Annual Conference 2025

Adriana Labardini Inzunza is currently an independent public interest lawyer and consumer rights expert, she has always acted afar from political, partisan and corporate interests and has fought to deter anticompetitive practices and eliminate barriers to competition. She has promoted initiatives to bridge the digital divide, promote rural and indigenous connectivity and media, at the same time as she has insisted to embed innovation in the agency, build consumer empowerment tools, work permanently towards gender equality and effective implementation and enforcement of regulation.

Ms Labardini served as Secretary of the Board of COFETEL, the former, telecommunications agency (1999-2003); practiced law in a major law firm, specialising in the areas of corporate, administrative and telecommunications law (1986- 1998). Upon her return to Mexico after completing the H. Humphrey Fellowship in North Carolina, UNC and Duke (2003-2004), she co-founded Alconsumidor, a nonprofit watchdog, pioneer in advocating for consumer rights and consumer class actions, a project that ended in a constitutional and legal reform.

Ms Labardini is a Fulbright scholar and a Hubert Humphrey and Ashoka Fellow. She is a professor at the Escuela Libre de Derecho LLM program in Mexico City and has lectured at CIDE, UNAM, ITAM, ITESM, UP as visiting professor.

She obtained her law degree cum laude from Escuela Libre de Derecho in Mexico City in 1987 and her Masters degree (LLM) from Columbia University in New York, on a Fulbright scholar in 1991. For four and a half years she has served as Commissioner at the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT), the Mexican independent regulatory body and competition authority for telecommunications and broadcasting industries. She also chaired the IFT for an interim term in the fall of 2017. Her tenure ended on February 28th, 2018.

In such capacity she has successfully led efforts to create a research center within IFT, strengthen regional and international relations among regulators, such as FCC, CRTC, and through Regulatel, BEREC and IIC; she has fought for pluralism in media, truly independent public media as well as initiatives for inclusion & accessibility and innovating the regulator. During the first two years of her tenure, she was the Commissioner in charge of transparency and access to public information at IFT and a member of the Ethics Committee.

Alejandra Luzardo is an international speaker, author and recognized as one of the leading experts on the creative industries in Latin America. Founder and CEO of Boomful, a company with the mission of expanding the audiovisual sector, digital content and new technologies in the region. During her long career at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), she has implemented her unique perspective on the influence of technology on business and social impact, collaborating in developing the entrepreneurial and VC ecosystems.

Her most emblematic projects have allowed her to build technocreative solutions through a variety of international organizations and the leaders of the Entertainment sector. Some of the solutions included the first IDB loan for the private sector in the creative industries, the first Orange Bond for Colombia, the creation of the first Audiovisual Sandbox focused on amplifying below-the-line audiovisual skills, the design and implementation of the first Regional Dialogue on Public Policies with an intersectoral approach, the strategy of the Intersectoral Working Group of the South-Southeast of Mexico to promote the creative sectors.

Co-founder of Demand Solutions and Producer of the Región Naranja podcast; her opinion articles have been published in the most renowned newspapers in Latin America and Spain.

Dr Allyson Leacock, Chairman of the Barbados Broadcasting Authority and Director of National Transformation Initiative, Government of Barbados, is also an independent media and human development consultant. She led a coalition of 112 Media Houses in 24 Caribbean countries for 12 years and trained over 2000 Caribbean broadcasters. She served on the Executive Board of the Global Media AIDS Initiative (GMAI) and was elected for 2 terms as Chairman of the Global Steering Committee for the World AIDS Campaign. She was also Cultural Affairs Specialist at the US Embassy covering the Caribbean and Officer-In-Charge and Student Coordinator at the University of the West Indies Distance Education Centre (UWIDEC), now the Open Campus.

Dr Allyson Leacock was conferred with the Order of the Republic (OR) in Barbados National Honours on 30 November 2023. The award was given by the President of Barbados – In ‘recognition of sterling contribution to broadcasting, media relations, corporate communications, training, human resource development and educational technology, as well as distinguished service to Barbados as Head of National Transformation Initiative’.

Dr Leacock has a wide-ranging professional background including in executive management in corporate communications, media, needs assessment, training, human resource development and leadership, as well broadcast media including production and presentation as TV News Anchor, and as General Manager of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation.

She holds Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Educational Technology, Concordia University, Canada and BA (Double First Class Honours) in English and Education and the Diploma in Education (Dip.Ed with distinction) from Stirling University, UK. Her training also includes Diplomas in Human Resource Management, Facility Management, Arts Management and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

A former national athlete, gymnast, dancer and actress, Dr Leacock is trained in sign language, is a volunteer with Special Olympics and Barbados Council for the Disabled.

Currently serving as the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Maida plays a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape. Under his leadership, the NCC continues to advance connectivity, foster innovation, and promote a competitive and inclusive telecommunications industry.

Dr Maida’s career includes significant contributions to leading global organizations such as British Telecom, Cisco Systems, and EE Ltd. He was also a pioneering engineering team member at UbiquiSys Ltd, a groundbreaking small-cell technology startup acquired by Cisco Systems in 2013.

Prior to his current role, Dr Maida was the Executive Director of Technology and Operations at the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems PLC (NIBSS). There, he spearheaded the modernization of Nigeria’s central digital payments infrastructure, reinforcing its role as a critical enabler of the country’s financial ecosystem.

Dr Maida holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Bath, an MEng in Information Systems Engineering from Imperial College London, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship from the Cambridge Judge Business School.

Bio coming soon…

Ana Luiza Valadares is a forward-thinking lawyer and policy leader driving innovation in telecom and digital infrastructure in Latin America. With more than 20 years of experience across public and private sectors, since 2016 she has led Meta’s connectivity, infrastructure, and devices policy in Brazil and Latam, shaping digital initiatives and fostering strategic partnerships across the region.

Andrea Muñoz Gómez graduate of the University of Cauca, Andrea holds a Master’s in Administrative Law from the University of Rosario and is specialized in Business Law and Telecommunications Law from Externado University of Colombia. She has completed programs in Senior Management in Negotiation at the University of Los Andes and in Comprehensive Regulatory Impact Analysis at the University of Florida.

With 28 years of experience, of which 25 have been in the ICT sector with a focus on regulation, Ms Muñoz Gómez has held various managerial positions and has consulted in the areas of television and public utility services, specializing in the application of efficient regulatory methodologies. She currently teaches in the Master’s program in State Law with an emphasis on Regulation and Management of Telecommunications and ICT, as well as in the Master’s program in Economic Law at Externado University of Colombia.

André is a lawyer specialized in public policy and regulation working with Cullen since 2016. He manages the Global Trends service, and is also lead author of several publications for Global Trends and Americas services. Over the years André has extensively published on telecoms and digital economy developments in Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and the United States, contributed to trainings and spoken at major international conferences and events. Prior to his collaboration with Cullen, André worked as a policy advisor at the Brazilian Ministry of Communications coordinating policies for expanding broadband services.

