Committed to connecting the world

WTISD

Meet the jurors of the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge: Building Enabling Ecosystems for Women Entrepreneurs

​​
Henry Dobson
AI Ethics expert at The University of Melbourne

Country: Australia

Bio: Henry Dobson is an author and an academic philosopher working in the field of AI ethics. His first children's book is the Supersonic Space Cadets and the Planet of the Algorithms. Henry is in the final year of his PhD at the University of Melbourne. He is an international speaker and runs workshops focusing on mitigating or avoiding the risks and dangers associated with artificial intelligence and other modern technologies. Henry also mentors in technology accelerator programs in the UK and Europe. He lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Connect with Henry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-dobson/

 

Andrew Wrobel
Founding Partner at Emerging Europe

Country: United Kingdom

Bio: Andrew Wrobel is the Founding Partner of Emerging Europe, and the leader of the organisation's Tech Emerging Europe Advocates community, a part of the Global Tech Advocates network.
He specialises in digital transformation, technology and innovation, site selection, foreign direct investment, sourcing, nation branding, and cross-cultural communications.
He is a sought-after speaker and moderator, a juror at various international start-up, tech and business-related competitions, a location promotion trainer and a media commentator. He has authored and contributed to a number of international business, investment and trade-related publications.

Connect with Andrew: https://twitter.com/andrew_wrob

 

Dai Young Jung
Former Public Official at Busan Metropolitan City

Country: Republic of Korea

Bio: Dai Young Jung is an excellent community builder passionate about inclusivity and connecting people across languages & cultures. He is reliable and detail-oriented, working towards making the Earth a more sustainable place to live & travel. As a former public official, Dai Young has successfully organized several international information and communication technologies events. He has also won several awards at Global Smart City & startup area competitions.

Connect with Dai Young: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daiyoung-jung-a057005/

 


Katherine Tatarinov
Managing Director at Geneva Innovation Movement

Country: Geneva

Bio: Katherine Tatarinov is the Research Director of the Center for Innovation & Partnerships at the Geneva School for Economics and Management at the University of Geneva. Her research focuses on social innovation, digital transformation and managing grand challenges. Katherine lectures at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne. She is the Managing Director of the Geneva Innovation Movement Association, where she translates her research findings into applicable insights and community building.

Connect with Katherine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katyatatarinov/

 

 
Namatirai Zinyohwera
Consultant, Neiro.ai

Country: South Africa

Bio: Mr Zinyohwera is an experienced revenue growth leader specializing in fintech business development and result-orientated business development executive, building, measuring, and learning from multi-sectoral sales management experience. He has a proven track record of high-impact technology sales and disruptive go-to-market strategies, achieving growth through strategic partnerships in Africa.

Connect with Namatirai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/namatiraizinyohwera/

 

 

Sana Larif
PhD researcher at Catholic University of Louvain

Country: Belgium

Bio: I am a PhD researcher in innovative entrepreneurship and management sciences at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium (UCL). I am also a member of the Louvain Research Institute in management and organizations (LouRIM).

 In the last few years, I have worked as a mentor and facilitator for several early-stage Tunisian startups and animated training and workshops in innovative entrepreneurship and startups ecosystem for Tunisian NGOs and business support organizations.

Connect with Sana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sana-larif/

 

 

Stella Bvuma
Head of Department at University of Johannesburg

Country: South African

Bio: Dr Bvuma is the HoD at the University of Johannesburg. Her peers describe her as courageous and bold yet a leader with a servant's heart and agility. She is recognized as an all-rounded leader who can build relationships and create strategic collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. Dr Bvuma has a passion for ICT4 development and technology adoption in particular areas such as ICT as an enabler for teaching and learning, digital technology for inclusivity, intelligent cities, Cybersecurity, and the digital economy. Her research focuses on ICT adoption or technologies by SMEs towards growth and development, including digitization in the fourth industrial revolution. She also holds a personal interest in advocating inclusivity for women in the ICT and advocates for digital inclusiveness.

Connect with Stella: http://linkedin.com/in/stella-bvuma-b067a4195


 

Kamel Bra

Country: Tunisia

Bio: Kamel Bra is the Operations Officer at the International Telecommunication Union's Regional Office for the Arab States. He is responsible for managing and coordinating the Arab Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network Activities (AIEN), a project that aims to unify efforts of the innovation ecosystems and apply the best suitable and localized practices in the Arab region.

With over 20 years in ICT and public governance, Kamel has vast experience managing development projects.

Kamel holds an MBA; and a Computer Engineering. Moreover, Kamel holds a Project Management Professional (PMP®) Certification and a PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification.

Connect with Kamel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamel-bra-49434592/

 


Jonathan Naidoo

Country: South Africa

 Bio: Jonathan is the CEO of The Durban Technology Hub (SmartXchange). He has extensive experience in trade and investment-related activities. Jonathan's vast business experiences and domestic and international connectivity have earned him a reputation as an astute “deal maker". His entrepreneurial passion resulted in him establishing 4 StartUps, 3 of which he sold to focus exclusively on his property portfolio. He served as the President of the Hibiscus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an executive member of Local & District spheres of government, a member of the Mayoral Economic Advisory Committee and the KwaZulu Natal Human Resource Development Council as the lead champion for the ICT sector. Jonathan has coached and managed 32 innovations since 2013.

Connect with Jonathan: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-naidoo-11771065




​Edmond Mbange Nji
Emergency Communications Service head at Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications

Country: Cameroon

Bio: Edmond took a Master's in Global ICT policy at Pusan National University in 2019, during which he had the opportunity to partake in two Young ICT leaders' Innovation forums (2018 and 2019). He has been an innovation mentor for several ICT innovation competitions and works on building innovative products from idea to market.


Gopal Kumar Mohoto
Director and Chief Technology Officer at Advanced Dynamics Ltd.

Country: Bangladesh

Bio: Gopal Kumar Mohoto is an engineer, entrepreneur and researcher. He is the Director and Chief Technology Officer of Advanced Dynamics LTD. With a specialization in digital technology, energy policy, renewable energy, energy storage and electric vehicles, he is transforming to a zero-carbon future through climate technology adoption, women entrepreneurship and youth capacity building.

Gopal is the first runner-up at the Global South-South Development Expo 2022 pitch competition with his project "Cassetex". He is awarded as one of the most ethical persons in the world in Electronics by World Ethical Electronics Forum, Munich 2022. As an entrepreneur, he received global recognition for innovation in climate tech from World Policy Forum - Global Solution Initiative Foundation, Berlin.

Connect with Gopal Kumar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gopal-kumar-mohoto

 


Khadija Ghazi

Country: Canada

Bio: Khadija has a background in building global partnerships for emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, diversity, inclusion, and equity. With her extensive expertise, Khadija advises government agencies and tech start-ups on building ecosystems that foster innovation, growth, and social impact.

Connect with Khadija: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khadijaghazi/

 


Valentina Araya Hernández
Scouting Manager at University of Chile

Country: United States of America

Bio: Valentina has over five years of experience in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at a national and international level, focusing on science and tech-based startups. Currently living in Silicon Valley, she leads the Mentors Network at the University of Chile and scouts investing opportunities for the Beauchef Investing Network. Before that, Valentina worked in Startup Chile for +3 years, leading technical and financial support processes to more than 150 startups and I+D+i+e projects, national and international, with people-oriented methodologies generating social and economic impact. She has participated as a speaker in international talks and discussion panels, developing an interest in global networks y how this can potentiate local ecosystems.

Connect with Valentina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varayaher/

 


Nour Khrais
Founder and CEO at Maysalward

Country: Jordan

Bio: Nour Khrais is a Jordanian entrepreneur with 24 years of experience in mobile games and value-added services. He founded Maysalward, the first Middle Eastern mobile game studio specializing in mobile games. Khrais holds a master's degree in international business and Global Marketing, a Diploma in Mobile Communications, and a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering. He is completing his Doctoral thesis on culturalization and localization in Middle Eastern mobile games.

King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein awarded Khrais the third-degree Medal of Excellence in 2017, and he received the State Centennial Medal in 2022. He is a respected industry figure known for his leadership, contributions, and innovation.

Connect with Nour: https://linkedin.com/in/nourkhrais 

 


Ragini Malik
Programme Analyst at UNOSSC

Country: United States of America

Bio: Ragini currently works with UNOSSC Headquarters in New York and supports various demand-driven and cross-cutting thematic programmes and initiatives. She supports the programme, financial management, and outreach activities for the Youth4South programme, the Global South-South Development Centre project, and the South-South Cooperation Cities Project. Ragini has led several youth, women and entrepreneurship activities at UNOSSC, including entrepreneurship competitions, women fellowships & scholarships and capacity development training. She has a bachelor's degree in Economics from SRCC, University of Delhi in India and a Master's Degree in International Public Management from Sciences Po University in Paris, France. She is fluent in English and Hindi.

Connect with Ragini: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ragini-malik-609380113/ ​

 


Ranjit Kumar Karna
Expert in Strategy at Ncell Axiata Limited

Country: Nepal

Bio: Mr Karna is a telecom professional with about 15+ years of diversified experience in Technology, Strategy, Transformation Programs and Projects, Strategic Partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, Regulatory, Sustainability etc. During his professional career, he sometimes led projects on entrepreneurship like MIT Global Startup Labs and AI School as program manager, jury and mentor. Mr Karna is an Electronics & Communication Engineer from Tribhuvan University and has an additional Master's in Executive MBA from Kathmandu University. 

​​