Agenda

Dr. Haruo Okamura was a vice-chairman of ITU-T SG15, and ITU-T TSAG, currently the chair of IEC SC86C (Fibre Optic Systems and Active devices). 

He developed an unprecedentedly affordable, lightweight but very robust DIY-based Optical Cable Solution targeting to quickly, nation-widely connect the unconnected population. It, not only copes with Pandemics and Disasters, but it helps generate a global consensus resisting attempts to change the status quo with huge power and capital.

It can be easily installed on-surface to underground to air to water. The solution meets the three new ITU Recommendations under his editorship that were identified as "the most popular and useful in addressing the Question of rural connectivity" in the report of the ITU-D Rural Connectivity in 2021.

As the moderator of Session 222, he wants to seek how Fiber, LEO Satellite, and Fixed Wireless nation-widely and quickly close the urban-rural digital divide in a complementary manner.

Zhi Guo leads Telesat’s engagement with regulators in Asia Pacific on the new Telesat Lightspeed market access, spectrum policy, ITU-related activities and other regulatory requirements. Prior to joining Telesat, he was with the Infocomm Media Development Authority and the Defence Science and Technology Agency. Zhiguo holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree from the National University of Singapore. 

Eisaku Sasaki received the B.E. degree from Osaka University, Japan in 1986. He joined NEC Corporation, Japan in 1986. Since joining the company, he has been engaged in the development of microwave and millimetre-wave radios which are used mainly as mobile backhaul system today. He is currently an Executive Professional in Wireless Transport Development Department. His research interests include error-correcting codes, signal processing for higher-order modulation and spatial multiplexing systems including LoS-MIMO and Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM). He is a member of IEEE, ComSoc.

Caecilia Nyamutswa is a Legal Practitioner who is admitted to the Zimbabwean Bar, with extensive experience in the Telecommunications and Banking fields. She is the current Legal Director for the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) and is responsible for all Telecommunication related Legal matters and drafting legislation.

Prior to that, Ms Nyamutswa had held positions as the Head of Legal and Company secretary for standard Chartered Bank Zimbabwe and Head of legal and Investigations for ZB Financial holdings. She is current Rapporteur for Question 5/1 on ICTs for rural and remote areas. She has participated in the activities of the ITU Development Sector since 2012. Before joining the telecommunication and Banking fields, she had practiced law for ten years. Her experience has seen her serving on various corporate Boards in Zimbabwe.

Ms Nyamutswa holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Science in International Relations (MSc-IR), a Bachelor of Law Honours Degree (HBL) and a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB), all from the University of Zimbabwe.

Ms. Onica Makwakwa leads the multi-stakeholder engagement across Africa for the Alliance for Affordable Internet focusing on advancing good practices in policy and regulatory frameworks for affordable and meaningful access to broadband. She also convenes the Africa Summit on Women and Girls in Technology. A consumer, civil and digital rights advocate, Onica has managed and pioneered various national and international campaigns and policy change processes for women’s rights, civil rights, consumer rights, media and digital transformation initiatives. She brings a strong sensitivity and unique perspective to the dynamics affecting women, and other disadvantaged populations.

Mr. Bhattarai is a leading ICT and information economy expert from Nepal. Until recently, he was serving as the Vice-Chair of High Level Commission for Information Technology, an apex level ICT policy, planning and strategy outfit Chaired by the Prime Minister of Nepal.

Mr. Bhattarai played a key, leadership role in formulating e-Government master plan for the Government of Nepal launched in the year 2010 which has since culminated in a comprehensive ICT development project  currently being executed by Office of the Prime Minister/ Council of Ministers, Government of Nepal. Mr. Bhattarai is also credited with the achievement of having provided leadership in delivering on one of the key, foundational components of eGovernment initiative namely the development of Government Enterprise Architecture/ Government interoperability framework (GEA/GIF) for the Government of Nepal.

Mr. Bhattarai has also been providing a range of advisory and consultative support in a number of automation initiatives of Government agencies. In addition, he also played a key role in helping the Government roll-out its first Government Cloud currently hosted by Nepal Information Technology Center (NITC)/Government Integrated Data Center (GIDC).

In addition, Mr. Bhattarai has also contributed towards the development of Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) prepared by Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies by providing advisory inputs for integrating IT/ITES-BPO into the national strategy.

Mr. Bhattarai played a lead  role in drafting Nepal’s first IT Policy as a key member of the team formed by National Planning Commission, Government of Nepal.  Mr. Bhattarai was also  instrumental in preparing revised ICT Policy framework and National Broadband Policy for Government of Nepal in the year 2015.

George Hara is an archaeologist, entrepreneur and venture capitalist.
He is Co-Chairperson of BracNet（Bangladesh）, and the chairman the AFF.

In 1984, Hara founded DEFTA Partners and became a partner at Accel Partners in the 1990s. Hara has helped to create and manage many IT firms as the chairman, board member, or shareholders of companies in the US, UK, Israel, and Japan, such as Borland (IPO in 1989), Zoran (IPO in 1995), Tradex (Merged with Ariba in 2000), Oplus Technologies (Merged with Intel in 2005), Broadware (Merged with Cisco in 2007), Transitive Technology (merged with IBM in 2008), and Fortinet (NASDAQ IPO in 2009).

In the public sector, Hara served as Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Finance in Japan. He is also the founder and Chairman of the Alliance Forum Foundation, an international organization in a Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, focused on the use of next-generation technologies to improve the standard of living in the developing nations, as well as, the advancement of research and debate into new standards of corporate governance suitable for post-industrial capitalism.

He has served on the boards of the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Zoo, University of San Francisco, Tokyo Foundation, and Hara Research Foundation, which offers fellowships for interdisciplinary between life& computer science.

Hara was a UN Fellow and holds an LL.B. from Keio Univ. and an MS from the Graduate School of Engineering at Stanford University. He has been appointed Professor of Medicine, Osaka University Medical School (by courtesy).

Pavan Singh Shakya has have been part of Nepal’s Digital/ICT industry domains over 25 years, which include Internet Service Delivery, Telecommunication (Mobile/Cellular), Social Entrepreneurship, Business Incubation, Policy Advocacy, and Technology Development and Implementation. Currently, I lead the Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D). Our vision is to provision digital technologies for development and empowerment.