Programme

9:00 – 9:20 Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony set the stage for two days of transformative discussions centered on delivering on the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact as guiding frameworks for shaping equitable, inclusive, and sustainable AI-powered virtual worlds.

Giuseppe Zefola

Giuseppe Zefola

Deputy Director of Training, Partnerships and Management Support, International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO)


An Italian national born on 4 January 1962. He was educated in Switzerland where he studied foreign languages and obtained a high school degree from the Gymnase du Belvèdère in Lausanne in 1980. He continued his studies in Italy where he obtained a degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Florence in 1988.
After graduating, Mr Zefola worked in the hotel management sector and as freelance translator and interpreter. He also worked as a foreign language teacher in both the public school system and for private schools.
In 1998, he joined the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO) where he worked in the Human Resources Services. He took progressively responsible management roles and was acting as HR Manager from February 2009 until February 2011. On 1 March 2011 he was appointed Chief Operations Officer at the ITCILO. In this capacity, he was in charge of facility and security management, managing major contract services for residential services, and liaison with national and local authorities, such as the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the City of Turin.
On 1 May 2014, he was appointed again as Chief, Human Resources Services, and he held function in that capacity until June 2019. This involved defining HR strategies and policies, managing human capital and developing their potential. Mr Zefola also developed strong expertise on privileges and immunities of the organization and its staff, and was also the liaison officer with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On 8 July 2019, he was appointed as the Chief, Partnership and Programme Development Service of the ITCILO, where he is in charge of leading partnership development and resource mobilization, as well as external relations and protocol functions.
Since 1 January 2023, Mr Zefola he has been appointed as the Deputy Director of Training of the International Training Centre of the ILO. In this function, he coordinates management support to the learning faculty and he assists the Director of Training in the development of the training programme and other capacity development services offered by the Centre to its constituencies. He also oversees partnerships development and resource mobilisation.

Deputy Director of Training, Partnerships and Management Support, International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO)

Christophe Perrin

Christophe Perrin

Director of the International Training Centre of the ILO and Director of the Turin School of Development


Mr Perrin is a senior official at the International Labour Organization (ILO), with a 27-year career in this Organization. He has been appointed as Director of the International Training Centre of the ILO as of 1 April 2023. 

Prior to his appointment, he was Director of the Multilateral Cooperation Department since July 2016; Director of the Official Meetings, Documentation and Relations Department from 2012 to 2016; Chief of the Official Relations Branch from 2010 to 2012 and Senior Advisor for Europe and Central Asia in the Office of the ILO Director-General from 2003 to 2010.

Before entering the ILO in 1996, Mr Perrin worked in the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development (United Nations Secretariat, New York), as a member of the Secretariat of the UN World Summit for Social Development, 1995. Prior to that, he had worked in the Office of the Minister of State for Defence, France (1994). He began his career as a consultant in the UNESCO Regional Office for Social and Human Sciences for Latin America and the Caribbean, Caracas, Venezuela (1991-1993).

Mr Perrin holds a postgraduate degree in Development Cooperation of the University of Paris I, the Sorbonne.

Director of the International Training Centre of the ILO and Director of the Turin School of Development

Seizo Onoe

Seizo Onoe

Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)


Seizo Onoe took office as Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023. Known in the industry as “the father of LTE” (Long-Term Evolution mobile broadband), he now aims for global outreach to bridge standardization gaps, deliver the benefits of technology widely and speedily, and ensure meaningful and affordable broadband access for everyone. Before his election as TSB Director by ITU Member States, he completed an over 30-year career with Japanese mobile operator NTT DOCOMO. In 2021, he became Executive Vice President and Chief Standardization Strategy Officer for NTT Corporation and a Fellow of NTT DOCOMO. From 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Architect and President of its subsidiary DOCOMO Technology. From 2012 to 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, a Member of the Board of Directors, and Managing Director of R&D Innovation Division. Earlier, he served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO’s R&D Strategy Department and Managing Director of the company’s Radio Network Development Department. Mr Onoe holds a Master’s degree in electronics from the Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering.

Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Simone Fissolo

Simone Fissolo

City Council Member, City of Turin, Italy

Mr. Simone Fissolo was elected as a Council member for the City of Turin (Italy) on October 22nd 2021 and appointed by the Mayor Mr. Stefano Lo Russo on February 14th 2023 as a member of the European Union Local Councillors network. He obtained a master’s degree in European Interdisciplinary Studies at the College of Europe in 2016 and is the author of a civic education book which explains the functioning of both local and international institutions to Italian high school students. He has been working as Business and Technology Senior Analyst at Accenture, specializing his competences in the software development sector since 2017.

City Council Member, City of Turin, Italy

Eva Spina

Eva Spina

Head of Department for Digital, Connectivity and New Technologies of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and Chair of the 2nd UN Virtual Worlds Day


Head of Department for Digital, Connectivity and New Technologies of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and Chair of the 2nd UN Virtual Worlds Day

9:20 – 9:25 Keynote

H.E. Mr Adolfo Urso

H.E. Mr Adolfo Urso

Minister, Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Italy

Born in Padua, he graduated in Sociology from the Sapienza University in Rome. A professional journalist since 1983, he has worked in both Rome and Naples.
Amongst the founders of the Italian Alleanza Nazionale political party, from 1993 to 1995, he was the national coordinator of the promoting committee and organizer of the Fiuggi Congress in 1995. In 2008, he was one of the founders of the Popolo della Libertà party, and in 2013 he joined the Fratelli d’Italia party.
A member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1994 to 2013, over five legislative terms, during this period he was appointed Deputy Minister of Economic Development responsible for Foreign Trade in the second and fourth Berlusconi Governments, (in 2001-2006 and 2009-2010 respectively).
In 2018, he was elected Member of the Senate for the Veneto Region on the Fratelli d’Italia political list. Head of the Party’s Business and Productive Activities Department until June 2021 when he was appointed President of the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic (Copasir).
In the elections of 25 September 2022, he was elected Member of the Senate for the Veneto Region constituency.
On November 21, 2022, the Prime Minister delegated him the coordination of space and aerospace policy.

Minister, Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Italy

9:25 – 9:30 Announcement of Japan’s Contribution to the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI

This special session marked the official announcement of Japan’s contribution to the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI. Building on its strong commitment to international collaboration and digital innovation, Japan’s support represented a significant milestone in advancing inclusive and human-centred virtual worlds.

Hideo Imanaka

Hideo Imanaka

Managing Expert, Standardization Promotion Office, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)

​He received a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Mie University in 2001. He joined Telecommunication Network Laboratories, NTT, in 1987. In 2004, he started international standardization activities in ITU-T and the APT standardization program (ASTAP) in NTT Service Integration Laboratories. He was in charge of standardization strategy planning of the entire NTT Group in NTT Research and Development Planning Department from 2010 to 2015. Since joining NTT Advanced Technology Corporation (NTT-AT) in 2015, he has been engaged in standardization consulting. He was the rapporteur of Question 1 of SG13 from 2006 to 2010 for the Next-Generation Network and Internet Protocol television standardization work in ITU-T, the chairman of the Internet of Things (IoT) working group in ASTAP from 2012 to 2016 for IoT and smart grid standardization work, and the vice-chairman of Focus Group on IMT-2020 in 2015 for pre-standardization of 5G (fifth-generation mobile communication) networks. He is currently the rapporteur of Question 8 of SG21 in ITU-T for standardization of Immersive Live Experience and the vice-rapporteur of Question 3 of SG1 in ITU-D for international deployment of emergency telecommunications and disaster relief solutions. He is also the vice-chair of ITU-D SG2, the co-chair of Working Party 4 of SG21, the former vice-chair of ITU Focus Group on metaverse, the former chair of WG5 of FG-MV.

Managing Expert, Standardization Promotion Office, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)

9:30 – 10:30 High-Level Segment: Pioneering Virtual Worlds Policies for the Pact for the Future

The High-Level Segment provided a global platform for leaders to share progress, challenges, and best practices in integrating AI-powered virtual world innovations into national and local strategies. The session also explored how virtual worlds align with the Pact for the Future’s commitment to equity and sustainable digital transformation and the Global Digital Compact’s call for an open, secure, and inclusive digital future.

