International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience

The International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience was established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) in November 2024, with the aim of promoting dialogue and collaboration on potential ways and means to improve the resilience of this vital infrastructure that powers global communications and the digital economy.

​The Advisory Body, co-chaired by H.E. Minister Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Prof. Sandra Maximiano, Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Communications Authority of the Republic of Portugal (ANACOM), will address ways to improve cable maintenance, prevent damage from natural hazards and accidental human activities, ensure faster recovery times after disruptions, increase redundancy and promote sustainable practices in the industry.

With an initial term of two years, the Advisory Body comprises 40 leaders and experts from the public and private sectors, including representatives from submarine cable operators, telecommunic​a​tions companies, government agencies, maritime authorities, and international ​organizations, as well as relevant UN agencies that are serving as advisors. 

The Advisory Body’s members represent countries ranging from small island states to major economies, and capturing the perspectives of those whose livelihoods, economies, and digital futures depend on the operation of submarine telecommunication cables, as well as those who work to deploy, maintain and protect this vital infrastructure.

Terms of Reference: see here.

Meet the members:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Co-Chairs

Photo of H.E. Minister Bosun Tijani​, candidate

H.E. Minister Bosun Tijani​

Position: Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Econo​my Federal Republic of Nigeria CV
Photo of Sandra Maximiano, candidate

Sandra Maximiano

Position: Chair, Board of Directors AN​ACOM Country: Portugal CV

Members

Photo of Mr. Vincent Lemaire, candidate

Mr. Vincent Lemaire

Position: VP Special Projects Alcatel Submarine Networks
Photo of Mr. Rui Faria, candidate

Mr. Rui Faria

Position: Executive Director Angola Cables
Photo of Ms. Pamela Currie, candidate

Ms. Pamela Currie

Position: Director, Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre (Cable Centre) Australia
Photo of ​Ms. Nomsa Muswai, candidate

​Ms. Nomsa Muswai

Position: Co-Founder, ASEF-Africa
Photo of Mr. Gustavo Borges, candidate

Mr. Gustavo Borges

Position: Executive Superintendent, Anatel – National Telecommunications Agency Country: Brazil
Photo of Dr. Jane Munga, candidate

Dr. Jane Munga

Position: Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Photo of ​Mr. Rodney Taylor, candidate

​Mr. Rodney Taylor

Position: Secretary-General, Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU)
Photo of H.E. Mr. Zhiguo Zhao, candidate

H.E. Mr. Zhiguo Zhao

Position: Chief Engineer, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, People’s Republic of China
Photo of Mr. Xiaowei Luan, candidate

Mr. Xiaowei Luan

Position: Executive Vice President China Telecommunications Co. Ltd.
Photo of Mr. Yongbo Tang, candidate

Mr. Yongbo Tang

Position: Senior Vice President, China United Network Communications Group Company Limited
Photo of ​Dr. Youssouf Hamidou Issoufa, candidate

​Dr. Youssouf Hamidou Issoufa

Position: Director General, Comores Cables
Photo of Mr. Michael Cunningham, candidate

Mr. Michael Cunningham

Position: CEO, Crosslake Fibre
Photo of ​Ms. Deemah AlYahya, candidate

​Ms. Deemah AlYahya

Position: Secretary-General, Digital Cooperation Organization
Photo of ​H.E. Mr. Mohamed Shamroukh, candidate

​H.E. Mr. Mohamed Shamroukh

Position: Executive President, National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) Country: Egypt
Photo of ​Mr. Stephen Dawe, candidate

​Mr. Stephen Dawe

Position: Chairman, European Subsea Cables Association (ESCA)
Photo of ​H.E. Mr. Jarkko Saarimäki, candidate

​H.E. Mr. Jarkko Saarimäki

Position: Director General, Finnish Transport and Communications Agency-Traficom Country: Finland
Photo of ​Ms. Jo Conroy, candidate

​Ms. Jo Conroy

Position: Technical Programme Manager, Google
Photo of ​Mr. Sigurd Zhang, candidate

