Agenda

Tara  Harris  is  Group  IP  Lead  –  Digital  &  Regulatory  at  Prosus  (Euronext  Amsterdam;  PRX),  a leading  Dutch-listed  technology  company  and  one  of  the  world's  largest  tech  investors.  Prosus is  the  power  behind  leading  lifestyle  ecommerce  brands  across  Europe,  India,  and  Latin America,  unlocking  an  AI-first  world  for  2  billion  customers.  Tara  is  a  strategic  intellectual property  leader  with  over  25  years  of  global  experience  across  all  fields  of  IP  law,  specializing  in digital  asset  protection,  online  enforcement,  and  IP  strategy  in  the  rapidly  evolving  technology landscape. 

Her  background  includes  working  at  international  IP  law  firms  including  Adams  &  Adams, Deneys  Reitz,  and  WilmerHale  (across  Johannesburg  and  London),  followed  by  independent  IP consultancy  serving  high-profile  clients.  She  has  a  proven  track  record  of  aligning  IP  portfolios with  business  objectives,  particularly  during  mergers,  acquisitions,  and  governance transformations  spanning  over  100  countries  and  has  over  ten  years  in-house  experience  as  IP counsel.

As  Group  IP  Lead,  Tara  oversees  the  company's  intellectual  property  strategy,  manages  global IP  risk,  and  protects  digital  assets  while  navigating  emerging  global  regulations.  Her  tenure  is marked  by  innovation-driven  leadership,  contributing  to  Prosus'  AI  governance  frameworks  and commercial AI deployment strategy.

Tara is passionate about the intersection of AI and emerging technologies with intellectual property, regularly speaking on topics including AI and IP policy, digital trust, disinformation, cybercrime, and DNS abuse. She recently presented at the 2024 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Saudi Arabia on the topic of DNS abuse. Tara is a certified trademark practitioner having completed the Trademark Practitioner exams at the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL), covering international trademark law, copyright, patents, and designs. She has completed executive education at Harvard University in Cybersecurity: Managing Risk in the Information Age (2023) and the Executive Management Development Program at Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (2025). She is also certified as an AI Governance Professional (AIGP) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).  Tara serves on the International Trademark Association (INTA) Technology Transformation Committee. In recognition of her influence and achievements, she was nominated for the 2025 WIPR Most Influential Woman in IP Award and shortlisted for the 2025 Lexology European Individual IP In-House Award. Tara’s team won the Lexology best in-house IP Team in Europe award in 2026. 

H.E. Mr. Sidali Zerrouki is the current Minister of Post and Telecommunications of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. A telecom executive, innovation strategist, and serial entrepreneur, he has held several high-level CxO positions across the ICT and digital sectors, bringing over 20 years of experience at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and public leadership.

Before assuming ministerial responsibilities, Minister Zerrouki was a key architect of Algeria’s startup ecosystem, where he played a transformative role in scaling national innovation platforms, launching funding mechanisms, and boosting regional competitiveness. As a founding force behind several strategic initiatives, he redefined the entrepreneurial landscape in Algeria, paving the way for a generation of innovators and digital creators.

Minister Zerrouki is an IT engineer by training, holding a Master’s degree from Sorbonne University and an MBA from Paris Dauphine University. His academic and operational background allows him to bridge technological insight with policy execution, positioning Algeria as a regional leader in telecom modernization, digital inclusion, and sovereign infrastructure.

Under his leadership, Algeria has accelerated the rollout of national fiber-optic coverage, initiated 5G deployment, established AI and cybersecurity skill centers, and introduced regulatory frameworks for digital trust and data protection. Minister Zerrouki is currently leading Algeria’s strategic engagement in regional and multilateral digital cooperation, including its active contribution to shaping the African Union’s Digital Transformation Agenda and advancing the principles of the WSIS process toward inclusive, secure, and future-ready digital societies.

President, General Authority for Communications and Informatics – Libya 
His Excellency Eng. Abdulbaset Al-Baour is the President of the General Authority for 
Communications and Informatics (GACI) of Libya, where he leads the national digital 
transformation agenda, telecom sector development, and the modernization of digital 
government services. He also chairs several national high-level committees, including: 

• the National Committee for Digital Transformation, 

• the National Strategy Committee for Artificial Intelligence, 

• the National Data Governance Committee, and

 
• the National Telecommunications Strategy Committee. 

