Mongolia Forum

Alasdair Grant has more than 20 years’ experience in the telecommunications sector, for most of this time holding “Head of Asia” positions in the public policy, corporate development, and regulatory functions of major global operators. In these roles he specialised in market entry and development through infrastructure investment and alliances. He has worked for the GSMA, Reliance, Verizon Enterprise, and Level 3/Lumen.

Mr Grant is an experienced reform advocate throughout Asia and has founded and led regional industry associations and delegations. He is the founding editor and co-author of Australian Telecommunications Regulation, currently in its 4th edition.

Mr Grant has degrees in Law and Australian Literature from the University of Sydney, Australia.

Bio coming soon …..

Bio coming soon ……

Augusto Preta is a consultant, economist and market analyst, with long-established experience in the field of content media and digital markets. As Founder and CEO at ITMedia Consulting, he has assisted and advised for almost 30 years, public institutions, authorities and major companies in media, telecommunications and the internet industries.

Mr Preta is Member of the SIE (Società Italiana degli Economisti).  He has been a visiting professor on Media Economics at Urbino University, Sassari University e Università Cattolica di Milano for almost 20 years, and has been involved in many research projects, writing influential papers and cooperating with organisations such as: Aspen Institute, European Law and Economics Society, Luigi Einaudi Foundation. He is author of “Economia dei contenuti” (2008) and “TV and relevant markets” (2013). He co-authored with Gerard Pogorel the Fondation Robert Schuman research report  “Convergence in Media and Telecom in face of Covid-19” (2020).

Mr Preta is President of the Italian Chapter.

Bio coming soon …..

Chee Kheong Foong is Group Chief Regulatory Officer, Group Corporate Office, Axiata Group Berhad. Axiata is one of the largest Asian telecommunications companies, operating in ten countries and servicing approximately 290 million subscribers.

Mr Foong has over 17 years’ experience in the field of mobile and fixed telecommunications, internet broadband, broadcasting and multimedia, primarily in regulatory strategy and policy development. Prior to this current position, he was in regulatory management roles in Digi Telecommunications, Celcom Axiata, U Mobile and the Multimedia Development Corporation.

Mr Foong holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom, and an MBA from the University of Strathclyde.

As a distinguished leader in the telecommunications and ICT sector, Mr Chinzorig Gonchig brings to his role a rich history of experience and a track record of innovative accomplishments.

Starting his professional journey in 1988, Mr Gonchig served as an engineer, officer, and later, as the Head of the Transport Management Department at the Ministry of Infrastructure. He furthered his leadership credentials as the Deputy Director of the “Mongol Post” company, a position in which he enhanced financial responsibility and discipline. Through his rigorous oversight of the company’s financial operations, Mr Gonchig significantly strengthened its operational efficiency and fiscal accountability.

In 2015, Mr Gonchig rose to the role of Deputy Director of “Mongolian Telecommunication” JSC. His strategic leadership in this role was instrumental in broadening internet accessibility across Mongolia. Mr Gonchig’s concerted efforts brought internet services to 239 schools, established WiFi connectivity in 52 rural settlements, and extended internet services to an additional 207 soums. This strategic development notably enhanced digital connectivity for a significant proportion of the population across 21 provinces. Among Mr Gonchig’s groundbreaking initiatives were the transitioning of users to Next Generation Network technology and the development of state information exchange systems. These contributions have been fundamental in bridging Mongolia’s digital divide, earning Mr Gonchig widespread recognition and acclaim.

In 2018, Mr Gonchig’s leadership ascended to a new level when he was appointed Chairman and CEO of the Communications Regulatory Commission. In this high-profile role, he oversaw the approval of landmark legislation including the draft Law on Communications, the Law on Radio Waves, the Law on Post, and the Law on Broadcasting, all endorsed by the State Great Hural (Parliament of Mongolia).

As Chairman, Mr Gonchig continues to exemplify commitment to the advancement of the telecommunications sector. His areas of focus include ensuring and protecting information technology and network security, fostering a new generation e-environment, encouraging market liberalization and competition, and creating a conducive environment for price and tariff regulation. This unwavering dedication, in combination with his impressive track record, underscores Mr Gonchig’s exceptional contributions to Mongolia’s telecommunications sector.