Deputy General Counsel and Director of Corporate and External Relations at Microsoft for Spanish-speaking Latin America. Prior to his current position, he served as Director of Legal, Corporate, and External Affairs at Microsoft for South America. He also served as Director of Intellectual Property and Digital Security Affairs at Microsoft for the Americas region, where he led the company’s strategy to protect its intellectual property and improve cloud security by reducing digital risks caused by cybercrime. He was the Legal Director of Intellectual Property Affairs at Microsoft Mexico. He previously held the same position for the Andean region (Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela). In the public sector, Andrés represented the Colombian government as a negotiator in several multilateral treaties, as Legal Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and, at one time, as Legal Director of the Colombian Agricultural Institute. Andrés has been a speaker on Artificial Intelligence, security, innovation, and intellectual property at various forums and universities throughout the region. He is a full professor in the Master’s Program in New Technologies at the Externado University of Colombia. Andrés holds a master’s degree in law with a concentration in new technologies and intellectual property from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and received his law degree from the Externado University in Colombia, where he also completed specialized studies in economics and e-commerce.

Anthony Greene is a senior executive with 24 years’ experience in broadcast and print media. He is currently the General Manager at Starcom Network Inc., the leading broadcasting company in Barbados with four radio stations. Prior to his appointment as General Manager, he held the post of Programming/Content Manager from 2016 to 2021. Anthony also serves as a director on the boards of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Innogen Technologies Inc. and Pearl’s Dance Academy.

Before returning to the media industry in 2016, Anthony was the Marketing Manager at Unicomer Barbados Limited, trading as Courts, a Furniture and Appliance company with retail outlets throughout the Caribbean.

Anthony has a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication with First Class Honours from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, and a Master of Science in Project Management & Evaluation with the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.

One capstone early in his tenure as General Manager is the raising of the profile of Starcom Network as a high performing business within the One Caribbean Media group portfolio, though faced with the Covid-19 pandemic and other external challenges. During this period the company has also further strengthened its market share of radio listenership in Barbados.

Anthony is particularly passionate about media as a powerful agent of transformation. He also believes in a leadership ethos of empowering people to make a positive difference in our world

Camilla Bustani is Director, international at Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, where she oversees Ofcom’s programme of international engagement and activities in Europe and beyond. She has been actively engaged in the work of European and regional regulatory networks (including BEREC, ERGA and EPRA), and was involved in several EU legislative negotiations in the sectors Ofcom regulates. Ms Bustani has participated in a number of regulatory debates in communications sectors over the last 15 years, most recently around online regulation and the interaction between the different regulatory regimes that might be implicated. She has written on regulatory reform in developing countries and on the impact of institutional design on forms of regulatory cooperation.

Prior to joining Ofcom in 2006, Ms Bustani worked as a lawyer at Clifford Chance LLP in London for 8 years.

She obtained her bachelors’ degree from Harvard University, a masters’ degree from SIPA at Columbia University, and a law degree from Oxford University.

Carolina Valencia Márquez is a lawyer with a Master’s degree in Economic Regulation of Public Services and a specialization in Government, Management, and Public Affairs. She brings extensive experience in key and advisory roles across the public and private sectors, as well as in multilateral organizations.

Throughout her career, she has focused on the design, development, and implementation of public policies to advance the digital sector in Colombia and Latin America. Carolina has held leadership positions, including Senior Telecommunications Specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank, Head of Public Policy at the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Public Policy Manager at Meta, and consultant for major international organizations such as the OECD, CAF, OAS, and the World Bank.

Celedonio von Wuthenau is Head of Government Relations – Latin America of Nokia, based in Buenos Aires (Argentina). Nokia is a world leader in B2B technology innovation, pioneering networks that sense, think and act.

Celedonio is involved in the development of the relation with government representatives and public officials and works in collaboration with Nokia´s LAT leaders to advance the company’s information and communications technology policy agenda throughout the region.

Before he took this position, Celedonio was CALA Public Affairs Director – Americas Region at Alcatel-Lucent (2011-216), Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean with the CDMA Development Group (CDG) (2002-2011), Public Affairs Director at Lucent Technologies for South America excluding Brazil (2000-2002) and International and Institutional Manager of the National Commission of Communications (CNC) plus other positions, Argentina’s telecom regulator authority (1996-2000). He has a rich background in external relations and public affairs in Latin America.

Celedonio, born in Buenos Aires, married and with three children, is Bachelor in Public Administration and Political Sciences of the University of Cuyo (Mendoza, Argentina) and Ph.D in Political Sciences of the University of Mainz (Germany).

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

Chris Woolford is Ofcom’s Director of International Spectrum Policy where his responsibilities cover the UK’s international spectrum interests, especially in relation to the ITU, CEPT and EU. He has closely engaged for the UK on a number of key European regulatory initiatives in the field of electronic communications and participates in many European spectrum groups. He leads UK engagement with the ITU and led the UK delegations to WRCs in 2019, 2015 and 2012. He is currently preparing to lead the UK delegation to WRC-23.

In 2019 Mr Woolford took on the role of Chairman of the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) of CEPT and was re-elected for a second term in 2022. He has also been a Director of the International Institute of Communications since 2018.

Mr Woolford has 25 years’ experience of working on spectrum and communications regulation, both at Ofcom and its predecessor (Oftel). He has a degree in mathematics and statistics from Manchester University.

Bio coming soon…

Claudia Ximena Bustamante is an Electronic Engineer from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. She holds an Executive MBA from IE Business School and a Specialization in Commercial Management from Universidad de La Sabana. She has over 25 years of experience in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, with a focus on strategy, regulation, public policy, innovation, and research.

Over the course of her career, she has worked as a consultant in data and Internet networks. At the CRC, she has served as Coordinator of various areas, including Government and Advisory Relations, the Business Knowledge Center, and most recently, Regulatory Innovation and Foresight. She has led teams working on strategic topics such as infrastructure deployment, the Regulatory Sandbox, service quality, and studies on connectivity, net neutrality, OTT platforms, broadcasting, and audiovisual content.

Commissioner Bustamante has also represented the Government of Colombia in international forums such as CITEL – OAS and ICANN, and was part of the negotiation teams for trade agreements with Japan and the Pacific Alliance. Additionally, she has taught in ICT regulation specialization and master’s programs at Universidad Externado de Colombia, with a focus on regulatory innovation.

Corporate Lawyer, CEO of Netserv, a Brazilian internet service provider. Graduated in Law from FD/USP and in Economics from FEA/USP (visiting scholar), with a specialization in Business Law from FD/USP. Also holds the title of specialist in Digital Law from the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society – Harvard University – Cambridge, USA, and a Master’s degree in International Relations from the San Tiago Dantas Program – Universidade Estadual de Campinas – UNICAMP. Academic experience in the field of Political Science, with emphasis on International Political Economy. Professional consultive practice on regulatory policies for telecommunications and tax policies. With an institutional and diplomatic profile, was appointed by Brazil’s Presidency of the Republic to serve as the President of Advisory Council of Anatel, representing Telecommunications Service Providers (2020-February, 2023). She leads the Board of Directors of Abrint, a major ISPs Brazilian Association and is part of the Advisory Council of LAC-ISP, with institutional activity focused on Latin America. She actively participated in various sectoral studies and analyses of national and international public policies conducted by ITU, OECD, and UNESCO.

Diego Bassante leads IBM’s Government and Regulatory Affairs team for Latin America, focusing on AI governance, data privacy, and regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies.

