Agenda

Patrick Blankers (born 1964) is Policy Director Sustainability at Ericsson.  In this role he drives sustainability initiatives with external and internal stakeholders. He is engaged in several initiatives that are related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including energy efficiency and climate-related enabling impact of 5G.

During his 25 years at Ericsson, Patrick has fulfilled various roles in strategy, regulatory affairs, line management and technology. Prior to that, Patrick worked 7 years at Dutch operator KPN as  a researcher and project manager.

Anton is the Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Google Switzerland, leading Google’s Government affairs and public policy in Switzerland, based in Zurich, the company's largest engineering hub outside the US. He has over 20 years of experience in government affairs, public policy, public affairs, regulatory work, communications and civic engagement in Switzerland and Austria, as well on the European and International level. 

In connection to his professional background and experience, he is focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship policy, education/digital skills, sustainability, internet- and data-governance, copyright and the impact of technology on society and the economy.

In her role at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Timea Suto works with global business experts to bring private sector views into activities and decisions of ICC’s Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS) initiative. Among her different responsibilities, she leads policy input and project work on digital policy and Internet governance issues, having served as a business representative on the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development Working Group on Enhanced Cooperation (2016-2018), and the Internet Governance Forum Multistakeholder Advisory Group (2018-2020).

ICC is the largest, most representative global business organization and only private sector body to have official Observer status to the United Nations General Assembly. During the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), ICC convened and facilitated business input and through ICC BASIS, it has continued to bring input and support engagement from business into the post-WSIS activities, whether at the UN and its various agencies or via multistakeholder activities. BASIS facilitates business participation and input into these activities while also bringing in views from the wider membership of ICC companies and associations.

Ryan Palmer is a Global Digital Equity Strategist on the Microsoft Airband team.  The Airband Initiative advances access to high-speed internet and meaningful connectivity as a fundamental right around the world by partnering with internet service providers, middle mile providers, global satellite companies, energy access providers, nonprofits, government agencies and others focused on closing the digital divide. Airband collaborates across private, public, and nonprofit sectors to build the digital infrastructure required for internet access and adoption, as well as support the programs and policies needed for newly connected communities to leverage the full value of connectivity to improve livelihoods. Ryan leads Airband’s policy team working to enable meaningful connectivity across the globe, advocating for a holistic approach to digital equity that results in digital transformation enabled by access to affordable high-speed internet, meaningful devices, and digital skilling resources. 

Before joining Microsoft, Ryan was the Chief of the Telecommunications Access Policy Division (TAPD) at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). TAPD’s primary mission is to advance the goals of universal service — that all Americans have access to robust, affordable broadband and voice services. Consistent with that mission, Ryan’s team developed policies for administration and oversight of the federal Universal Service Fund programs, the FCC’s primary tools for closing the digital divide. 

Prior to joining the FCC, Ryan served as a Commissioner of the West Virginia Public Service Commission (WVPSC) from 2010-2014.  

Ryan also served as Deputy General Counsel for West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin III from 2008 – 2010 and as an attorney/aide for Commissioner Charlotte R. Lane at the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) from 2003-2008.  

Jean-Manuel Canet, Senior Manager, is in charge of Biodiversity and Climate in the CSR Department of the Orange Group. He has developed an expertise in the assessment of the environmental impact of ICT products, services, projects and organizations. He led numerous projects to assess and reduce GHG emissions related to IT, for customers such as the European Parliament, France Télévisions and Zurich Financial Services. He serves as Vice-Chairman of the International Telecommunication Union ITU-T Study Group on EMF, Environment, Climate action Sustainable digitalization and Circular Economy.

Jean-Manuel graduated from Télécom ParisTech and the MBA Programme of the “Collège des Ingénieurs”. He holds a certificate in carbon accountancy, advanced level, from the French National Agency for Energy and Environment.

Ana has more than 25 years of professional experience in the telecommunications sector, focusing most of her career in Latin America. Since March 2021 she is the Director of Regulatory Policy for Telefónica Hispanoamérica, the branch of Telefónica that groups the operations in Latin America with the exception of Brazil. In this position, she defines and coordinates the regulatory and public policy positioning for the eight operations of the Telefónica Hispanoamérica Group.

She has held senior positions in the Telefónica Group in areas related to pricing, marketing, customer experience, public affairs and regulation in Europe and Latin America. 

She represents Telefónica in different industry associations. She was President of the Board of ASIET (Inter-American Association of Telecommunications Companies) between December 2020 and December 2021, now occupying the position of Vice President. Since January 2018, she is member of the Board of 5G Americas. Currently she also represents Telefónica and is deputy chair of the GSMA LA Policy Group.

She holds a degree in Economics and History and an EMBA from IESE Business School.