is the Director for Future Networks in DG Connect. He has worked since 2001 at the European Commission. The first ten years of his career in the Commission were spent in the area of competition policy (merger, antitrust and State aid). In September 2011, he moved to the digital policy area, as advisor of Vice-President Neelie Kroes, in charge of the Digital Agenda, and supervised Internet policies at large (Internet Governance, cybersecurity, cloud, data). 
From January 2014 to June 2016, he was head of unit in charge of network technologies (5G and Internet of Things) in DG Connect. From June 2016 to December 2019 he was the deputy head of cabinet of Commissioner Oettinger, in charge of Budget and Human Resources and he then came back to DG Connect to head the unit in charge of Research Strategy and Coordination and was subsequently Director for Policy, Strategy and Outreach from December 2020 until March 2025. An economist by training Thibaut holds a Master from HEC Paris and a PhD from the London School of Economics.

TechPlomacy is a pioneering initiative elevating technology and digitalization to a crosscutting foreign and security policy priority of the Danish government. Anne Marie and her team have a global mandate and a physical presence in Silicon Valley and Copenhagen, transcending borders and regions in rethinking the traditional understanding of a diplomatic representation.

Prior to her appointment, Anne Marie worked at World Economic Forum in Geneva (2017-2020) where she led the World Economic Forum's work on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Global Public Goods. Her focus was on mobilizing technology companies, governments and civil society to collaboratively tackle the barriers that prevent emerging technology from scaling responsibly to help solve society's biggest challenges.

Before joining the World Economic Forum, Anne Marie co-founded an innovation house for student entrepreneurship; co-founded Democratic Capital; worked as political advisor in the Danish Parliament; and served on the Board of Directors of Copenhagen Business School and The Danish Consumer Council.

Anne Marie Engtoft Meldgaard holds a M.Sc. in International Development from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in International Business & Politics from Copenhagen Business School and is a 2017 Global Leadership Fellow with the World Economic Forum.

 Whitney Baird is President and CEO of the US Council for International Business (USCIB), an organization dedicated to powering the success of American businesses.  
Baird's international affairs experience gives her perspective on the complex challenges and opportunities facing American businesses in today’s global economy. Prior to USCIB, Baird served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the US State Department, leading efforts to promote American economic interests abroad. Baird also led the US Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as Chargé d'Affaires from 2020-2022. 
During her diplomatic career, Baird was appointed Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at U.S. Embassy London, Director of Multilateral Trade, Director of European Union Affairs, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for West Africa and Security Affairs, and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Europe and European Union and Regional Affairs. She also served at US embassies in Madrid, Dakar, Lome, and Yaoundé, earning distinction as the recipient of the Secretary’s Career Achievement Award and multiple Superior Honor Awards. 
Baird holds an MS in International Security Studies from the National Defense University and a BS in Political Science from the University of North Carolina.