{"id":220,"date":"2025-02-03T15:00:59","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T15:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/?page_id=220"},"modified":"2025-06-24T13:29:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T11:29:16","slug":"programme","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/programme\/","title":{"rendered":"Programme"},"content":{"rendered":"    <div class=\"ituContainer grid\">\n        <div data-span=\"12\">\n                            <div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>                            \n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-tabs uagb-block-6e441302 uagb-tabs__wrap uagb-tabs__hstyle1-desktop uagb-tabs__vstyle6-tablet uagb-tabs__stack1-mobile\" data-tab-active=\"0\"><ul class=\"uagb-tabs__panel uagb-tabs__align-left\" role=\"tablist\"><li class=\"uagb-tab uagb-tabs__active\" role=\"none\"><a href=\"#uagb-tabs__tab0\" class=\"uagb-tabs-list uagb-tabs__icon-position-left\" data-tab=\"0\" role=\"tab\"><div>Day 1 (11 June 2025)<\/div><\/a><\/li><li class=\"uagb-tab \" role=\"none\"><a href=\"#uagb-tabs__tab1\" class=\"uagb-tabs-list uagb-tabs__icon-position-left\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tab\"><div>Day 2 (12 June 2025)<\/div><\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"uagb-tabs__body-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-tabs-child uagb-tabs__body-container uagb-inner-tab-0\" aria-labelledby=\"uagb-tabs__tab0\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-a9879005f4cf9859d4f0a5341143212a wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9:00 \u2013 9:20 Opening Ceremony<\/strong><br><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"435\" height=\"434\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Zefola-e1749031457369.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-482 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Zefola-e1749031457369.jpg 435w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Zefola-e1749031457369-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Zefola-e1749031457369-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 435px) 100vw, 435px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-4e15ccd6 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Giuseppe Zefola<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-4e15ccd6 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-46097767 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Giuseppe Zefola<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Deputy Director of Training, Partnerships and Management Support, International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO) <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br>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 Belv\u00e8d\u00e8re 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.<br>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.<br>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.<br>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.<br>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.<br>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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Deputy Director of Training, Partnerships and Management Support, International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"503\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Perrin-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-496 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Perrin-1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Perrin-1-298x300.jpg 298w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Perrin-1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-3abcef79 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Christophe Perrin<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-3abcef79 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-3dcf368c uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Christophe Perrin<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Director of the International Training Centre of the ILO and Director of the Turin School of Development<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Mr Perrin holds a postgraduate degree in Development Cooperation of the University of Paris I, the Sorbonne.<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Director of the International Training Centre of the ILO and Director of the Turin School of Development<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Seizo-Onoe.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-413 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Seizo-Onoe.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Seizo-Onoe-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-bee80b71 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Seizo Onoe<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-bee80b71 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-3925440d uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Seizo Onoe<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br>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 \u201cthe father of LTE\u201d (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\u2019s Chief Technology Architect and President of its subsidiary DOCOMO Technology. From 2012 to 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO\u2019s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, a Member of the Board of Directors, and Managing Director of R&amp;D Innovation Division. Earlier, he served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO\u2019s R&amp;D Strategy Department and Managing Director of the company\u2019s Radio Network Development Department. Mr Onoe holds a Master\u2019s degree in electronics from the Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/foto-Simone.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-477 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/foto-Simone.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/foto-Simone-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-6b19162a uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Simone Fissolo<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-6b19162a uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-ac84631f uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Simone Fissolo<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>City Council Member, City of Turin, Italy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">City Council Member, City of Turin, Italy<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"715\" height=\"715\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Eva-Spina-Ter-e1747822554972.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-416 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Eva-Spina-Ter-e1747822554972.jpg 715w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Eva-Spina-Ter-e1747822554972-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Eva-Spina-Ter-e1747822554972-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 715px) 100vw, 715px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-e530d2c4 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Eva Spina<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-e530d2c4 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-18c0cb81 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Eva Spina<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>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<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">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<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-e8f6ce69ab0140c38a0516bd8f519045 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9:20 \u2013 9:25&nbsp;Keynote<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"504\" height=\"504\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/H.E.-Mr-Adolfo-Urso-e1747822733737.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-417 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/H.E.-Mr-Adolfo-Urso-e1747822733737.jpg 504w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/H.E.-Mr-Adolfo-Urso-e1747822733737-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/H.E.-Mr-Adolfo-Urso-e1747822733737-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 504px) 100vw, 504px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-3ed0c368 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>H.E. Mr Adolfo Urso<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-3ed0c368 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-0cd62bb1 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">H.E. Mr Adolfo Urso<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Minister, Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Italy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<br>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 Libert\u00e0 party, and in 2013 he joined the Fratelli d\u2019Italia party.<br>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).<br>In 2018, he was elected Member of the Senate for the Veneto Region on the Fratelli d\u2019Italia political list. Head of the Party&#8217;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).<br>In the elections of 25 September 2022, he was elected Member of the Senate for the Veneto Region constituency.<br>On November 21, 2022, the Prime Minister delegated him the coordination of space and aerospace policy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Minister, Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Italy<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-6099533135eaccff7028e53999e4e829 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9:25 \u2013 9:30 Announcement of Japan\u2019s Contribution to the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This special session marked the official announcement of Japan\u2019s contribution to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/virtual-worlds\/\">Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI<\/a>. Building on its strong commitment to international collaboration and digital innovation, Japan\u2019s support represented a significant milestone in advancing inclusive and human-centred virtual worlds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"202\" height=\"202\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Hideo-202x300-1-e1748939379739.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-478 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Hideo-202x300-1-e1748939379739.jpg 202w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Hideo-202x300-1-e1748939379739-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-14f09410 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Hideo Imanaka <\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-14f09410 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-59fa6449 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Hideo Imanaka<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Managing Expert, Standardization Promotion Office, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">\u200bHe 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.