Cristina Bueti

Cristina Bueti

Counsellor, ITU

Cristina Bueti is the ITU Focal Point on Smart Sustainable Cities and AI-powered Virtual Worlds. She is also the Counsellor of ITU-T Study Group 20 “Internet of Things, digital twins and smart sustainable cities and communities” and serves as TSB/ITU focal point for Latin America. Cristina Bueti graduated from the Faculty of Political Science, Law and International Cooperation and Development of the University of Florence, where she completed postgraduate studies in International Cooperation and Telecommunications Law in Europe. In 2003, Ms. Bueti built on her academic credentials by completing a specialized course in peace keeping and international cooperation with special focus on telecommunications at the Faculty of Laws, University of Malta, before joining the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva in January 2004. As part of the International Women’s Day 2016, she was named as one of the ten Geneva-based inspirational women working to protect the environment. She has authored over 40 reports on telecommunication and emerging technology issues. A native Italian speaker, Cristina is also fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Moderator
Counsellor, ITU

H.E. Mr William Kabogo Gitau

H.E. Mr William Kabogo Gitau

Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Kenya

William Kabogo Gitau is Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications & The Digital Economy. The leader of Tujibebe Wakenya Party, he was the First Governor of Kiambu County, a position he won in the March 2013 General elections.

Prior to becoming Governor, he served as the Member of Parliament for Juja Constituency, a seat he first secured in 2002 and then regained in the 2010 by-election after a successful court petition. In that election, he defeated George Thuo of the PNU, who came in a distant second, while the previous MP, Stephen Ndichu finished in third place.

Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Kenya

H.E. Ms Emma Inamutila Theofelus

H.E. Ms Emma Inamutila Theofelus

Minister of Information and Communication Technology in the Republic of Namibia

Honourable Emma Inamutila Theofelus is a young, 29-year-old Namibian woman who serves as a Member of Parliament and the Minister of Information and Communication Technology in the Republic of Namibia.
Before her appointment, Honourable Emma was always policy adjacent and was a Youth Activist around issues of gender, children’s rights, and sustainable development and against youth unemployment. She served as the Deputy Speaker of the Youth Parliament of the Republic of Namibia, Board Member of the National Council of Higher Education and the Junior Mayor of the City of Windhoek amongst other roles.
Born and bred in Windhoek, Namibia, Honourable Emma holds an LLB Honours Degree from the University of Namibia where she served as Secretary General of the Student Union in her final year of study; a diploma in Business Management from Amity University and a diploma in Afrikan Feminism and Gender Studies from the University of South Africa. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in ICT Policy and Regulation at the University of Witwatersrand.
Honourable Emma is currently awarded the Laureate in the Individual Category of the United Nations Population Award, 2022 and serves as a board member of the Leadership Council of Africa REACH. She has been recognised as the BBC 100 Most Influential Women in the World 2021, named as Avance Media 100 Most Influential Young Africans 2020 & 2021, named as the New African 100 Most influential Africans of 2020, Reputation Poll 100 Most Reputable Africans 2020 and named as the Emerging African Young Leader by the African Leadership Magazine 2022.
Honourable Emma is currently a council member of Nala Feminist Collective where she is championing digital justice on the African continent. She was further nominated for the One Young World Politician of the Year Award 2020 & in 2021. In her current role, Honourable Emma plans to better communicate the activities and programs of the Government of the Republic of Namibia, create a more digitally literate nation, increase access to the internet among Namibians and assist in preparing the Namibian nation for the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Minister of Information and Communication Technology in the Republic of Namibia

Vincent Martin

Vincent Martin

Director of the Office of Innovation, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Dr. Vincent Martin is the Director of the FAO Office of Innovation (OIN), where he is charged with leading the organization’s innovation agenda as part of the Science and Innovation strategy.
Dr. Martin brings 28 years of experience in science, research, and policy as they relate to issues surrounding agrifood systems. Prior to serving as Director of OIN, Dr. Martin served as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Guinea. There, he oversaw 24 UN agencies, driving efforts towards the Sustainable Development Goals, leading humanitarian initiatives, and tackling critical matters in development, politics, peace, and security, always bringing innovation into UN programmatic interventions.
He also served as FAO’s representative to China and DPR Korea, where he played a key role by leveraging his knowledge of food security, global health and nutrition issues in shaping strategies for preventing epidemic diseases and foster agricultural policies for innovation. His work extended to spearheading innovative approaches at country and regional levels, developing new tools and approaches to address complex development issues, and strived to fulfill FAO’s regional goals.
Before his work in China, Dr. Martin earned recognition as “Knight of the Order of the Lion” in Senegal for his notable contributions in the same fields. Dr. Martin started his career with CIRAD in Zimbabwe and then in the French Government. He first joined FAO in 1998, contributing to development and emergency programs across Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia.
Dr. Martin’s educational qualifications include a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, a Diploma in Medical Epidemiology and Statistics, an MSc in livestock production and a Ph.D. in Agronomic Sciences and Biological Engineering. His career at FAO’s Rome office began in the Animal Production and Health Division, evolving into roles such as Animal Health Emergency Officer, Senior Technical Advisor in China, Head of EMPRES program, and leader of the Regional Resilience Team for West Africa and the Sahel.

Director of the Office of Innovation, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Jouni Markkanen

Jouni Markkanen

Deputy Mayor, City of Tampere, Finland

Deputy Mayor, City of Tampere, Finland

Paula Llobet Vilarrasa

Paula Llobet Vilarrasa

Councillor for Tourism, Digital Agenda, Innovation, and Investment, Valencia, Spain


Paula Llobet was born in Valencia on December 27, 1977, and she studied at Colegio Domus and Colegio Esclavas de Valencia.
From a very young age Paula Llobet has had a great vocation for public service and a special concern for helping those most in need. That has led me to be a cooperator in Africa and Latin America for several years.
Studying is another of her great passions. Paula Llobet has a degree in Business Administration and Management, a degree in Law from the University of Valencia and a degree in Political Sciences and Administration from the Miguel Hernández University of Elche and a Postgraduate Degree in International Cooperation.
Paula Llobet has 17 years of professional experience in the design and management of public policies. Expert in community financing and coordination of local and transnational networks.
The areas in which Paula Llobet has developed her professional career are several, from social welfare, citizen participation, development cooperation, environmental sustainability, R&D&I, health, to urban development and smart cities, strategic planning and management of local, national and European projects.

Councillor for Tourism, Digital Agenda, Innovation, and Investment, Valencia, Spain 

Antonio Jara

Antonio Jara

Executive Board Member, Libelium

Antonio J. Jara (CSO/CTO at Libelium). He is a prominent figure in the AI community, recognized as a top voice for AI on LinkedIn with over 30,000 followers. Antonio serves as the chair of Data Quality and IoT in IEEE and is a Board of Directors member of the FIWARE Foundation.
Antonio focuses on the Data Spaces and AI/Data Econom, delivering advanced solutions for Data Governance. He is the technical coordinator of the EU-Local Digital Twin Toolbox, the largest EU initiative in AI for urban environments. He is part of the Citiverse SENSE and the Citcom.AI sandbox, covering a full stack that spans from Data Management, Data Spaces, and Digital Twins to virtual worlds.
Antonio has participated in over 100 international events as a speaker, author of 100 international publications with high impact factor (15,000 citations and an h-index >50).

Executive Board Member, Libelium

10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break

11:00 – 11:30 Keynote: Queretaro Reborn

Queretaro Reborn” is Mexico’s largest urban regeneration project, aimed at transforming the historic downtown of Queretaro. This initiative blends historical preservation with modern urban planning and innovation, leveraging sustainability, inclusivity, and cutting-edge technologies. The project uses the Metaverse, AI, and new technologies to project a more sustainable future for the historic center, with AI ensuring that the vision is grounded in reality. By focusing on community engagement and sustainable development, this project sets a new standard for urban regeneration in Mexico and beyond.

Manuel Barreiro

Manuel Barreiro

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aston Group


Manuel Barreiro Castañeda is the founder and chairman of the Aston Group, a private equity firm with $1 billion in investments to date. The firm develops real estate projects and makes private equity investments with a focus on North America and Europe.
Mr. Barreiro Castañeda is a strategic leader with over 20 years of high-level experience in international real estate, successfully advising public and private sector stakeholders on the intersection of technology, sustainability, mobility, and smart cities. Committed to sustainability, he works to ensure that his firm’s development projects benefit the local community by improving quality of life, reducing inequality gaps, and positively impacting the environment according to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Actively involved in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), he currently serves as a board member of the Executive Committee of the ‘Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds – discovering the CitiVerse,’ a new initiative that will play a crucial role in assessing the societal impact of these technologies and serve as a global platform to foster open, interoperable, and innovative virtual worlds. Additionally, he has served as Vice Chairman of the ITU’s ‘Working Group 8 on the Metaverse – Sustainability, Accessibility & Inclusion,’ addressing sustainability, accessibility, and inclusion
Complementing his industry experience, he completed the Oxford Real Estate Programme and the Oxford Programme on Valuation of Private Assets at the University of Oxford. He also holds an Executive Master of Science (MSc) in Cities from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he further developed his knowledge in sustainable urban development, mobility, and water management to enhance the quality of life in large cities and small urban areas. This degree also sparked his interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), which will be at the center of his projects in the near future.
Mr. Barreiro Castañeda also holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business and a Bachelor’s in International Business from Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. He completed academic exchange programs at higher learning institutions in Japan and Argentina, where he realized the importance of using technology for the benefit of vulnerable groups. This realization became his life’s mission — to create better cities for the future, starting in his native Mexico.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aston Group
[Presentation]

11:30 – 12:30 Virtual Worlds Economy: Jobs, Growth, and Innovation

This session explored how AI-powered virtual worlds economies can drive job creation, economic resilience, and inclusive growth in line with the Global Digital Compact’s call for fair and inclusive digital economies. Speakers examined decentralized workforces, digital trade, and AI-driven economic opportunities, while tackling critical challenges such as regulation, inclusion, equitable growth. Success stories from innovators and policymakers provided actionable insights into how AI-powered virtual worlds can unlock new economic frontiers for individuals, businesses, and countries globally.

Prema Chandrashekhar

Prema Chandrashekhar

Sustainability, Technology Policy, and Global Operations Specialist at the World Bank Technology Innovation Office

Prema Chandrashekhar is a Sustainability, Technology Policy, and Global Operations Specialist at the World Bank Technology Innovation Office, driving digital transformation and innovation to tackle complex development and SDG challenges. A MIT Sloan alumnus with formal training in Digital Transformation (Stanford), Foresight (IFTF), and Systems Design (MIT), she fosters a culture of innovation through storytelling, cross-sector collaboration, and implementation of best practices. Prema designs and leads data-driven initiatives in digital public ecosystems—spanning education platforms, tokenization of physical assets, and blockchain solutions for agriculture—ensuring they remain ethical, secure, and scalable.
Working alongside governments and corporate partners, Prema shapes technology investment strategies and public policies that enable systemic change. Her expertise includes digital public goods, AI/Gen AI for development (with a focus on ethics, privacy, and security), and the metaverse (AR/VR) as a tool for national strategies in education and citizen service delivery. She is a public speaker who shares insights at venues such as MIT EmTech, World Banks, and the UN Innovation Forums, and excels at mobilizing stakeholders—from government bodies and private-sector leaders to academia and startups—around a shared vision of a digitally inclusive future



Moderator
Sustainability, Technology Policy, and Global Operations Specialist, Technology Innovation Office, World Bank

Tim Scott

Tim Scott

Senior Director of Public Policy, UK and Middle East, Roblox

Tim Scott is the Senior Director of Public Policy for Roblox, where he leads policy initiatives and engagement. Previously, he served as Head of Policy and Public Affairs for Ukie, the UK Interactive Entertainment Association. His experience extends to government roles, including Senior Policy Adviser for Future Technologies in the Digital Economy Unit at DCMS, where he led the development of Internet of Things policy, notably in health and social care, and established the TestBed programme with NHS England and Innovate UK. Between 2013 and 2015, he served as Head of Sector for Technology, Telecoms, and Media in the Partnerships team of the Cabinet Office, managing key relationships between senior government officials and industry, and leading collaborative projects on digital skills, family-friendly policies, and emergency response to flooding. Earlier in his career, Tim spent five years at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, leading on Creative Industries policy, including the development and implementation of tax breaks for High End TV, Animation, and Video Games, as well as planning the UK’s commemoration of the centenary of the First World War. Tim holds a degree in Philosophy and a Masters in Politics, both from the University of Leeds.

Senior Director of Public Policy, UK and Middle East, Roblox

Andy Fidel

Andy Fidel

Creative XR Producer & CEO at Spatial Networks

Andy Fidel is a Creative XR Producer at Spatial Networks, where she designs virtual events and immersive experiences that bring people together in new and creative ways. Her work focuses on using extended reality (XR) to support collaboration and community-building among remote teams and global networks.
In 2016, she coined the term “Spatial Networking” to describe how VR, AR, and digital spaces enable presence, interaction, and shared experiences—well before the idea of the “metaverse” became mainstream. She continues to explore how immersive media can support more meaningful and inclusive digital spaces.
Andy is an HTC VIVERSE Partner and Meta Creator Partner. She has held roles including Social & Community Manager at Microsoft AltspaceVR, and Immersive Coordinator for the YouTube VR Creator Lab, in collaboration with Scout House. She has also worked with organizations such as Rec Room, LinkedIn (USA & EMEA), PepsiCo Talent Solutions, C2 International, Scout House, WXR Venture Fund, and Verizon 5G Labs.
In 2024, she was named one of the Top 100 in Emerging Tech by Women of the Future. With a background in journalism and social marketing, she brings a mix of creative and technical skills to her work—focusing on how people connect and communicate in digital spaces.
« Social media shares information. Spatial networks are shared experiences. In these moments, we create memories, and that creates community. »

Creative XR Producer & CEO at Spatial Networks

Michael Casey

Michael Casey

Author of Trust Machine and Founder of Decentralized AI Society

Michael Casey is a journalist, author, podcaster, business leader, public speaker and event host. His work sits at the intersection of technology, money and society.
Mr. Casey is Chairman of the Decentralized AI Society (DAIS), which brings together entities building an open, privacy-preserving, self-sovereign internet for the AI age. He is also a founder of Tell, an audience-engagement platform empowering documentary filmmakers to fund and distribute their projects.
Previously, Mr. Casey was CoinDesk’s chief content officer, overseeing an award-winning newsroom. He was also Chairman of Consensus, CoinDesk’s annual conference, and co-host, with Sheila Warren, of its Money Reimagined podcast.
He was a founding staffer at MIT Media Lab’s Digital Currency Initiative – where he remains an advisor – and a senior lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management. Prior to MIT, he was a senior columnist covering global economic affairs at The Wall Street Journal.
Mr. Casey has authored six acclaimed books. His latest is Our Biggest Fight: Reclaiming Liberty, Dignity and Humanity in the Digital Age, co-authored with the civic entrepreneur and Project Liberty founder, Frank McCourt.
A native of Perth, he is a graduate of the University of Western Australia and has higher degrees from Cornell University and Curtin University.

Author of Trust Machine and Founder of Decentralized AI Society

Martin Waehlisch

Martin Waehlisch

Associate Professor, University of Birmingham

Dr. Martin Wählisch is the inaugural Associate Professor of Transformative Technologies, Innovation, and Global Affairs at the University of Birmingham, where he holds dual appointments in the School of Government and the School of Computer Science. Focusing on bridging technology and global affairs, he now spearheads initiatives focused on interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative governance, and impactful technological solutions to global public challenges.
Before joining the University of Birmingham, Dr. Wählisch served the United Nations for over a decade, contributing to peace processes in regions including Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. Among other assignments, he led the Innovation Cell at the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA) in New York City. Earlier in his career, he held positions with the Berghof Foundation, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the Center for Peace Mediation.
His academic engagements include visiting fellowships at distinguished institutions such as Columbia University, Rhode Island School of Design, New York Law School, the University of Cambridge, Durham University, the American University of Beirut, Université La Sagesse, and the Al Jazeera Media Institute, among others.
Currently, Dr. Wählisch is a member of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Government (CAIG) at the University of Birmingham and an affiliate of the Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action (BISCA), the university’s primary hub for addressing global sustainability challenges.

Associate Professor, University of Birmingham

Q&A

12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break

13:30 – 13:45 Keynote

Bertrand Levy

Bertrand Levy

Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships, The Sandbox

Bertrand Levy is a Digital Pioneer Who has been working in the Music Industry for over 15 years (Over 10 years @ Universal Music Group – Ended Global Vice President @ UMGB ) Since 2020 VICE PRESIDENT @ THE SANDBOX, One of the leading Metaverse In The World. ​​

Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships, The Sandbox
[Presentation]

13:45 – 14:00 Keynote

Sameer Chauhan

Sameer Chauhan

Director, United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)

Mr. Chauhan was appointed Director of the United Nations International Computing Centre on 1 December 2019 by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
The Director is the Chief Executive and has the responsibility to lead all aspects of UNICC’s strategy and operations to facilitate the provision of services to more than 100 Clients and Partner Organizations, to establish the UNICC strategy, to develop a biennial business plan and budget, and to implement the approved plan.
With the advice and backing of the MC, Mr. Chauhan has effectively led a strategic transformation of UNICC since he assumed his post. This has enabled UNICC to become the preferred strategic digital partner for the whole UN system and has empowered the organization to successfully build capabilities in areas such as cybersecurity, AI, data, quantum encryption and cloud computing, as well as in key business areas like treasury, finance, and HR.

Director, United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)

14:00 – 15:00 Immersive Futures: Virtual Worlds Empowering Tourism, Manufacturing & Resilient Cities

Discover how AI-driven virtual worlds and the industrial metaverse are reshaping tourism, urban planning, climate resilience, manufacturing, and supply chains—and learn to leverage these breakthroughs to implement the Pact for the Future. Through actionable strategies and real-world case studies, you can gain the insights needed to drive sustainable, inclusive digital development.

Franca Vinci

Franca Vinci

Head of Learning Services, UNICC

Franca Vinci is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in learning services tailored for the unique environment of the United Nations. Having joined the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) in 2002, Franca has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s IT learning strategy and implementing dedicated learning programs, particularly focused on supporting peacekeeping missions.
In her current role as the Head of Learning Services Unit at UNICC, Franca oversees the development and delivery of comprehensive learning solutions, including the expansion of learning services to all UNICC customers and the introduction of new services such as eLearning content development and Moodle-based Learning Management Systems.
Franca’s commitment to excellence extends beyond learning services, as evidenced by her involvement in change management initiatives, ensuring that learning strategies seamlessly align with broader organizational objectives, and by her proactive, self-directed leadership style complemented by a keen eye for detail.

Moderator
Head of Learning Services, UNICC

Roland van der Heijden

Roland van der Heijden

Program Manager Digital City, City of Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Roland is from origin a cityplanner with a great fascination for digital and data. For the last years he has focused mainly on the impact of the digital transformation on the city and its citizens. He tries to answer questions like what a digital city is and how this relates to the ‘traditional’ social-physical city? And how does this impact the city’s challenges? What kind of role has the government in all of this? The first answers to these questions now are written down in the recent published vision ‘Rotterdam in transformation 1.0’ and have become concrete with the launch of the Open Urban Platform. In his current role of program manager for Rotterdam Citiverse he researches the Citiverse concept and to what extent this concept can help us better understand the impact of the digital transformation on the future of cities and its citizens. This should result in a new vision (2.0) by the end of 2027.

Program Manager Digital City, City of Rotterdam, The Netherlands
[Presentation]

Lowie Vermeersch

Lowie Vermeersch

Founder & Creative Director of Granstudio

Founder & Creative Director of Granstudio
[Presentation]

Christoph Runde

Christoph Runde

Managing Director, Virtual Dimension Center

Christoph Runde has amassed more than 25 years of industry experience and is a leading figure in the field of professional virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) systems and applications. After beginning his career at Porsche, he joined the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) in 1999, where he spearheaded the institute’s endeavours in the domain of VR/AR. In 2006, he completed his doctorate with a thesis on the topic of “Conception and industrial implementation of virtual reality as a digital factory component”. From 2007, he developed the Virtual Dimension Center (VDC) into one of the largest and most successful cluster initiatives for VR/AR in Europe. Under Christoph’s leadership, the VDC was honoured with the European Cluster Management Excellence Label GOLD (2013, 2016, 2019, 2021) and numerous awards for its innovation and service quality. Christoph’s expertise is highly sought after by government agencies and venture capital funds, which he supports as an advisor. In addition to his role as Managing Director of VDC, Christoph is Vice President Industry of the European Virtual Reality Association (EuroVR). In 2017, Christoph was awarded an honorary professorship by Heilbronn University. Christoph is Chairman of the “eXtended Reality and Metaverse” working group at the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) and Co-Chair of the “Standards Registry Working Group” at the Metaverse Standards Forum.

Managing Director, Virtual Dimension Center
[Presentation]

Q&A

15:00 – 15:30 Coffee break

15:30 – 16:00 Keynote: Immersive Learning development

This Keynote covered the main steps in the development of an immersive software for educational purposes. It introduced the importance of learning analytics, change management, and the skills trainers need to develop to effectively use immersive technologies.

Quentin Jordahn

Quentin Jordahn

Researcher, MIMBUS

Quentin Jordahn is a researcher in psychology focused on learning, vocational training, virtual reality, and organizational change. His work explores how immersive technologies can enhance professional development and support transformation within organizations. Quentin also supports and trains educators in the pedagogical use of immersive learning to design effective and innovative training experiences.

Researcher, MIMBUS
[Presentation]

16:00 – 17:00 UN Impact Initiatives for the Future

This session showcased UN-led initiatives that leverage AI-powered virtual worlds to advance digital inclusion, ethical AI, and global cooperation in alignment with the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact. UN entities presented innovative projects that bridge digital divides, enhance governance, and support equitable economic growth, demonstrating how emerging technologies can drive sustainable and human-centred development.

Cristina Bueti

Cristina Bueti

Counsellor, ITU

Cristina Bueti is the ITU Focal Point on Smart Sustainable Cities and AI-powered Virtual Worlds. She is also the Counsellor of ITU-T Study Group 20 “Internet of Things, digital twins and smart sustainable cities and communities” and serves as TSB/ITU focal point for Latin America. Cristina Bueti graduated from the Faculty of Political Science, Law and International Cooperation and Development of the University of Florence, where she completed postgraduate studies in International Cooperation and Telecommunications Law in Europe. In 2003, Ms. Bueti built on her academic credentials by completing a specialized course in peace keeping and international cooperation with special focus on telecommunications at the Faculty of Laws, University of Malta, before joining the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva in January 2004. As part of the International Women’s Day 2016, she was named as one of the ten Geneva-based inspirational women working to protect the environment. She has authored over 40 reports on telecommunication and emerging technology issues. A native Italian speaker, Cristina is also fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Moderator
Counsellor, ITU
[Presentation]

Nevena Alexandrova-Stefanova

Nevena Alexandrova-Stefanova

Innovation Officer, Policies, Systems and Foresight, FAO

Dr. Nevena Alexandrova-Stefanova is a highly qualified FAO technical officer with a strong background in agricultural biotechnologies, biosafety, knowledge-sharing and risk-benefit analysis of frontier technologies. She holds a PhD in marker-assisted plant biotechnologies and has over 12 years of experience in research, project management, and science communication. For 10 years, Dr. Alexandrova-Stefanova worked at FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, focusing on policy advice and knowledge sharing for sustainable and inclusive agrifood system transformation with a focus on digitalization and innovation systems. Since 2018, she has been with FAO Headquarters, supporting countries in transforming their national agrifood systems pathways through innovation, and promoting access to knowledge and services for smallholder farmers and supporting national agricultural innovation systems, including research and advisory services. Dr. Alexandrova-Stefanova is a leading expert on foresight methodologies and their application in the agrifood systems, in particular in emerging agrifood technologies and innovations and innovation ecosystems. She serves as the FAO alternate focal point of the UN Future Labs community of practice and is leading global foresight studies on emerging technologies and innovations for agri-food systems. In her current role, Dr. Alexandrova-Stefanova assists countries in developing evidence-based and future-oriented policies in and building capacities for agricultural innovation.

Innovation Officer, Policies, Systems and Foresight, FAO
[Presentation]

Tom Wambeke

Tom Wambeke

Chief of Learning Innovation, ITCILO

Tom Wambeke is a United Nations Senior Executive with two decades of experience in capacity development, learning innovation, and digital transformation. As Chief Learning Innovation at the International Labour Organization’s Training Centre since 2015, he leads global initiatives that drive impact and organizational change. He has worked on innovation projects across 50+ countries, collaborating with UN agencies, development banks, governments, and NGOs. Holding diplomas from the University of Leuven and University of Antwerp, along with executive certifications from Stanford and MIT, he is a recognized speaker and author on innovation, foresight, and digital transformation. A certified international facilitator (IAF), he specializes in strategy facilitation, networked learning, and ICT4Development, with a passion for complexity thinking and futures exploration.

Chief of Learning Innovation, ITCILO
[Presentation]

Dario Liguti

Dario Liguti

Director, UNECE Sustainable Energy Division


Dario is the Director of Sustainable Energy at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Prior to joining UNECE, Dario was the Chief Underwriting Officer at SACE, responsible for export credit, the EU Green New Deal and the guarantees under the EU Temporary Framework. Before joining SACE, Dario spent more than a decade with General Electric (GE), at the Council of Europe Development Bank and with the European Commission. His career started at Cargill. Dario has a MSc in Economics from Bocconi University and a MA in EU Law from the University of Leicester.

Director, UNECE Sustainable Energy Division
[Presentation]

Ryszard Frelek

Ryszard Frelek

Counsellor, External Relations Division, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)


Since 2007, Ryszard works in the United Nations Specialized Agency – the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). He is currently working as a Counsellor in the External Relations Division under the Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector. The Division is responsible for managing WIPO’s interactions and partnerships with external stakeholders, including Intergovernmental Organizations, Non-governmental Organizations and Industry.
Previously, he was the focal point for cooperation with a number of Central European and Balkan countries, where he coordinated WIPO support for the implementation of national and regional projects, such as the development/implementation of national IP strategies, updating national IP legislation, IP training, as well as building national and international private/public and public/public partnerships.
He also coordinated the WIPO cross-regional project Videogame Development: A Quest for IP, which aimed to support game developer to build their IP skills.
Before joining WIPO he gained experience in law companies and public institutions. He obtained his Master’s Degree in Law in Poland, specializing in IP and new technologies. He also studied international management and economics in Germany.

Counsellor, External Relations Division, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
[Presentation]

Sebastian Rovira

Sebastian Rovira

United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)


Sebastián Rovira is Chief in Charge of the Digital Transformation Unit at the Division of Production, Productivity and Management at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (UN-ECLAC). Their main research areas are industrialization, innovation, production structure dynamics, digital transformation, trade and development, being responsible for different projects of the Division, related to dynamics of innovation and digital technologies; including the coordination of the Digital Development Observatory and the Digital Transformation Lab, which support policy design and implementation in the region. Additionally, he is in charge of some regional initiatives such as the Digital Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean (eLAC), promoting digital inclusion and sustainable development across member countries.

Chief in Charge of the Digital Transformation Unit at the Division of Production, Productivity and Management, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
[Presentation]

Q&A

17:00 – 18:00 Exhibition

Explore cutting-edge solutions at the exhibition of the 2nd UN Virtual Worlds Day, featuring real-world applications of virtual worlds and AI technologies. Held on the ground floor of the Piemonte Pavilion, the exhibition presented interactive demonstrations and innovative platforms from Mimbus, EON Reality, ArthurVR, AnotheReality, Next G Cloud, ImproVive, IRALTA, and the World Economic Forum. Discover how these technologies are driving the future of education, collaboration, urban development, and digital inclusion.

18:00 – 20:00 Cocktail Reception

The cocktail reception was held at the Valentino Bar, located on the ITCILO campus.

9:30 – 9:35 Opening Remarks

A brief recap of Day 1 and an overview of Day 2 sessions.

Simone Fissolo

Simone Fissolo

City Council Member, City of Turin, Italy

Mr. Simone Fissolo was elected as a Council member for the City of Turin (Italy) on October 22nd 2021 and appointed by the Mayor Mr. Stefano Lo Russo on February 14th 2023 as a member of the European Union Local Councillors network. He obtained a master’s degree in European Interdisciplinary Studies at the College of Europe in 2016 and is the author of a civic education book which explains the functioning of both local and international institutions to Italian high school students. He has been working as Business and Technology Senior Analyst at Accenture, specializing his competences in the software development sector since 2017.

City Council Member, City of Turin, Italy

9:35 – 10:00 Keynote: Fly beyond reality: Immersive & sustainable journeys through virtual worlds powered by AI and gaming tech

The dream of flight is being reimagined through immersive technologies—opening new pathways to explore, understand, and engage with the world. This keynote explores how virtual environments can integrate tourism, gaming and education, with Skyjet VR as a case study. By combining video game technologies, mechanical simulation, 360º aerial footage, and landscapes generated from geospatial data and AI, these experiences offer a low-impact and scalable alternative to traditional exploratory travel.

Cesar Urbina

Cesar Urbina

Chief Innovation Officer and Co-founder, IRALTA

César Urbina is Chief Innovation Officer and co-founder of IRALTA, a studio specialized in creating immersive experiences.
He holds a degree in Audiovisual Communication from Complutense University of Madrid.
Since its foundation 20 years ago, IRALTA has been innovating in content creation through the use of new audiovisual technologies, always seeking the best way to engage audiences with disruptive and transformative projects.
Under the leadership he shares with his brother and partner Ángel Urbina, they have directed and produced award-winning international projects using the latest technologies in virtual reality, augmented reality and virtual production. These projects integrate advanced technology with creative vision and new narratives, including immersive audiovisual installations, videomapping, television shows, social documentaries and marketing.
IRALTA has developed projects for multilateral organizations such as the EIB, IDB, CAF, and for brands like Iberia, Coca-Cola, Samsung, Microsoft, Mercedes, Renault, Telefónica, Vodafone, Sony Music, Repsol, Honda, RTVE, World Economic Forum…
They are currently developing the Skyjet VR project with the support of Spain’s Ministries of Culture, Industry, and Tourism, as well as the National Geographic Institute from Spain. It is an immersive and interactive flight experience designed to explore the breathtaking landscapes of our planet from the air.

Chief Innovation Officer and Co-founder, IRALTA
[Presentation]

10:00 – 11:00 Bridging the Digital Divide: Virtual Worlds and Digital Twins in the Global South

The rapid advancement of digital technologies has created unprecedented opportunities for global development, yet significant disparities persist in how these benefits are distributed. This session brought experts to explore innovative approaches to digital inclusion through virtual worlds and digital twin technologies. This session investigated how digital platforms can empower communities, preserve cultural heritage, and create sustainable economic opportunities in underserved regions.

Rebecca Ivey

Rebecca Ivey

World Economic Forum

Rebecca Ivey is an experienced non-profit leader and behavioral scientist focused on surfacing new ideas for social and economic change. She thrives on building narratives, networks and technologies to drive initiatives forward into action, and facilitating effective partnerships between business, government, civil society and academia. Most recently she has headed the Global Collaboration Village, a World Economic Forum initiative to explore the application of metaverse and extended reality technology to enhance public-private collaboration.

