Leaders TalkX 7- Frameworks that Enable: Policy Leadership in ICT Development
WSIS
Session 514
Effective policy, legal, and regulatory frameworks are the bedrock of inclusive digital transformation, yet for many developing and least developed countries, building them remains a formidable challenge. Limited technical expertise, institutional capacity, and access to internationally tested best practices leave too many governments unable to attract digital investment, protect consumer rights, and uphold human rights online. With the 2030 Agenda entering its final stretch, the window to get these foundations right is narrowing. Join policymakers, regulators, and the private sector at WSIS Forum 2026 to share experiences and advance the governance approaches that will determine whether the next digital decade delivers for everyone, everywhere.
Leonard Obonyo is the Head of Digital Development at the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), where he leads the design and delivery of digital transformation programmes across member countries. Since joining the organisation in 2019, he has been responsible for shaping ICT strategies that support the transition to effective, inclusive 21st-century governments. His work focuses on expanding affordable broadband access, advancing e-government, and strengthening digital ecosystems. He also coordinates the Commonwealth’s global digital policy agenda and oversees research and implementation efforts related to emerging technologies. With over a decade of experience, Leonard has worked across national, regional, and international initiatives spanning broadband development, cyber resilience, data governance, and digital inclusion. He has contributed to projects supported by organisations such as the FCDO, ITU, World Bank, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, and has been involved in developing guidance on national cybersecurity strategies. His work sits at the intersection of policy, regulation, and implementation, with a strong emphasis on practical outcomes that close the digital divide and enable sustainable digital growth.
Introductory Profile
A leader with over 20 years’ experience working in various industries (Manufacturing, Telecommunication, IT, Oil & Gas, Agricultural, Government, Financial and Management Consultancy) and countries. Broad industry experiences, ability to adapt to change and outstanding performance led to C-suite roles and Non-Executive Director positions in numerous companies. In my recent career, my primary focus was consulting and business development especially in emerging market. Travelled to more than 50 countries to explore growth opportunities. My current passion is developing strategy that an incumbent company can deploy to compete with disruptive innovation.
Current Role
Chief Corporate & International Officer Oct 2022 to Present
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)
MCMC is the regulator for the converging communications and digital industry in Malaysia. In charge of various Divisions which are Strategy Planning, International Affairs, Communications, Procurement, Property & Admin, Risk Management and MCMC Academy.
Most Recent Professional Experience
London Business School | Sloan Fellow I Leadership & Strategy Jan 2020 to Dec 2020
A Sloan Fellow part of a selected cohort of 53 senior professionals with an average of 18 years of global work experience. A program of only three of its type globally offered at LBS, MIT and Stanford. My interests are strategic innovation, managing a digital organization and managing corporate turnarounds.
Management Consultant May 2018 to Oct 2022
Led and advised consulting projects in multinationals companies, state own enterprises and governments focused on transformation, strategy development, digital marketing and cultural changes across ASEAN and Pacific Islands. Among notable projects in Pacific Islands are transformation strategy for a postal office, a business model for government on how to share oilfield revenue, a study on potential for Indonesia to become a palm oil hub in oleo-chemicals, advice a fintech startup on e-banking and mentor for startups.
Tradewinds Plantation Berhad
Head, International Business May 2016 to Apr 2018
Led a team that developed a comprehensive study on food security strategy to cater for the urbanization and population growth in Malaysia. Study included rice, milk, beef, poultry, wheat supply chain and secondary crop such as corn. Furthermore, created a new business strategy to increase revenue via acquisition overseas.
Felda Global Ventures Holdings Berhad (FGV)
Senior Vice President, International Business May 2013 to Apr 2016
Started the International Business division at one of the largest integrated agricultural company in the world with revenue of USD 3 billion. Accountable for the overall company performance, profitability, international business strategy for palm oil, rubber, sugar and downstream activities. Streamline operations and closed underperforming assets in Canada, Indonesia and Thailand. Elected to be Non-Executive Director positions in more than 20 companies globally. Primary focus was business development especially in emerging market to establish network with key government officials, business owners and relevant partners to do business.
Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC),
Prime Minister’s Department, Government of Malaysia
Executive Director Jul 2011 to Apr 2013
Started MPRC for the Malaysian Government with the objectives to recommend policies relating to Oil & Gas services sector, promote Malaysia’s Oil & Gas services companies abroad and attract MNCs to set up operations in Malaysia. Among the notable projects are the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) worth USD 50 billion consists of oil refineries, naphtha crackers, petrochemical plant, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal and a regasification plant. Global Incentives for Trading (GIFT) program was introduced together with Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA), the objective to attract global companies trading in petroleum and petroleum related products to locate their regional operations to Malaysia.
Performance Management & Delivery Unit (PEMANDU),
Prime Minister’s Department, Government of Malaysia
Senior Manager Apr 2010 to Jun 2011
The Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) is an initiative by the Malaysian government to turn Malaysia into a high-income economy by the year 2020. Responsible in the development and implementation of the Oil, Gas & Energy Roadmap for Malaysia under the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA). GDP from Oil & Gas sector is about USD 84 billion. Initially was responsible for the execution of the National Key Results Areas (NKRAs) in improving Urban Public Transport. Involved in the initial proposal of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and Delivery Management Unit (DMU).
Shell
Sales & Operations Manager | Regional Manager Jan 2003 to Apr 2010
Hold various roles within Shell in different business units and geographical locations. Among those significant roles were managed a large team overseeing nearly 900 retail station across Malaysia with revenue of USD 4 billion. Responsible for the overall strategies for the fuel portfolio change, designed and executed one of the best marketing campaigns for Shell globally. Top receiver of various Awards and Recognitions for outstanding performance such as Top Regional Manager in Malaysia 2008, Fuel & Forecourt Hall of Fame, Global Excellent Award for top Territory Manager in Philippines for 2006, Crystal Award 2006 (1st foreigner to win local award), nominated top Territory Manager in the world 2006 in Oman, Retail Excellence Award 2004 and 2003.
Previous Professional Experience
Mesiniaga Berhad Business Representative | Security Product Manager Jan 2001 to Dec 2002
The leading IT System Integrator. Responsible for the overall sales for networking solutions with primary focus on IT security products.
Celcom (M) Sdn Bhd Strategist, Product Development Jun 2000 to Dec 2000
The largest mobile operator in Malaysia. Developed postpaid strategies and business plan.
TIME Telecommunication Strategist, Executive, Product Management Jan 2000 to May 2000
A fixed line telecommunications company. Developed, implemented new, existing products and services rollout plans.
Motorola, Production Supervisor Nov 1999 to Dec 1999
Ms. Ekaterine Imedadze has been a commissioner of the Georgian National Communications Commission (ComCom) since March 2021. Prior to taking up her position, she headed the Telecommunications Market Regulation Department at ComCom.
Ekaterine has over 15 years of professional experience in telecommunications with a global perspective. Ekaterine has held several key positions at the international telecommunications group company VEON Ltd., leading the Global Process unit responsible for the group's digital transformation. She also served as the group's internal control and risk management lead for several years. Ms Imedadze had previously served as the Head of Finance and Operations for a number of large private organisations, as well as a business consultant for leading ICT companies.
Ms. Imedadze holds an MBA from the University of Bradford School of Management and completed the Innovation Leadership programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Previously, she earned a master's degree in physics as well as a postgraduate diploma in artificial intelligence and fuzzy logic from Tbilisi State University, and she is currently pursuing an LL.M. in competition law and economics at the Brussels School of Competition (BSC).
Ekaterine was appointed as the Board Member of the Digital Regulation Network (DRN) at the International Telecommunication Union from 2025.
Chairperson of the Eastern Partnership Electronic Communications Regulators Network (EaPeReg) in 2023
Dr Milan B. Radulović was born in Nikšić, Montenegro. He received his B.Sc. (study program: Electronics) and M.Sc. (study program: Robotics and Artificial Intelligence) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Montenegro, Montenegro. He received his Ph.D. (research field: Computer Architecture) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Belgrade, Serbia.
He was previously with the University of Montenegro, for over a decade where he was involved both in teaching process and many research and development projects (robotics and artificial intelligence, electronics, telecommunications, computer networks, software development, database, and real-time control systems) at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and University Computer Centre. Also, he was with the University Mediterranean, Montenegro, as a part-time assistant at the Faculty of Information Technology and Faculty of Economics and Business.
He was with Crnogorski Telekom A.D. (member of Deutsche Telekom Group) and Ericsson AB Stockholm Montenegro, for almost two decades, working as RAN/CORE engineer and Voice CORE team leader, respectively. He was involved in operation and maintenance, and development of radio and switching systems for the fixed and mobile network for two national operators, Crnogorski Telekom and m:tel.