Previously, Diego held senior public policy roles at Meta and served as an Ecuadorian diplomat, with assignments at the Embassy of Ecuador in Washington, DC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Quito.

He holds a Master’s degree in Public Management from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from Universidad San Francisco de Quito.

Bio coming soon…

Ernesto Majó is currently the Executive Director/CEO of LACNIC, a role he assumed in 2024. From 2015 until his current appointment, he served as Deputy Executive Director, where he played a key role in strengthening the institution and consolidating strategic relationships. Throughout this period, he was instrumental in managing communications with stakeholders and in articulating alliances and cooperation projects, promoting the development of the LACNIC community in the region.

Prior to his position as Deputy Executive Director, Ernesto held other leadership roles within LACNIC, including his time as the first Coordinator of the FRIDA Program, and his work as Interim Executive Director from June 2014 to February 2015. Prior to joining LACNIC, Ernesto held positions of responsibility in technology transfer and research organizations in the Uruguayan agricultural sector. He also served as consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the IDB.

Esteban Greco is Director of GAMES Economics (Global Analysis of Market Economics and Strategies) in Argentina and an international consultant in competition and regulatory economics. He is editor of the Latin America Column at Competition Policy International (CPI).

He has been the Chairman of the Comisión Nacional de Defensa de la Competencia (CNDC) in Argentina. As a consultant he has advised public and private organizations in Latin America on competition policy, economic regulation and energy economics for almost two decades. He was also a Commissioner and Chief Economist at CNDC and Deputy Manager of Performance and Economics at Argentina’s Natural Gas regulatory agency (ENARGAS).

He is a professor at the University of Buenos Aires, University Torcuato Di Tella, Lead University (Costa Rica), with many publications on competition and regulation in Latin America. He earned his M.A. in Economics from Regional Postgraduate Program in Research Analysis of Public Policies from Torcuato Di Tella Institute and Inter-American Development Bank and his Degree in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires.

Fabiola Téllez is a lawyer specializing in Constitutional Law and Administrative Law from the Rosario University. She has over 15 years of experience in the ICT sector, including serving as an official and advisor to the Information and Communications Technology Ministry, where she participated in the development of public policies and regulatory projects; as an advisor to the National Television Authority on regulatory issues; and currently at ANDESCO, a local association, that contributes to the relationship between the private sector and public entities and provides technical support for the development of public policies.

Felipe is an economist from the University of Cartagena, with a Master’s degree and current PhD candidacy in Economic Sciences from the National University of Colombia. He also holds diplomas in International Financial Reporting Standards, Econometrics, Competition Policy, and Data Science.

He has extensive experience in the public sector, beginning in 2010. He has served as an economic advisor to institutions such as the National Directorate of Narcotics and the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce, particularly in the area of competition protection. Before joining the Commission, he served as Coordinator of the Business Mergers Group at the Superintendence.

Freddy Artavia Estrada is a legal professional with over two decades of experience in the public and international sectors, specializing in telecommunications, public policy, and economic development. His academic background includes a Master’s in Business Administration and Corporate Law, awarded Summa Cum Laude, from the Escuela Libre de Derecho in Costa Rica, where he is also pursuing a doctoral degree in Constitutional and Administrative Law. Additionally, he holds a Master’s in International Economic Policy from the University of Belgrano in Argentina, a Diploma in Public Management from the University of Chile, and certifications as a conflict conciliator and mediator from the Costa Rican Bar Association.

His professional career includes key roles in Costa Rican public institutions and international organizations. Currently, he serves as the Director of Concessions and Telecommunications Standards at the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology, and Telecommunications (MICITT). In this role, he leads legal advisory efforts in telecommunications and oversees frequency concession management, aiming to ensure sustainable development and innovation in the sector.

Before assuming this position, he was the Head of the National Radio Control Unit at MICITT, where he led strategic projects such as the implementation of Digital Terrestrial Television and the recovery of the 700 MHz band for advanced mobile services. He also contributed to the development of Costa Rica’s National Telecommunications Development Plan 2022-2027, a critical framework for inclusive digital progress in the country.

During his tenure at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SUTEL), Costa Rica’s telecommunications regulator, he played a significant role in implementing the FONATEL trust fund, designed to bridge the digital divide, and in creating the number portability system, providing users greater freedom in choosing their operators. His experience also includes leading conciliation processes to resolve user claims in the telecommunications sector.

Internationally, Freddy has had the opportunity to lead projects from a legal perspective in countries such as Bolivia, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica at both national and municipal levels. He worked with FUNDES International on administrative simplification initiatives funded by multilateral organizations such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). These experiences enabled him to successfully implement over 23 projects, promoting efficiency and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.

His professional approach has always been to combine technical excellence with a deep commitment to the public interest, both nationally and internationally. He is convinced that the legal and regulatory framework should be a tool to facilitate economic development, promote equity, and ensure that technology is accessible to all sectors of society.

Versión en español:

Freddy Artavia Estrada es un profesional del derecho con más de dos décadas de experiencia en el ámbito público e internacional, especializado en telecomunicaciones, políticas públicas y desarrollo económico. La formación académica incluye un Máster en Administración de Empresas y Derecho Empresarial con honores Summa Cum Laude, por la Universidad Escuela Libre de Derecho en Costa Rica, de donde también es doctorando en Derecho Constitucional y Administrativo. Además, cuenta con una Maestría en Política Económica Internacional de la Universidad de Belgrano en Argentina, un Diplomado en Gerencia Pública de la Universidad de Chile, y certificaciones como conciliador y mediador de conflictos otorgadas por el Colegio de Abogados de Costa Rica.

Su trayectoria profesional incluye roles clave en instituciones públicas costarricenses y organismos internacionales. Actualmente, se desempeña como Director de Concesiones y Normas en Telecomunicaciones en el Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones (MICITT). En este puesto, lidera la asesoría jurídica en telecomunicaciones, y gestiona concesiones de frecuencias con el objetivo de asegurar el desarrollo sostenible y la innovación en el sector.

Antes de asumir este cargo, fue Jefe de la Unidad de Control Nacional de Radio del MICITT, donde desde la perspectiva jurídica lideró proyectos estratégicos como la implementación de la Televisión Digital Terrestre y la recuperación de la banda de 700 MHz para servicios móviles avanzados. También participó en la elaboración del Plan Nacional de Desarrollo de las Telecomunicaciones 2022-2027, un instrumento clave para el progreso digital inclusivo de Costa Rica.

Durante su paso por la Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (SUTEL), regulador de las telecomunicaciones en Costa Rica, se desempeñó en roles para la implementación del fideicomiso FONATEL, destinado a cerrar la brecha digital en el país, y en el diseño del sistema de portabilidad numérica, garantizando a los usuarios una mayor libertad en la elección de sus operadores. Su experiencia también abarca el liderazgo de procesos de conciliación para resolver reclamaciones de usuarios en el sector telecomunicaciones.

A nivel internacional, tuvo la oportunidad de liderar proyectos desde la perspectiva jurídica en países como Bolivia, Guatemala, El Salvador y Costa Rica en un ámbito nacional y municipal, trabajando para FUNDES Internacional en iniciativas de simplificación de trámites administrativos financiadas por organismos multilaterales como el Banco Mundial y el BID. Estas experiencias le permitieron implementar más de 23 proyectos exitosos, promoviendo la eficiencia y el desarrollo de las pequeñas y medianas empresas.

