Agenda

The Honorable Warren Kwame Eusi Mc Coy was appointed to a ministerial portfolio in the Cabinet of His Excellency, President Mohammed Irfaan Ali on August 5th, 2020, and to a seat in the 12thParliament of Guyana, following the electoral victory of the Peoples Progressive Party-Civic at the March 2nd General and Regional Elections.
 
Minister Mc Coy, who holds responsibility for Public Affairs, and who’s functions are embedded within the Office of the Prime Minister, brings to the portfolio a wealth of experience in media, strategic communication management, and executive administration; having accumulated more than two decades of professional industry experience.
 
Mc Coy started his career in broadcast journalism with the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation in 1993, and later moved on to serve as an Information Officer with the Ministry of Information between 1998 and 2001. He would spend another six years honing public relations skills with the Ministry of Health, before being elevated to the prominent senior role of Communication Coordinator/Press Officer within the Office of the President, where he served with distinction until the change of government in 2015.
During the years prior to the reelection of the People’s Progressive Party-Civic to government in 2020, Mc Coy administered the communication and coordination portfolios in his role as Executive Assistant to the then Leader of the Opposition, former President and now Vice President, His Excellency Bharat Jagdeo.

Mr. Gospel Kazako was appointed as Minister of Information in the Tonse Alliance Government on 8th July 2020. He is a holder of a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Communication and Cultural Studies from Chancellor College, University of Malawi, a Diploma in Journalism from Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) and numerous certificates in media related studies. Hon Kazako is a media practitioner with 30 years of experience. He is the founder and owner of Zodiak Media Holdings. Zodiak Radio, Zodiak TV, Zodiak Online among others.

Master in Project Management at the University Polytechnic of Catalonia. Bachelor of Business Administration of the University of the Caribbean, Engineer of Systems Certified by Microsoft (Certification ID 2039699). Specialization in Project Management by the George Washington University School of Business. Certified Consultant in Design Thinking by the University of Salamanca. Diploma in Management Projects by the Iberoamerican University. Diploma in Formulation of Electronic Government Strategies and Diploma in Interoperability of Public Processes Interinstitutional of the Organization of American States (OAS). Certificate at the Seminary Technology and Telecommunications by the Wuhan China Research Institute. Smart Cities Program, Cybersecurity & 5G at Harvard University. Project member Management Institute International Chapter (ID 1706660) and Member of the Project Management Institute Chapter Dominican Republic.

Certified International Expert in Teaching Series and Virtual Learning (eTeacher) by Blackboard, Certificate in Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), Comptia Network+, Comptia A+, Microsoft Certified Trainer, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Messaging Specialization and Microsoft Certified System Administrator, Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician and Microsoft Certified Professional. Microsoft TechNet 5 Star Professional. Certificate in Management Emergency Centers by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).

Experience and extensive knowledge in the areas of Information Technology, Digital Transformation, Digital Agenda and Electronic Government Strategies, Project Management (ISO 21500/PMBoK), Governance of Information Technology (ISO 38500), Information Management Quality (ISO 9001), Management of Technology Services (ISO 20000), Information Security (ISO 27001), Risks (ISO 31000), Business Continuity (ISO 22301).

Chairs and conferences at national and international level in the United States, United Arab Emirates, China, South Korea, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Spain, Brazil, Nicaragua, Peru, Argentina, Paraguay, Honduras and Panama, on issues related to the Digital Agenda, Digital Transformation, Electronic Government Strategies, Cybersecurity Strategies, Technological Projects, Project Management, Emergencies Management Systems and Electronic Commerce.

Currently is Vice Minister of Digital Agenda of the Ministry of the Presidency of Dominican Republic.

Prior to her appointment in January 2020, as the Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Maimuna Kibenga Tarishi served as a Permanent Secretary in several Ministries from 2006 – 2019; Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and Prime Minister’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government. From 2005 – 2006, she served as the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office - Regional Administration and Local Government. She also served as the Deputy Secretary of the Public Service Commission (Local Government Service) from 2004 – 2005. 

Having served as a Permanent Secretary in numerous Ministries, Amb. Tarishi facilitated the establishment of Tanzania Forestry Service Agency (TFS) which is mandated to sustainably undertake conservation, development and utilization of national forest and its related resources, championed the implementation of the Government Decision on Decentralization by Devolution, and coordinated Government relocation to the Capital City (Dodoma), ensuring a smooth and successful relocation of all Government Ministries and employees. Amb. Tarishi is a trained Administrator, specialised in Management and development and a change driver accustomed to overcoming challenges. Amb. Tarishi was born on the 7th September 1959, in Iringa, Tanzania. She is married to Mr. Lumanya Katimba, and is a proud mother of Mr. Omar Katimba, Hon. Adv. Zainab Katimba (MP), Mr. Bilal Katimba and Eng. Hija Katimba. 

Dr Stelios Himonas is the Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy.
He previously served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, as well as Director of the Department of Electronic Communications and Director of Telecommunications at the Ministry of Communications and Works.

From 2012 onwards, he has been appointed from the Council of Ministers as Digital Champion of the Republic of Cyprus, while having previously served as member of the Board of Directors of the Research and Innovation Foundation (then called Research Promotion Foundation), and the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (Cyta).

At European level, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), as well as Chairman of the Regulatory Affairs Working Group (WGRA) of the CEPT/ECC.

He is a holder of Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Science and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York in Stony Brook. From 1989 until 1997, he was an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering at the New York Institute of Technology, USA, having also served as a Professor of Engineering and Informatics of Intercollege, Cyprus. From 1994 until 1997, he was collaborating with the Multimedia Communications Research Group of Bellcore’s Applied Research Division in Morristown, New Jersey, USA. Dr. Himonas has published numerous research papers in scientific journals and conference proceedings in the fields of detection and multimedia communications.

Ms. Ajarin Pattanapanchai was appointed as Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Digital Economy and Society on 1 October 2017. 

Since then, Ms. Ajarin Pattanapanchai has been responsible for digital government transformation, government big data analytics, development of nationwide high-speed internet infrastructure, promoting access and use of digital technology to create more income and a better living for people in rural communities, upgrade of digital workforce to accommodate the digital economy, passing of a series of digital laws in 2019, cybercrime prevention and suppression, cooperation with the ASEAN member states to enhance ASEAN digital connectivity.

Prior to taking this executive position at the Ministry, she had spent her career at Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) since 1984. During that period, she was involved in many high profile projects development in petroleum & petrochemical sector, chemical sector, energy and alternative energy sector. She was also in charge offormulating investment promotion policy for many target sectors including hi-tech industries such as aerospace, medical devices, biotechnology, electric vehicles, digital sector and R&D in the country.

Ms. Ajarin Pattanapanchai holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand and a Master of Business Administration, Youngstown State University, Ohio U.S.A.

Ansord has been the Director-General of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) since 2017 January 1 after serving in various capacities in the organization for over twenty years. 
 
He is a Regulatory Specialist, Economist, and an Attorney-at-Law and has over 30 years’ experience at various levels in quasi-judicial organisations. 
 
Ansord holds a Master’s degree in Regulation from the London School of Economics, obtained after being awarded a Chevening Scholarship in 1997, a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Economics and Management (UWI) and
Bachelor of Law from the University of London. 
 
He also holds a Certificate in Legal Education from the Norman Manley Law School in Kingston, Jamaica.

Mr. João O. Freitas received his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics from the Atma Jaya Catholic University in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2009. He also received a Master of Engineering in Telecommunications from the University of Melbourne, Australia in 2012.

Prior to joining the National Communications Authority (ANC) of Timor-Leste, he had worked as Engineer and Consultant with several institutions including SingTel Optus Australia as an Associate Network Engineer (in an internship program), as an ICT Consultant with the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Timor-Leste, and as an Information System Manager at the Australian Embassy and later at the US Embassy in Timor-Leste.

Mr. Freitas joined the ANC in 2015. He first served as the Executive Technical Director for Sector Regulation and has sat on its Board of Directors since early of 2015. He has served as the Chairman and President of the Board of Directors of the ANC since December 2018.

Technology and Innovation Executive Director in 2020 after four years of handling the role of Administration Executive Director in the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy which responsible of the delivery of Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup and moving up from the IT Director position. Previously was the IT and Telecommunications Manager in ORYX GTL and before that that was the Head of Applications Support Section in the Information Systems Department in RasGas. Handled the financial applications in Doha Securities Market as systems analyst.  Have twenty two years of experience in the Information Technology industry Master’s degree in Business Administration from HEC and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from University of Qatar.
CIO 100 Awards winner in the annual CPI CIO Symposium & Awards Ceremony in 2015. 

International speaker and coach certified by the International Coaching community of London, specialising in leadership and high-performance team coaching by the Haggai Institute in Singapore. Degree in Theological Studies from Trinity College, University of Bristol, England. Senior management consultant with more than twenty years of experience, creator of the executive workshop "The changes demanded by leadership in this new century".

As part of his professional experience, he has served as lecture in Colombia and different countries in South America, Spain, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and other counties.

He is president and founder of the NGO – FUNDACION ABBACOL, a non-profit organization that helps through education to children and families affected by the war in Colombia, with self-sustainable education projects throughout the country. The NGO is accredited by ECOSOC, United Nations, and members of the International Humanitarian City in UAE, Dubai.

He has served as a lecturer, speaker and trainer in different organizations around the world. Mr. Lozada is the author of two books: "The Journey - a fascinating journey through the world of leadership and the desire to achieve dreams" published by Abba Books Publishers - Bogotá, London and Miami. Bestseller in Bogotá and in the main cities of Colombia. His second book "The man who did not know how to add" published by Abba Books Publishers, both books currently only in Spanish.

Farid has received different awards in public events for his high professional performance as a trainer facilitator, this with the Colombian Military Forces, public and private entities, Colombian government institutions and others. He is currently developing a renowned coaching seminar "Twelve principles of leadership" as part of the peace process in Colombia. With this workshop, victims of the war in the country and ex-combatants are receiving help.