Draft Programme

The future of cities is being decided now. Be in the room.
Ambassadors, ministers, city leaders, and industry pioneers. Two days. One agenda: turning AI, spatial intelligence, and the citiverse into trusted, people-centred outcomes for cities and communities worldwide.

9:00 – 9:30 Opening Ceremony

Seizo Onoe

Seizo Onoe

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

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

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

Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona

Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona

Director, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on 3 October 2024 the appointment of Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona of Chile as Director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD).  She succeeds Paul Ladd of the United Kingdom, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedicated service and able leadership of the Institute.  The Secretary-General also wishes to extend his appreciation to Katja Hujo, Senior Research Coordinator and Head of the Bonn Office, UNRISD, who will continue to serve as Acting Director of UNRISD until Ms. Sepúlveda assumes her position.

Ms. Sepúlveda is currently Executive Director of the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Senior Research Associate at UNRISD.  Her 22-year career has focused on the intersection of poverty, development and human rights and has bridged research and policy formulation.  She worked as a researcher at the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights, a staff attorney at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, as the Co-Director of the Department of International Law and Human Rights of the United Nations-mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica (2002-2004) and as a Research Director at the International Council on Human Rights Policy, in Geneva (2006-2012).

Ms. Sepúlveda was United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, United Nations Human Rights Council (2008-2014), Member of the High-level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the United Nations Committee on World Food Security (2013-2017) and Member of the United Nations High-Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda.

She holds a PhD in International Law from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, an LLM in human rights law from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom and a post graduate diploma on comparative constitutional law from the Universidad Católica de Chile.  She speaks English, French and Spanish.

Director, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)

Sameer Chauhan

Sameer Chauhan

Director, United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)

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

Director, United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)

Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio

Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio

Deputy Chief Executive, United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF)

In October 2025, Mr. Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio of Italy (Western European and others States) was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief Executive of Pension Administration of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (D-2), following his service as Chief Information Officer (D-1) since January 2017.
Before joining the UNJSPF, Mr. Dell’Accio served as Chief of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Audit in the Office of Internal Oversight Services, and Information Security Officer in the ICT Service Division of the United Nations Secretariat. Previously, he served as Internal Auditor/ICT Auditor in UNICEF.
Prior to his assignments with the United Nations System, Mr. Dell’Accio worked as Internal Auditor and Business Process Analyst in the Institute for Loans and Deposits of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Mr. Dell’Accio holds several qualifications and professional certifications in ICT Management and Security, Auditing and Accounting. He holds Master’s degrees in Internal Auditing and ICT and Telecommunications Laws.

Deputy Chief Executive, United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF)

Edward Kwakwa

Edward Kwakwa

Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and
Partnerships Sector, WIPO

Edward Kwakwa is Assistant Director General, Global
Challenges and Partnerships Sector, World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva. He served as
General Counsel at WIPO from 2004 until September 2016.
Kwakwa holds an LL.B. degree from the University of Ghana,
an LL.M. from Queen’s University in Canada, and an LL.M.
and a J.S.D. from Yale Law School in the U.S.A.
Before joining WIPO, Kwakwa practiced with the law firm of O’Melveny and Myers in Washington, D.C., worked as International Legal Adviser at the Commission on Global Governance in Geneva, as Senior Legal Adviser at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and as Legal Affairs Officer at the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and
Partnerships Sector, WIPO

Christina Kitsos

Christina Kitsos

Vice Mayor of Geneva, Switzerland, and President of Global Cities Hub

Christina Kitsos is the Deputy Mayor, member of the Executive Council of Geneva (Administrative Council) and President of the Global Cities Hub. Since her election, she is in charge of the Department of Social Cohesion and Solidarity. On 1 June 2024 she became Mayor of the City of Geneva. On 13 April 2025, she is reelected to the Executive Council of Geneva. 

She began her political involvement as a member of the Youth Parliament. Her convictions in favor of equality, social and climate justice; and for an open society based on solidarity, led her to join the Socialist Party 20 years ago. She was member of the Parliament of Neuchâtel from 2005 to 2008 and of the Parliament of the City of Geneva from 2015 to 2020. 

Vice Mayor of Geneva, Switzerland, and President of Global Cities Hub

Hyoung Jun Kim

Hyoung Jun Kim

Chair of the 3rd UN Virtual Worlds Day and Chair, ITU-T study Group 20 “IoT, Digital Twin, Smart Sustainable Cities & Communities”

Dr Hyoung Jun Kim is a Research Fellow at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), where he has served since 1988, including as Senior Vice President leading the Intelligent Convergence Research Laboratory. With 37 years of experience, he has contributed across multiple divisions of ETRI and currently serves as Chair of ITU-T Study Group 20 and the APT Standardization Program (ASTAP). He has held numerous leadership roles in ITU, including Vice-Chair of SG20 and SG13, Working Party Chair, and Rapporteur since 2004.
Dr Kim has submitted over 450 standardization proposals, published 150+ papers, holds 100+ patents, and transferred 20 technologies to industry. His achievements have earned him three Presidential Citations of the Republic of Korea (2003, 2009, 2023) and multiple international recognitions, including ITU-T Certificates of Appreciation.

Chair of the 3rd UN Virtual Worlds Day and Chair, ITU-T Study Group 20 “IoT, Digital Twin, Smart Sustainable Cities & Communities”

09:30-10:00 – Shaping Trusted Digital Futures: An Ambassadors’ Roundtable on Delivering the Global Digital Compact

Agreements matter. But only what gets implemented changes lives.

The Global Digital Compact represents a historic convergence of political will around inclusive, trustworthy, and human-centred digital futures. The question now is not whether nations are committed, it is whether that commitment is being translated into policies, investments, and systems that actually reach people and communities.

This high-level roundtable convenes ambassadors and senior diplomatic representatives to examine what real-world delivery of the GDC looks like in the era of AI, spatial intelligence, and immersive environments and what role cities and governments must play as its primary implementation actors.

The conversation moves beyond principles to practice: how do nations align national strategies with global commitments? How do AI-enabled tools strengthen trust and accountability? And how do we ensure that the GDC delivers measurable, people-centred outcomes, not just on paper, but on the ground?

Bilel Jamoussi

Bilel Jamoussi

Deputy Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU

Dr. Bilel Jamoussi is Chief of the Study Groups Department at the International Telecommunication Union Standardization Bureau in Geneva Switzerland where he is responsible for the organization and management of the ITU-T Study Groups, Focus Groups, Global Standardization Initiatives, Joint Coordination Activities, and their secretariat.

Before joining ITU, Bilel was with Nortel for 15 years in Canada and then the United States where he held several leadership positions including Strategic Standards, Advanced Technology, University Research, Software Development for routing/switching platforms, and Data Network Engineering of major international customer networks.

As Director of the Strategic Standards organization within the office of the Chief Technical Officer (CTO), Bilel provided strategic technology direction and leadership for Nortel’s involvement in more than 90 standards development organizations, forums and consortia. He also contributed to the MIT one laptop per child (OLPC) initiative.