Moderator
World Economic Forum

Luis Bravo Martins

Luis Bravo Martins

Vice-President, XR Safety Initiative – Europe

Luis Bravo Martins is a senior advisor on XR and Virtual Worlds for business, research and public organizations.
He is currently the Vice-President of XR Safety Intelligence – Europe, a Standards Development Organization focused on enabling safety and privacy in immersive experiences and virtual worlds.     
Luis is also a published author & speaker and his latest book, “Metaversed – See Beyond the Hype” (Wiley, 2023) ranked twice as #1 on on the “Business and Entrepreneurship” Category.  
You can know more about Luis at his Linkedin Page.

Vice-President, XR Safety Initiative – Europe

Gaspard Datondji

Gaspard Datondji

Digital Governance Specialist, Ministry of Digital Technology and Digitalization, Benin

Gaspard Datondji is a senior executive with over 20 years of experience in digital governance, strategic planning, and project management. His expertise spans telecommunications technologies from GSM to 4G LTE and FTTX. As Deputy Secretary General of Benin’s Ministry of Digital Technology and Digitalization, he contributes to the country’s digital transformation, which involves supporting digital public policies and overseeing major programs, such as national AI/big data strategy study. Over the past decade, as a telco solutions director, he implemented custom ICT products and services for public and private sectors. Earlier in his career, he developed applications for health and education stakeholders.

A software engineer by initial training, Gaspard holds a master’s in project management from the CESAG Business School in Dakar and completed postgraduate studies at the Department of Economics and Social Sciences of Telecom Paris. Passionate about leveraging technology for Africa’s socio-economic emergence, his contributions earned him significant recognition, notably a World Bank-backed competition laureateship (2015) and a WHO Top 30 Africa Innovator award (2019).

Digital Governance Specialist, Ministry of Digital Technology and Digitalization, Benin

Radia Funna

Radia Funna

Chair of the 1st UN Virtual Worlds Day

Radia Funna is a globally recognized futurist and the founding chair of UN Virtual Worlds Day, uniting 15+ United Nations agencies and partners to advance ethical, people-centered digital transformation. With over 25 years of experience at the intersection of technology, human behavior, policy, and strategy, Radia founded and leads the specialized consultancy Build n Blaze, accelerating the responsible adoption of emerging technologies for systemic impact. In 2025, she was named an INNOVATE100 honoree, recognized among New Jersey’s top innovation leaders for her visionary leadership and impact across sectors.

Radia is the creator of the xHuman Theory and the Theory of Disruptive Organizational Strategy—frameworks that have redefined how organizations and societies approach disruptive change and innovation. She has played a pivotal role in international standardization, leading the development of ethical governance and sustainability metrics at ITU, IEEE, and other global bodies. Her leadership includes serving as WS1 Chair of the IEEE P7100 Standard for Environmental Impacts of AI, Regulations/Standards Chair of the IEEE P1947 Standard for Quantum Cybersecurity, and as WG1 Co-Chair and WG6 Vice Chair of the ITU Focus Group on metaverse, among other roles.

Radia’s leadership bridges innovation and policy, empowering communities and advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her work includes pioneering studies on leveraging virtual worlds for national development and driving the adoption of AI and metaverse standards that prioritize societal benefit.

A Special Advisor to the UN and trusted advisor to governments, Radia is committed to building a future where digital innovation is ethical, transformative, and drives inclusive growth—blazing new trails for the next era of virtual worlds.

Chair of the 1st UN Virtual Worlds Day

Ahmad Al-Kabbany

Ahmad Al-Kabbany

Founder, VRapeutic

Ahmad Al-Kabbany is the Founder and CEO of VRapeutic, a UNICEF Innovation Fund portfolio deep-tech company, developing immersive, AI-powered therapeutic solutions for children with developmental and cognitive disorders. Under his leadership, VRapeutic has become a regional pioneer in digital health, translating clinical needs into scalable, evidence-based technologies that are reshaping pediatric therapy across the MENA region and beyond.

In parallel with his entrepreneurial leadership, Dr. Al-Kabbany serves as an Associate Professor of Electronics and Communications Engineering at the Arab Academy for Science and Technology. His research bridges immersive technologies, multimedia engineering, signal processing, and artificial intelligence. With a Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa and more than 15 years of experience in applied and academic research, he has led numerous interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of AI, healthcare innovation, and multimedia systems.

During his Ph.D., he developed a graph-based image matting technique for image-based virtual environments. His method—based on sequential pair selection via graph transduction—ranked 8th worldwide on the alpha matting benchmark, contributing to advancements in realistic virtual view rendering.

He is also a co-founder of the Intelligent Systems Lab (ISL), Wearables, Biosensing, and Biosignal Processing Lab (WeBios), and the Multimedia Interaction and Communication Lab (MICL) at AAST, where he explores advanced multimodal signal processing, image diagnostics, tech-driven rehabilitation, sports engineering, human-computer interaction, and multimedia communication frameworks. 

Founder, VRapeutic

Q&A

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 – 12:30 Transforming Global Governance: Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion in AI-Powered Virtual Worlds

This session tackled the pressing social and human rights challenges posed by the rapidly evolving AI-powered virtual world landscape. Key topics included safeguarding privacy, ensuring accessibility for marginalized populations, and promoting digital equity to bridge gaps in participation and opportunity. Best practices were shared on ensuring digital governance frameworks protect human rights, aligning with the Global Digital Compact and the Pact for the Future’s push for trustworthy and ethical AI-powered virtual worlds.

Karima Cherif

Karima Cherif

Head of Communications and Outreach, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)

Karima Cherif is Head of Communications and Outreach at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), where she leads the Institute’s global communications strategy, digital media, external engagement, and partnerships. She works closely with researchers to amplify evidence-based insights on social justice and sustainable development, and contributes to strategic planning and advocacy across the UN system.
Karima brings 14 years of experience in the United Nations system, combining fieldwork and policy engagement to design impactful campaigns and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Her work spans the 2030 Agenda, with a particular focus on social inclusion, environmental sustainability, rural finance and food systems.
An Algerian-Italian national, she holds a Master’s in Communications and Social Marketing from La Sapienza University in Rome and is deeply committed to advancing inclusive, rights-based approaches to digital transformation and sustainable development.

Moderator
Head of Communications and Outreach, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)

Dario Sabella

Dario Sabella

ETSI MEC Chairman

DARIO SABELLA works with xFlow Research Inc. as Vice President, Technology and Standards, leading the team’s involvement in ETSI, both on standardization and open-source activities, and guiding the strategy to expand in other areas, also for features evolution and prioritization in the company. Since 2025, he is also Managing Director and R&D Head of the Italian company called NEXT G CLOUD, focused on Cloud Managed Services and Edge Cybersecurity.
Serving since 2021 as Chairman of the ETSI MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing), an international stand body with 180+ members and participants from industry, research and government agencies. In his career, Dario was previously with Intel Corporation for about 8 years as Senior Manager Standards and Research, driving new technologies and edge cloud innovation, and earlier he worked for 16+ years in TIM (Telecom Italia group), as responsible in various research, experimental and operational activities on cellular technologies. IEEE senior member, prolific author of several publications (80+) and patents (50+) in the field of communications, energy efficiency and edge computing. Member of the European Task Forces on Cybersecurity and 6G. Member of the Editorial Board of MIT Technology Review Italia.

ETSI MEC Chairman
[Presentation]

Pilar Orero

Pilar Orero

Professor, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain

Professor Pilar Orero, PhD (UMIST, UK), works at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) in the TransMedia Catalonia Lab. She has written and edited many books, near 100 academic papers and almost the same number of book chapters –all on Media Accessibility. Leader and participant of numerous EU funded research projects focusing on media accessibility. She works in standardisation and participates in the UN ITU IRG-AVA – Intersector Rapporteur Group Audiovisual Media Accessibility. She has been working on Immersive Accessibility for the past 6 years first in a project called ImAc, which results are now further developed in TRACTION, MEDIAVERSE, MILE, and GREENSCENT. She led until December 2022 the EU network LEADME on Media Accessibility. She was the Co-Chair of Study Group on Accessibility and Inclusion in the ITU Metaverse Focus Group, and she is leading the Digital Inclusion and Accessibility track of the ITU Virtual Worlds. She is now working on AI and accessibility in the three funded projects MOSAIC, ALFIE, and SPICE.

