Agenda

Tomas Lamanauskas was appointed the Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on January 1, 2023. In this role, he supports the ITU Secretary-General in managing the organization and promoting inclusive digital transformation. With over 20 years of experience in telecommunications and digital technologies, he has held senior positions across Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and the Pacific region. Mr. Lamanauskas aims to advance global connectivity, address climate issues, and ensure ITU operates with transparency. He holds degrees from London Business School, Harvard Kennedy School, University of the West Indies, and Vilnius University. 

Yolanda Martínez currently works as International Telecommunications Union (ITU) overall lead for GovStack Initiative, helping governments accelerate the digitization of government services. In the public sector, Yolanda led the national digital strategy of Mexico, the digital government unit at the federal level, and the Zapopan digital city program at the local level. She has led several digital transformation initiatives in the private sector while at Deloitte Consulting. In the international arena, Yolanda led the Office of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Chile, has collaborated with United Nations agencies and joined OECD as a peer reviewer for the digital government strategies of various Latin American countries. Yolanda has been recognized by @political as one of the twenty most influential people globally in digital government. She holds a Ph.D. degree in information and knowledge society from the Open University of Catalonia (UOC).

Ms. Fatou Binetou Ndiaye, a seasoned professional in the Senegalese administration, currently serves as the Secretary General of the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital. With a Master's degree in International Relations from Cheikh Anta Diop University and training from the National School of Administration (ENA) and Judicial Training Center (CFJ), she brings a wealth of expertise to her role. With twelve years of judicial practice at the High Court Hors Classe of Dakar, she has served as a civil, administrative, commercial, and criminal judge. Ms. Ndiaye has also held the position of Chief of Staff before her appointment as Secretary General, where she plays a pivotal role in developing, implementing, and monitoring the department's policies. She brings dedication and leadership to her responsibilities, ensuring the smooth coordination and functioning of various services within the ministry. 

Khaled El Attar has been leading Egypt’s Digital Transformation as the Vice Minister for Digital Transformation, Automation, and Administrative Development at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) since June 2018. Additionally, he has held the position of Head of IT Infrastructure Sector at MCIT since 2015. El Attar boasts over 40 years of experience in the field of Informatics, overseeing more than 200 projects in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Germany, and the USA. He held various managerial positions at IBM for 28 years, as well as at Raya, and began his career as a lecturer at Cairo University. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering with honors and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), as well as a Master’s degree in Research from the University of Liverpool.

Nele Leosk serves as the Ambassador-at-Large for Digital Affairs at Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she oversees digital diplomacy and global partnerships. With over 20 years of experience, she has advised leaders in digital governance across more than 40 countries. Nele has worked with organizations such as the UNDP, UNU, OECD, and in academia. An advocate for inclusive digital societies, she chairs the Digital Cooperation and Digital Diplomacy network, leads Estonia's GovStack Initiative, and mentors female digital leaders. Ms Leosk holds a PhD in Political and Social Sciences and lectures on technology policy and digital foreign policy.

Noémie Bürkl is the head of the Digitalisation Unit at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Berlin since February 2023, leading digital innovation in the realm of economic development. With a rich background in international relations and policy, she previously served as the deputy head of division for Multilateral Policy, co-headed the German-Bilateral Cooperation at the German Embassy in Cairo, and contributed her expertise as a senior policy officer at the Federal Foreign Office and a technical program officer at the International Organization for Migration. Noémie's academic journey spans across continents, having studied International and European Relations in France and Canada, and completing a master’s degree in international economics and politics at Charles University in Prague. Her dedication to leveraging digital technologies for economic development and cooperation underscores her commitment to shaping a more connected and prosperous world.

Rashad Khaligov is the Deputy Chairman of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency in Azerbaijan. He has previously served as the Head of IT at the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan and as a lecturer at Khazar University. Rashad holds a Master's degree in Computer Applications with a focus on the Design and Development of Secure Software from Université de Franche-Comté. His extensive experience in IT and academia positions him as a key leader in driving innovation and digital development in Azerbaijan. 

Robert Opp currently serves as the Chief Digital Officer at UNDP. With over two decades of international experience in driving transformative change across five continents, he brings a wealth of expertise to his role. Prior to joining UNDP, Robert spent over a decade at the World Food Program, where he led the Innovation and Change Management division, as well as the Business Support and Innovation division. He holds a master's degree in International Relations and Affairs from Carleton University, Canada. Robert possesses a deep understanding of diplomacy and the inter-governmental system, coupled with a natural aptitude for bridging the private and public sectors. 

Mr. Sameer Chauhan serves as the Director of the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) since December 2019, appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. In this role, he leads UNICC's strategic initiatives, ensuring services for over 90 Clients and Partner Organizations. With over 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, Mr. Chauhan has spearheaded UNICC's transformation into the UN system's preferred digital partner, focusing on cybersecurity, AI, and automation. Prior to UNICC, he held leadership roles at Deutsche Bank and served as a consultant at Deloitte. Mr. Chauhan holds a background in Computer Engineering and Computer Science.

Mr. Sushil Pal, with over 23 years of civil service experience in various Indian ministries, is currently the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. He oversees key initiatives like Electronics Manufacturing Schemes and represents India in ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee. He has led pivotal G20 DPI initiatives and Free Trade Agreement negotiations on Digital Trade. With an MBA in Finance from Delhi University's Faculty of Management Studies and a background in Operational Research, he's also a Certified Internal System Auditor (CISA). Mr. Pal's contributions span sectors like Home Affairs, Health, and Revenue, including advisory roles for WHO and DFID on financial guidelines for the National Rural Health Mission.

Tim Wood is the Chief Partnerships Officer at Co-Develop, leading global partnerships and strategy for DPI in Health. With a wealth of experience, Tim spent nine years at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, defining digital health investment strategies and working closely with country partners to implement digital systems. He is renowned for his contributions to digital public infrastructure, having co-authored the Principles of Digital Development and the Principles of Donor Alignment for Digital Health. Tim's extensive background includes 12 years at Microsoft and 12 years at the Grameen Foundation’s Technology Center, where he pioneered initiatives like the Village Phone program in Uganda and Rwanda. As the Director of Mobile Health Innovation at Grameen Foundation, Tim spearheaded the development of the open-source MOTECH software platform. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP is the Minister of State for the Ministry of Post, Telecommunication, and Information Technology in Bangladesh, renowned for his leadership in shaping Digital Bangladesh and the Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041. Starting in grassroots politics, he became the youngest Member of Parliament in the 9th Parliament of Bangladesh in 2008. As Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology from 2014 to 2023, he spearheaded Bangladesh's digital transformation, earning numerous international accolades. Recognized as a 'Young Global Leader' by the World Economic Forum and among the '100 Most Influential People in Digital Government' by Apolitical, Minister Palak continues to drive innovation and empowerment through technology.