El enfoque profesional siempre ha sido combinar la excelencia técnica con un profundo compromiso con el interés público, tanto a nivel nacional como internacional, convencido de que el marco legal y regulatorio debe ser una herramienta para facilitar el desarrollo económico, promover la equidad y garantizar que las tecnologías sean accesibles para todos los sectores de la sociedad.

Germán López Ardila is a lawyer, consultant, and lecturer, on tech policy, cybersecurity, AI, and Internet governance. He works as Vice-president of the Colombian Chamber of IT and Telecoms (CCIT). He is a member of UNESCO’s AI Ethics Experts Without Borders (AIEB) Network. He lectures on tech regulation at Javeriana University, Andes University Externado University and Sergio Arboleda University in Colombia, as well as the University of Chile. He has worked as a consultant on AI policy and data privacy for international bodies and Latin-American organizations.

Gonzalo Balseiro Giglio is an Economist, graduated from the University of the Republic (UDELAR). Since 2020, he has served in the area of Legal and Economic Regulation at the Regulatory Unit of Communications Services (URSEC), where he currently holds the position of President.

Previously, from 2011 to 2020, he was an advisor at the Office of Planning and Budget (OPP), focusing on Public Investment, Decentralization, and Public Budgets. He represented Uruguay in the Network of National Public Investment Systems of Latin America and the Caribbean and served as a delegate to the Honorary Council of the State Procurement Agency, representing OPP in public sector negotiation forums.

He began his career at URSEC in 2009, where he was appointed General Manager through an open public competition. In addition, he has been a lecturer in Economics, Statistics, Econometrics, and Regulation at undergraduate and postgraduate levels at the Faculty of Economics, UDELAR.

Dr. Guido Gómez Mazara is a lawyer, politician, and university professor with a solid academic background and an extensive professional career. He holds a Doctorate in Law from Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), a Master’s degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the New School for Social Research in New York, and has completed courses in public policy at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain.

While studying in New York City, Gómez Mazara served as director of the newspaper Listín USA and worked for the television network Telemundo. Upon his return to the Dominican Republic in 1994, he became actively involved in politics, holding various roles within his political organization, including Legal Counsel to the Executive Branch during the 2000–2004 administration.

Throughout his professional and political career, Gómez Mazara has demonstrated a firm commitment to modernizing the State, strengthening institutions, fighting corruption, and defending democratic values in the country. In addition to his political career, Guido is a well-known producer and host of television and radio programs. He has taught Law, published several books on politics, and is a columnist for the newspaper Hoy.

As president of the Board of Directors of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (INDOTEL), he leads significant reforms in this sector, with emphasis on advancing the National Broadband Plan and implementing the 5G network in the Dominican Republic.

Under his leadership, INDOTEL works tirelessly to reduce the digital divide and expand access to technology, promoting collective progress and equity across the country.

Bio coming soon…

Isolde Goggin has over twenty years experience working at the highest level in telecommunications regulation, competition policy and consumer protection. She was chairperson of Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission from 2014 to 2021 and, prior to that, chaired one of its predecessor bodies, the Competition Authority, from 2011 to 2014. She was a commissioner of ComReg, the Irish Commission for Communications Regulation, from 2002 to 2006, and chairperson from 2004 to 2006. From 1996 to 2002 she was a member of the Competition Authority.

Isolde’s involvement in the telecommunications sector dates back to 1980 when, after qualifying with an engineering degree from Trinity College, Dublin, she joined the incumbent telecommunications operator. She completed a masters in business administration at University College, Dublin, in 1988, and subsequently moved to an advisory role in the European Commission, working on satellite policy. She also worked for the Swedish telecommunications manufacturer Ericsson for several years.

Isolde has represented Ireland in many international fora, including the European and International Competition Networks, the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications, the EU’s Radio Spectrum Policy Group, the European Consumer Protection Co-operation Network and the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network. She has provided advice to government on spectrum policy, next generation networks, data protection and online safety.

Isolde is an honorary life member and fellow of Engineers Ireland, a chartered engineer and member of the IET. She is also a member of the board of Trinity College, Dublin, and of the Central Bank of Ireland’s consumer advisory group. Reflecting a lifelong interest in the classics, she gained a BA in the subject from the Open University in 2021, and a masters from Trinity College Dublin in 2023. She is also a keen open water swimmer and last summer combined the two interests by participating in the 6.5 km Bosphorus Cross-Continental Race in Istanbul.

Jacquelynn (Jackie) Ruff has more than 25 years of experience in global law and public policy around policy frameworks for digital services, Internet governance, digital trade, expansion of broadband connectivity, and women and technology. Since February 2019 she has been a consulting counsel at the law firm of Wiley Rein where she provides legal, regulatory and public policy guidance on international issues impacting telecom, media, and technology industries.

Previously, Ms Ruff was Vice President of International Government Relations and Policy at Verizon Communications. Her responsibilities included leading work in international organisations such as the UN International Telecommunication Union, the OECD, ICANN, and the Internet Governance Forum, and regional organisations CITEL and APEC. She also represented Verizon on federal advisory committees to the US Department of State, the US Trade Representative, and the US Department of Commerce. Ms Ruff was a board member of the US Telecom Training Institute and co-chair of the Digital Trade group of the US Council for International Business, and she participated in the Policy and Spectrum Groups of the GSM Association. She is currently a Director of the International Institute of Communications. She is also a professorial lecturer at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs.

Ms Ruff joined Verizon in 2004 from the International Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), where she was Associate Chief and Chief of Staff for the Bureau. Previously she practiced with the communications and Latin America groups of an international law firm and served as staff for a US Senate Committee.

She has a BA from Radcliffe College/Harvard University, MA from Harvard University, and JD from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Dr Wang Jiang-Jia earned a doctorate degree from National Taiwan University and became a professor at Chung-Cheng University, Jia-Yi County, where he taught law. On more than one occasion, he was also a visiting professor at Osaka University, Japan. His major areas of research have been criminal law, criminal and new technology, and speech on the internet. Prior to becoming a professor, he practiced as a lawyer for over ten years.

In 2022, Dr Wang was appointed as one of seven commissioners at the National Communications Commission (NCC), which is an independent organization overseeing communications regulation in Taiwan. During his time at NCC, Dr Wang has been involved in critical decision making pertinent to communications and media policies and regulations. In line with the key policy objectives and mission of NCC, Dr Wang is committed to enhancing the communications and media environment in Taiwan.

John Evans has over 20 years’ experience working in the area of competition, regulation and consumer protection.

Mr Evans joined Coimisiún na Meán in July 2023 as the Digital Services Commissioner. The Government decided that An Coimisiún will be designated as Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator, implementing and enforcing the EU Regulation known as the Digital Services Act in Ireland. As Digital Services Commissioner, Mr Evans has responsibility, among other things, for:

• Leading, in close co-operation with the Online Safety Commissioner, on the enforcement and implementation of the Digital Services Coordinator’s functions within Coimisiún na Meán Developing the procedures necessary to implement the Digital Services Act, such as the certification procedures for awarding trusted flagger status and vetting researchers regarding access to data.
• Representing the Irish Digital Services Coordinator as member of the European Board of Digital Services.
• Developing effective relationships with Digital Services Coordinators in other Member States.
• Ensuring close cooperation with the European Commission in the enforcement and implementation of the regulation of the Digital Services Act for very large online platforms and search engines.