<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Managing Expert, Standardization Promotion Office, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-aa9ac275944898a414c05dfaf5f669de wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9:30 \u2013 10:30 High-Level Segment: Pioneering Virtual Worlds Policies for the Pact for the Future<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s commitment to equity and sustainable digital transformation and the Global Digital Compact\u2019s call for an open, secure, and inclusive digital future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-435 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-96589a63 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Cristina Bueti<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-96589a63 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-b46e6ccf uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Cristina Bueti<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Counsellor, ITU<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u201cInternet of Things, digital twins and smart sustainable cities and communities\u201d 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\"><strong><em>Moderator<\/em><\/strong><br>Counsellor, ITU<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"470\" height=\"469\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/H.E.-Mr-William-Kabogo-Gitau-e1747822948467.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-419 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/H.E.-Mr-William-Kabogo-Gitau-e1747822948467.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/H.E.-Mr-William-Kabogo-Gitau-e1747822948467-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/H.E.-Mr-William-Kabogo-Gitau-e1747822948467-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 470px) 100vw, 470px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-f7343ab1 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>H.E. Mr William Kabogo Gitau<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-f7343ab1 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-3557baff uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">H.E. Mr William Kabogo Gitau<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Kenya<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">William Kabogo Gitau is Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications &amp; 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Kenya<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"692\" height=\"694\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/H.E.-Ms-Emma-Inamutila-Theofelus.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-420 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/H.E.-Ms-Emma-Inamutila-Theofelus.jpg 692w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/H.E.-Ms-Emma-Inamutila-Theofelus-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/H.E.-Ms-Emma-Inamutila-Theofelus-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 692px) 100vw, 692px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-913007ed uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>H.E. Ms Emma Inamutila Theofelus<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-913007ed uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-48af689f uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">H.E. Ms Emma Inamutila Theofelus<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Minister of Information and Communication Technology in the Republic of Namibia<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<br>Before her appointment, Honourable Emma was always policy adjacent and was a Youth Activist around issues of gender, children\u2019s 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.<br>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\u2019s Degree in ICT Policy and Regulation at the University of Witwatersrand.<br>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 &amp; 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.<br>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 &amp; 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Minister of Information and Communication Technology in the Republic of Namibia<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"832\" height=\"832\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Vincent-Martin-e1747823141249.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-421 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Vincent-Martin-e1747823141249.jpg 832w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Vincent-Martin-e1747823141249-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Vincent-Martin-e1747823141249-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Vincent-Martin-e1747823141249-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 832px) 100vw, 832px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-919cacbf uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Vincent Martin<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-919cacbf uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-6e206f09 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Vincent Martin<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Director of the Office of Innovation, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Vincent Martin is the Director of the FAO Office of Innovation (OIN), where he is charged with leading the organization\u2019s innovation agenda as part of the Science and Innovation strategy.<br>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.<br>He also served as FAO\u2019s 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\u2019s regional goals.<br>Before his work in China, Dr. Martin earned recognition as &#8220;Knight of the Order of the Lion&#8221; 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.<br>Dr. Martin&#8217;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&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Director of the Office of Innovation, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"223\" height=\"223\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Jouni-Markkanen-223x300-1-e1747823702514.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-422 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Jouni-Markkanen-223x300-1-e1747823702514.png 223w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Jouni-Markkanen-223x300-1-e1747823702514-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 223px) 100vw, 223px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-f6910824 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Jouni Markkanen<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-f6910824 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-5b3ece4e uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Jouni Markkanen<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Deputy Mayor, City of Tampere, Finland<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Deputy Mayor, City of Tampere, Finland<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"155\" height=\"156\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/foto-0-paula-horizontal-despacho-300x200-1-e1747823831644.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-423 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/foto-0-paula-horizontal-despacho-300x200-1-e1747823831644.jpg 155w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/foto-0-paula-horizontal-despacho-300x200-1-e1747823831644-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 155px) 100vw, 155px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-046f675c uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Paula Llobet Vilarrasa<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-046f675c uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-5963e65c uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Paula Llobet Vilarrasa<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Councillor for Tourism, Digital Agenda, Innovation, and Investment, Valencia, Spain<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Paula Llobet was born in Valencia on December 27, 1977, and she studied at Colegio Domus and Colegio Esclavas de Valencia.<br>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.<br>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 Hern\u00e1ndez University of Elche and a Postgraduate Degree in International Cooperation.<br>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.<br>The areas in which Paula Llobet has developed her professional career are several, from social welfare, citizen participation, development cooperation, environmental sustainability, R&amp;D&amp;I, health, to urban development and smart cities, strategic planning and management of local, national and European projects.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Councillor for Tourism, Digital Agenda, Innovation, and Investment, Valencia, Spain&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Antonio-J.-Jara-e1747823784733-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-405 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Antonio-J.-Jara-e1747823784733-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Antonio-J.-Jara-e1747823784733-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Antonio-J.-Jara-e1747823784733-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Antonio-J.-Jara-e1747823784733-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Antonio-J.-Jara-e1747823784733.jpg 1137w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-9bbddc9b uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Antonio Jara<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-9bbddc9b uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-dbefa8a3 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Antonio Jara<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Executive Board Member, Libelium<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<br>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.<br>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 &gt;50).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Executive Board Member, Libelium<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-c1a4a1c2309c5a682ab916104195abb2 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>10:30 \u2013 11:00 Coffee break<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-97c3902604794beaf93545a52589c721 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>11:00 \u2013 11:30&nbsp;Keynote: Queretaro Reborn<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Queretaro Reborn&#8221; is Mexico\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Manuel-Barreiro.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-424 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Manuel-Barreiro.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Manuel-Barreiro-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-4939c26f uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Manuel Barreiro<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-4939c26f uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-7de741dc uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Manuel Barreiro<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aston Group<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Manuel Barreiro Casta\u00f1eda 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.<br>Mr. Barreiro Casta\u00f1eda 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\u2019s 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).<br>Actively involved in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), he currently serves as a board member of the Executive Committee of the &#8216;Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds \u2013 discovering the CitiVerse,&#8217; 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\u2019s &#8216;Working Group 8 on the Metaverse \u2013 Sustainability, Accessibility &amp; Inclusion,&#8217; addressing sustainability, accessibility, and inclusion<br>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.<br>Mr. Barreiro Casta\u00f1eda also holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business and a Bachelor\u2019s 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\u2019s mission \u2014 to create better cities for the future, starting in his native Mexico.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aston Group<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/Dm7dMLb7c9m7z39\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-d94661b84929a9af8f845d889da25863 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>11:30 \u2013 12:30 Virtual Worlds Economy: Jobs, Growth, and Innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Prema.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-425 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Prema.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Prema-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-b3a12092 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Prema Chandrashekhar<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-b3a12092 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-f466a1e0 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Prema Chandrashekhar<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sustainability, Technology Policy, and Global Operations Specialist at the World Bank Technology Innovation Office<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2014spanning education platforms, tokenization of physical assets, and blockchain solutions for agriculture\u2014ensuring they remain ethical, secure, and scalable.<br>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\u2014from government bodies and private-sector leaders to academia and startups\u2014around a shared vision of a digitally inclusive future<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br><br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\"><strong><em>Moderator<\/em><\/strong><br>Sustainability, Technology Policy, and Global Operations Specialist, Technology Innovation Office, World Bank<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"623\" height=\"623\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Timothy-Scott-e1747824327308.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-404 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Timothy-Scott-e1747824327308.png 623w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Timothy-Scott-e1747824327308-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Timothy-Scott-e1747824327308-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 623px) 100vw, 623px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-58fee00f uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Tim Scott<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-58fee00f uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-4b2cd9c1 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Tim Scott<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Senior Director of Public Policy, UK and Middle East, Roblox<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Senior Director of Public Policy, UK and Middle East, Roblox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"866\" height=\"866\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Andy-Fidel-e1747824195651.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-426 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Andy-Fidel-e1747824195651.jpg 866w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Andy-Fidel-e1747824195651-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Andy-Fidel-e1747824195651-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Andy-Fidel-e1747824195651-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 866px) 100vw, 866px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-a22565bc uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Andy Fidel<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-a22565bc uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-2b5be605 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Andy Fidel<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Creative XR Producer &amp; CEO at Spatial Networks<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<br>In 2016, she coined the term \u201cSpatial Networking\u201d to describe how VR, AR, and digital spaces enable presence, interaction, and shared experiences\u2014well before the idea of the &#8220;metaverse&#8221; became mainstream. She continues to explore how immersive media can support more meaningful and inclusive digital spaces.<br>Andy is an HTC VIVERSE Partner and Meta Creator Partner. She has held roles including Social &amp; 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 &amp; EMEA), PepsiCo Talent Solutions, C2 International, Scout House, WXR Venture Fund, and Verizon 5G Labs.<br>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\u2014focusing on how people connect and communicate in digital spaces.<br>\u00ab Social media shares information. Spatial networks are shared experiences. In these moments, we create memories, and that creates community. \u00bb<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Creative XR Producer &amp; CEO at Spatial Networks<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Michael-Casey-1-e1747824389616-272x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-400 size-medium\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-6c87d578 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Michael Casey<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-6c87d578 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-c52d7b35 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Michael Casey<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Author of Trust Machine and Founder of Decentralized AI Society<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<br>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.<br>Previously, Mr. Casey was CoinDesk\u2019s chief content officer, overseeing an award-winning newsroom. He was also Chairman of Consensus, CoinDesk\u2019s annual conference, and co-host, with Sheila Warren, of its Money Reimagined podcast.<br>He was a founding staffer at MIT Media Lab\u2019s Digital Currency Initiative \u2013 where he remains an advisor \u2013 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.<br>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.<br>A native of Perth, he is a graduate of the University of Western Australia and has higher degrees from Cornell University and Curtin University.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Author of Trust Machine and Founder of Decentralized AI Society<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"213\" height=\"213\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Martin-Wahlisch-e1747824577779.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-427 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Martin-Wahlisch-e1747824577779.jpg 213w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Martin-Wahlisch-e1747824577779-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-5daf5b53 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Martin Waehlisch<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-5daf5b53 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-aa959cce uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Martin Waehlisch<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Associate Professor, University of Birmingham<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Martin W\u00e4hlisch 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.<br>Before joining the University of Birmingham, Dr. W\u00e4hlisch 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.<br>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, Universit\u00e9 La Sagesse, and the Al Jazeera Media Institute, among others.<br>Currently, Dr. W\u00e4hlisch 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\u2019s primary hub for addressing global sustainability challenges.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Associate Professor, University of Birmingham<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Q&amp;A<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-581003f455a22f138d5e08ad02e97321 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>12:30 \u2013 13:30 Lunch break<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-213cf7e15d0872b74f9987f58d9e6105 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>13:30 \u2013 13:45&nbsp;Keynote<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"237\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Bertrand-Levy-e1747824742457.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-428 size-full\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-83c0f83b uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Bertrand Levy<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-83c0f83b uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-a7e26127 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Bertrand Levy<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships, The Sandbox<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Bertrand Levy is a Digital Pioneer Who has been working in the Music Industry for over 15 years (Over 10 years @ Universal Music Group \u2013 Ended Global Vice President @ UMGB ) Since 2020 VICE PRESIDENT @ THE SANDBOX, One of the leading Metaverse In The World. \u200b\u200b<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships, The Sandbox<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/wbc4FYzjLrQ7ksS\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-c48a886f02f11e66ef6b1903b3aae2d9 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>13:45 \u2013 14:00&nbsp;Keynote<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"826\" height=\"825\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Sameer.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-418 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Sameer.jpg 826w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Sameer-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Sameer-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Sameer-768x767.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 826px) 100vw, 826px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-41dd7e06 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Sameer Chauhan<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-41dd7e06 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-e29faa7c uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Sameer Chauhan<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Director, United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Mr. Chauhan was appointed Director of the United Nations International Computing Centre on 1 December 2019 by the United Nations Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres.<br>The Director is the Chief Executive and has the responsibility to lead all aspects of UNICC\u2019s 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.<br>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.<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Director, United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-45011383e064c5479e6f5b785ba80095 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>14:00 \u2013 15:00 Immersive Futures: Virtual Worlds Empowering Tourism, Manufacturing &amp; Resilient Cities<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Discover how AI-driven virtual worlds and the industrial metaverse are reshaping tourism, urban planning, climate resilience, manufacturing, and supply chains\u2014and 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"203\" height=\"203\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/franca-vinci-203x300-1-e1747824863715.