Committed to connecting the world

WTISD

Presentations

​​ITU Regional Forum for Europe on 
Meaningful Connectivity

8-9 March 2021 | Virtual

Monday | 8 March 2021​​

​[10:00– 10:30]
Opening Segment

High-level Opening Addresses

  • ​Mr. Stephen Bereaux, Deputy Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU, Bio, Presentation
  • H.E. Mr. Boštjan Koritnik, Minister, Ministry of Public Administration, Republic of Slovenia, Bio

Remarks from the RCC

  • Ms. Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Bio, Presentation

 
Setting the Regional Context
  • ​Mr. Jaroslaw Ponder, Head of the ITU Office for Europe, ITU, Bio, Presentation

​[10:30 – 11:30]
Session 1: The Digital Divide in Europe: Ensuring meaningful and inclusive connectivity

Focus: How connecting the unconnected is not only an infrastructure development question but also a socio-economic challenge.
Moderation

  • Mr. Jaroslaw Ponder, Head of the ITU Office for Europe, ITU, Bio, Presentation

    Panellists

  • Mr. Dan Sjöblom, EaPeReg Vice Chair 2021 and outgoing BEREC Chair 2020, Bio, Presentation
  • Mr. Peter Grum, Acting Director-General, Directorate for Information Society and Informatics, Ministry of Public Administration, Republic of Slovenia”, Bio, Presentation 
  • Mr. Mehmet Özcan, ICT Expert, Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA), Turkey, Bio, Presentation
  • Mr. Christoph Steck, Director of Public Policy and Internet, Telefonica SA, Bio, Presentation
  • Ms. Eleanor Sarpong, Deputy Director and Policy Lead, Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), World Wide Web Foundation, Bio, Presentation


​[11:40 – 13:00]
Session 2: Connecting Rural Areas in Europe: regional and national approaches

Focus: Closing the service divide in rural areas in Europe through last mile connectivity and other projects.

Moderation and Setting the context

  • Mr Istvan Bozsoki, Head of the Telecommunications Network & Spectrum Management Division (TNS), Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), ITU, Bio, Presentation

    Setting the context 

  • Ms. Aminata Amadou Garba, Technology Coordinator, Telecommunications Network & Spectrum Management Division (TNS), Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), ITU, Bio, Presentation

    Panellists
  • Ms. Sophie Treinen, Information and Knowledge Management Officer, Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, FAO, Bio, Presentation
  • Mr. Dominic Hayes, Spectrum Management and International Relations, Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space, European Commission, Bio, Presentation
  • Ms. Eka Kubusidze, Head of Telecommunications, Information and Modern Technologies Department, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Bio, Presentation
  • Mr. Genaro Cruz, Senior Market Engagement and Advocacy Manager, GSMA, Bio, Presentation
  • Mr. Joe Barrett, CEO, Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), Bio, Presentation

​[13:30 – 14:45]
Session 3: Use of ICTs in Public institutions: a focus on connecting Schools

Focus: ensuring efficient use of ICTs in educational systems as a best practice for meaningfully connected societies 

Moderation and Setting the Context

  • ​Mr. Jaroslaw Ponder, Head of the ITU Office for Europe, ITU, Bio, Presentation

 
Setting the context 

 
  • Mr. Julian McNeill, Consultant, ITU Office for Europe, ITU, Bio, Presentation

 
Panellists
  • H.E. Milan Dobrijevic, Acting Assistant Minister, Ministry of Trade, Tourism, and Telecommunications (MTT), Republic of Serbia, Bio, Presentation
  • Mr. Ihar Shchetko, Giga Project Coordinator in Central Asia, ITU, Bio, Presentation​
  • Mr. Marcin Łukasiewicz, Senior Specialist, Telecommunications Investment Unit, Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Republic of Poland​, Bio, Presentation
  • Mr. Tomi Dolenc, Head of User Communication, Academic and Research Network of Slovenia (ARNES), Republic of Slovenia, Bio, Presentation
  • Mr. Jan Buis, Vice President Business Development, LANCOM Systems (Rohde Schwarz), Bio, Presentation

​[14:45 – 16.00]
Session 4: Fostering Digital Skills development: supporting demand creation for Connectivity

Focus: empowering individuals in leveraging connectivity and digital technologies supporting social and economic development

Moderation

  • AnaMaria Meshkurti, Programme Officer, ITU Office for Europe, ITU, Bio, Presentation

    Panellists
  • Ms. Lidia Stępińska-Ustasiak, Deputy Director, Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of Electronic Communications (UKE), Republic of Poland, Bio, Presentation
  • Ms. Gulsanna Mamediieva, Director General of the Directorate for European Integration, Ministry of Digital Transformation (MDTU), Ukraine, Bio, Presentation
  • (TBD) Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Bio, Presentation
  • Mr. Marcin Krasuski, Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager, Google​, Bio​, Presentation

Tuesday | 9 March 2021

Special Session on Digitally Empowered Generation Equality in the wake of COVID-19

[10:00– 10:20]

Opening Segment

  • Video message: Ms Doreen Bogdan Martin, Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU

    Speakers:
  • Ms. Alia El-Yassir, UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Bio
  • Mr. Jaroslaw Ponder, Head of the ITU Office for Europe

    Opening Keynote:
  • Ms. Ajda Cuderman, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Slovenia, Bio


 

​[10:20 – 10:45]

Setting the context: Digitally Empowered Generation Equality Report Launch

Focus: Short discussion of key findings and recommendations of the Digitally Empowered Generation Equality Report by Youth panellists.

 

Moderator: Ms. Belma Kucukalic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bio
Speakers:

  • Ms. Eljona Avdo, European Youth Envoy, Generation Connect, Albania, Bio
  • Ms. Andreea Barbu, European Youth Envoy, Generation Connect, Romania, Bio
  • Ms. Zerina Mandžo, IT Girls Project Officer, UN Women, Bio
 
[10:45 – 11:55]
Panel discussion

Focus: An interactive panel discussion on concrete steps to deliver transformative change for women and girls using ICTs with particular focus on the Europe region.

Moderator: Mr. Jaroslaw Ponder, Head of the ITU Office for Europe
Speakers:

  • Ms. Mariam Lashkhi, Member of the Parliament of Georgia, Bio, Presentation
  • Ms. Tamara Dancheva, International Relations Manager, GSMA, Bio, Presentation
  • Ms. Babou Olengha-Aaby, Founder & CEO of the Next Billion, Bio
  • Ms. Priyanka Banerjee, CEO and Co-Founder, BusinessWiz, Bio
  • Ms. Emilija Stojmenova Duh, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of electrical engineering, University of Ljubljana​, Bio​, Presentation​


​​[11:55 - 12:00]
​Closing