He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management and Sanitary Engineering from the National University of Engineering, with diplomas in Strategic Business Management from the University of the Pacific and in Business and Finance Management from the University of San Ignacio de Loyola. He also has specialized studies in public service regulation, public-private partnership projects, water treatment systems, quality management, environmental services, and evaluation of public agencies and programs.

He has over 24 years of experience in public administration and seven years in the private sector, with extensive knowledge of public management at the national and regional levels, focusing on housing, drinking water, sanitation, and the environment. He has held prominent positions such as Executive Director of COFOPRI, Executive President of OEFA and SANIPES, and General Director of Programs and Projects at the Ministry of Housing. He has also served as Audit Manager and President of the Claims Court at SUNASS, Head of Economic Studies at INACAL, and advisor to the ministerial office of the MEF, among other strategic roles.

Juan Carlos Upegui Mejía has been a professor at the Externado University for more than 20 years, specializing in public law. He has worked at the Constitutional Court, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and the NGO Justice and Human Rights Commission. He has also served as an advisor to various public entities such as the Comptroller General’s Office, the Ministry of Justice, and the Agency for the Legal Defense of the State. Additionally, he has published numerous articles related to habeas data and personal data protection.

Juan Carlos holds a law degree from the Externado University of Colombia (2003), a Master’s Degree in Public Law from the same institution (2007), a Master’s Degree in Law from Temple University, USA (2011), and a PhD in Law from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (2019), where he received honorable mention for his outstanding doctoral thesis.

Julián Casasbuenas G, chemical engineer from the University of America, Bogotá, Colombia, has over thirty years of experience in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) and environmental management. Member of the Council of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), member of the Internet Society, mentor for the LACNIC Leaders Program, and jury member for the Connecting the Unconnected program of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He was a member of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2016-2018 and is coordinator of the Colombian Internet Governance Forum. He is currently the director of Colnodo (www.colnodo.apc.org), a non-profit organization established in 1993. His management at Colnodo has been key to the leadership of projects and services that strengthen communication and information exchange between Colombian organizations at various levels. In addition, he has promoted the development of community networks in Colombia, which, being collectively managed and owned, seek to optimize the quality of life in their communities, minimize the digital divide, and promote social inclusion through community autonomy, with the accompaniment and support of Colnodo.

Karim Lesina was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief External Affairs Officer for Millicom in November 2020. In this role, Karim oversees the group’s Government Relations, Regulatory Affairs, Corporate Communications and ESG functions. His focus is on developing and driving Millicom’s global engagement to support of business objectives and particular responsibility for special situations and reputation strategies.

Before joining Millicom, Karim held the position of Senior Vice President, International External and Regulatory Affairs at AT&T, directing the internal international and regulatory affairs teams, as well as the external and regulatory affairs teams across AT&T and its global affiliates.

Before his term at AT&T, Karim was at Intel as the Government Affairs Manager for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Rounding out a strong portfolio, he acquired extensive agency experience through his work with multinational public relations and communications firms at the commencement of his career.

Karim is an active member in several industries and community organizations, including current service as Co-Chair of the Corporate Council of the Meridian International Center, as Board member of IREX, a nonprofit organization committed to global development and education, as Vice-Chair of the US-Colombia Business Council, as Board Member of the United States Telecommunication Training Institute, and as member of the GSMA Chief Policy & Regulatory Officer Group. He is also a member of the Board of Cogni, a digital banking app based in NYC and Co-Founder of the Centre for Latin America Convergence (CCLATAM), a pioneering think tank dedicated to advancing the realms of policy discussions and transformative change across the diverse landscape of Latin America.

Born in Dakar (Senegal), Karim is an Italian-Tunisian national and has a master’s degree in Economics of Development at the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

Professor Konstantinos Masselos has been appointed as the President of the Hellenic Telecommunications & Post Commission (EETT) in February 2018 and his mandate has been renewed in February 2022.

Professor Masselos has been elected as Chair of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) for 2023 and also Vice-Chair for 2022 and 2024. Moreover, he served as Vice-Chair of BEREC in 2019.

He is a Professor in the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications of the University of Peloponnese where is also served as Rector during the period 2012-2017. From 2005 to 2008 he was a Lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial College London. Also during the period 2010-2016 he was an Honorary Lecturer in the same Department. From 2001-2004 he worked in the telecommunications industry.
Since 2005 he has been collaborating as an expert with various units of the European Commission. Also, he was member of the Scientific Committee of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) from 2015 to 2017.

Professor Kyung Sin Park a.k.a. “K.S.”, is Professor at Korea University Law School, having been one of the nine Commissioners of the Korea Communications Standards Commission, and one of 20 members of the congressionally appointed National Media Law Advisory Committee.

He has written academically and been active on the issues of internet, free speech, privacy, defamation, copyright, etc., through organising (and expert-testifying in) major free speech and privacy lawsuits and legislative advocacy, including the 2012 unconstitutionality decision on Internet Real Name Registration Law, the 2010 decision on online “false news” provision, the 2011 online election campaign regulation, and the 2011 suit against telcos and portals for warrantless disclosure of identity data. In 2008, he also founded the Clinical Legal Education Center of Korea University School of Law (f.k.a. Global Legal Clinic) and under CLEC’s auspices, founded both www.internetlawclinic.org, an online platform for free online counseling in 2011 and www.transparency.or.kr, a national transparency reporting project on both surveillance and censorship of the Korean government in 2014.

As one of the founders and the current Executive Director of Open Net Korea, Executive Director of the PSPD Law Center, Professor Park also was a key drafting partner in the Principles of Application of International Law on Communication Surveillance www.necessaryandproportionate.org and International Principles on Intermediary Liability www.manilaprinciples.org.

Professor Park has an AB in Physics, Harvard University; and JD, UCLA Law School, Class of 1995.

Latifa Akharbach was appointed President of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) on December 3, 2018.

Ms Akharbach formerly held numerous decision-making positions in Moroccan diplomacy : Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Tunisia and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Bulgaria and Macedonia.

Ms Akharbach has also served as Director of the Moroccan National Radio and Director of the High Institute of Information and Communication where she had previously been Professor and researcher for more than twenty years.

She is an experienced international consultant in the field of journalism, communication and journalists training. She has published several articles, studies and books on media, communication and women’s rights.

Ms Akharbach has a PhD in Information Sciences and Communication.

Leon is SPI’s CEO, leading and delivering high-level strategic advice, insight and business planning for SPI’s global client base.

Current and recent projects include a Production Infrastructure and Capacity Analysis (PICA) of Australia’s Screen Production Sector, an Economic Impact Assessment of the Greek Film and Television Cash Rebate, an economic impact study of potential improvements to the Illinois Film and Television Production Services Tax Credit, an assessment of the Arkansas Digital Motion Picture Incentive, and a full update and expansion of Best Practice in Screen Sector Production for the Association of Film Commissioners International.

