Agenda

H.E. Dr. Bosun Tijani is Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August 2023. Prior to his ministerial role, he was Co-Founder and CEO of the Co-creation Hub (CcHUB), Nigeria's first and Africa's largest tech hub, with presence across Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Namibia. A member of the UNITAR Board of Trustees and the ITU Digital Innovation Board, Dr. Tijani holds degrees from the University of Jos, the University of Leicester, and Warwick Business School. He serves as co-Chair of the ITU-ICPC International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience.

Prof. Sandra Maximiano has served as Chairwoman of ANACOM's Board of Directors since December 2023, appointed for a six-year mandate. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Amsterdam and is an Associate Professor at ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics & Management, having previously held academic positions at Purdue University and the University of Chicago. Her research spans behavioural economics, public policy, and information management. She also serves as Vice-Chair of the European Regulators Group for Postal Services (ERGP) and as co-Chair of the ITU-ICPC International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience.

Mr. Sangbu Kim is the World Bank's first Vice President for Digital and AI, appointed in September 2024 to lead global efforts on digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, data governance, and digital public services. He brings over 27 years of experience across the public and private sectors, including senior roles in the Office of the President of South Korea, Director of Government Affairs at Google Asia Pacific, and Vice President for Corporate Strategy at LG Uplus. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Seoul National University.

Mr. Timothy Chin leads IMDA's international engagement, covering digital policy, strategy, and global partnerships. Prior to IMDA, he held senior roles at Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry, including Director-General for Americas, Europe and Central Asia, and served as Deputy Chief Negotiator for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). He holds a degree from Harvard Kennedy School and brings deep expertise in international trade negotiations and cross-border digital policy.

Mr. John R. Mills is Deputy Assistant Secretary in the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, focused on international cybersecurity engagement. A retired U.S. Army Colonel, he previously served as Director of Cybersecurity Policy, Strategy, and International Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and as a senior staff planner on the Chairman's Joint Staff. 

Ms. Athena Jun Xian is Managing Director of China Telecom (Europe) and Executive General Manager of China Telecom Global. She joined China Telecom (Europe) in 2013 as Deputy General Manager and subsequently served as Vice President of China Telecom Global from 2018 to 2024, overseeing global network development and operations. With over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, she is a key figure in China Telecom's international strategy across European and global markets.

Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas is Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), elected at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2022 and taking up duties in January 2023. He brings 25 years of experience in telecoms and digital policy, regulation, and strategy, having held executive roles across Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and the Pacific region, including as CEO and Board Member of national regulatory authorities, Head of Corporate Strategy at ITU, and Group Director of Public Policy at VEON. As DSG, he focuses on ITU's operational excellence, digital infrastructure investment, and climate action through the Green Digital Action initiative. He holds Master's degrees from Harvard Kennedy School, London Business School, the University of the West Indies, and Vilnius University.