Professor, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
[Presentation]

Christophe Mallet

Christophe Mallet

Co-founder, BodySwaps

Christophe Mallet is the CEO and co-founder of Bodyswaps, an innovative soft skills training platform empowering over 250 institutions to prepare students for successful careers. Born and raised in Paris, Christophe co-founded Bodyswaps in 2019, driven by the idea that XR and AI-enabled learning could transform how we learn and practice human skills.
A techno-optimist when it comes to technology and education, Christophe is a sought-after international speaker and a recognized voice in the space. And he makes a great guacamole.

Co-founder, BodySwaps

Anne Bajart

Anne Bajart

Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission

Anne Bajart is Deputy Head of Unit for Interactive Technologies, Digital for Culture and Education at the EC – DG CONNECT, the unit in charge of the EU strategy for Virtual Worlds and Web4.0.
Previously, she was Head of Sector for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in DG CONNECT. She has a PhD in electrical engineering and worked as researcher, lecturer and project manager.

Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission

Q&A

12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break

13:30 – 14:00 Keynote: Experiential Computing for a Sustainable Digital Future

This keynote introduced the paradigm of Experiential Computing, where digital systems not only generate immersive experiences but also learn and evolve from them—merging the capabilities of spatial computing and artificial intelligence into a single loop of interaction and adaptation.

Lorenzo Cappannari

Lorenzo Cappannari

Author, Speaker, University Professor, Founder of AnotheReality

Nerd since the age of 8, classical studies, after a degree with honors in business administration he starts an international career with a long experience in Luxottica. After trying the Google Glasses, he senses that the future of eyewear is in technology, and at the end of 2015 he co-founds as CEO AnotheReality, an innovation company focused on Spatial Computing and Metaverse technologies. He is also TEDx speaker, author of the book Futuri Possibili published in Italy by Giunti, and professor of Spatial Computing & Metaverse at Istituto Marangoni and SDA Bocconi.

Author, Speaker, University Professor, Founder of AnotheReality
[Presentation]

14:00 – 15:00 AI-Powered Virtual Worlds and Citiverse: Shaping the Future of Cities

This dynamic session explored how AI-driven virtual worlds and the Citiverse are revolutionizing urban planning, governance, and public services, aligning with the Pact for the Future. Experts dived into the transformative role of virtual worlds, digital twins, XR, and AI-powered simulations in building smarter, more sustainable, and citizen-centric cities.
The discussion also spotlighted interoperability, innovation, and global standards, emphasizing the power of partnerships and international collaboration in shaping inclusive, scalable, and resilient AI-driven urban ecosystems. Join us to discover how cutting-edge technologies are redefining the cities of tomorrow!

Christina Yan Zhang

Christina Yan Zhang

CEO, The Metaverse Institute

Christina is a metaverse pioneer, who started the journey in 2006 with a PhD using digital twin for the construction industry.
Christina has 19 years’ experience turning vision into successful businesses. She worked for QS, the world university rankings agency 2013-2020, as China Director. Her work impacted China’s £750bn five years funding to 3005 universities.
She has sat on 20+ committees for UNESCO, World Bank, EU, UK governments on Innovation. She served as UN ITU Co-chair on Pre-standardisation for the CitiVerse TaskGroup, exploring the use of AI and virtual worlds to develop people-centred smart cities. She is the author of “People-Centred CitiVerse” – the UN’s first approved technical report on the subject – which introduced an 8-level entry point for a people-centred and planet-friendly digital future. Her co-authorship extends to UN reports such as “Definition of Metaverse,” “Metaverse for All Part I Legal Framework,” and “Part II Survey,” alongside contributions to the “Future of Travel in the Metaverse” in collaboration with UN Tourism and the “Definition of CitiVerse.”
She sits on the Advisory Council for Centre for Science Futures of International Science Council, the world’s largest science body of 250 national/international academies of sciences. She serves The Economist Impact’s advisory board for “AI Economy”, focusing on AI’s global economic impact.

Moderator
CEO, The Metaverse Institute

Ernesto Faubel

Ernesto Faubel

Head of Smart cities, Valencia, Spain

Ernesto is a Computer Engineer with a Master’s in CAD/CAM/CIM from Universitat Politècnica de València. His educational achievements include a diploma in ‘Advanced Course in Local Government’. Ernesto has served as a part-time teacher at UPV for 22 years.
In his professional career, he has largely split his time between municipal service and academia in Valencia. Starting as a Senior Computer Technician, he now leads as the Head of the Smart City Service since September 2022.
Since 2017, Ernesto has been pivotal in major projects including the coordination of the European MAtchUP project until September 2023, managing the southern supernode of the CitCom.ai Artificial Intelligence project from January 2023, and chairing the EDIC of Local Digital Twins toward CitiVERSE from June 2023. He also co-chairs the U4SSC Working Group on City Platforms and coordinates a working group within the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI).
Beyond his roles, Ernesto serves on the Advisory Board of SmartCityWorld and has spoken at over 100 national and international events. He holds CISA, ITIL, and PRINCE2 certifications, and is Vice-President of the Professional Board of Computer Engineers in the Valencian Region.

Head of Smart cities, Valencia, Spain
[Presentation] [Teaser from the Emerging Technologies Track of the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI]

Louisa Baker

Louisa Baker

Senior Research Manager, IDC

Louisa Barker is an international expert in smart cities and the built environment. She is the leader of the Use Case Identification Track as part of the ITU, UNICC and Digital Dubai Virtual Worlds and AI Initiative. She has experience providing analysis and policy advice to cities around the world on disaster risk management, sustainability and digitization. At IDC, Louisa leads research on government citizen services, smart and sustainable cities, and humanitarian tech applications. Previous roles have included Urban Resilience Consultant at the World Bank, focused on projects in the Caribbean and East Africa, and as a Researcher at technology and innovation accelerators such as the Future Cities Catapult and the University College London City Leadership Laboratory. Louisa is also a Special Advisor to the International Building Quality Center and an Ambassador for Women in Construction.

Senior Research Manager, IDC
[Presentation]

Volker Coors

Volker Coors

Vice-President Research and Digitization, Stuttgart Technology University of Applied Sciences

Volker Coors studied computer science at The TU Darmstadt and received his doctorate in computer graphics. Since 2002 he has been Professor of Computer Science and Geo-Informatics at HFT Stuttgart. His research focuses on Urban Digital Twins, 3D geospatial data infrastructures and the visualization of spatial data. From 2006-2017 he was Dean of Studies of the Information Logistics course, from 2019 to 2023 scientific director of the Institute for Applied Research. Since March 2023, he has been Vice-President Research and Digitalization at HFT Stuttgart.
As a member of the Open Geospatial Consortium, Prof. Coors contributes his research results to standardisation, for example in the CityGML Standard Working Group (SWG). He is a founding member of the joint commission “3D City Modelling” of the German Society for Cartography e.V. and the German Society for Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation e.V. and Vice-president of the Urban Data Management Society.

Vice-President Research and Digitization, Stuttgart Technology University of Applied Sciences
[Presentation]

Jessica Grisanti

Jessica Grisanti

Urban Specialist, World Bank


Jessica Grisanti is an Urban Development Specialist. She is leading the Global Smart City Partnership Program (GSCP) and supports the City Climate Gap Fund and in the Practice for Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Land (GPURL). At the World Bank, her work has focused on urban infrastructure projects, analytical work on territorial development, competitive cities, access to basic services, performance of local governments and disaster risk management. She is an economist from the Andrés Bello Catholic University in Venezuela and holds a master’s degree in economic policy from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. 

Urban Specialist, World Bank
[Presentation]

Elena Deambrogio

Elena Deambrogio

Head of the Innovation Division, City of Turin, Italy


Senior Administrative Officer and Head of the Innovation Division – Business and Research Relations within the Department for Ecological Transition, EU Funds, and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) at the City of Turin.
She has extensive experience in European project development, innovation policy, and smart city strategies. She serves as the technical coordinator for key strategic initiatives such as Turin’s House of Emerging Technologies, Torino City Lab, and the Torino Impact City program—efforts that significantly contributed to Turin being awarded the European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) 2025.
Her profile brings together public innovation strategy, stakeholder engagement, and deep expertise in public procurement and funding mechanism.

Head of the Innovation Division, City of Turin, Italy
[Presentation]

Q&A

15:00 – 15:30 Coffee break

15:30 – 16:30 Envisioning the future: Scenario Thinking for AI-Powered Virtual Worlds

This session built on the outcomes of foresight activities undertaken at UN Virtual Worlds Day 2024. The convergence of technologies creates a promising yet complex future landscape, yielding multiple potential scenarios and impacts on human abilities. This session dived deeper into the economic aspects of AI and virtual technologies by reimagining work, jobs, skills, and education of the future. Through an interactive foresight exercise, participants contributed ideas on capabilities needed to ensure that AI-powered virtual worlds leave no one behind.

Irina Velasco

Irina Velasco

Foresight Programming Specialist at UN Futures Lab

Irina Velasco is a Foresight Programming Specialist at UN Futures Lab, where she bridges strategic foresight outcomes with leverage points for impact. She has over 12 years of international work experience in development programming, working across sectors on themes of urban sustainability, food-energy-water nexus, renewable energy access, local economic development, social innovation, and financial inclusion.

Co-Facilitator
Foresight Programming Specialist. UN Futures Lab

Lucía Soriano Irigaray

Lucía Soriano Irigaray

Foresight Specialist at UN Futures Lab

Lucía Soriano Irigaray is a Foresight Specialist at the UN Futures Lab, where she works in the application of foresight techniques through workshops, capability building, and strategic analysis. With experience across the UN, EU, and private sector, she focuses on making foresight accessible, participatory, and action-oriented to help decision-makers connect future insights with decisions today

Co-Facilitator
Foresight Specialist, UN Futures Lab

Prema Chandrashekhar

Prema Chandrashekhar

Sustainability, Technology Policy, and Global Operations Specialist at the World Bank Technology Innovation Office

Prema Chandrashekhar is a Sustainability, Technology Policy, and Global Operations Specialist at the World Bank Technology Innovation Office, driving digital transformation and innovation to tackle complex development and SDG challenges. A MIT Sloan alumnus with formal training in Digital Transformation (Stanford), Foresight (IFTF), and Systems Design (MIT), she fosters a culture of innovation through storytelling, cross-sector collaboration, and implementation of best practices. Prema designs and leads data-driven initiatives in digital public ecosystems—spanning education platforms, tokenization of physical assets, and blockchain solutions for agriculture—ensuring they remain ethical, secure, and scalable.
Working alongside governments and corporate partners, Prema shapes technology investment strategies and public policies that enable systemic change. Her expertise includes digital public goods, AI/Gen AI for development (with a focus on ethics, privacy, and security), and the metaverse (AR/VR) as a tool for national strategies in education and citizen service delivery. She is a public speaker who shares insights at venues such as MIT EmTech, World Banks, and the UN Innovation Forums, and excels at mobilizing stakeholders—from government bodies and private-sector leaders to academia and startups—around a shared vision of a digitally inclusive future



Co-Facilitator
Sustainability, Technology Policy, and Global Operations Specialist, Technology Innovation Office, World Bank

16:30 – 17:30 Youth and Future Generations Showcase & Award Ceremony of the 1st UN Citiverse Challenge

Celebrate bold innovation and next-gen vision! This session honored the winners of the first UN Citiverse Challenge and spotlights youth-led solutions using virtual worlds, AI, and digital twins to drive sustainability, inclusion, and digital public goods. Featuring live demos and visionary pitches, it showcased how young changemakers (18-35 years) are advancing the Global Digital Compact and the Pact for the Future.

Huandi Chen

Huandi Chen

Intern, ITU


Huandi Chen began her internship with the ITU Staff Counselling Office in October 2024. In April and May 2025, she joined the AI for Good team in the TSB, where she supported the organization and coordination of use case collection. She also served as a volunteer for the ITU Children’s Christmas Party and took the lead for the children’s group at ITU’s 160th Anniversary celebration. She holds a Master’s degree in Psycholinguistics from the University of Edinburgh and will soon pursue a second Master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience (language and communication) at Radboud University in the Netherlands.

Moderator
Intern, ITU

Chiara Rucco

Chiara Rucco

Representative of DataLab – Winning Team of the 1st UN Citiverse Challenge (Student Category)

Chiara is a PhD candidate in Engineering of Complex Systems at the University of Salento and works as Associate Data Engineer at the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC). She holds a Master’s degree with honors in Computer Engineering and specializes in data engineering, contributing to peer-reviewed journals and international conferences. Chiara is founder and co-director of the first Italian chapter of the global community Women in Big Data and she actively collaborates on data projects with global institutions and intergovernmental organizations, such as the Asian Development Bank. She has participated on site at the United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP27, COP28, COP29), leading the development of advanced analytics and dashboards to support real-time decision-making.

Representative of DataLab – Winning Team of the 1st UN Citiverse Challenge (Student Category)
[Presentation]

Francesca Zampino

Francesca Zampino

Representative of DataLab – Winning Team of the 1st UN Citiverse Challenge (Student Category)

Francesca Zampino is a PhD candidate in Engineering of Complex Systems at the University of Salento. She is pursuing her PhD in collaboration with HSPI through an industrial fellowship, focusing on data preparation for process mining. Francesca spent six months at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), a leading center for research in process mining. She holds a Master’s degree with honors in Digital Management and has a strong interest in big data and process analysis. Francesca is also the founder and co-director of the first Italian chapter of the global community Women in Big Data.

Representative of DataLab – Winning Team of the 1st UN Citiverse Challenge (Student Category)

Kazuaki Yoshikawa

Kazuaki Yoshikawa

MBA Candidate at IESE Business School


Kazuaki Yoshikawa is an MBA Candidate at IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. Prior to IESE, he worked at a global consulting firm, where he focused on technology strategy, AI-driven service development, enterprise-wide business transformation, and large-scale system implementations, primarily for financial institutions.
Since starting MBA, he has been expanding his experience through internships in strategy consulting, a search fund, and venture capital.
Kazuaki holds a bachelor’s degree in Policy Studies from a university in Japan.

MBA Candidate at IESE Business School
[Presentation]

Rafał Adam Chrzan

Rafał Adam Chrzan

MBA Candidate at IESE Business School


Rafał Chrzan is an MBA Candidate at IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain and this summer also a member of the Infrastructure Investments team at Digital Transformation Capital Partners in Frankfurt, Germany.
During his time as Manager of Strategic Projects and M&A at Play (iliad Group), he was involved in the creation of PŚO – the largest wholesale fiber network project in Poland. Rafał also led acquisitions of two local Internet Service Providers to expand the network of PŚO. Prior to that, he worked in strategy consulting at Kearney, primarily focusing on TMT topics.
Rafał holds a BSc in Economics and Management from the University of Bristol.

MBA Candidate at IESE Business School

Twinkle De

Twinkle De

MBA Candidate at IESE Business School

Twinkle De is an MBA Candidate at IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. Prior to IESE, she worked across cybersecurity, data privacy, and digital transformation at firms including Deloitte, EY, Morgan Stanley, and NetApp.
As a consultant, she supported the digitization of healthcare delivery across India and worked on protecting digital health records. She also contributed to the implementation and governance of UPI, India’s real-time payment system.
Twinkle holds a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from IIIT. She is passionate about building digital public infrastructure and using technology to improve governance and access to essential services.

MBA Candidate at IESE Business School

17:30 – 18:00 Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony of the event delivered and approved a powerful call to action, summarizing key insights and takeaways to shape discussions at the World Summit for Social Development. It inspired collective action to deliver on the Pact for the Future, emphasizing the role of AI-powered virtual worlds in building a sustainable, equitable, and trustworthy digital future for all.

Back to the main page of UN Virtual Worlds Day