Bilel is an IEEE Senior Member. He was elected to the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) Board of Governors (BOG) and the IEEE-SA Corporate Advisory Group (CAG). He served on the IEEE Standards Education Committee, the IEEE-SA Nominations and Appointments Committee, the IEEE-SA BOG International ad hoc, and the Technical Liaison from IEEE-SA to ITU-T and ITU-D.

Bilel contributes to the innovation and advancement of technology in the ICT Field. He has 22 granted and filed US patents in diverse areas: packet, optical, wireless, and quality of service.

Bilel received a BS. ’89, MS. ’92, and PhD ’95 degrees in Computer Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, USA.

Moderator

Deputy Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU

H.E. Mrs Fancy Chepkemoi Too

H.E. Mrs Fancy Chepkemoi Too

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

Ambassador Fancy Chepkemoi Too is the Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations Office at Geneva, and is Chair of the G77 and China in Geneva this year.

Prior to her appointment in Geneva, she served in various senior positions within the Kenyan Government, including as Chairperson of Kenya’s National Environmental Complaints Committee and Director of the Kenya Revenue Authority. In 2023, she was awarded the distinguished Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear for her service. Ambassador Too is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and has also served in several senior academic positions.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

H.E. Mr Luigi Maria Vignali

H.E. Mr Luigi Maria Vignali

Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

Born in Rome, he entered the diplomatic career in 1989.

He has held, among others, the positions of Adviser in charge of general coordination at the Permanent Representation of Italy to the European Union in Brussels, Consul General in Jeddah, Head of the Competitions Department in the Directorate General for Personnel, and Head of the Coordination Unit of the Secretariat General.

After a year at Finmeccanica S.p.A., as Counsellor for International Relations to the CEO, he worked on the promotion of international sports events and subsequently served as Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the National Anti-Corruption Authority, as well as on the Independent Evaluation Body of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the beginning of 2016, he was appointed Central Director for Migration Issues and Visas and, since 31 May 2017, he has served as Director General for Italian Citizens Abroad and Migration Policies.

He is passionate about sports, travel, cinema, comics and music.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

H.E. Mrs. Francisca E. Méndez Escobar

H.E. Mrs. Francisca E. Méndez Escobar






Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

H.E. Mr Marat Kangarlinski

H.E. Mr Marat kangarlinski

Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

Higher Education 
Ph.D in the EU law, Queen’s University of Belfast, UK (2001-2006)   
LL.M in International Human Rights Law, University of Essex, UK (1999-2000)  
Diploma in Law, State University of Baku, Azerbaijan (1992-1997)  
Work experience   
December 2025- now

Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva  
2006- 2025 
 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of the Department for Humanitarian and Social Issues, Deputy Head of the Department for Human Rights, various posts at the diplomatic missions abroad 
2017-2021 
 Counsellor. Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Germany, Berlin. 

2007-2011  
Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva  
2002-2003 
Lawyer. The European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg, France 
2001 
National Project Co-ordinator. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)   
1997- 2000 
National Programme Officer. International Organization for Migration (IOM)  
1996-1997 
 State Concern for Civil Aviation, AZAL 
1990- 1996        
Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan   
Academic experience 
2006-2007 
 Lecturer. Western University, Baku, Azerbaijan 
Other experience 
2001  
Consultant to the Human Rights Commission, The Centre for Humanitarian Studies, national NGO, Baku, Azerbaijan  
2003-2005 
Expert of the Council of Europe on the European Convention on Human Rights 
Publications 
1. “Displaced Persons from the Chechnya Crisis”, Central Asia and Caucasus, Information and Analytical Centre, Sweden (2001)  
2. “EU Responses in the Aftermath of Terrorist Attacks: Some Legal Aspects Affecting Human Rights and Refugees”, (2002)  
3. “Aid Strategies Target Sustainable Development in Azerbaijan”, Migration Information Source (2004) 
4. “Jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights in Conflict Areas: Who is Responsible for Violations in Nagorno-Karabakh”, Journal of Turkish Weekly (2005)  
5. The EU’s New External Borders and Restrictions in Immigration and Asylum Policies”, UACES European Studies Online Essays (2005)  
6. “Restrictions in EU Immigration and Asylum Policies in Light of International Human Rights Standards”, Essex Human Rights Review Vol. 4, No.2 (2007), University of Essex  
7. “Applicability of the European Convention on Human Rights in the Legal System of Azerbaijan”, Journal of Human Rights and Civil Society (2007),  
John Hopkins University  
8.”EU Immigration and Asylum Policies: Challenging the Legitimacy of Restrictions”, Georgetown Public Policy Review, Vol. 12, No.1, Georgetown University (2007) 
9. “The Protection of Migrants under the Jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights”, World of Diplomacy Journal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan  
10. “Ten Years of Azerbaijan’s Membership in the Council of Europe: A Look Back and into the Future”, Azerbaijan in the World, Journal of the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy, Vol. 3, No. 16-17 (September 1, 2010) 
Languages: 
Azerbaijani (mother tongue), English (fluent), Russian (fluent), French (good) 
 
 
 

Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

10:00-10:15 – Launch of the Executive Briefing on AI, Spatial Intelligence and the AI-Enabled Citiverse

10:15-10:30 – Fireside Chat: The GDC Stops Here: How One Nation is Turning Global Principles into People-Centred Action

Global agreements don’t implement themselves. Someone has to make them real.

This fireside chat puts that responsibility centre stage in conversation with a minister doing the hard work of turning the Global Digital Compact from diplomatic commitment into concrete national action, aligning national digital strategies with global principles while building trust, driving inclusion, and staying accountable in the age of AI, spatial intelligence, and virtual worlds.

One country. One minister. One honest conversation about what it really takes to turn the GDC into outcomes that people can feel.

Sameer Chauhan

Sameer Chauhan

Director, UNICC

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

Moderator

Director, UNICC

H.E. Ms Angellah Jasmine Mbelwa Kairuki

H.E. Ms Angellah Jasmine Mbelwa Kairuki

Minister, Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology, Tanzania

Minister, Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology, Tanzania

10:30-11:00 – Keynote: The AI-Enabled Citiverse: Turning Intelligence into Real City Impact

This keynote articulates a transformative vision for cities and explores how the convergence of artificial intelligence, immersive virtual environments, and other frontier technologies is enabling a new paradigm for city governance: the AI-Enabled Citiverse.

The keynote will highlight how recent advances in generative AI, agentic systems, and urban digital platforms are allowing cities to translate intelligence into tangible outcomes. Framed within the global agenda for sustainable and human-centric urban development, the session will present the Citiverse as a forward-looking vision where AI augments human decision-making, strengthens public institutions, and enables cities to deliver measurable societal impact in an increasingly complex world.

Okan Geray

Okan Geray

Senior Digital City Strategy Advisor, Digital Dubai and Chair of the Steering Committee of the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI – Discovering the Citiverse

Dr. Okan Geray has more than 25 years of experience in consulting and advisory roles across various industries. He has consulted for a number of organizations in Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Turkey and Dubai. He worked at A.T. Kearney global management consulting firm for 6 years and was a member of the Global Telecommunications and Higher Technology core team before he joined Dubai Government in 2002. He has worked as the Strategic Planning Advisor in Dubai eGovernment, Dubai Smart Government, Smart Dubai Office and recently Dubai Digital Authority. His responsibilities include Strategic Planning, Strategic Performance Management and Policy Making among others.
Dr. Geray is the U4SSC Chair (U4SSC is a UN initiative coordinated by ITU, UNECE and UN-Habitat and supported by other 16 UN bodies, that help support the development of institutional policies and strategies which encourage the use of digital technologies to facilitate digital transformation and ease the transition to smart sustainable cities). He is leading several thematic groups globally for U4SSC namely “Guidelines on Strategies for Circular Cities”, “City Science Application Framework”, “AI in Cities”, “Enabling People-Centered Cities through Digital Transformation”, and “Digital Wellbeing”.
Dr. Geray is the Co-Rapporteur of the ITU Study Group 20, Question 7 on “Evaluation and assessment of Smart Sustainable Cities and Communities”. He is a member of the IEC-ISO-ITU Joint Smart Cities Task Force (J-SCTF). He is Co-Chairing the Working Group “Economic, regulatory & competition aspects” in the ITU Focus Group on metaverse (FG-MV). He was also the Co-Chair of the “Data Economy Impact, Commercialization and Monetization” Working Group, part of the ITU Focus Group on Data Processing and Management.
Dr. Geray holds a double major B. Sc. degree in Industrial and Computer Engineering from Bosphorus University in Istanbul Turkey, an M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. degree in Systems and Control Engineering from the University of Massachusetts in the US. He has published several journal and conference papers and was an adjunct lecturer in management for 15 years.

Senior Digital City Strategy Advisor, Digital Dubai and Chair of the Steering Committee of the Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds – Discovering the Citiverse

11:00-11:30 Coffee break

11:30-12:30 High Level Dialogue: Toward the Citiverse: How Cities Learn, Test, and Decide with Agentic, Physical, and Spatial AI

The citiverse is not a destination, it’s a direction. And cities are already moving.

Spatial AI, digital twins, and agentic systems are reshaping how urban leaders simulate crises, stress-test policies, and make decisions that ripple across millions of lives before a single brick is laid or budget line signed.

But raw capability is not enough. Who governs these systems? Who trusts them? And how do we ensure no city and no community is left behind?

This high-level dialogue convenes city leaders, policymakers, and industry pioneers to move from vision to governance examining the trusted frameworks, interoperability standards, and international collaboration needed to ensure the AI-enabled citiverse serves the public good: transparently, equitably, and across borders.

Paul Wilson

Paul Wilson

Advisory Board Chair, Smart Cities Worlds

Paul is Chair of the Advisory Board for Smart Cities World, read by over 1.6m people worldwide, Smart Cities World provides daily news coverage and weekly features about the fast-changing world of urban innovation.  Paul is the Founder of GroundedThinking.net.  He is also Senior Advisor at Open Agile Smart Cities with 170 city members and an honorary Research Fellow at the University of Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab.  Most recently Paul was Chief Business Officer, Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and place leadership.  

Paul co-hosts the Urban Exchange podcast with the Resilient Cities Network, the Bentley Horizons podcast about the future of infrastructure, and The Living Network podcast with the Smart Internet Lab at the University of Bristol about the future of digital infrastructure.  He combines an in-depth understanding of digital technology with a strong understanding of public policy processes, and a concern for nature.   

Paul draws on 30 years’ international leadership experience in technology and cities.  Earlier in his career he was Chief Marketing Officer of $3Bn fintech company SunGard Financial Systems.  He then led the development of the first economic growth strategy for the Bristol and Bath City Region as Chief Executive of the West of England LEP, winning £260m of investment from Government.  After this he founded the pioneering Smart City Project ‘Bristol Is Open’, winning numerous international Smart City awards, and became a founder and Board member of the UK Government’s UK5G.  Paul became telecoms industry association TM Forum’s Smart City International Advisor and then its Chief Marketing Officer, creating the ‘City as a Platform Manifesto’, attracting 300+ signatories from Governments, Companies and Cities worldwide.  

Paul has lived in London, Hong Kong and Geneva, and worked extensively in America. Today he lives with his family in Bristol, England.   He holds an eMBA from Cass Business School, a post-graduate diploma in broadcast journalism from City University London and a BSocSc Political Science from the University of Birmingham, UK.  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-wilson-0724872/ 

Moderator

Advisory Board Chair, Smart Cities Worlds

Manuel de Araújo

Manuel de Araújo

Mayor of Quelimane, Mozambique

Mayor of Quelimane, Mozambique

Paula Llobet Vilarrasa

Paula Llobet Vilarrasa

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

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

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

Gesa Ziemer

Gesa Ziemer

Academic lead, United Nations Information, Training and Analysis Center (UNITAC) & Director of City Science Lab of HafenCity University

Gesa Ziemer (Prof. Dr. phil.) is Professor for Digital Urban Cultures at the HafenCity University Hamburg.

She heads the CityScienceLab, a cooperation with the MIT Media Lab (Cambridge, MA, USA), which researches on the future of cities (with a special focus put on digitalisation).

She is also the academic director of UNITAC, a United Nations Innovation and Technology Lab (UN Habitat, OICT) that conducts global research on the use of technology in informal settlements. 

She is co-founder of the digital geo-referenced workspace comaps. 

She was Humbolt-Scholarship recipient (Feodor Lynen program) at Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge/ USA in 2020/21.  

From 2012 to 2020 she was Vice President Research at HafenCity University Hamburg.

Academic Lead, United Nations Information, Training and Analysis Center (UNITAC) & Director of City Science Lab of HafenCity University

Roland van der Heijden

Roland van der Heijden

Chief Citiverse Officer, City of Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Roland is from origin a city planner with a strong interest in cities, as well historically as towards the future. He also is interested in data and digital and worked with GIS for years. All came together in the concept of the ‘digital city’, a program he managed from start (in 2018) to finish (in 2024) and which delivered, amongst others, a vision on the city of tomorrow: a social-physical-digital city. Since the beginning of 2025 he ran the new program ‘Rotterdam Citiverse’, which builds further on this vision, with a explicit focus on the impact of the digital transformation on the city as a whole and the citizen in particular. Since october 2025 he has a new role as Chief Citiverse Officer, with two particular focuspoints: (1) meaning and definition of the citiverse and understanding its potential as a driving concept for transformation, and (2) the importance of interoperability to create a federative world of interconnected digital ecosystems in which data can flow in a safe, responsible and transparent way. 

Chief Citiverse Officer, City of Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Q&A 

12:30-12:45 Fireside Chat: Grounding Virtual Worlds in Ethics — From Human Meaning to Institutional Certification

As virtual worlds expand their reach across governance, community, and human experience, the question of how artificial intelligence is deployed within them — and to what ends — becomes one of both profound ethical significance and institutional responsibility.

This fireside chat brings together two distinct yet deeply complementary perspectives on the responsible and ethical use of AI in digital environments.

Together, the speakers invite reflection on a shared conviction: that ethical AI governance is not merely a compliance exercise, but a moral commitment to ensuring that the virtual spaces we build serve the fullness of the human person.

