Noha Gaafar, currently Executive Director of International Policies at the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) of Egypt, has around 25 years of experience in the telecom regulatory field.

She worked among different domains, since she has joined NTRA in 2002. She has gained good experience in the International domain of telecommunications through her work at the International Relations Department of NTRA for over 15 years.

As an expert at the Strategic Planning Sector, Noha drafted NTRA plan to become a fifth generation regulator (G5) according to the ITU regulatory Indexing.
She also served as Regional Cooperation Senior Manager starting 2014; managing cooperation activities with NTRA counterparts. In that capacity, Noha participated in the hosting and organization of two of the most important international events of telecommunications, GSR-16 and WRC-19, in 2016 and 2019 respectively, in addition to some other regional events. In 2010, she was assigned following up on NTRA development projects with the UNDP. Besides, she was in charge of managing a Twinning Project between NTRA, and the Italian and German regulators, launched under the European Commission Aid Programme. Prior to that she was assigned the file of Internet Governance in 2008; focusing on analyzing Internet political issues discussed within ICANN. She organized two Internet Governance workshops in cooperation with Diplo Foundation for NTRA experts in preparation for hosting IGF in 2010.

Before that, Noha had had worked in the Technical Affairs department for four years, where she participated in various international activities in relation to the ITU, and its Arab Regional Office, and followed up on NTRA regional activities in different entities such as ATU, COMESA, and ARICEA. Moreover, she witnessed the establishment of the Arab Regulators Network (AREGNET), after which she was appointed as NTRA focal point for some of the network projects in 2005. Hence, Noha has proficiency in organizing international and regional events, in addition to project management, and negotiation skills.

Noha holds a B.Sc. degree in Political Science from the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University, since 2000.

– Conseiller Technique du Directeur Général de l’Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications/TIC de Côte d’Ivoire (ARTCI)
– Présidente du Groupe Consultatif de Développement des Télécommunications (élue en novembre 2025, 1er Africain à ce poste))
– Présidente de la commission d’étude 1 du Secteur du développement de l’UIT (de 2017- octobre 2025, 1er africain au poste)
– Vice-Présidente de la Conférence Mondiale de Développement des Télécommunications (Bakou Novembre 2025)
– Vice-Présidente du Groupe Consultatif pour le développement des Télécommunications (UIT)
– Représentante Afrique du réseau des femmes du secteur de Développement de L’UIT (NoW UIT-D)
– Présidente du bureau préparatoire africain de I ‘Union Africaine des Télécommunications (UAT) pour la Conférence Mondiale de Développement des Télécommunications de I’UIT 2025 Fondatrice
– Fondatrice et Présidente exécutive du Réseau International des Femmes Expertes du Numérique (RIFEN)

Mme Regina Fleur BESSOU cumule plus de 24 ans d’expérience dans le secteur des télécommunications, des TIC et de la Poste. Elle est aujourd’hui Conseiller Technique du Directeur Général de l’Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications/TIC de Côte d’Ivoire (ARTCI) chargé de l’inclusion numérique et des Relations internationales.

Leader reconnue sur la scène internationale, elle est élue en novembre 2025 Présidente du Groupe Consultatif de Développement des Télécommunications (GCDT) de l’Union Internationale des Télécommunications (UIT), devenant le premier Africain à accéder à cette fonction. Cette élection marque une avancée historique, consacrant pour la première fois la prise de leadership du continent africain à ce niveau stratégique de gouvernance mondiale du numérique, et un positionnement honorable pour la Côte d’Ivoire.

Elle a également présidé, de 2017 à 2025, la Commission d’Études 1 du Secteur Développement de l’UIT, où elle fut également le premier africain dans ce rôle. En parallèle, elle a servi comme Vice-présidente du GCDT, ainsi que Représentante Afrique au sein du réseau des femmes de l’UIT-Développement (NoW UIT-D). À l’échelle régionale, elle a dirigé le Caucus africain préparatoire pour la Conférence Mondiale de Développement des Télécommunications (CMDT -2025) et joué un rôle central au sein de l’Union Africaine des Télécommunications (UAT) et de l’UIT pour la préparation des grandes conférences internationales.

Engagée en faveur de l’inclusion et du leadership féminin, elle est Fondatrice et Présidente exécutive du Réseau International des Femmes Expertes du Numérique (RIFEN), première organisation féminine à avoir le statut de membre de secteur de l’UIT, dédiée à renforcer la participation des femmes et des jeunes y compris les personnes en situation de handicap dans les instances de décision et de gouvernance du numérique.

En Côte d’Ivoire, elle a piloté des programmes d’accès universel, de connectivité rurale, ainsi que de protection des consommateurs et environnement concurrentiel dans la régulation, contribuant au développement durable du secteur Télécommunications et TIC.
Diplômée en sciences juridiques, administratives et fiscales, titulaire d’un Mastère spécialisé BADGE en Régulation Télécoms/TIC, et en Ingénierie du Genre (UNESCO/EFPOD), elle allie expertise technique, vision stratégique et engagement social. Mme BESSOU est mariée et mère de deux enfants.

Zeina is the Head of International Cooperation at OGERO Telecom.

She is the focal point with ITU and leading OGERO’s activities related to “Girl’s in ICT” and Women Empowerment as well as Child Online Protection. She is a member of the Network of Women in ITU-D Advisory Boardrepresenting the Arab Region.

She is the focal point with ESCWA on the National digital inclusion Policy for Lebanon.

Zeina is, currently, a member of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) for the UN IGF.

She heads the General Secretariat of the Lebanese IGF and its coordinator, and the representative of this initiative in the UN IGF NRIs.

Zeina is also member of the national committee for Children Online Safety within the Higher Council for Childhood and the Scientific Communication Coordinator for the Super Computer (High Performance Computing for Lebanon).

She was Vice Chair of ISOC Gender Group and recently chosen by “Missions Publiques” for their global fellowship program.

She is nominated Alternate Representative of Lebanon to ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), and elected Vice-Chair of the GAC for the term ending March 2025.

Ms. Cristiana Flutur joined the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) in 2012, as an expert in the Unit for International Relations and European Affairs. She has an active role in representing Romania in the ITU and other international foras.

In June 2019, she was appointed Director for International Affairs within ANCOM, managing the activity of three units which cover issues such as relationship with international and regional organisations, translations and bilateral cooperation, EU affairs, the organization of events and travels, respectively.

Ms. Flutur is the first woman to hold the position of chair of the Committee for ITU Policy (Com-ITU) and co-president of CEPT (The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations), for a period of three years that started in June 2018. Furthermore, she has acted as European vice-chair of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018 (PP-18) and main coordinator for the European Common Proposals and Positions for PP-18.

Ms Flutur is an Economics graduate from the Faculty of Finance and Banking, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies and holds a master’s degree from the same university in European Economics. She has an extensive experience in the public sector, in both national and international institutions.

Sahiba Mazahir Hasanova was born in Kalbajar district of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

She received bachelor’s degree in the faculty of Telecommunication and radiocommunication and did master’s degree in Radiotechnology and Communication from the Azerbaijan Technical University.

She worked as a chief laboratory assistant, head of laboratory and lecturer at the Azerbaijan Technical University.

She also worked for Radio Television Broadcasting and Satellite Communication Production Unit.

She is an Expert in Satellite frequency coordination at the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

She is a highly qualified expert in spectrum management, as well as satellite and terrestrial services with solid academic background on radiocommunication.

She participates in the ITU meetings and satellite coordination meetings as the representative of the Azerbaijan Communication Administration. She is a Jury member of the Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme (GCYLP) of ITU in partnership with Huawei.

Sahiba Hasanova was vice-chairperson of ITU-R Study Group 4 (Satellite Services) and vice chair of the working group of WTDC-17 Plenary and WTDC-22 Plenary.

She is a member of the Frequency working Party of ITSO.

She was elected to the Radio Regulations Board in PP-18 for 2019-2022 years and was also re-elected RRB member in PP-22 for 2023-2026 years.

Currently she is a Board’s vice-chair and chair of its working group for RRB Rules of Procedures.

She is the first female RRB member from Region C (Eastern Europe and Northern Asia) of the ITU.

She participated at ITU Council, WTDC, WRC, RA, RCC and CEPT conferences and other high-level meetings and summits on behalf of the Azerbaijan Communications Administration. She has also participated in the Women’s Leadership Workshop on Empowering Women in Radiocommunications Negotiations during WRC-15.

Sahiba Hasanova was awarded Taraggi Medal (Medal of Progress) by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for special contributions in the sphere of telecommunications in Azerbaijan and 2 honorary certificate by MTCHT.

She has also been awarded Medal by Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC) for her work for RCC region.

She was awarded Azerbaijani Women Award Diploma (AWITA) on Recognising the outstanding innovation achieved by women in the industry in Azerbaijan by Femmes Digitales.

She is engaged in scientific activities and has 9 published scientific articles and 2 tutorials.

Sahiba is a member of the Network of Women in ITU-D Advisory Board representing the CIS region.

Dr. Kim Mallalieu is deputy chair of the Board of the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) and chair of the Authority’s Board Review Committee. She is senior lecturer and leader of the Communication Systems Group in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of the West Indies (UWI), chair of the UWI St. Augustine Campus ICT Steering Committee, and past coordinator of UWI’s Master’s degree in Telecommunications Regulation and Policy, MRP (Telecommunications). She also lectures in Carnegie Mellon University’s Centre for Executive Education in Technology Policy.

Dr. Mallalieu is chief rapporteur and member of the Executive Steering Committee of the Universal Safeguards for Digital Public Infrastructure Initiative of OSET and UNDP; pro bono technical supervisor of the ITU, TATT and Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) Smart Seas Project; and a member of the Caribbean Spectrum Management Task Force. She coordinates the Mentoring Programme for Permanent Consultative Committee I (PCC.I) of Inter‑American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) and, as a keen advocate for gender equality for development, she is vice chair of the Advisory Board for the Network of Women (NOW) in ITU-D, and member of the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organizations (CANTO) Women in ICT (WICT) Committee.

As Principal Investigator of the Caribbean ICT Research Programme (CIRP), Dr. Mallalieu is engaged in multidisciplinary action research with an emphasis on building the resilience of underserved populations. She holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from MIT and PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from University College London. She is a member of Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams (REACT); a licensed amateur radio and GMDSS short range operator; and the recipient of local, regional and international teaching and research awards, and other awards of distinction. She is the first woman to title a dog in the sport of Internationale Gebrauchshunde Prüfungsordnung (IGP) in Trinidad and Tobago.

Umida Rakhmatdjanovna Musayeva was born on February 1, 1975, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She holds a degree in Telecommunication Engineering from the Tashkent University of Information Technologies named after Muhammad al-Khwarizmi (1996) and a Management degree from the Uzbek-Japanese Center (2007).

With more than 28 years of professional experience, she has held senior positions in the Agency of Communications and Informatization, the State Committee of Communications, and the Ministry for Development of Information Technologies and Communications. Since 2020, she has served as Head of the International Department, where she leads Uzbekistan’s cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC), the Universal Postal Union (UPU), and other international organizations.

She has led Uzbekistan’s participation in numerous international initiatives, including the establishment of ICT training centers, the promotion of inclusive digital access for women, youth, and persons with disabilities, and the development of ICT infrastructure in rural areas. Ms. Musayeva implements these projects in close cooperation with several international organizations, such as ITU, JICA, and KOICA, and with partners worldwide. She has also served as Vice-Chair of several committees at ITU events and has actively represented Uzbekistan at major global and regional ICT conferences and forums. She currently serves as Vice-Chair of ITU-D Study Group 1 representing the CIS region.

Ms. Musayeva is fluent in Uzbek, Russian, and English, with working knowledge of French and basic proficiency in German.

 

Caecilia Nyamutswa is a Coordinator and Champion for Africa Network of Women (NoW) in ITU-D.

Ms. Nyamutswa is a lawyer. She works as the Director for Legal Services by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe. She has vast experience in the practice of banking law and ICT law, having practiced law for 10 years and worked for large international and Zimbabwean financial institutions. She is the current Vice Chair for Africa, for the Telecommunication Development Advisory Group (TDAG).  She has previously served as Vice Chair for Africa, for the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) Inter-regional Preparatory Meetings. She chairs the African Telecommunications Union Ad Hoc Working Group on the ITU-Development Sector’s contribution to the ITU Strategic and Operational Plans.

Caecilia has also contributed as Co-Rapporteur for ITU -D Study Group 1 question 5/1, on Telecommunications/ICTs for Rural and Remote areas, for the 1018 to 2021 Study Period, which saw the publication by ITU of a comprehensive study paper prepared by the Rapporteur Group, on broadband development and connectivity solutions for rural and remote areas and the release of the final Report of the Question. The Report has critical information useful for bridging the Gender Digital Divide. She is also the Zimbabwe focal point for matters relating to TDAG, WSIS and WTDC and was Africa’s focal point on the International Telecommunications Regulations at the Plenipotentiary Conference in 2018.

Having coordinated the participation of Zimbabwean women in the ITU-D cybersecurity mentorship programme, her vision is to see a world where subject to addressing of historical gender differences and imbalances, employment of women in key ICT positions is gender blind.

Inga Rimkeviciene, Head of International and Public Relations at the Communications Regulatory Authority (RRT) of the Republic of Lithuania, has worked at the national communications regulator for more than 15 years. She participated in several EU projects in the field of electronic communications, and was a member of Standardization Technical Committee on Electromagnetic Compatibility (TK 8). Since 2018, she has been a member of the Lithuanian delegation at the main ITU events, including the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (Dubai, 2018), ITU Council, GSR, others. Since 2019, Chair of the Steering Committee of ITU Europe Centres of Excellence. Since May 2020, the Chair of the CEPT Project Team on preparation to the WTDC-21 and the main coordinator of preparations of Europe for the WTDC. She is an active participant of the Network of Women (NoW) for Europe Region, member of the Advisory Board of the Network of Women in ITUD.

Ms. Daniela Rivera Dávila serves as Executive Director of International Affairs of the Telecommunications Sector in the Undersecretary of Infrastructure of the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation of the Government of Mexico. She joined this Secretariat in 2013 holding different positions such as the Chief of Staff of the Undersecretary of Communications and the Directorate of Digital Inclusion of the Coordination of the Information and Knowledge Society. In January 2018, she was appointed to lead the international area of the Undersecretariat where she has an active role in representing Mexico in the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL), the Regional Technical Telecommunications Commission (COMTELCA) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) among other international organizations. In addition, Ms. Rivera is in charge of the negotiations of international legal instruments on Telecommunications/ICT issues.

Ms. Rivera is a graduate of the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico with a degree in International Relations. She has extensive experience in the public sector, and both in national and international institutions.

Ms.Ke Wang, Deputy Chief Engineer，Industry and Planning Research Institute, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.
ITU-D SG2 vice chairman (2014-2017,2018-2021)

She is engaged in telecommunication industry development research, broadband network, emergency telecommunication, satellite communication research etc.