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-429 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/franca-vinci-203x300-1-e1747824863715.jpg 203w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/franca-vinci-203x300-1-e1747824863715-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 203px) 100vw, 203px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-4aaad10b uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Franca Vinci<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-4aaad10b uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-88d30afa uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Franca Vinci<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Head of Learning Services, UNICC<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s IT learning strategy and implementing dedicated learning programs, particularly focused on supporting peacekeeping missions.<br>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.<br>Franca\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\"><strong><em>Moderator<\/em><\/strong><br>Head of Learning Services, UNICC<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"439\" height=\"439\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Roland-e1747825229995.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-432 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Roland-e1747825229995.jpg 439w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Roland-e1747825229995-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Roland-e1747825229995-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-054388ce uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Roland van der Heijden<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-054388ce uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-8c26183e uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Roland van der Heijden<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Program Manager Digital City, City of Rotterdam, The Netherlands<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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 &#8216;traditional&#8217; social-physical city? And how does this impact the city\u2019s 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 &#8216;Rotterdam in transformation 1.0&#8217; 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Program Manager Digital City, City of Rotterdam, The Netherlands<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/rk85HKWZAPJRPeF\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"238\" height=\"239\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Lowie-V-e1747825083122.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-431 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Lowie-V-e1747825083122.jpg 238w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Lowie-V-e1747825083122-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-e0e1958c uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Lowie Vermeersch<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-e0e1958c uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-22c05c22 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Lowie Vermeersch<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Founder &amp; Creative Director of Granstudio<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Founder &amp; Creative Director of Granstudio<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/PmHHpEqgQTsEfjF\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"781\" height=\"781\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Christoph-Runde-e1747825352959.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-433 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Christoph-Runde-e1747825352959.jpg 781w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Christoph-Runde-e1747825352959-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Christoph-Runde-e1747825352959-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Christoph-Runde-e1747825352959-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 781px) 100vw, 781px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-bf98472d uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Christoph Runde<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-bf98472d uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-3277a032 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Christoph Runde<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Managing Director, Virtual Dimension Center<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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&#8217;s endeavours in the domain of VR\/AR. In 2006, he completed his doctorate with a thesis on the topic of &#8220;Conception and industrial implementation of virtual reality as a digital factory component&#8221;. 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&#8217;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&#8217;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 &#8220;eXtended Reality and Metaverse&#8221; working group at the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) and Co-Chair of the &#8220;Standards Registry Working Group&#8221; at the Metaverse Standards Forum.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Managing Director, Virtual Dimension Center<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/N3bnay4ctoSqRii\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Q&amp;A<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-7a38da76c4cc8954f1f8982e4020e6a1 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>15:00 \u2013 15:30 Coffee break<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-c15549d4690ab4d832bf5de92c003e73 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>15:30 \u2013 16:00 Keynote: Immersive Learning development<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"594\" height=\"596\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Quentin.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-434 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Quentin.jpg 594w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Quentin-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Quentin-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 594px) 100vw, 594px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-aaa3f47d uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Quentin Jordahn<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-aaa3f47d uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-b6ee5ca5 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Quentin Jordahn<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Researcher, MIMBUS<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Researcher, MIMBUS<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/MXBcroCQaNBiazc\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-b1c21b08df82ab6025dab32a9ad78860 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>16:00 \u2013 17:00 UN Impact Initiatives for the Future<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-435 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Cristina-Bueti-2025-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-c62c342e uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Cristina Bueti<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-c62c342e uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-19cfdb15 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Cristina Bueti<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Counsellor, ITU<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u201cInternet of Things, digital twins and smart sustainable cities and communities\u201d 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\"><strong><em>Moderator<\/em><\/strong><br>Counsellor, ITU<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/2RCAitQcw2wjNBB\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"188\" height=\"188\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Nevena-e1747825713892.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-436 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Nevena-e1747825713892.jpg 188w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Nevena-e1747825713892-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 188px) 100vw, 188px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-dd5c6af0 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Nevena Alexandrova-Stefanova<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-dd5c6af0 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-d71410e6 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Nevena Alexandrova-Stefanova<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Innovation Officer, Policies, Systems and Foresight, FAO<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Innovation Officer, Policies, Systems and Foresight, FAO<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/9NgNdPWDY3Ct3P7\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"581\" height=\"581\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Tom-Wambeke-e1747825808522.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-437 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Tom-Wambeke-e1747825808522.jpg 581w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Tom-Wambeke-e1747825808522-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Tom-Wambeke-e1747825808522-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 581px) 100vw, 581px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-a1ac02db uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Tom Wambeke<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-a1ac02db uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-e58b8f77 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Tom Wambeke<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Chief of Learning Innovation, ITCILO<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Chief of Learning Innovation, ITCILO<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/ECbFXASqqPL9sEG\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Dario-Liguti-2-e1747844996290-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-460 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Dario-Liguti-2-e1747844996290-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Dario-Liguti-2-e1747844996290-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Dario-Liguti-2-e1747844996290-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Dario-Liguti-2-e1747844996290-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Dario-Liguti-2-e1747844996290-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Dario-Liguti-2-e1747844996290.jpg 1873w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-754625f2 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Dario Liguti<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-754625f2 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-6fa48593 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Dario Liguti<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Director, UNECE Sustainable Energy Division <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br>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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Director, UNECE Sustainable Energy Division<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/9qpND4JC2BYRxkf\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"153\" height=\"155\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Ryszerd.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-442 size-full\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-5279977c uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Ryszard Frelek<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-5279977c uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-3de63594 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Ryszard Frelek<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Counsellor, External Relations Division, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Since 2007, Ryszard works in the United Nations Specialized Agency &#8211; 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\u2019s interactions and partnerships with external stakeholders, including Intergovernmental Organizations, Non-governmental Organizations and Industry.<br>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.<br>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.<br>Before joining WIPO he gained experience in law companies and public institutions. He obtained his Master\u2019s Degree in Law in Poland, specializing in IP and new technologies. He also studied international management and economics in Germany.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Counsellor, External Relations Division, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/oaKt4L4nKGkd65F\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"228\" height=\"221\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Sebastian-Rovira.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-443 size-full\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-491d2d2e uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Sebastian Rovira<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-491d2d2e uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-3c88c9ff uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Sebastian Rovira<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Sebasti\u00e1n 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">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)<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/js2TRMnScptwbRZ\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Q&amp;A<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-138bceb72cc674470a2b6183b9d3963a wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>17:00 \u2013 18:00 Exhibition<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <strong>ground floor of the Piemonte Pavilion<\/strong>, the exhibition presented interactive demonstrations and innovative platforms from <strong>Mimbus, EON Reality, ArthurVR, AnotheReality,<\/strong> <strong>Next G Cloud, ImproVive, IRALTA, and the World Economic Forum<\/strong>. Discover how these technologies are driving the future of education, collaboration, urban development, and digital inclusion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-a54b679c9a44347017f7e204b04981dc wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>18:00 \u2013 20:00 Cocktail Reception<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cocktail reception was held at the Valentino Bar, located on the ITCILO campus.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-tabs-child uagb-tabs__body-container uagb-inner-tab-1\" aria-labelledby=\"uagb-tabs__tab1\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-3f528ba2edd02be17edd8378a988965b wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>9:30 \u2013 9:35 Opening Remarks<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A brief recap of Day 1 and an overview of Day 2 sessions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/foto-Simone.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-477 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/foto-Simone.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/foto-Simone-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-954883b5 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Simone Fissolo<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-954883b5 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-4395b244 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Simone Fissolo<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>City Council Member, City of Turin, Italy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">City Council Member, City of Turin, Italy<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-42b0eed30065b30be4cbb1514cc9e40c wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9:35 \u2013 10:00 Keynote: Fly beyond reality: Immersive &amp; sustainable journeys through virtual worlds powered by AI and gaming tech<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dream of flight is being reimagined through immersive technologies\u2014opening 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, 360\u00ba aerial footage, and landscapes generated from geospatial data and AI, these experiences offer a low-impact and scalable alternative to traditional exploratory travel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"290\" height=\"290\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Cesar-e1747826545438.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-444 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Cesar-e1747826545438.jpg 290w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Cesar-e1747826545438-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-9308f252 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Cesar Urbina<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-9308f252 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-50754233 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Cesar Urbina<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Chief Innovation Officer and Co-founder, IRALTA<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">C\u00e9sar Urbina is Chief Innovation Officer and co-founder of IRALTA, a studio specialized in creating immersive experiences.<br>He holds a degree in Audiovisual Communication from Complutense University of Madrid.<br>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.<br>Under the leadership he shares with his brother and partner \u00c1ngel 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.<br>IRALTA has developed projects for multilateral organizations such as the EIB, IDB, CAF, and for brands like Iberia, Coca-Cola, Samsung, Microsoft, Mercedes, Renault, Telef\u00f3nica, Vodafone, Sony Music, Repsol, Honda, RTVE, World Economic Forum\u2026<br>They are currently developing the Skyjet VR project with the support of Spain&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Chief Innovation Officer and Co-founder, IRALTA<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/kLGmEZJxYFz6Jie\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-692039f58fc38471e7d8736b6c037b68 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>10:00 \u2013 11:00 Bridging the Digital Divide: Virtual Worlds and Digital Twins in the Global South<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Rebecca.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-445 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Rebecca.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Rebecca-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-a35097c5 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Rebecca Ivey<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-a35097c5 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-5b2e129e uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Rebecca Ivey<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>World Economic Forum<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\"><strong><em>Moderator<\/em><\/strong><br>World Economic Forum<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"719\" height=\"719\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Luis-e1747826690237.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-446 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Luis-e1747826690237.jpg 719w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Luis-e1747826690237-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Luis-e1747826690237-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 719px) 100vw, 719px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-50968979 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Luis Bravo Martins<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-50968979 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-22bbfe60 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Luis Bravo Martins<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Vice-President, XR Safety Initiative \u2013 Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Luis Bravo Martins is a senior advisor on XR and Virtual Worlds for business, research and public organizations.<br>He is currently the Vice-President of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.xrsi.eu\">XR Safety Intelligence \u2013 Europe<\/a>, a Standards Development Organization focused on enabling safety and privacy in immersive experiences and virtual worlds. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>Luis is also a published author &amp; speaker and his latest book, \u201cMetaversed \u2013 See Beyond the Hype\u201d (Wiley, 2023) ranked twice as #1 on on the \u201cBusiness and Entrepreneurship\u201d Category. &nbsp;<br>You can know more about Luis at his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/luismartins\/\">Linkedin Page.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Vice-President, XR Safety Initiative \u2013 Europe<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"525\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Gaspard-Datondji-e1748935437459.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-476 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Gaspard-Datondji-e1748935437459.jpg 525w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Gaspard-Datondji-e1748935437459-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Gaspard-Datondji-e1748935437459-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-116318f7 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Gaspard Datondji<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-116318f7 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-13483fd3 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Gaspard Datondji<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Digital Governance Specialist, Ministry of Digital Technology and Digitalization, Benin<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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&#8217;s Ministry of Digital Technology and Digitalization, he contributes to the country&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">A software engineer by initial training, Gaspard holds a master\u2019s 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&#8217;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).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Digital Governance Specialist, Ministry of Digital Technology and Digitalization, Benin<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"626\" height=\"621\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Radia-Funna.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-415 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Radia-Funna.jpg 626w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Radia-Funna-300x298.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Radia-Funna-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-6551752d uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Radia Funna<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-6551752d uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-93a4c6cf uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Radia Funna<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Chair of the 1st UN Virtual Worlds Day<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s top innovation leaders for her visionary leadership and impact across sectors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Radia is the creator of the xHuman Theory and the Theory of Disruptive Organizational Strategy\u2014frameworks 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Radia\u2019s leadership bridges innovation and policy, empowering communities and advancing the UN&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2014blazing new trails for the next era of virtual worlds.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Chair of the 1st UN Virtual Worlds Day<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Ahmed-Al-Kabbany.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-459 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Ahmed-Al-Kabbany.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Ahmed-Al-Kabbany-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-9f475337 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Ahmad Al-Kabbany<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-9f475337 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-ba83c474 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Ahmad Al-Kabbany<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Founder, VRapeutic<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">During his Ph.D., he developed a graph-based image matting technique for image-based virtual environments. His method\u2014based on sequential pair selection via graph transduction\u2014ranked 8th worldwide on the alpha matting benchmark, contributing to advancements in realistic virtual view rendering.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Founder, VRapeutic<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Q&amp;A<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-7698a95f897d6356566f103a7532a367 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>11:00 \u2013 11:30 Coffee break<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-415a1c2445564889c5a508162693313c wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>11:30 \u2013 12:30 Transforming Global Governance: Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion in AI-Powered Virtual Worlds<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s push for trustworthy and ethical AI-powered virtual worlds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"337\" height=\"337\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Karima-e1747826838352.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-448 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Karima-e1747826838352.jpg 337w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Karima-e1747826838352-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Karima-e1747826838352-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 337px) 100vw, 337px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-c424d87d uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Karima Cherif<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-c424d87d uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-06d630c4 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Karima Cherif<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Head of Communications and Outreach, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Karima Cherif is Head of Communications and Outreach at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), where she leads the Institute\u2019s 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.<br>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.<br>An Algerian-Italian national, she holds a Master\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\"><strong><em>Moderator<\/em><\/strong><br>Head of Communications and Outreach, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"177\" height=\"177\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Dario-Sabella-1-e1747826892382.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-449 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Dario-Sabella-1-e1747826892382.jpg 177w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Dario-Sabella-1-e1747826892382-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 177px) 100vw, 177px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-ad214038 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Dario Sabella<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-ad214038 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-c7ec651d uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Dario Sabella<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ETSI MEC Chairman<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">DARIO SABELLA works with xFlow Research Inc. as Vice President, Technology and Standards, leading the team\u2019s 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&amp;D Head of the Italian company called NEXT G CLOUD, focused on Cloud Managed Services and Edge Cybersecurity.<br>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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">ETSI MEC Chairman<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/YtkJE6LsdpMEPdm\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"251\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/pilar_orero-e1747826970958.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-450 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/pilar_orero-e1747826970958.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/pilar_orero-e1747826970958-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-3bc859e5 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Pilar Orero<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-3bc859e5 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-4d7bcda2 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Pilar Orero<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Professor, Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona, Spain<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Professor Pilar Orero, PhD (UMIST, UK), works at Universitat Aut\u00f2noma 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 \u2013all 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 \u2013 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Professor, Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona, Spain<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/DExq9Z5GWDE3Db8\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"362\" height=\"362\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Christophe-Mallet-Speaker-1-e1747827015705.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-396 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Christophe-Mallet-Speaker-1-e1747827015705.jpeg 362w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Christophe-Mallet-Speaker-1-e1747827015705-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Christophe-Mallet-Speaker-1-e1747827015705-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 362px) 100vw, 362px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-910fd79f uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Christophe Mallet<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-910fd79f uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-5e089461 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Christophe Mallet<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Co-founder, BodySwaps<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<br>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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Co-founder, BodySwaps<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"233\" height=\"233\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Anne-Bajart-e1747827062966.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-397 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Anne-Bajart-e1747827062966.jpg 233w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Anne-Bajart-e1747827062966-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-0965a76b uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Anne Bajart<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-0965a76b uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-e5c66551 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Anne Bajart<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Anne Bajart is Deputy Head of Unit for Interactive Technologies, Digital for Culture and Education at the EC &#8211; DG CONNECT, the unit in charge of the EU strategy for Virtual Worlds and Web4.0.<br>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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Q&amp;A<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-27f9a2f205993696ce317fba5187ae34 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>12:30 \u2013 13:30 Lunch break<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-b8892c9cd5507eaa520ca05b96baaab1 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>13:30 \u2013 14:00 Keynote<\/strong>: Experiential Computing for a Sustainable Digital Future<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This keynote introduced the paradigm of Experiential Computing, where digital systems not only generate immersive experiences but also learn and evolve from them\u2014merging the capabilities of spatial computing and artificial intelligence into a single loop of interaction and adaptation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"493\" height=\"493\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Lorenzo-e1747827170794.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-451 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Lorenzo-e1747827170794.jpg 493w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Lorenzo-e1747827170794-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Lorenzo-e1747827170794-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 493px) 100vw, 493px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-d1e001c4 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Lorenzo Cappannari<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-d1e001c4 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-21f8e1e5 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Lorenzo Cappannari<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Author, Speaker, University Professor, Founder of AnotheReality<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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 &amp; Metaverse at Istituto Marangoni and SDA Bocconi.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Author, Speaker, University Professor, Founder of AnotheReality<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/WCzdmFeyyRJotsi\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-b52cb02a21be7200bcb1b5fc0a23aa70 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>14:00 \u2013 15:00 AI-Powered Virtual Worlds and Citiverse:&nbsp;Shaping the Future of Cities<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<br>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!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"243\" height=\"243\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Christina-Yan-Zhang-938x1024-1-e1747827305657.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-452 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Christina-Yan-Zhang-938x1024-1-e1747827305657.jpg 243w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Christina-Yan-Zhang-938x1024-1-e1747827305657-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 243px) 100vw, 243px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-7d8bb64f uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Christina Yan Zhang<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-7d8bb64f uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-db9d3c46 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Christina Yan Zhang<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CEO, The Metaverse Institute<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Christina is a metaverse pioneer, who started the journey in 2006 with a PhD using digital twin for the construction industry.<br>Christina has 19 years\u2019 experience turning vision into successful businesses. She worked for QS, the world university rankings agency 2013-2020, as China Director. Her work impacted China\u2019s \u00a3750bn five years funding to 3005 universities.<br>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 &#8220;People-Centred CitiVerse&#8221; \u2013 the UN&#8217;s first approved technical report on the subject \u2013 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 &#8220;Definition of Metaverse,&#8221; &#8220;Metaverse for All Part I Legal Framework,&#8221; and &#8220;Part II Survey,&#8221; alongside contributions to the &#8220;Future of Travel in the Metaverse&#8221; in collaboration with UN Tourism and the &#8220;Definition of CitiVerse.&#8221;<br>She sits on the Advisory Council for Centre for Science Futures of International Science Council, the world&#8217;s largest science body of 250 national\/international academies of sciences. She serves The Economist Impact&#8217;s advisory board for &#8220;AI Economy&#8221;, focusing on AI&#8217;s global economic impact.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\"><strong><em>Moderator<\/em><\/strong><br>CEO, The Metaverse Institute<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Ernesto.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-453 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Ernesto.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Ernesto-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-9231a64b uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Ernesto Faubel<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-9231a64b uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-68785d9c uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Ernesto Faubel<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Head of Smart cities, Valencia, Spain<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Ernesto is a Computer Engineer with a Master\u2019s in CAD\/CAM\/CIM from Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Val\u00e8ncia. His educational achievements include a diploma in \u2018Advanced Course in Local Government\u2019. Ernesto has served as a part-time teacher at UPV for 22 years.<br>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.<br>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).<br>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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Head of Smart cities, Valencia, Spain<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/jnr7YRqTXATRjm6\">Presentation<\/a>] [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Citiverse-Teaser-UNICC-Track-7.pdf\">Teaser from the Emerging Technologies Track of the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"780\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Louisa-Barker.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-454 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Louisa-Barker.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Louisa-Barker-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Louisa-Barker-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Louisa-Barker-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-813569a8 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Louisa Baker<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-813569a8 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-4210bcf7 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Louisa Baker<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Senior Research Manager, IDC<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Senior Research Manager, IDC<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/srmLYr3z3Gzc32a\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"216\" height=\"216\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Coors-Volker-216x300-1-e1747827460661.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-455 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Coors-Volker-216x300-1-e1747827460661.jpg 216w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Coors-Volker-216x300-1-e1747827460661-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 216px) 100vw, 216px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-ab4e90c1 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Volker Coors<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-ab4e90c1 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-20814de0 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Volker Coors<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Vice-President Research and Digitization, Stuttgart Technology University of Applied Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<br>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 \u201c3D City Modelling\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Vice-President Research and Digitization, Stuttgart Technology University of Applied Sciences<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/pnbFi973Gs6tpMs\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Jessica-Grisanti-1-150x150.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-441 size-thumbnail\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-03828337 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Jessica Grisanti<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-03828337 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-016d63d2 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Jessica Grisanti<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Urban Specialist, World Bank<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br>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 Andr\u00e9s Bello Catholic University in Venezuela and holds a master&#8217;s degree in economic policy from the University of Illinois and a master&#8217;s degree in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.\u202f<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Urban Specialist, World Bank<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/onjKHTYdydxmBim\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"725\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Elena-Deambrogio.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-483 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Elena-Deambrogio.jpeg 799w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Elena-Deambrogio-300x272.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Elena-Deambrogio-768x697.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-998b1cae uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Elena Deambrogio<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-998b1cae uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-44771458 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Elena Deambrogio<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Head of the Innovation Division, City of Turin, Italy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Senior Administrative Officer and Head of the Innovation Division \u2013 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.<br>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\u2019s House of Emerging Technologies, Torino City Lab, and the Torino Impact City program\u2014efforts that significantly contributed to Turin being awarded the European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) 2025.<br>Her profile brings together public innovation strategy, stakeholder engagement, and deep expertise in public procurement and funding mechanism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Head of the Innovation Division, City of Turin, Italy<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/5srZP7K9CdafY9P\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Q&amp;A<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-64995c8523dd23ffefdb298e9b9b3758 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>15:00 \u2013 15:30&nbsp;Coffee break<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-f9e5250e4a13440fe05d6c7e586cc576 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>15:30 \u2013 16:30<\/strong><\/strong> Envisioning the future: Scenario Thinking for AI-Powered Virtual Worlds<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This session built on the <a href=\"https:\/\/un-futureslab.org\/project\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/\">outcomes of foresight activities<\/a> undertaken at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/metaverse\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/\">UN Virtual Worlds Day 2024<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"270\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Irina-Velasco.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-487 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Irina-Velasco.png 270w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Irina-Velasco-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-bb43c734 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Irina Velasco<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-bb43c734 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-a3a6c1f1 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Irina Velasco<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Foresight Programming Specialist at UN Futures Lab<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\"><strong><em>Co-Facilitator<\/em><\/strong><br>Foresight Programming Specialist. UN Futures Lab<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"384\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Lucia-Soriano-Irigaray.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-488 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Lucia-Soriano-Irigaray.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Lucia-Soriano-Irigaray-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Lucia-Soriano-Irigaray-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-3ba349da uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Luc\u00eda Soriano Irigaray<\/strong><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-3ba349da uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-42246988 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Luc\u00eda Soriano Irigaray<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Foresight Specialist at UN Futures Lab<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Luc\u00eda 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<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\"><strong><em>Co-Facilitator<\/em><\/strong><br>Foresight  Specialist, UN Futures Lab<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Prema.