He was included in several research projects as Visiting Research Fellow at the Universities abroad such as University of Warwick (UK), University of Granada (Spain), University of Siena (Italy), and EPFL (Switzerland). His current research interests are mainly in electronics, telecommunications, robotics and artificial intelligence, computer architecture (especially chip multiprocessor systems with thread-level speculation support), coherence and speculation protocols, transactional memory, compilers, parallel programming, and real-time system control. In these areas, he published papers in international scientific journals, books, and proceedings of international and domestic conferences. He is the member of HiPEAC (European Network of Excellence on High Performance and Embedded Architecture and Compilation) group.
For the results achieved during his education, work career and scientific research activities, he received several awards from educational institutions, then, from the Municipality of Nikšić, and from the companies he worked with, as well as from domestic and international scientific research institutions and organizations.
On April 18, 2024, he was appointed President of the Council of the Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services.
On October 2 and 3, 2025, he was appointed as BEREC Vice-Chair 2026 and IRG Vice-Chair 2026, respectively
He has active knowledge of English, Italian and Spanish, and passive from German and Greek languages.
Mr. Adam Caldwell is the Deputy Chief Executive of the Telecommunication Regulation Authority of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). His work focuses on telecommunications regulation, digital policy, strategic thinking, and the institutional conditions that support connectivity and digital development in small island states.
He has previously held senior public service roles in the Federated States of Micronesia, including Acting Assistant Secretary of Justice for Cybersecurity and Intelligence, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Foreign Affairs for Information and Research, and Head of the FSM National Central Bureau of INTERPOL. Across these roles, he has worked at the intersection of regulation, governance, cybersecurity, and public policy.
Mr. Caldwell is a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne, where his research examines the development of strategic-level national cybersecurity policy, with expected completion in October 2027. He holds a Juris Master degree from Florida State University focused on cybersecurity, privacy, and law, a Master of Media and Creative Technologies from the University of Waikato in New Zealand, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Networking from the University of Hawaiʻi at West Oʻahu.
Lord Uday Nagaraju of Bloomsbury is a Life Peer in the UK House of Lords, appointed on the recommendation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and conferred by His Majesty King Charles III. Born in Telangana, India, he holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Technology from Nagpur University, a Master of Science in Computer Science from Oxford Brookes University, and a Master of Public Administration in Development, Technology and Innovation Policy from University College London. This combination of deep technical training and public policy expertise has shaped his work across technology, governance, and international affairs over two decades in the United Kingdom.
He is the Founder of AI Policy Labs, a London-based think tank focused on the governance and public policy dimensions of artificial intelligence. Lord Nagaraju's work centres on how governments and institutions can build effective, inclusive, and forward-looking frameworks for AI — with a particular emphasis on ensuring that developing nations have a meaningful voice in shaping global digital governance. His grounding in both computer science and development policy makes him a distinctive voice in international discussions on AI governance, digital cooperation, and the governance of emerging technologies.
Isabelle Mauro is Director General of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) that represents
the interests of the satellite industry ecosystem. Under Isabelle’s leadership, GSOA and its member CEOs
lead the effort to showcase the benefits of satellite communications for a more inclusive, sustainable
and secure society - vital to bridging the world’s digital divide, achieving the UN’s Sustainable
Development Goals and realizing the full potential of the 5G & 6G ecosystem.
Isabelle has 25 years’ experience in the Telecoms and Technology sector, starting at the GSMA, where
she was responsible for International & External Affairs for fifteen years. In 2015 she moved to New York
to join the World Economic Forum as Head of the Information, Communications and Technology (ICT)
Industry.
Isabelle is passionate about inclusion and sustainability. She is a Commissioner of the UN Broadband
Commission for Sustainable Development. She also sits on the Advisory Board of Women in Tech.
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C6. Enabling environment
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Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
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Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
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Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
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Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
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Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
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Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
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Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
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Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
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Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
- Objective 1: Close all digital divides and accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals
- Objective 2: Expand inclusion in and benefits from the digital economy for all
- Objective 3: Foster an inclusive, open, safe and secure digital space that respects, protects and promotes human rights
- Objective 4: Advance responsible, equitable and interoperable data governance approaches
- Objective 5: Enhance international governance of artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity