Agenda

Dr. May Siksik is Chief Executive Officer of Innovation Network Global, a Canada-headquartered organization advancing system-level innovation in artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, digital health, and digital infrastructure through technology platforms, governance frameworks, and multi-stakeholder initiatives. She co-chairs the Dynamic Coalition on Emerging Technologies at the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF), leads the Global Quantum and Exponential Technologies Education Initiative (GQEI) in partnership with UNESCO's International Year of Quantum, and founded Healthcare Without Borders, a global initiative building sovereign, AI-enabled health systems for Indigenous, remote, and underserved communities.

Dr. Siksik is a delegate to ISO/IEC JTC 3 on Quantum Technologies and liaison to ISO/IEC TC 62 on medical devices and software. She is a member of the OECD Global Forum on Technology Focus Group on Quantum Technologies, serves on the Board of NGen Canada, and is Vice Chair of the Board of CMC Microsystems. She previously chaired Canada's National Research Council Applied Quantum Computing Challenge Program Review Committee.

Through her work, Dr. Siksik brings together industry, government, academia, and civil society to design governance frameworks, develop deployable technologies, and translate emerging technologies into practical solutions for complex real-world challenges.

Deputy Chief Executive with a distinguished United Nations career spanning roles as Chief IT Auditor

and Chief Information Officer, bringing extensive, multi-year hands-on experience designing, governing,

and assuring Information Systems, Blockchains, Distributed Ledger Technologies, and Digital Identity

solutions underpinning United Nations Global Operations and Critical Infrastructure.

Brings deep practical expertise in information security assurance aligned with international standards,

including the assessment, identification, and mitigation of emerging cryptographic threats — with

particular focus on post-quantum computing risks to blockchain-based and distributed systems.

Applies rigorous, standards-based methodologies to evaluate cryptographic resilience, inform

remediation roadmaps, and future-proof mission-critical infrastructure against evolving threat

landscapes.

Committed to responsible and ethical design, use, and assessment of emerging technologies, to serve the

broader goals of the United Nations, organizational integrity, and societal benefit.

Led the achievement of the first United Nations ISO/IEC 42001 certification, establishing a landmark

standard for the responsible and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence across UNJSPF operations.

Dedicated to compliance with international standards and professional best practices for governing,

managing, auditing, and securing global information systems and protecting data and privacy —

including ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security Management), ISO/IEC 27701 (Personal Identifiable

Information Management), and ISO/IEC 42001 (AI Management Systems).

Councillor Nicholas Kofi is an elected member of Council for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (səlilwətaɬ), where he is committed to advancing community well-being, cultural revitalization, and Indigenous self-determination. A lifelong member of the Nation, he has held leadership roles from the Youth Committee through to Council, building a strong foundation in community engagement and service.

Nicholas worked for eight years with the Nation’s Language Team, supporting the revitalization of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and helping preserve Indigenous language and cultural knowledge for future generations. He has also contributed to Indigenous language revitalization initiatives through the Sníchim Foundation and served on the Nation’s Lands Advisory Committee and the Board of the Maplewood Mudflats, supporting environmental stewardship and cultural connection to traditional territories.

In his role as an Indigenous Support Worker, Nicholas works directly with youth, helping them navigate education and life while remaining grounded in their identity, culture, and community. Through his leadership, he advocates for transparency, accountability, and the protection of Indigenous rights, culture, and knowledge systems. At WSIS, he brings the perspective of Indigenous governance and community-led approaches to data sovereignty, digital innovation, and health system transformation.

Robert Bartlett is Chief Administrative Officer of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (səlilwətaɬ), where he leads organizational transformation, strategic planning, and major Nation-wide initiatives supporting self-determination, community well-being, and sustainable development. Working closely with the Nation's Chief and Council, he has helped advance a renewed focus on health and wellness, organizational restructuring, and long-term capacity building, while overseeing major initiatives including Inlet negotiations, the Nation's Truth Document, and planning related to the FIFA World Cup.

With more than two decades of leadership experience across Indigenous, municipal, provincial, and federal government organizations in Canada and the United Kingdom, Robert brings expertise in public administration, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and strategic governance. Prior to joining Tsleil-Waututh Nation, he served as Chief Administrative Officer for the District of West Vancouver, Chief Risk Officer for the City of Vancouver, and held senior leadership roles with the UK Cabinet Office supporting both the UK Government and NATO. He also contributed to the delivery of two Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Robert is committed to building resilient, community-led systems that prioritize health, safety, transparency, and environmental stewardship. At WSIS, he brings the perspective of Indigenous governance and leadership in advancing sovereign, community-owned approaches to health, data, and digital infrastructure.

Raghwa Gopal is a technology executive, entrepreneur, and innovation leader with more than four decades of experience driving digital transformation, emerging technologies, and innovation-led economic development. He has founded and scaled multiple technology companies and has held senior leadership positions across the public and private sectors, including serving as President and CEO of Innovate BC, where he helped advance British Columbia's innovation ecosystem and support the commercialization of emerging technologies.

Raghwa currently serves as Chair of the Jim Pattison Centre for Health Systems Learning and Innovation and Co-President of the BC India Business Network. He previously served as Vice Chair of the University of British Columbia Board of Governors and has worked extensively at the intersection of technology, healthcare, research, and public policy. Throughout his career, he has championed innovation that delivers measurable societal and economic impact.

At WSIS, Raghwa brings a health systems and innovation leadership perspective on the adoption of emerging technologies, the modernization of healthcare delivery, and the governance frameworks needed to translate technological advances into scalable, real-world outcomes.

Nurain Janah is an entrepreneur, governance leader, and systems-change advocate working at the intersection of technology, sustainability, finance, and inclusive development. She is Founder and Chair he Kandūfā Foundation, which advances initiatives connecting cultural heritage, technology, and climate resilience to support sustainable futures.

Nurain serves as Group Vice Chair of JIH Global and HARIM Group, a diversified international enterprise with interests spanning hospitality, infrastructure, real estate, and investment. She also played a leading role in the establishment of Maldives Premier Bank, contributing to the development of financial infrastructure and investment capacity in the Maldives. In 2025, she became the first woman appointed Chairperson of the Board of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).

A Chartered Accountant and governance expert, Nurain has founded and advised organizations focused on ESG strategy, corporate governance, online safety, women's economic empowerment, and inclusive technology. She serves as Adviser on Small States for the Commonwealth Businesswomen's Network and has contributed to international initiatives on technology governance and digital trust. Recognized as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (Class of 2025), she is committed to ensuring emerging technologies create opportunities for communities historically excluded from digital systems.

At WSIS, Nurain brings the perspective of small-island states and emerging economies on digital sovereignty, inclusive innovation, and the governance frameworks needed to ensure technology serves community development and long-term resilience.

Pam Dixon is the founder and executive director of the World Privacy Forum. For more than two decades, Dixon has conducted original research on the privacy and governance of complex data ecosystems at scale. Her work spans AI and machine learning governance, identity systems, and health data, and encompasses extensive field research and policy engagement across more than 85 jurisdictions, with sustained engagement in the US, India, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the EU.

Dixon was among the original appointees to the OECD AI Expert Group that drafted the OECD AI Principles, and continues to serve as chair of the civil society advisory group for OECD's Digital Policy Committee and its AI Governance Working Party. She is a member of the OECD-GPAI Steering Committee. She is a board advisor to the WHO's Health Data Collaborative and a member of its Data Governance WG. She co-chaired the UN Statistical Commission's Data Governance and Legal Frameworks WG, a task force focused on governance of National Statistical Offices. Dixon is a principal investigator at the NIST AI Consortium and an invited expert to ITU Study Group 17. In other work, she teaches courses in global AI policy, data governance, and identity ecosystems at Carnegie Mellon University.

Her peer-reviewed field research on India's Aadhaar biometric identity system, A Failure to Do No Harm, conducted over four years and published in Springer Nature in 2017 – was cited twice in the Supreme Court of India's landmark Aadhaar privacy decision. Her 2014 report The Scoring of America, co-authored with Robert Gellman, was among the first major analyses of predictive analytics and machine learning through a privacy and governance lens. In 2023, she co-authored Risky Analysis, the first comprehensive global review and index of AI governance tools. In 2025, she completed a comprehensive global comparative study of national AI strategies, now visualized online.

Dixon's current research addresses the governance of advanced AI systems. Her current theoretical work has been presented at the Privacy Law Scholars Conference (2024, 2026) and to European Data Protection Authorities at their Spring Conference (2025). This work has now been peer reviewed and accepted for publication in a forthcoming Springer book on AI governance and trust. She is the author of ten books and is the recipient of the EFF Pioneer Award for groundbreaking research on privacy and data ecosystems.

Dr. Luigi Serio, a Principal Scientist and Project Leader in the Technology Department at CERN, Geneva, holds an MSc in Nuclear Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and a PhD from Cranfield University. His research spans international projects in AI, nuclear fusion, and particle accelerators. Dr. Serio actively participates in several international technical and advisory committees, including SLAC LCLS-II, Fermilab PIP-II, DUNE, MADMAX, and the ESOC AI Committee. 

Dr. Serio has authored over 150 publications in the fields of nuclear engineering, cryogenics, and AI technology.

Councillor Juliana Haimbodi is a public-sector leader serving on the Ongwediva Town Council in northern Namibia, where she currently chairs the Council's Management Committee. In this role, she helps shape policies and initiatives that support sustainable urban development, economic growth, and improved quality of life for residents.

In addition to her work in local government, Councillor Haimbodi has experience in the private sector and has contributed to national economic development through her service on the executive committee of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She has championed initiatives focused on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Passionate about community development and inclusive growth, Councillor Haimbodi is committed to building partnerships across government, industry, and civil society to create opportunities and strengthen the resilience and well-being of communities.

Nalini Saligram, Ph.D., is the Founder & CEO of Arogya World (arogaworld.org), a global health
non-profit committed to preventing diabetes through healthy living. She is an Ashoka Fellow and
a sought-after speaker.
Under Nalini’s leadership, Arogya World designs and implements scalable, science-based
diabetes prevention programs in India and takes prevention to people where they live, learn and
work (doorstep health model). The organization has reached nearly 30 million people in India
(through 2025) and is now actively involved in scaling. As a tireless advocate for
noncommunicable disease prevention, Nalini leverages public-private partnerships and global
platforms to improve the world we live in. On her watch, Arogya World has made and fulfilled
multiple Clinton Global Initiative Commitments, and was named a finalist for the Peter F.
Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation (2014). The nonprofit got a United Nations InterAgency
Taskforce and WHO award in 2022 for strengthening India's primary healthcare system and a
Google AI for Social Good award in 2021. Arogya is also bringing its programs to the US as
well, with a focus on youth outreach and lifestyle change. Her story and that of Arogya World
have been highlighted in a book – The Healthcare Gamechangers.  
Nalini has lived and worked in many parts of the world. She has a Ph.D. in biochemistry from
the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. She serves on the boards of TiE-Atlanta and India
Philanthropy Alliance, and is active with Indiaspora and the Global Centre for Healthy
Workplaces.

Dr Amit Rana is a cross-sectoral board advisor and member, operator-investor, and Neuro-Trauma critical care surgeon operating across North America, Europe, India, Australia, and the GCC. He engages across the public sector, industry, and innovation ecosystems, supporting organisations to innovate and navigate health systems, autonomous systems, space technologies, data sovereignty, and deep-tech sectors by synthesising global collaborative networks, technology, capital, governance, and geopolitical dynamics.
A senior executive fellows of Harvard Kennedy School, and alumnus of Columbia business school, Dr Rana serves on global boards and leadership councils and contributes to AI think tanks and innovation ecosystems, bringing an integrated, human-centred perspective to growth, innovation, strategic risk, and long-term value creation.