His Excellency oversees major national platforms and strategic programs, including the National 
Digital Identity (LY-DNID), the National Data Exchange Platform (LY-NDEX), the National Open 
Data Initiative, and the development of Libya’s cloud, data center, and cybersecurity ecosystem. 
At the regional and global levels, Eng. Al-Baour represents Libya in key international forums 
such as the ITU, WSIS, AI for Good, UN ESCWA, Smart Africa, and the African Union digital 
initiatives. He is actively engaged in shaping Libya’s position in emerging technologies, including 
AI governance, 5G development, spectrum management, and digital economy growth. 
His Excellency holds extensive experience in ICT policy-making, digital infrastructure 
development, and public-sector innovation, and is contributing to global discussions on the 
transition from the information society to the intelligent society.

Dr Wijayasuriya is the Chief Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka on Digital Economy. He is also the

Chairman of the Information & Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka.

Dr Wijayasuriya stepped down from his position as Chief Executive Officer – Telecommunications Business and Group Executive Director at Axiata Group (one of Asia’s largest Digital Connectivity Providers), in January 2025 to accept an invitation from the President of Sri Lanka to lead the country’s Digital Transformation Agenda in the capacity of the Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy.

Dr Wijayasuriya’s career in the Telecommunication’s Industry spans 30 Years, over 25 of which have been at CEO level. Dr Wijayasuriya was honored (in 2024) with the “Chairman’s Award” by the GSM Association in recognition of outstanding contribution to the global mobile industry. Previously in 2017, Dr Wijayasuriya was the recipient of the “Outstanding Contribution to the Asian Mobile Industry” Award in its inaugural year of award.

Dr Wijayasuriya served as a member of the Board of Directors of the GSMA during the period 2022-24. Dr Wijayasuriya is also a Past Chair of GSM Asia Pacific, the regional interest group of the GSMA and also served on the Board of the tmforum.

Dr Wijayasuriya is a Past Chair of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and has played an active role in Sri Lanka’s ICT sector and broader public sector on an honorary basis. Dr Wijayasuriya is a Past Chairman of the Arthur. C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies and has served on the founding boards of the Information and Communications Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), and the Sri Lanka Institute for Nano-Technology (SLINTEC).

In his previous role as the CEO for Telecommunications Business at Axiata, Dr Wijayasuriya led the pan-region Telecommunications Operations of the Axiata Group Bhd., spanning the markets of Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Cambodia. Dr Wijayasuriya served on the Board of the Axiata Group in the capacity of Group Executive Director, and was also the Founding CEO of Axiata Digital Services – the Group’s Digital Services Business and the Founding Chair of Axiata Digital Labs, the multi-country Software Innovation and Digital Transformation unit of the Axiata Group.

Dr. Wijayasuriya graduated from the University of Cambridge UK in 1989. He subsequently obtained his PhD in Digital Mobile Communications from the University of Bristol UK in 1994. A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering Technology UK, Dr. Wijayasuriya also holds an MBA from the University of Warwick UK.

Monsieur Célestin KADJIDJA est un ingénieur en Informatique, avec 30 ans d’expérience dans le domaine des réseaux et management des systèmes d’information, ce dans les secteurs bancaire, transport aérien et la sécurité sociale. 

Initialement, il a été formé à l’Ecole d’Ingénieur de Constance en Allemagne après ses études secondaires au Lycée National Léon MBA de Libreville au Gabon.

Il commence sa carrière professionnelle au début des années 1990 dans le secteur bancaire. Par la suite, il intègre le domaine du transport aérien, puis le secteur de la Santé en pilotant des projets informatique et télécom dans le domaine de la Sécurité sociale.

Durant son parcours, il a occupé différentes fonctions, à savoir :

Chef de Projet à la Direction informatique de la Banque BICIG, Groupe BNP-Paribas ;
Directeur Adjoint de la Monétique à la BICIG, Groupe BNP-Paribas ;
Directeur Informatique et Télécommunications au sein de la Compagnie aérienne nationale, Air-Gabon ;

Directeur des Systèmes d’information de la Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS) du Gabon ;
Conseiller technique en Systèmes d’information du Directeur Général de la CNSS ;
Conseiller technique en Sécurité des Systèmes d’information du Directeur Général de la CNSS.
En août 2023, il est nommé Président du Conseil de régulation de l’ARCEP Gabon par le Général de Brigade, Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA, Président de la Transition, Chef de l’Etat, Président de la République gabonaise.