Cristina Bueti​

Cristina Bueti​

Counsellor, ITU

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

Moderator

Counsellor, ITU

Msgr. Lucio Adrián Ruiz

Msgr. Lucio Adrián Ruiz

Secretary of the Dicastery for Communication, Holy See

Msgr. Lucio Adrián Ruiz born in Argentina in 1965, was ordained Diocesan Priest in 1990.

Licentiate of Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome (thesis in Theology of Communication); Master in Business Administration (MBA), and Doctorate (PhD) from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Superior Technical School of Telecommunications Engineering, in the Biomedical Engineering program.

He has been IT-Assessor of the Argentine Episcopal Conference; Executive Secretary of the System Office of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) Bogota and Technical Coordinator of the Digital Network of the Church in Latin America (RIIAL); President of the Center for Training and Software Development for the Church in Latin America Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe; Systems Manager for the Congregation for the Clergy and collaborator of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

He has taught Digital Technologies at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome and Meta-languages of communication at the Instituto Teológico Pastoral, (ITEPAL), Colombia.

He has addressed numerous conferences, seminars and written articles on the subject of the Church in the Digital Age.

Head Office of the Vatican Internet Service of the Direction of Telecommunication, Vatican until June 2015, when he was appointed until now Secretary of the Dicastery for Communication.

Secretary of the Dicastery for Communication, Holy See

Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio

Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio

Deputy Chief Executive, UNJSPF

In October 2025, Mr. Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio of Italy (Western European and others States) was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief Executive of Pension Administration of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (D-2), following his service as Chief Information Officer (D-1) since January 2017.
Before joining the UNJSPF, Mr. Dell’Accio served as Chief of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Audit in the Office of Internal Oversight Services, and Information Security Officer in the ICT Service Division of the United Nations Secretariat. Previously, he served as Internal Auditor/ICT Auditor in UNICEF.
Prior to his assignments with the United Nations System, Mr. Dell’Accio worked as Internal Auditor and Business Process Analyst in the Institute for Loans and Deposits of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Mr. Dell’Accio holds several qualifications and professional certifications in ICT Management and Security, Auditing and Accounting. He holds Master’s degrees in Internal Auditing and ICT and Telecommunications Laws.

Deputy Chief Executive, UNJSPF

12:45-13:45 – Lunch break & Exhibition

13:45-14:15 – Session 1: Spatial Intelligence for Decision-Making in the Citiverse: Encoding Space, Behavior, and Policy

Spatial intelligence sits at the intersection of virtual worlds, AI, and the physical environment, enabling cities and institutions to integrate geospatial data, simulations, and AI-driven analytics to model real-world systems from urban planning and mobility to climate resilience and disaster response. This panel brings together industry practitioners working on spatial intelligence–driven world models to share insights relevant to the emerging Citiverse. The discussion will examine how space, behavior, and policy constraints are encoded into world models to support decision-making for planning, simulation, and scenario analysis, while also addressing critical policy considerations such as data sovereignty, privacy, algorithmic accountability, inclusiveness, and citizen consent. Panelists will reflect on what it takes to translate experimental virtual worlds into decision-grade systems that deliver transparency, trust, and public value, particularly for cities and communities in the Global South.

Prema Chandrashekhar

Prema Chandrashekhar

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

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

Moderator

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

Fisnik Shpuza

Fisnik Shpuza

Head of Technology Innovation Office, World Bank Group

Fisnik is the Head of the World Bank Group’s Technology Innovation Office, based in Washington, DC. Fisnik leads strategic technology innovation initiatives that support development impact, supporting the World Bank Group’s mission, with a particular focus on translating emerging technologies into tools that deliver real value. Fisnik brings over 20 years of enterprise transformation experience, most recently at AARP, one of the largest non-profit organizations in the United States, where he led AI and automation innovation serving more than 30 million members. Fisnik built the organization’s automation capability from the ground up and standardized responsible GenAI adoption at enterprise scale. His work spans AI, machine learning, and intelligent systems, including patented innovations in human movement tracking and health data analytics.

Head of Technology Innovation Office, World Bank Group

Ievgen Kylymnyk

Ievgen Kylymnyk

City Experiment Fund Manager, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Ievgen Kylymnyk is an Innovation Specialist and Regional Project Manager with UNDP Eurasia, where he works on innovation, systems transformation, and regional programming across Europe and Central Asia. In his current role, Mr. Kylymnyk manages the City Experiment Fund, a UNDP Eurasia initiative that supports cities across Europe and Central Asia in developing and implementing portfolio-based approaches to complex urban challenges, with a focus on innovation, systems transformation, and the green and digital transition.

Prior to this role, Mr. Kylymnyk served as an Innovation Officer with the United Nations Secretariat, where he contributed to innovation initiatives in the peace and security field, including work related to emerging technologies and institutional innovation. Before that, he was Head of Exploration at the UNDP Accelerator Lab in Ukraine, where he led efforts to identify, test, and scale innovative responses to governance and sustainable development challenges. His work has included the application of collective intelligence, participatory foresight, and portfolio approaches, as well as support to knowledge exchange across UNDP’s broader innovation network.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Kylymnyk held positions with the European Union Advisory Mission to Ukraine and the Office of the President of Ukraine, where he worked on strategy, public policy, donor coordination, and e-governance reform.

Mr. Kylymnyk holds advanced degrees in international law, public policy, and computer science. His professional interests lie in connecting innovation practice, institutional change, and long-term strategic transformation.

City Experiment Fund Manager, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Denisa Constantinescu

Denisa Constantinescu

Researcher, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) 

Dr. Denisa Constantinescu leads research at EPFL in Lausanne on AI, sustainable computing, and climate-resilient urban systems. In the UrbanTwin project, she develops scalable ICT methods for urban digital twins, including privacy-preserving environmental sensing, to support decision-making for the energy transition and climate adaptation in Swiss cities. Her research focuses on urban sensing and livability and includes collaboration with the MIT Senseable City Lab on large-scale insect monitoring in Amsterdam. She is Project Manager and lead scientist of the SEAMS consortium, advancing sustainable scientific computing for the SKA Observatory, and has contributed to CEO-DC, a framework for reducing the carbon footprint of AI data centers. She brings experience in international research leadership, including securing and managing international grants, building cross-disciplinary collaborations, and mentoring through the IMFAHE International Mentor Program.

Researcher, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

Q&A 

14:15-14:45 – Keynote on How Physical AI is Rewiring Urban Infrastructure

The strategy is set. Now comes the hard engineering.

Physical AI is moving beyond screens and servers into the roads, grids, pipes, and networks that cities run on. As intelligent systems gain the ability to perceive, reason, and act directly within real-world infrastructure, the boundary between digital and physical is dissolving. This is the phygital convergence and it is redefining what urban resilience, efficiency, and sustainability actually look like in practice.

This short keynote will explore three real-world examples of physical AI deployment in urban spaces and will discuss how governance is helping to manage risks.

Jonathan Reichental

Jonathan Reichental

Founder of Human Future, Professor, and Author

Dr. Jonathan Reichental is the founder of Human Future, a global business and technology advisory, investment, and education firm. Previous roles have included senior software engineering manager, director of technology innovation, and he has served as chief information officer at both O’Reilly Media and the City of Palo Alto, California.

In 2013 he was recognized as one of the 25 doers, dreamers, and drivers in government in America. In 2016, he was named a top influential CIO in the United States and in 2017, he was named one of the top 100 CIOs in the world. He has also won a best CIO in Silicon Valley award and a national IT leadership prize.

Reichental is a recognized global thought leader on a number of emerging trends including urban innovation, smart cities, sustainability, blockchain technology, data governance, the fourth industrial revolution, and digital transformation.

He holds several degrees including a Ph.D. in Information Systems. He is an adjunct professor in the School of Management at the University of San Francisco and instructs at several other universities. Reichental regularly creates online video courses for LinkedIn Learning and Coursera.

Reichental is a popular global keynote speaker and writer. He writes for Forbes and has published many books including: Smart Cities for Dummies, Exploring Smart Cities Activity Book for Kids, and Data Governance for Dummies.

Founder of Human Future, Professor, and Author

14:45-15:30 – Session 2: Housing, Energy and Climate: Building Resilient Communities with AI, Digital Twins, and Spatial Technologies

The stakes could not be higher. Housing is unaffordable. Energy systems are under pressure. Climate change is accelerating. And cities are on the front line of all three.

This session explores how AI, digital twins, and spatial technologies are giving decision-makers something they have never had before: the ability to see around corners. To anticipate housing demand before it becomes a crisis. To optimise energy grids before they fail. To model climate impacts before they strike.

Drawing on real-world examples from cities and communities already deploying these tools, the session examines how data-driven insight is enabling more inclusive, sustainable, and future-proof development and what it takes to ensure these capabilities reach the communities that need them most.

Kamelia Kemileva

Kamelia Kemileva

Co-Director, Global Cities Hub

Kamelia Kemileva, holding an MBA, has in-depth experience in executive administration of non-profit organisations. She is a lawyer, specialized in Swiss law relevant to international organisations and international public law, including expertise on the United Nations. Kamelia also has a direct experience of intergovernmental multilateral negotiation and diplomacy. 

Before joining the Global Cities Hub, Kamelia was Executive Manager at the Geneva Academy. She also worked as Special Assistant to the President of the UN Human Rights Council for three years. She was a Visiting Programme Director at Wilton Park. Previously to that, she worked at the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office in Geneva. 

Before moving to the public sector, Kamelia worked for two years in the private sector in a Geneva-based private bank as a compliance officer. She’s a Senior Consultant at AxLR.ch. 

Moderator

Co-Director, Global Cities Hub

Niek Verschure

Niek Verschure

Ing. and Drs./MScBA, Sr. Project manager Digital Twins ‘s-Hertogenbosch / Consortium leader DTaCoGo 

As a Project manager Digital Twins at the Municipality of ’sHertogenbosch he plays a central role in convergion of current Digital Twin initiatives, using a more solid future proof architecture, to make them more interoperable. Also he fosters new initiatives to be successful, helping them to scale and be implemented as solid managed solutions that fit the architecture.  

Niek is consortium leader of the EU project ‘Digital Twin as a Common Good’ (DT-aCoGo), led by the city of s-Hertogenbosch (may 2025 – sept 2026).  

This EU project creates a dataspace which is used as a foundation for Digital Twins for 3 EU cities (Rotterdam, Tampere and ‘s-Hertogenbosch).  

It will use open & private data, and create interoperability between 1-Datasets, 2-Digital twin Viewer and 3-several independent calculation models.  

Using these interoperable components, scenario’s will be tested in which heat stress and flood risk management are combined with traffic congestion reduction for Climate Adaptive Urban Design.  

With a strong interdisciplinary background combining engineering / IT with Management skills and business administration, Niek bridges the gap between technology, strategy, and public value. Niek is known for his analytical mindset, collaborative leadership style, and ability to translate emerging technologies into practical applications.  

Senior Project Manager, City of ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Ntando Khuzwayo

Ntando Khuzwayo

Ward Councillor, Durban Central Business District, eThekwini Municipality

Councillor Ntando Khuzwayo is a South African public servant, community leader, and governance practitioner with over two decades of leadership experience across civic, youth, and political sectors. He currently serves as Ward Councillor for Durban’s Central Business District within eThekwini Municipality, where he leads initiatives focused on urban renewal, public safety, and inclusive economic participation in one of the country’s most dynamic urban spaces.

A member of the African National Congress Youth League, his leadership journey is rooted in student and youth activism through the South African Students Congress and the Young Communist League, reflecting a lifelong commitment to social transformation and participatory governance.

He serves as Co-Chairperson of the Governance and Human Resources Committee in eThekwini Municipality, providing strategic oversight on institutional governance, human capital, and administrative accountability. He is also Board Chairman of the Durban Pension Fund and Board Chairman of Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, contributing to financial governance and public healthcare leadership at scale.

Councillor Khuzwayo holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of South Africa and a Master of Public Administration from the Management College of Southern Africa. His work is driven by a strong interest in governance innovation, digital transformation, and the role of emerging technologies in building more inclusive, responsive, and sustainable cities.

Ward Councillor, Durban Central Business District, eThekwini Municipality

Dario Liguti

Dario Liguti

Director, UNECE Energy, Housing and Land Management Division

Director, UNECE Energy, Housing and Land Management Division

Aline Matta

Aline Matta

Senior Programme Management Officer, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

Aline Matta is a Senior Programme Management Officer at the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and currently serves as Head of the Geneva Liaison Office. At UN-Habitat, Ms. Matta also oversees the United Nations Innovation Technology Accelerator for Cities (UNITAC) and the Data and Innovation Section, where she leads the People-Centered Smart Cities Programme and coordinates the Global Urban Data Coalition. Prior to her current role, Ms. Matta worked at the OECD and held senior positions within the Brazilian government, with experience spanning smart cities, digital transformation, and service across public, private, and non-profit sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in Development, Society and International Cooperation.

Head of the Geneva Liaison Office, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

Q&A

15:30-15:45 – Keynote on AI, Digital Value and the Future of Work: Why Your Data Strategy Matters More Than Your Dashboards

Most organizations talk about AI and digital transformation, yet still operate with scattered Excel files, “dark data,” and ad hoc SQL/Python scripts buried within business teams. This session will explore how building a centralized, governed data foundation, such as a data lake or data warehouse, can fundamentally transform both the value that can be extracted from data and the nature of work itself.

The discussion will highlight how applying cybersecurity controls, AI-driven data quality checks, and robust data and AI governance at the platform level can create a single, trusted source of truth, significantly reducing reconciliation challenges and inconsistencies. It will also examine the emerging roles required in this model, including data engineers, analytics engineers, data product owners, and AI governance specialists, compared with the current pattern of isolated “shadow IT” developers embedded within business teams.

The session will further demonstrate how virtual agents can extract and normalize data from PDFs, manual reports, and emails into a shared data platform, unlocking new digital value while enabling staff to focus on higher-order analysis and decision-making. Participants will gain a practical vision of how organizations can redesign their data landscape to power AI responsibly and reshape the future of work.

Agata Ruta

Agata Ruta

Chief Operations Officer, UNJSPF/Office of Investment Management

A Polish national with a global perspective, Agata has built her career at the intersection of technology, finance, and innovation, working across Poland, India, Colombia, and most recently, spending six transformative years in Belize. As a leader in digitalization and innovation, she has championed projects that have reshaped operations and expanded financial inclusion in Belize and throughout the region. 

Agata’s passion lies in harnessing technology, artificial intelligence, and automation to drive operational excellence and empower teams. She believes that by working smarter and leveraging digital tools, organizations can free up valuable time—allowing people to tackle more complex challenges, think creatively, and grow both professionally and personally. 

Her international expertise was forged through high-stakes roles in mergers and acquisitions with fintech giant Naspers, where she orchestrated online payment systems across Europe, India, and South America. Her journey spans consulting, operational management, and executive leadership. Agata is known for her hands-on approach, her commitment to customer-centric strategies, and her ability to build high-performing, diverse teams that deliver tangible results. 

This global perspective, combined with her deep understanding of emerging markets, enables her to create unique value propositions that unlock untapped growth potential. 

Agata’s education background reflects her commitment to continuous learning and excellence. She holds an MBA from Georgia State University, a Master’s degree in Economics from the Poznań University of Economics, and certifications in E-commerce Management from Harvard Business School and Strategic Planning from the American Management Association. This strong academic foundation has equipped her to lead complex projects and drive innovation in fast-changing markets. 

Agata’s objective is to make technology work for people, not the other way around, and to inspire others to embrace change, innovate boldly, and use the time gained through efficiency to unlock their full potential. “My mission is simple: harness the power of technology to create more meaningful work and more connected communities. When we automate the routine, we liberate the extraordinary.” 

 Chief Operations Officer, Office of Investment Management, United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF)

15:45-16:30 – Session 3: Work, Wealth, and Worlds: AI, Digital Assets, and the New Digital Economy

The digital economy is not coming. It is already here and it is impacting how value is created, owned, and distributed.

AI, VR, automation, robotics, and blockchain are converging to reshape entire sectors from tourism and creative industries to agriculture, finance and urban services. New economic models are emerging around digital assets, immersive experiences, and data-driven services that blur the line between physical and digital worlds. And with them come urgent questions: Who owns what? Who captures the value? Who gets left out?

This session will explore how to harness these shifts unlocking growth and opportunity, including through digital assets, intellectual property and skills that ensure the digital economy works for everyone, everywhere.   

Anita Lamprecht

Anita Lamprecht

International Lawyer and Change Agent

Dr Anita Lamprecht is an international lawyer and researcher focused on the governance of emerging technologies and futures literacy. Her perspective is informed by more than two decades of international legal practice, spanning Vienna, Geneva, London, and Dubai. This trajectory through diverse legal systems and cultures has shaped her commitment to navigating the complexities of today’s converging physical and digital worlds.

Anita’s work addresses the renewal of the social contract between technology and society, a theme central to her pioneering book UN 2.0 and the Metaverse. She is the creator of the Digital Twins of Law concept, a framework utilising digital twin technology to transform rigid legal systems into proactive, adaptive models to manage the complexity of the new digital economy while ensuring human agency.

A recognised voice in the field, her expertise has been featured at the Augmented World Expo (AWE) and in the ARTE/ZDF documentary Abuse in the World of Online Games. Anita serves as an expert evaluator for COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) and holds a Doctorate in Law from the University of Vienna. Her multidisciplinary foundation is complemented by special diplomas in Legal Tech, Internet Governance, and the Laws of Religion and Cultures, enabling her to decode the complex narratives and unwritten values that drive global legal evolution.

Moderator

International Lawyer and Change Agent

Sebastian Rovira

Sebastian Rovira

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

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

 Chief, Digital Transformation Unit, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)

Ryszard Frelek

Ryszard Frelek

World Intellectual Property Organization

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

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

Nevena Alexandrova-Stefanova

Nevena Alexandrova-Stefanova

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

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

Innovation Officer (Policies, Systems and Foresight), Unit leader, Officer of Innovation, Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nations

Javier González-Lliberós Vilarrasa

Javier González-Lliberós Vilarrasa

Senior Project Specialist, UN Tourism 

Innovation and Artificial Intelligence specialist currently serving as Senior Project Specialist at UN Tourism in Madrid, where he leads global initiatives at the intersection of tourism, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation. His work focuses on designing and scaling programs that leverage emerging technologies—including AI—to foster innovation ecosystems, empower startups, and drive inclusive economic development across multiple countries.

Prior to this, he worked at Microsoft, where he managed large-scale AI skilling programs across EMEA, helping expand access to digital and artificial intelligence capabilities for millions of learners, particularly within underserved communities. This experience strengthened his expertise in deploying AI for social impact, building cross-sector partnerships, and delivering measurable outcomes at scale.

With a background spanning international finance, public-private partnerships, and global development, he brings a strategic, data-driven approach to innovation. His career reflects a strong commitment to harnessing technology and innovation as a catalyst for sustainable growth, inclusion, and transformation.

Senior Project Specialist, UN Tourism 

Q&A

16:30-16:50 – Coffee break

16:50-17:35 – Session 4: Trust by Design: Rights, Safety, and Human Dignity in the AI-Enabled Citiverse

Innovation without safeguards doesn’t just slow progress — it undermines it.

As AI, spatial intelligence, and immersive environments converge into the AI-enabled citiverse, security, reliability, and accessibility are not constraints on innovation — they are the foundation that makes it sustainable and competitive.

This session examines what it means to build trust by design, safeguarding rights, protecting vulnerable users, and establishing the interoperability and security standards that allow cities and nations to deploy these technologies with confidence, at scale, and across borders.

The countries and cities that lead on trusted AI won’t just build better digital worlds, they will set the global standard.

Ilcheong Yi

Ilcheong Yi

Head of Partnerships & Senior Research Coordinator, UNRISD

Ilcheong YI is Head of Partnerships & Senior Research Coordinator at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), where he leads the programme on Alternative Economies for Transformation. He serves as AI focal point of UNRISD and represents the Institute at the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) as Chairperson for 2026–2027. He joined UNRISD in October 2008.

Born in the Republic of Korea, he was trained as a political scientist (B.A. and M.A. in Political Science, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea) and as a social policy analyst (D.Phil. in Social Policy, University of Oxford, United Kingdom). His specialization lies in the areas of poverty, social policy, labour policy, the social and solidarity economy, and the historical analysis of economic and social development processes. He has published widely on social policy, development, and alternative economies, and has contributed to advancing global scholarship on the social and solidarity economy (SSE) in particular. He is also the lead editor of the Encyclopedia of the Social and Solidarity Economy (Edward Elgar, 2023), a major reference work in the field.

Prior to joining UNRISD, Ilcheong was Associate Professor at Kyushu University, Japan (2004–2008), Korea Foundation Visiting Professor in the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Malaya, Malaysia (2003–2004), and Visiting Research Fellow at the Stein Rokkan Centre, University of Bergen, Norway (2002–2003).

Moderator

Head of Partnerships & Senior Research Coordinator, UNRISD

Pilar Orero

Pilar Orero

Leader of Digital Inclusion and Accessibility Track & Professor, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

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

Leader of Digital Inclusion and Accessibility Track & Professor, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Massimiliano Claps

Massimiliano Claps

Research Director, Government Insights, International Data Corporation (IDC)

Massimiliano (Max) Claps is the research director for the Worldwide National Government AI, Platforms and Technologies research in IDC’s Government Insights practice. In this role, Max provides research and advisory services, on digital citizen experience, data and data sharing, AI and automation, cloud computing, and digital sovereignty.

Max Claps has 24 years of public sector experience. He joined IDC in 2002 as the lead analyst for the government, healthcare, and education industries in Europe. He has since held various analyst and management roles at IDC advising tech suppliers, public sector IT leaders and policymakers globally.  His research encompassed artificial intelligence, edge computing, cloud computing, shared services, digital services, smart cities, and sustainable mobility. Max also worked for five years at Gartner and two years at SAP.

Claps holds a degree in international business from Bocconi University in Italy.
Throughout his career at IDC, Max Claps has co-authored several studies on behalf of the European Commission on topics like eGovernment, location data and intelligence, cloud computing, and data spaces.
Max Claps has actively contributed to the ITU- United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC), and the ITU focus group on Metaverse, with a focus on inclusion.

Research Director, Government Insights, International Data Corporation (IDC)

Helen Koepman

Helen Koepman

Deputy Head of Unit, AI for Societal Good, AI Office, European Commission

Helen Köpman is Deputy Head of Unit for AI for Societal Good, at DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG Connect) at the European Commission in Brussels. The unit is developing and showcasing AI-driven digital twins, delivering tangible solutions for efficient and sustainable operation of cities and communities, and is responsible for the Citiverse – European Digital Infrastructure Consortium. It is also implementing the international engagement of the AI Office in delivering AI solutions for the public good.

Prior to this position she was leading development of innovation across digital policies and programmes in DG Connect, with particular focus on EU support to deployment of blockchain technologies and on scaling up of European deep tech startups. She has also been managing EC supported research and innovation in ICT applied to mobility including electric and automated driving and supported International Scientific Cooperation.

She has a M.Sc. in Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering, from the University of Linköping, Sweden. Ms Köpman joined the European Commission in 2003 following thorough industrial experience in the management of ICT systems integration and service development in several international companies. Her core interest is to support ICT based European tech companies to reach their full market potential with product and services that benefits the citizens.

Deputy Head of Unit, AI for Societal Good, AI Office, European Commission

Ramy Ahmed Fathy

Ramy Ahmed Fathy

Chief of International Cybersecurity & Vice- Presidency for Cybersecurity, NTRA | EG-CERT

Dr. Fathy is a highly accomplished digital transformation and technology executive with over 20 years of experience in the ICT and regulatory sectors. He has a proven track record of leading large-scale digital initiatives at the intersection of technology and public policy, leveraging strategic vision and exceptional communication skills to influence C-level decision-making. His expertise spans corporate governance, technology and product development, risk and financial oversight, cyber-risk management, talent management, strategic planning, and digital transformation.

Over his career, Dr. Fathy has led key regulatory teams across strategy and market development, economic analysis, regulatory impact assessment, standardization, international policy, and Industry 4.0 planning. In his current role as Chief of International Cybersecurity with NTRA|EG-CERT, he has shaped Egypt’s international cyber posture by designing its cybersecurity cooperation strategy aligned with UN and industry frameworks, led bilateral and multilateral engagements, and spearheaded technical and policy development to mitigate cyber threats. He has negotiated public–private partnerships with global technology companies to strengthen Egypt’s cyber defenses, initiated joint academic research collaborations bridging policy and emerging technologies, contributed to international standards on cybersecurity governance, smart cities, and digital trust, and has led regional critical infrastructure protection initiatives -collectively positioning Egypt as a leading multilateral voice on ICT security. He has also played an active role in combating cybercrime, coordinating with law enforcement, judicial, and international agencies to enhance cross-border investigative capabilities and inter-agency readiness.

Dr. Fathy’s work has driven the development of secure digital transformation solutions across smart cities, smart mobility, smart energy, artificial intelligence, water management, and digital agriculture. His recent efforts have focused on building legal and regulatory frameworks to advance the AI industry and address its emerging risks.

An active contributor to IEEE and ITU standardization, Dr. Fathy joined the IEEE Standards Association Standards Board (SASB) in 2021 and serves on several of its standing committees. He has held key ITU roles for over 20 years, including serving on the ITU Council, TSAG, and various study and focus groups. He currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC) initiative – a global UN effort supported by 20 agencies guiding cities toward the Sustainable Development Goals -and chairs one of its Thematic Group on Digital Public Infrastructure for Cities (TG-DPI4Cities).

Dr. Fathy holds a PhD in Electronics & Communications, specializing in cognitive radio systems, and a Master’s degree in cryptography. He has published extensively in scholarly journals and conferences and has edited numerous standards and international frameworks on digital public infrastructure, IoT, and smart cities. As a visiting fellow at leading Egyptian and UK academic institutions, he lectures on IoT, Industrial IoT, cybersecurity, AI, standardization, and the design of integrated secure solutions across key verticals.

Chief of International Cybersecurity & Vice- Presidency for Cybersecurity, NTRA | EG-CERT

Q&A

17:35-17:40 – Session 5: From Virtual Worlds to Baku: Setting the Urban AI Agenda for the World Urban Forum (WUF13)

Andras Szorenyi

Andras Szorenyi

Senior Policy Advisor, Global Cities Hub

András joined the Global Cities Hub after 20 years of distinguished diplomatic career. He worked in different capacities in Brussels, covering EU affairs, Washington D.C. dealing with bilateral relations and in Geneva, working with the United Nations and other International Organizations. He has first-hand experience of negotiating in the European Union and the UN system as well as conceptualizing and implementing diplomatic initiatives on a wide variety of issues.

With a deep knowledge of international relations, he always focuses on new global developments and emerging challenges. He has a broad understanding of the engagement of non-state actors on multi-stakeholder platforms. He has been particularly interested in the increasing influence of non-state actors on the development of international relations since his Ph.D. research.

András holds a Ph.D. in International Economics from Corvinus University, a DEA in Comparative Political Sciences from Sciences Po Paris and a Master degree in International Relations from the University of Economics in Budapest.

Moderator

Senior Policy Advisor, Global Cities Hub

Gulshan Rzayeva

Gulshan Rzayeva

Deputy Chief of Staff of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, Republic of Azerbaijan

Deputy Chief of Staff of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, Republic of Azerbaijan

09:00- 09:15 – Keynote on AI Transformation for Society: Korea’s National AX Strategy (AI+X)

What happens when AI evolves from a tool into the underlying infrastructure of society? Korea is beginning to explore this transformation through a national AI × Everything (AX) approach that integrates artificial intelligence across industries, public services, and communities.

Aligned with this national direction, ETRI is developing technologies and research initiatives that support large-scale AI deployment, intelligent infrastructure, and new digital environments. This keynote will present ETRI’s perspective on AI-driven transformation and discuss how emerging technologies may shape future cities, services, and societies.

Jun Seob Lee

Jun Seob Lee

Director, Intelligent Convergence Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI)

Junseob Lee joined the ETRI in 1999 and he is the Director of the Intelligent Convergence Research Laboratory. Currently, he is a Chair of WP2 of ITU-T Study Group 20. Also, he is an editor of the IoT and SC&C Standards Roadmap maintained by JCA-IoT and SC&C. He has been participated in ITU-T works as an editor for many ITU-T Recommendations including Y.2060 which is the first ITU-T Recommendation for Internet ​​​of Things. 

Director, Intelligent Convergence Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI)

09:15-10:00 – Session 6:  Beyond Borders: The Case for Global Collaboration on Physical AI, Agentic Systems, and Spatial Intelligence

The technologies reshaping our cities are moving faster than our ability to act on them together.

Physical AI, agentic systems, and spatial intelligence are already being deployed across urban infrastructure worldwide. But without shared standards or coordinated international frameworks, we are building the future in silos — incompatible systems, duplicated efforts, uneven access, and critical gaps that no single city or nation can close alone.

The stakes are too high for fragmentation. The moment is too important for delay.

This panel brings together international organizations, governments, academia, industry and the standards community to ask the questions that can no longer wait: Where are the critical gaps? And what collective action must we commit to, today, to ensure physical AI, agentic systems, and spatial intelligence serve every city and every community, equitably and at scale?

Cristina Bueti​

Cristina Bueti​

Counsellor, ITU

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

Moderator

Counsellor, ITU

Karl Filip Coenegrachts

Karl Filip Coenegrachts

Chair of the Governing Body and Executive Director, Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC), Belgium

Karl-Filip is Chair of the Governing Body and Executive Director of Open & Agile Smart Cities & Communities (OASC), a global network of 190+ local and regional authorities supporting its members in their digital transformation journey with a strong focus on interoperability. Together with his team he coordinates several smart communities’ related projects and initiatives, such as the European Data Space for Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Local Digital Twins for Smart and Sustainable Communities. 

He is also Head of the Data, Governance and Communities Unit at the imec research group SMIT of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (imec-SMIT, VUB). The main focus of the work of his unit is on governance and business aspects of urban digital transformation and urban innovation, including data spaces, local digital twins and personal data management.  

Before joining imec-SMIT-VUB and OASC, he served in government for 24 years, working at the local level as Chief Strategy Officer of the City of Ghent and at the Belgian FPS Justice on digital policies and digital transformation programmes. He holds a master of laws degree, specialized in European and International Law. 

Chair of the Governing Body and Executive Director, Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC), Belgium

Teppo Rantanen

Teppo Rantanen

Executive Director of Economic Policy, Competitiveness and Innovation, City of Tampere, Finland

Teppo Rantanen, Director for competitiveness and innovation at the City of Tampere, is responsible for several city-wide development programs, with a particular focus on smart city themes [such as the Data-Driven City for Citizens initiative], that shape the strategic economic policy of the city. He leads Tampere through collaboration in extensive international networks toward a metaverse city with a human-centric perspective. From 2002 to 2014 Teppo served as Deloitte Finland’s Chief Executive Officer and from 2014 to 2016 in London as a member of Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications Leadership Team. He is currently sitting on the board of Business Finland.
Teppo and his team from the City of Tampere were receiving the World Smart City Award in the Enabling Technologies category at Smart City Expo World Congress taking place in Barcelona in 2023.

Executive Director of Economic Policy, Competitiveness and Innovation, City of Tampere, Finland

Sophia Nahoza

Sophia Nahoza

Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), Tanzania

Ms. Sophia Nahoza holds a Master Degree of Science in Communications and Network Engineering from University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She currently serves as a Vice Chair of ITU-T Study Group 20 on Internet of Things (IoT), digital twins and smart sustainable cities and communities, where she contributes to global standardization efforts shaping the future of connected and intelligent urban systems. Ms. Sophia Nahoza is also leading work on Digital Culture from smart farm and production to safe and secure consumption as a co-rapporteur within ITU-T SG 20.
Ms. Sophia Nahoza is currently working with the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority under the Directorate of Industry Affairs, where she is responsible for developing regulatory frameworks and oversees the telecommunications and internet services.
Her professional interests and contributions extend to the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in IoT ecosystems, particularly in enabling data-driven decision-making, intelligent automation, and context-aware services for smart cities and digital agriculture.

Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), Tanzania

Dieter Uckelmann

Dieter Uckelmann

Professor, Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart, ​Germany

Dieter Uckelmann is Professor of Information Logistics and Scientific Director of the Institute of Applied Research at HFT Stuttgart. He studied mechanical engineering in Braunschweig and completed his doctorate at the University of Bremen in the Department of Production Engineering. His research activities focus on applications in the Internet of Things in the areas of Industry 4.0, logistics, smart building and smart city, as well as corresponding business aspects and didactic issues. He has written more than 100 academic publications and co-published a book on “Architecting the Internet of Things”. He is leading a current project on “Urban Digital Twins for iCity” and is an executive board member of the Virtual Dimension Center (VDC). Currently, his research is more and more addressing serious Metaverse applications (e.g. Citiverse, Industrial Metaverse, EduVerse). Prior to his academic career, he worked as a managing director in several companies including start-ups in the ICT sector.

Professor, Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart, ​Germany

Muath Al Rumayh

Muath Al Rumayh

Co-chair of Joint Coordination Activity on Metaverse Standardization (JCA-MV)

Mr. AlRumayh has examined and enhanced the regulatory ecosystem in Saudi Arabia towards achieving regulatory excellence by adopting world best practices recommended by leading international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO), and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Contributed to developing CST’s long-term strategy plan along with operating plans that helped to implement Saudi Arabia ICT Sector Strategy in pursuit of digital economy and United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Co-chair of Joint Coordination Activity on Metaverse Standardization (JCA-MV)

Q&A

10.00-10.30 – Closing ceremony

Hyoung Jun Kim

Hyoung Jun Kim

Chair of the 3rd UN Virtual Worlds Day and Chair, ITU-T study Group 20 “IoT, Digital Twin, Smart Sustainable Cities & Communities”

Dr Hyoung Jun Kim is a Research Fellow at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), where he has served since 1988, including as Senior Vice President leading the Intelligent Convergence Research Laboratory. With 37 years of experience, he has contributed across multiple divisions of ETRI and currently serves as Chair of ITU-T Study Group 20 and the APT Standardization Program (ASTAP). He has held numerous leadership roles in ITU, including Vice-Chair of SG20 and SG13, Working Party Chair, and Rapporteur since 2004.
Dr Kim has submitted over 450 standardization proposals, published 150+ papers, holds 100+ patents, and transferred 20 technologies to industry. His achievements have earned him three Presidential Citations of the Republic of Korea (2003, 2009, 2023) and multiple international recognitions, including ITU-T Certificates of Appreciation.

Chair of the 3rd UN Virtual Worlds Day and Chair, ITU-T Study Group 20 “IoT, Digital Twin, Smart Sustainable Cities & Communities”

Cristina Bueti​

Cristina Bueti​

Counsellor, ITU

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

Counsellor, ITU