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-425 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Prema.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Prema-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-aac5bc8e uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Prema Chandrashekhar<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-aac5bc8e uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-fd4c8778 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Prema Chandrashekhar<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sustainability, Technology Policy, and Global Operations Specialist at the World Bank Technology Innovation Office<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2014spanning education platforms, tokenization of physical assets, and blockchain solutions for agriculture\u2014ensuring they remain ethical, secure, and scalable.<br>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\u2014from government bodies and private-sector leaders to academia and startups\u2014around a shared vision of a digitally inclusive future<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br><br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\"><strong><em>Co-Facilitator<\/em><\/strong><br>Sustainability, Technology Policy, and Global Operations Specialist, Technology Innovation Office, World Bank<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-1696616892930a9a8765585e6bdf3ec2 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>16:30 \u2013 17:30<\/strong><\/strong>&nbsp;Youth and Future Generations Showcas<\/strong>e &amp; <strong>Award Ceremony of the 1st UN Citiverse Challe<\/strong>nge<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"506\" height=\"506\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Huandi-Chen.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-473 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Huandi-Chen.jpg 506w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Huandi-Chen-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Huandi-Chen-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 506px) 100vw, 506px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-5146ce10 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Huandi Chen<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-5146ce10 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-22a20854 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Huandi Chen<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Intern, ITU<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br>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\u2019s Christmas Party and took the lead for the children\u2019s group at ITU\u2019s 160th Anniversary celebration. She holds a Master\u2019s degree in Psycholinguistics from the University of Edinburgh and will soon pursue a second Master\u2019s in Cognitive Neuroscience (language and communication) at Radboud University in the Netherlands.<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\"><strong><em>Moderator<\/em><\/strong> <br>Intern, ITU<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"858\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Chiara-Rucco-1024x858.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-463 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Chiara-Rucco-1024x858.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Chiara-Rucco-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Chiara-Rucco-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Chiara-Rucco-1536x1287.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Chiara-Rucco-2048x1717.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-6d73884d uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Chiara Rucco<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-6d73884d uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-6538ca9c uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Chiara Rucco<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Representative of DataLab \u2013 Winning Team of the 1st UN Citiverse Challenge (Student Category)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Representative of DataLab \u2013 Winning Team of the 1st UN Citiverse Challenge (Student Category)<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/iy8so2kBZmDYo3C\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Francesca-Zampino-picture-e1748941588748-150x150.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-480 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Francesca-Zampino-picture-e1748941588748-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Francesca-Zampino-picture-e1748941588748-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Francesca-Zampino-picture-e1748941588748-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Francesca-Zampino-picture-e1748941588748.jpeg 1020w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-291b7eec uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Francesca Zampino<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-291b7eec uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-2437fc97 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Francesca Zampino<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Representative of DataLab \u2013 Winning Team of the 1st UN Citiverse Challenge (Student Category)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">Representative of DataLab \u2013 Winning Team of the 1st UN Citiverse Challenge (Student Category)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Kazuaki-Yoshikawa-e1748603916698-1024x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-468 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Kazuaki-Yoshikawa-e1748603916698-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Kazuaki-Yoshikawa-e1748603916698-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Kazuaki-Yoshikawa-e1748603916698-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Kazuaki-Yoshikawa-e1748603916698-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Kazuaki-Yoshikawa-e1748603916698.jpeg 1066w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-703148ca uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Kazuaki Yoshikawa<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-703148ca uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-54acf505 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Kazuaki Yoshikawa<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>MBA Candidate at IESE Business School<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br>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.<br>Since starting MBA, he has been expanding his experience through internships in strategy consulting, a search fund, and venture capital.<br>Kazuaki holds a bachelor&#8217;s degree in Policy Studies from a university in Japan.<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">MBA Candidate at IESE Business School<br>[<a href=\"https:\/\/mycloud.itu.int\/s\/E6PTNqBMADjYsbe\">Presentation<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Rafal-Chrzan.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-469 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Rafal-Chrzan.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Rafal-Chrzan-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Rafal-Chrzan-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Rafal-Chrzan-768x768.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-b09cf5d6 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Rafa\u0142 Adam Chrzan<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-b09cf5d6 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-9694da61 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Rafa\u0142 Adam Chrzan<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>MBA Candidate at IESE Business School<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><br>Rafa\u0142 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.<br>During his time as Manager of Strategic Projects and M&amp;A at Play (iliad Group), he was involved in the creation of P\u015aO \u2013 the largest wholesale fiber network project in Poland. Rafa\u0142 also led acquisitions of two local Internet Service Providers to expand the network of P\u015aO. Prior to that, he worked in strategy consulting at Kearney, primarily focusing on TMT topics.<br>Rafa\u0142 holds a BSc in Economics and Management from the University of Bristol.<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">MBA Candidate at IESE Business School<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Twinkle-De-1024x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-470 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Twinkle-De-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Twinkle-De-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Twinkle-De-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Twinkle-De-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Twinkle-De-1536x1536.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/Twinkle-De.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-modal uagb-block-b6d37715 uagb-modal-wrapper\" data-escpress=\"enable\" data-overlayclick=\"enable\"><span class=\"uagb-modal-text uagb-modal-trigger\"><strong>Twinkle De<\/strong><br><\/span><div class=\"uagb-effect-default uagb-modal-popup uagb-block-b6d37715 uagb-modal-type-undefined\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-wrap\"><div class=\"uagb-modal-popup-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-ccfc98eb uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Twinkle De<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>MBA Candidate at IESE Business School<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">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.<br>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\u2019s real-time payment system.<br>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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"uagb-modal-popup-close\" aria-label=\"Close Modal\"><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15px\">MBA Candidate at IESE Business School<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-96e669f16fb4caa9e591151e09786209 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>17:30 \u2013 18:00&nbsp;Closing Ceremony<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"ituContainer\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The closing ceremony of the event delivered and approved a powerful <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Call-to-Action-final.pdf\">call to action<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n                                <p>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/\" class=\"ituBtn\" >\n            <strong>Back to the main page of UN Virtual Worlds Day<\/strong>        <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":".simulated-list {\n  font-family: inherit;\n  line-height: 1.6;\n  padding-left: 1.5em;\n}\n\n.simulated-list p {\n  margin: 0.4em 0;\n}\n\n.simulated-list p::before {\n  content: \\\"\u2022 \\\";\n  color: #333;\n  font-weight: bold;\n}\n\n\n","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-220","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Yining ZHAO","author_link":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/author\/zhaoyi\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/220\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/un-virtual-worlds-day\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}