Pour ce poste, une feuille de route avec des axes de travail ci-après lui a été confiée :

Amélioration de la Gouvernance de l’ARCEP ;
Accélération du développement du service universel ;
Optimisation de la Gestion des ressources en fréquence ;
Assainissement des finances de l’Institution.
Ces directives constituent les ligne directrices de l’action managériale de Monsieur Célestin KADJIDJA depuis sa prise de fonction effective le 5 octobre 2023.

Johanesa ANDRIAMIHAJA
Directeur Général p.i – ARTEC Madagascar

À la tête de l’Autorité de Régulation des Technologies de Communication (ARTEC), Johanesa ANDRIAMIHAJA pilote la transformation du secteur numérique malgache dans un contexte d’accélération technologique et d’ouverture des marchés.

Manager stratégique, il œuvre à concilier innovation, exigences règlementaires et développement économique avec une ambition claire : faire du numérique un levier structurant de croissance, d’inclusion et de souveraineté pour Madagascar.

Son action s’articule autour de priorités majeures :

·       Structurer le développement du secteur à travers des feuilles de route favorisant la gouvernance et l’efficacité opérationnelle de l’ARTEC.

·       Développer l’influence de Madagascar, en nouant des partenariats stratégiques avec les instances régionales et internationales (UAT, GSMA)

·       Moderniser la régulation, en apportant des réponses concrètes et adaptées aux mutations rapides du numérique

Reconnu pour son approche pragmatique et orientée résultats, il s’attache à bâtir un écosystème numérique résilient, inclusif et compétitif au service du développement durable du pays. 

Mr. Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu 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. Karagözoğlu 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.

Kurt Erik “Kurtis” Lindqvist is a seasoned technology executive and business leader who 
became President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Internet Corporation for 
Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) on 9 December 2024. With more than 30 years 
of experience in engineering and business development of Internet service providers, 
Internet Exchange Points, and global network carriers, Lindqvist has dedicated his 
career to advancing the stability, security, and accessibility of the Internet. 
Prior to joining ICANN, Lindqvist served as CEO of the London Internet Exchange 
(LINX), a leading operator of worldwide interconnection services, from 2019 to 2024. 
Prior to this, he was CEO of Netnod from 2002 to 2015. Lindqvist also chaired the 
European Internet Exchange Association (Euro-IX) from 2003 to 2020, which 
underscores his long-standing leadership in Internet infrastructure organizations. 
Lindqvist has been a leading voice in Internet governance (IG) and technical 
development. He served on the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) and led working 
groups within the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and RIPE, where his efforts 
helped shape critical Internet standards and policies. Additionally, he has advised the 
Swedish government on IG, broadband policy, and other key areas, fostering 
collaboration between public and private sectors. 
Lindqvist studied Computer Science at Uppsala University, Sweden, and holds an 
Executive MBA from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in 
Lausanne, Switzerland. 

Es ingeniero en Ciencias de la Computación y complementó su formación con posgrados 
en Administración de Negocios y posee una especialización Políticas Tecnológicas de la 
Universidad de Washington; con amplia trayectoria en la gestión de proyectos 
tecnológicos y empresariales. 

A lo largo de su carrera, ha ocupado roles clave en diversas organizaciones, destacando 
su labor y participando activamente en diversas organizaciones de gobernanza de Internet 
como ICANN, IETF, NANOG, ARIN y otras, así como miembro de la Junta Directiva de 
Racsa y presidente fundador de ISOC Costa Rica. 

Además, ha ocupado varios puestos ejecutivos, incluidos Gerente de TI, director de TI y 
Juntas Directiva, en empresas transnacionales. Su influencia se extiende a Latinoamérica, 
brindando asesoramiento a gobiernos latinoamericanos sobre el establecimiento de 
Puntos de Intercambio de Internet (IXP) y sirviendo como consultor de políticas de 
telecomunicaciones, fue coautor del primer Libro de interconexión patrocinado por La 
Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF).