Youth contributing to digital and outcomes of the special track


WSIS

Session 292

Monday, 7 July 2025 17:00–17:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical (on-site) and Virtual (remote) participation Room L, Palexpo Youth Interactive Session 1 Document

This session will bring together moderators from the day’s youth sessions to share key insights, audience contributions, and actionable recommendations. It will serve as a synthesis of the WSIS+20 Youth Special Track, highlighting how youth are actively shaping the digital transformation agenda. 

Panellists
Ms. Yuhan Zheng
Ms. Yuhan Zheng PhD candidate, National University of Ireland (Geography) and Co-Chair, Climate and Sustainability Subcommittee for External Affairs IEEE Young Professionals

Ms. Zheng is a Ph.D. student in the geography department at the National University of Ireland, focusing on the global governance of the energy transition, specifically examining how energy innovation disproportionately empowers local communities. Through working experiences with the UNFCCC secretariat in the Intergovernmental Support and Collective Progress Division, she contributed to coordinating the workstreams on the first global stocktake under the Paris Agreement. Ms. Zheng leads the global youth policy board for the Asia-Pacific region at FAO (UN Food and Agriculture Organization) and chairs the young working group for energy systems at the UNECE in the Sustainable Energy Division.


Before entering her PhD study, she dedicated four years to studying urban sustainability, climate resilience, urban resilience, and smart cities. Her research has resulted in numerous publications and conference presentations here.


Aside from her academic role, she co-chairs external affairs at the IEEE Young Professionals Climate and Sustainability Task Force, monitoring academic and science-based projects, and contributing to long-term collaboration with leading energy institutes like IEA, IRENA, SeForAll, etc.


Ms. Zheng also serves as International Affairs Manager at WAGA (a renewable energy company dedicated to solving energy poverty starting in African villages), which is dedicated to providing sustainable and reliable lithium-ion battery solutions by recycling and re-using lithium-ion batteries and producing durable and affordable battery powered products.


For more information, see:
https://sites.google.com/view/yuhan-zheng/homepage?authuser=0
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuhan-sicily-zheng-378097222/


Mr. Lingxin Zhu
Mr. Lingxin Zhu Master's candidate in Global Management, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Hong Kong Shanghai Green Light-Year

Mr. Zhu is the Digital Inclusion Research Lead of Shanghai Green Light-Year Youth Research, and a Master's candidate in Global Management at the University of Hong Kong, distinguished by the National Scholarship and Shanghai Outstanding Graduate Award during his undergraduate career. He has participated in digital inclusion, digital economy research and international governance, with experience spanning VoiceBook solution for people with hard-hearing, research on the most influential Chinese companies’ digital inclusion performance, Model United Nations leadership, UN Training Institute programs, and Internet technology company internships.


Mr. Zhu authored an international conference paper examining How Digital Economy Empowers Corporate ESG, discovering that digital economy enhances corporate ESG performance through alleviating financing constraints and promoting green economic growth—particularly pronounced in pollution-intensive industries. During his internship at ByteDance's TikTok Shop Sector, he gained firsthand insight into responsible technology deployment in developing regions, observing comprehensive technical training and ethical compliance education for local stakeholders before market expansion.


Ms. Yinuo Chen
Ms. Yinuo Chen Student (First year for master degree) Fudan University

Yinuo Chen is currently a first-year graduate student at Fudan University, who previously served as president of the school’s student union, contributing to campus initiatives and student engagement. She has participated in cross-cultural academic programs, including a summer exchange at the University of Oxford, where she had the privilege of receiving constructive feedback, as well as the GCCHE Climate and Health Responders Training and other academic seminars. These experiences have deepened her appreciation for global collaboration and interdisciplinary learning.
With a focus on ICT and its role in sustainable development, Yinuo has been involved in exploratory research at the intersection of digital innovation and public health, including projects on AI-assisted medical diagnostics and data-driven health analytics. While still early in her academic journey, she is committed to contributing to technology solutions that align with long-term societal and environmental well-being.

 


Mr. Jonas Bruns
Mr. Jonas Bruns Caretaker mymun

Jonas is a strategy consultant at PwC Strategy& in Vienna, leveraging his expertise in business strategy and innovation. He studied mechanical engineering in Karlsruhe, Shanghai, and Paris. His passion for multilateralism and global collaboration was ignited through extensive involvement in Model United Nations conferences, where he played a key role in organizing events with mymun, the world's largest Model UN platform with the vision of every student participating in at least one MUN.


Mr. Alexander Dietz
Mr. Alexander Dietz Caretaker mymun

Alex, originally from Germany, is the founder of mymun – the world’s largest platform for Model United Nations (MUN) conferences. His mission is to encourage every student to take part in at least one MUN conference during their student life. Previously, Alex worked as a trainee at the European Commission in Brussels, where he focused on health policy. He holds a Master’s degree in Engineering and Policy Analysis from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.


Ms. Claire Patzig
Ms. Claire Patzig Fellow Alumnae German Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation

Claire Patzig is a Junior Data Associate at the Data Innovation Lab by the German Federal Foreign Office and a Master's student in Computer Science at the Hasso Plattner Institute. She is actively engaged in digital policy advocacy through the German (Youth) IGF and is an alumna of the International Digital Policy Fellowship by the German Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation.


Ms. Dunola Oladapo
Ms. Dunola Oladapo Youth Programme Officer International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Ms. Melissa Michelle Muñoz Suro
Ms. Melissa Michelle Muñoz Suro Member ITU Youth Advisory Board

Melissa is the Director of Innovation at OGTIC and the Coordinator of the Innovation Cabinet of the Dominican Republic, where she led the development of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the first AI Strategy in Central America and the Caribbean. She focused her career on the intersection of governance and technology. Additionally, Muñoz leads the implementation of the National Innovation Policy, steering over 22 innovative projects towards a smarter, interconnected future. She was also part of the first Cohort of the International Telecommunications Union's “Generation Connect" America's Youth Envoys.


Mr. Nadir Atayev
Mr. Nadir Atayev Member ITU Youth Advisory Board

Nadir is a young and enthusiastic Hardware Research Engineer and Scientist from Azerbaijan, currently working in the Research and Development department at the Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos). He actively contributes to the design of small satellites in the country, playing a key role in advancing Azerbaijan's space exploration efforts. Recognized for his achievements, Nadir has been selected for various technical competitions and has actively contributed to the development of theses and articles in electronics, telecommunications, and space equipment. His diverse expertise makes him a valuable asset to both local and global space initiatives. Beyond his technical contributions, Nadir is dedicated to youth advocacy and serves as a teacher and mentor, playing a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of engineers. Notably, Nadir is engaged in promoting global collaboration among young space enthusiasts as the National Point of Contact (NPOC) for Azerbaijan in the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC). 


Ms. Carolina Anselmino
Ms. Carolina Anselmino Giga Programme Officer International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Moderator