​Mr. Sigurd Zhang

Position: Executive Vice President HMN Tech Co. Ltd.
Photo of ​H.E. Dr. Neeraj Mittal, candidate

​H.E. Dr. Neeraj Mittal

Position: Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India
Photo of ​Mr. Koji Ono, candidate

​Mr. Koji Ono

Position: Company Executive Director, Submarine Cable Networks, KDDI
Photo of H.E. Mr. Jesmond Bugeja, candidate

H.E. Mr. Jesmond Bugeja

Position: Chief Executive Officer, Malta Communications Authority Country: Malta
Photo of Ms. Kelly Donohue, candidate

Ms. Kelly Donohue

Position: Global Head of Network Infrastructure Policy Meta Platforms, Inc.
Photo of ​Mr. Károly Mátrai, candidate

​Mr. Károly Mátrai

Position: CEO, MVM Group
Photo of ​Mr. Andy Palmer-Felgate, candidate

​Mr. Andy Palmer-Felgate

Position: Acting President, North American Submarine Cable Association-NASCA
Photo of ​Dr. Eduardo Mateo, candidate

​Dr. Eduardo Mateo

Position: Director, Head of Technology Strategy, Submarine Network Division NEC Corporation
Photo of ​H.E. Mr. Ernst Noorman, candidate

​H.E. Mr. Ernst Noorman

Position: Ambassador-at-Large for Cyber Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Country: Netherlands
Photo of ​Mr. Abdullah Al-Mubadal, candidate

​Mr. Abdullah Al-Mubadal

Position: Deputy Governor, Telecommunication Sector of Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) Country: Saudi Arabia
Photo of ​H.E. Mr. Lew Chuen Hong, candidate

​H.E. Mr. Lew Chuen Hong

Position: Chief Executive, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) Country: Singapore
Photo of ​H.E. Mr. Mustafa Yaasin Sheik, candidate

​H.E. Mr. Mustafa Yaasin Sheik

Position: Director General, National Communications Authority Country: Somalia
Photo of ​H.E. Ms. Nonkqubela Thathakahle Jordan-Dyani, candidate

​H.E. Ms. Nonkqubela Thathakahle Jordan-Dyani

Position: Director-General, Department of Communications and Digital Technologies Country: South Africa
Photo of ​Mr. Mohamed Nasr, candidate

​Mr. Mohamed Nasr

Position: CEO & Managing Director Telecom Egypt
Photo of ​Mr. Carlos Dasi, candidate

​Mr. Carlos Dasi

Position: Chief Technology Officer, Telxius (A Telefonica Company)
Photo of ​H.E. Mr. Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, candidate

​H.E. Mr. Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu

Position: Minister, Ministry of Transport and Communications Country: Timor-Leste
Photo of Mr. Semisi (James) Panuve, candidate

Mr. Semisi (James) Panuve

Position: Chief Executive Officer, ​Tonga Cable Limited
Photo of ​H.E. Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, candidate

​H.E. Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan

Position: Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Country: Turkey
Photo of H.E Eng. Majed Al Mesmar, candidate

H.E Eng. Majed Al Mesmar

Position: Director General, Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority Country: United Arab Emirates
Photo of Ms. Anna Butchart, candidate

Ms. Anna Butchart

Position: Subsea Telecoms Cables Security Policy Lead, Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, United Kingdom
Photo of ​H.E. Mr. Stephan Lang, candidate

​H.E. Mr. Stephan Lang

Position: Ambassador and U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, Department of State Country: United States
Photo of H.E. ​Mr. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, candidate

H.E. ​Mr. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki

Position: Executive Secretary, West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA)
Photo of Mr. Sangbu Kim, candidate

Mr. Sangbu Kim

Position: VP, Digital World Bank

​​​​​​​​Executive Secretaries

Photo of ​Tomas Lamanauskas, candidate

​Tomas Lamanauskas

Position: ITU Deputy Secretary General CV
Photo of Kent Bressie, candidate

Kent Bressie

Position: ICPC Legal Adviser CV