Leon is also involved in the Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded CoSTAR network in the UK, and has delivered the Creative Industries Tax Evaluation for HMRC (with Ipsos and London Economics), Screen Business for the BFI, The Cultural Dividend Generated by Ireland’s Section 481 Film and Television Incentive, a ground-breaking study for Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, and a White Paper on Global Film Production Incentives for the MPA. He has also led on projects in Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand, Iceland, and the US states of Georgia, New Mexico, Connecticut, Utah, and others.

With extensive knowledge of screen sector strategy, Leon has overseen the creation and development of successful sectoral policy and funding mechanisms in a wide range of markets.

Leon has interacted with legislators and other key stakeholders globally regarding the screen sector and has been a speaker at multiple international events, including the Marché du Film – Festival De Cannes, the Berlin Film Festival, the Busan International Film Festival, the San Sebastián International Film Festival, FOCUS, Screen International’s Finance Forum, AFCI’s Cineposium and AFCI Week, the Guadalajara International Film Festival, Durban FilmMart, and the Reykjavik International Film Festival. Leon is also a judging chair for Screen International’s Global Production Awards.

Prior to joining SPI in 2013, Leon was a film business journalist and editor for 15 years. He is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).

Lina María Duque del Vecchio is a lawyer from the Pontifical Xavierian University, specializing in Business Law, with a Master’s degree in Law from Externado de Colombia University.

Before assuming her current role, Ms Duque Del Vecchio held various positions at the CRC, including Coordinator of Legal Advisory and Dispute Resolution, Acting Executive Coordinator (General Secretary), Acting Commissioner of the Communications Commission Session, and legal advisor.

As the Coordinator of Dispute Resolution, she managed sensitive and high-impact industry issues that significantly contributed to the effective implementation of regulatory policies, as well as promoting competition and protecting user rights. Thanks to her impeccable management, the CRC was recognized by the National Agency for Legal Defense of the State (ANDJE) as one of the entities with the highest judicial defense success rate, achieving 95% effectiveness.

Lynn Robinson became Director General of the International Institute of Communications (IIC), in March 2020.

Lynn is an experienced senior director and trustee / non exec-director, having held key senior leadership positions in the technology, built environment, regulation, accreditation and dental industries. She has extensive experience of professional membership bodies working within the full spectrum including, Regulatory bodies, Industry associations and Chambers of Commerce. Lynn is a well-known and established ambassador in these areas having led on many strategic programmes to aid engagement, growth, retention, change management, stakeholder and political engagement.

She is a systems engineer, MBA from the University of the Andes, Master in Cyberdefense from the University of Alcalá in Spain and Ph.D in International Law from the Alfonso X el Sabio University in Spain. She has been a national digital security advisor for the Colombian government, a cybersecurity professor in the digital security master’s degree, and Director of the cybersecurity center at the Javeriana University in Bogotá. She is currently a professor, lecturer, and international consultant in cybersecurity and technology projects, and a professor of the cybersecurity master’s degree at UNIR in Spain. She was also a founding member and president of the Internet Society in Colombia. She is the founder and first director of the Cybersecurity and Cyberdefense Master’s Degree at the Colombian War School. Officer of the Colombian Active Reserve Air Force. Author of the book: Armed conflicts in cyberspace: Challenges of international humanitarian law.

Mr Mauricio Muñoz Gutiérrez is a Lawyer from the University of Chile with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. Mr Muñoz served as an advisor on public policy matters to former President Michelle Bachelet. He has worked in the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of the General Secretary of the Government, and the Ministry of Education in different governments. Between 2000 and 2005, he served as a legislative and content advisor in the Ministry of the General Secretary of the Presidency. From 2011 to 2014, he worked at the General Comptroller’s Office.

Mauricio Vera Sánchez is Commissioner of the Audiovisual Content Session. He is a Social Communicator and Journalist with a PhD in Social Studies from Universidad Externado de Colombia, and holds specializations in Television from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and in Aesthetics from Universidad Nacional de Colombia. With more than 26 years of experience in academia and the audiovisual sector, he has served as professor and researcher at several universities, including Universidad Externado, UNAD, Universidad del Quindío, and Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina. He has also worked as a director and producer of content at Universidad de Antioquia, Telecafé, and the Caro y Cuervo Institute, and was a member of the Research Group of the Audiovisual Content Observatory of the ANTV. His productions have received national and international recognition, including the India Catalina Awards, Prix Jeunesse International, Japan Prize, the National Culture Award, and the National Scientific Merit Award.

Mercedes has over 15 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, having worked in the private and public sectors, academia, and with civil society. Among her notable experience, she served as president of the Communications Services Regulatory Unit (URSEC) from April 2020 to January 2025, leading key transformations in the telecommunications sector in Uruguay. During her tenure, she implemented number portability, led the 5G spectrum auction, and opened up competition for fixed-line internet services to the home.

From July 2021 to January 2025, she also served as president of the National Council for Innovation, Science, and Technology (CONICYT), where she participated in various studies and analyses related to the evaluation of Uruguay’s National Strategic Plan for Science, Technology, and Innovation (PENCTI). 

​She previously held senior positions in the telecommunications sector and at the Uruguayan Chamber of Telecommunications, where she contributed to various regulatory initiatives and bills. She is currently Academic Director and Professor of the Postgraduate Program in Digital Transformation and Law at the University of Montevideo and actively works at the intersection of law, technology, and innovation.

​She holds a PhD in Legal Sciences from the University of Granada, an LLM in Law, Technology and Entrepreneurship from Cornell University (Cornell Tech), an MBA from EAE Business School, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Management and Organization from Camilo José Cela University, a Law Degree and a Master’s Degree in Access to the Legal Profession from Antonio de Nebrija University, and is a lawyer and holds a Master’s Degree in Economic Administrative Law from the University of Montevideo.

Electronic Engineer from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, with a Master’s in Business Administration and a specialization in Marketing Management from Universidad del Rosario. He has held senior positions at the Communications Regulation Commission of Colombia (CRC), including Commissioner (2020) and Executive Director (2023), and currently serves as Deputy Director of Spectrum Management at the National Spectrum Agency (ANE). He has represented Colombia before ITU, CITEL, and OECD, and lectures in postgraduate programs on Telecommunications Regulation and Emerging Technologies.

Paloma Szerman has a wealth of experience in technology policy and regulatory issues in Latin America and beyond. Currently, she works at Mercado Libre, where she leads a portfolio of work focused on policy development, global engagement and regulation. In this role, she works closely with policy experts, think tanks, trade associations and international organizations, focusing on advancing public policies, partnerships and campaigns related to a secure, diverse, sustainable and innovative digital economy.

Prior to that, she worked on issues related to WhatsApp, Messaging and Connectivity in Meta and was a member of the Latin America Public Policy team of the GSMA, the global mobile telecom trade association. She also held other roles in the Argentinean public sector, always with a focus on technology.

Her background is in public law from Buenos Aires University and she holds a Master of Science in International Public Policy from Queen Mary University of London.

Paola follows telecoms and spectrum issues in the Americas team. Paola has experience working as an ICT Consultant for the ITU, WEF, and governments in Central and South America. She has a background in electronic engineering, with extensive knowledge of telecoms regulation and public policy.

Philip Marnick is the General Director of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). He was appointed early January 2022 by the Members of the Board, to assume the position, paving the way for a more effective regulatory framework by continuing the evolution of the telecom sector liberalization.

Mr Marnick leads the TRA, including the development of consumer protection initiatives and resolving disputes. The TRA develops regulatory rules that promote competition, innovation, and investment in broadband services and facilities, as well as developing a more comprehensive and competitive framework that aligns with international best practices. Ensuring that Bahrain remains a center of innovation and that its telecommunications sector serves everyone while supporting Bahrain’s strategic objectives.

Before assuming his role at the TRA, Mr Marnick managed and directed at Ofcom in the UK, where he was the Group Director of Spectrum responsible for all aspects of UK national and international spectrum management – from strategy to delivery including awards, clearance and enforcement. Mr Marnick has worked in the telecommunications sector for over 30 years. He has served as a senior executive in technology, operations, and strategy. Mr Marnick has worked in both start-ups (from inception to sale) and major corporations, in firms such as UK Broadband, O2, Orange, BT, J-Phone in Japan (now Softbank Mobile), Extreme Mobile, and SpinVox (now Nuance).

From analogue to 5G, he has engaged across every mobile generation. Throughout his carrier he has been at the forefront of industry developments – in both fixed and mobile. He has collaborated on the first deployments of mobile networks utilizing new technologies and standards, this has also included innovative products such as the first camera phone and photo messaging service, as well as mobile internet and hosted voice services.

Pierre Emile Vandoorne is Netflix’s Senior Director of Public Policy for Latin America. He holds a B.A. from the School of Image Arts at Ryerson University (Canada) and a Master’s degree in Hispanic Literature from the Pontificia Universidad Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru (PUCP). Pierre has an extensive career in cultural and media policy. He previously held the position of Director of Audiovisual, Phonography, and New Media (DAFO) at Peru’s Ministry of Culture, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s cultural policies. Additionally, he served as the Executive Secretary of the Conference of Audiovisual and Cinematographic Authorities of Ibero-America (CAACI) from 2018 to 2020, contributing to the development and promotion of audiovisual and cinematographic initiatives across the region..In academia, Vandoorne was appointed as a staff professor in the Communications Department at PUCP in 2012, where he has been involved in educating and mentoring the next generation of communication professionals.

Priscila Lini has a Bachelor’s degree in law, master’s degree, doctorate, and post-doctorate in Economic and Socioenvironmental Law, with a doctorate in Anthropology in progress. She is currently working at the Brazilian National Data Protection Authority, in the Institutional and International Relations department.

Raquel Rennó Nunes is a specialist in spectrum governance and digital infrastructure resilience with more than 15 years of international experience at the intersection of technology, governance, and human rights. She has represented civil society and research perspectives in global standards development organisations (ITU-R, IEEE 802, IEEE SA, IETF), contributing to debates on spectrum sharing, satellite systems, and next-generation connectivity.

She co-leads international projects on the governance and resilience of satellite constellations and IMT systems. She has actively engaged in ITU-R Study Groups and IEEE processes, contributing to debates on spectrum allocation, non-terrestrial networks, and next-generation mobile standards. Her work bridges regulators, engineers, and civil society, ensuring that technical standards and spectrum policies advance open and inclusive connectivity.

Raquel has led fellowship programmes that mentor young advocates to engage in technical bodies including ITU, IEEE, IETF, ICANN, and 3GPP. Her academic background includes PhD and postdoctoral work on communication systems and electrical engineering, complemented by over a decade of teaching and supervision in Master’s and PhD programmes across Europe and Latin America.

Her research and advocacy have been supported by international fellowships and grants, including Horizon 2020 (Tecniospring Acció) and Latin American science councils. She is a member of IEEE, the International Center for Information Ethics, and the Institut Català d’Antropologia, and continues to contribute to multistakeholder fora shaping the future of global connectivity.

As an international telecom industry consulting executive, Dr. Raul Katz has provided direction to CEOs and other top management of major telecommunications, software and information services companies in the areas of business strategy, consumer/industrial marketing and general management approaches. He managed projects in the areas of demand forecasting, scenario planning, competitive analysis, market entry strategy, churn management and new product development. Dr. Katz conducted assignments in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. In addition, Dr. Katz has worked extensively in the design of organizations, management processes and best practices of telecommunications enterprises.

In addition, Dr. Katz has worked with governments and international organizations in the development of regulatory frameworks and policies, National Broadband Plans and National Technology Strategies. In particular, he has supported the governments of Colombia, Costa Rica, and Brazil.

He is currently President of Telecom Advisory Services, a boutique firm that advises clients in the interrelated fields of strategy and regulation. He was previously CEO of Adventis, a telecommunications consulting company with offices in New York, Boston, London, Berlin and Shanghai. Before joining Adventis, he was a Lead Partner at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he was a member of the firm’s Leadership Team and Head of the US and Latin America telecommunication practices.

Ricardo Tavares is an accomplished technology policy executive with three decades of experience in shaping the global digital ecosystem.

As a Senior Corporate Affairs Manager at Google, Ricardo leverages his extensive background in mobile technologies, software, consumer electronics, hardware manufacturing, semiconductors, and social media to navigate the complexities of digital regulation and foster key relationships with technology partners and influential trade associations.

Prior to his role at Google, Ricardo held high-impact leadership positions across five continents, showcasing his profound expertise in international technology policy. His distinguished career includes serving as Senior Vice President of Public Policy at GSMA, Senior Policy Advisor for Qualcomm, and Head of Government and Industry Relations for Ericsson. Additionally, he undertook consulting assignments for the World Bank and Inmarsat. This diverse experience enables him to synthesize perspectives from various points across the technology value chain, establishing him as an indispensable voice in dialogues with industry leaders and regulatory bodies.

Rimini Haraya Makama is the Executive Commissioner (Stakeholder Management) of the Nigerian Communications Commission. She was confirmed to her position by the Nigerian Senate on 21st May 2024 following her nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR on 23rd February 2024.

Ms Makama is an internationally experienced senior executive known for her talent in building trusted advisor relationships with governments. Throughout her career, she has earned a reputation as a commercially minded and politically astute leader. Her significant contributions to transformational shifts in Africa were recognized in 2014 when she was named in the Forbes 20 Youngest Power Women Under 40 in Africa list.

Before assuming her current role in the Nigerian Communications Commission, Ms Makama played various roles at Microsoft from 2016 to 2023, notably as the Government Affairs Director for MEA Emerging Markets. In this capacity, she was instrumental in creating a policy landscape that facilitated the adoption of public cloud technology by the public sector in various markets across MEA. Her central role in defining a digital transformation framework for governments, placing Microsoft solutions at the forefront of public sector technology, stands out as a key achievement.

During her tenure at Microsoft, Ms Makama represented the company’s interests on the Digital Economy Task Force of the US Chamber of Commerce and the SMART Africa Alliance. She also became known for disseminating key messages on AI ethics, notably appearing as an AI policy expert speaker at the UNESCO Forum on Artificial Intelligence in 2018. Her efforts at Microsoft were acknowledged with the Be the Change Award, which celebrates extraordinary contributions.

Ms Makama’s career also includes a significant tenure with Africa Practice as Communications Director for West Africa. In this role, she successfully translated the strategic communication needs of major corporations such as Uber, PayPal, CNN, Google SSA, Bloomberg LP, Sage VIP, Actis West Africa, and The African Union into effective solutions, collaborating closely with high-level government stakeholders. Her work in positioning Blackberry in Nigeria is particularly noteworthy. Prior to africapractice she was Principal Legal Assistant, Office of Legal Affairs – International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) in Lyon, France.

Additionally, Ms Makama has authored numerous articles on technology and AI themes for prominent media outlets such as The Guardian, Financial Times, and Punch etc.

Ms Makama holds an LLM in International Law and World Order from the University of Reading, United Kingdom, an LLB from the University of Jos, Nigeria and has been called to the Nigerian Bar. Non professional interest: film production (Executive Producer: Green White Green (TIFF 2016, Netflix 2017-2019, Amazon currently) & The Lost Okoroshi (TIFF 2019, BFI 2019 – Netflix Worldwide 2020-2022).

Sadi Alfonso Contreras Fuset is Commissioner of the Audiovisual Content Session. He is a Social Communicator from Universidad Externado de Colombia, with advanced studies in Public Administration at the same institution. He holds a specialization in Marketing Management from Universidad de Santander and a Master’s in State Law with emphasis on ICT Regulation, where he also conducted research on audiovisual regulation. With more than 19 years of experience in public management, including 15 in the ICT, education, and cultural sectors, he has led projects in technology, transportation, logistics, and postal services, and has six years of experience in innovation and education. He has also served as a consultant and columnist on television, technology, culture, and public services, publishing in outlets such as Revista Semana and MediaTelecom.

Lawyer, Specialist in Telecommunications and New Technologies Regulation and Management from the Externado University of Colombia; Specialist in Administrative Law from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain); Master of Arts in Law, Economics, and Public Policy from the Ortega y Gasset University Research Institute, affiliated with the Complutense University of Madrid; Master of Public Law and PhD in Law from the Complutense University of Madrid. Currently Director of the Department of Law, Communications, and Information Technology at the Externado University of Colombia and leader of interconnected companies.

A lawyer from the Universidad Javeriana with a Master’s degree in International Business Law from McGILL University, Montreal, Canada, and a Master’s degree in Law and Business Administration from Northwestern University School of Law Chicago and Kellogg Graduate School of Management. With over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, he has worked for Gonzalez y Perez-Correa – Mexico City, British American Tobacco – Colombia (Bogota, Colombia), and AMX Argentina S.A. “Claro Argentina” (Buenos Aires, Argentina), among others. Since January 2013, he has held the position of Corporate Director of Regulatory Affairs and Institutional Relations at Claro Colombia.

Saul Kattan is a strategist and corporate turnaround specialist, board member and an expert in growth and transformation for a wide range of industries gained over more than 25 years’ experience. He is currently responsible for the digital transformation and cybersecurity of Colombia. He was Chairman of the board of directors of one of the 10 largest companies in Latin America, Ecopetrol, and he led the expansion in the USA of Colombia´s flagship brand, Café Juan Valdez. Mr Kattan also led the transformation of the capital´s telephone company in the deployment of fiber optics, becoming a triple play company (mobile, television ,Internet). He recently orchestrated the acquisition of DirectTV South America, one of the most important media companies in the region.

Sebastian Cabello is an accomplished digital technology policy expert with vast experience driving collective action, public-private partnerships across Latin America. He serves as CEO at SmC+ Digital Public Affairs supporting different global digital players as well as advising the Inter-American Bank (IDB) and the Latin American Internet Association (ALAI). He is also research fellow at the Center for Technology and Society at Universidad de San Andres, Argentina. Between 2010 and 2018, he was Head of Latin America at the GSMA, the global association of the mobile industry, and led the organization’s advocacy activities in the region. He is one of the creators of the We Care Campaign, the capacity building center CE-Digital, the Latin American Congress on Telecommunications (CLT), and most recently the IDB BEST network. He has been part of the National Committee on Spectrum of Colombia and the Latin American Internet for All Advisory Committee of the World Economic Forum.

An electronics engineer with a solid academic background and extensive experience in the field of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). With over 31 years of professional experience, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to work in both the public and private sectors, as well as in his role as an independent consultant. His career has focused on advising on the formulation and execution of public policies and key projects in the telecommunications sector in Colombia.

At the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, he held the position of Technical Director , where he was responsible for radio spectrum management and supported the planning and implementation of policies that boosted telecommunications in the country. More recently, he served as Advisor to the ICT Minister , a position in which he provided strategic support in the design and development of projects, including key issues such as the spectrum auction for the introduction of 5G technology in Colombia, directly contributing to the modernization of the sector.

As a Telecommunications Consultant, he has advised various public and private entities, contributing his experience in the development of projects on radio spectrum management, as well as in the formulation of policies and regulation of the ICT sector.

Thomas Volmer is the head of global content delivery policy at Netflix, the world’s leading streaming entertainment service. Thomas is an expert on the development of hyper scalable internet infrastructure, at the intersection of technology investments, engineering and public policy. He works to promote policies that enable the development of a global, unconstrained, open internet.

Prior to joining Netflix, Thomas worked for over fifteen years in the internet industry; most recently at Google on content delivery network and data center footprint expansion and at Orange in various business and regulatory affairs management positions.

Thomas holds a MSc (Diplôme d’Ingénieur) degree in Telecom Engineering from Telecom Paristech in Paris.

An engineer of the “Corps des Mines,” a graduate of the École Polytechnique and the Institut d’études politiques de Paris, Xavier Merlin had been the head of the Inter-ministerial task force on simplifying businesses’ administrative procedures and legal publicity since 2019.

Mr Merlin began his career in 1996 at the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry’s Department of Forecasting, where he was in charge of economic studies on the internet, audiovisual media, telecommunications and competition. In 1998, he joined that ministry’s Department of External Economic Relations, and tasked with multilateral e-commerce, audiovisual media, telecommunications and postal negotiations. Appointed technical advisor to Catherine Tasca, then France’s Minister of Culture and Communication, in 2000, he became Director of European and International Affairs at the French National Centre of Cinema (CNC) in 2002. In 2008, the joined the Directorate-General for Enterprise (DGE) as the Assistant Director of Institutional relations, in the areas of information technologies and the information society. Assistant Director of Regulation and European and multilateral affairs for the DGE starting in 2009, he was appointed head of the Territorial, European and International Action Department in 2014.

Zachary Blackburn is the Lead for Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Americas, at Amazon’s Project Kuiper. In this role, Zachary leads regulatory and licensing matters in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean for Amazon’s initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit. Previously, he was a Public Policy Manager at Meta where he led engagements with governments around the world on policy and regulation related to Meta’s messaging applications.

Prior to the private sector, he served for nearly a decade in the U.S. Government, first at the U.S. Department of State and then the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). At NTIA, he led engagements on communications and connectivity policy in Europe and the Americas and at the Department of State he managed interagency efforts to promote telecommunications supply chain security.

Zachary holds a Master of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Foreign Affairs, both from the University of Virginia.