Mr Gonchig holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechatronics from the prestigious Mongolian University of Science and Technology-MUST (www.must.edu.mn). In 2019, MUST recognized his accomplishments by bestowing him with the title of Honorary Professor. Further validating his contributions, Mr Gonchig was honored with the “Honored Operator” award by the President of Mongolia in 2021, under Presidential Decree No.13, 2021.

Through his impactful contributions, innovative leadership, and unwavering dedication, Mr Gonchig continues to shape the future of Mongolia’s telecommunications landscape.

Chris Chapman was appointed President of the International Institute of Communications on 1 April 2016. He is also Chair of the IIC Nominations Committee.

Mr Chapman previously held the position of Chairman and CEO of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). He was appointed in February 2006 and was re-appointed for a 2nd five year term in October 2010 until April 2016. He was appointed an Associate Member of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in September 2007.

Mr Chapman is a seasoned executive with experience in the media, broadcasting and film, internet, telecommunications, sports rights and infrastructure development worlds.

Before joining ACMA, Mr Chapman held a number of senior management positions with the Seven Network, Stadium Australia Management, Optus and Babcock & Brown. He has also been the Chairman of Film Australia and Sports Vision Australia, and a previous member of the National Film and Sound Archives’ Advisory Council.

Mr Chapman has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales and has completed the Harvard Business School AMP program.

Ekaterine Imedadze has been a commissioner of the Georgian National Communications Commission (ComCom) since March 2021. Prior to taking up her position, she headed the Telecommunications Market Regulation Department at ComCom.

Ms Imedadze has 15 years of professional experience in the telecommunications field, including international experience. Ms. Imedadze occupied several leading positions at international telecommunications group company VEON Ltd., where she headed global project management and was the head of internal control and risk management. Further, Ms Imedadze was Head of Finance for several leading private companies.

Ms Imedadze holds an MBA from the University of Bradford School of Management and completed the Innovation Leadership program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She earned a master’s degree in physics as well as a postgraduate diploma in artificial intelligence and fuzzy logic from Tbilisi State University, and she is currently pursuing an LL.M. in competition law and economics at the Brussels School of Competition (BSC).

Graça Enes has been the Director of CIJ (Centre for Legal Research of the University of Porto) since 2021. She was previously Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Porto (2013-2014) and Director of the Master’s Law Studies (2019-2020).

Professor Enes is the author of several publications in Portugal and abroad mainly on European and International Law. For some years she has been focusing her research on the digital challenges and on the European policies and legislative initiatives on the subject, especially regarding data governance and AI. In addition, her scientific and academic interests extend to the challenges of international governance.

She was awarded and coordinates the Jean Monnet Module DigEUCit “A Digital Europe for Citizens. Constitutional and Policymaking Challenges” (an Erasmus+ project, 01.09.2022 to 31.08.2025).

Professor Enes has a Bachelor and Master in Law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra. She holds a PhD in Law (European Union Law) from the Faculty of Law of the University of Porto, where she is a Professor with tenure of European Union Law and International Law.

Ivan Koh is Director, Infocomm Policy, Infocomm Media Development Authority, Singapore and leads the development of policy and regulatory moves needed to advance Singapore’s competitiveness and interests in the Digital Domain. He is responsible for IMDA’s Digital Regulations efforts particularly in the Digital Infrastructure domain to build trust, mitigate risks and enable business growth.

Prior to holding office as Director Infocomm Policy, Mr Koh spearheaded the formation of the Technology Governance Office at IMDA. which was responsible for IMDA’s and the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s pioneering work to forge Singapore’s new international agreements and partnerships for the digital economy (Digital Economy Agreements). As co-Chief Negotiator, he successfully concluded the first of its kind Digital Economy Partnership Agreement with New Zealand and Chile, and the Singapore Australia Digital Economy Agreement which establishes international rules, set benchmarks and align standards in wide-ranging and critical aspects of the digital economy, including artificial intelligence and digital identities.

Prior to joining the public service, Mr Koh was a lawyer at Baker McKenzie. He has experience advising on contentious and non-contentious matters relating to Technology, Media and Telecommunications.

Javier Huerta Bravo leads the digital economy regulatory intelligence service for Europe. Before joining Cullen International in 2014, Mr Huerta Bravo worked at the European Commission on copyright, e-commerce and other topics related to online services. He is a qualified lawyer.

Jean-François Furnemont held the position of Director General (2003-2014) of the audiovisual media regulatory authority (CSA) of the French speaking Community in Belgium. He has also been actively involved in the Board of the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA) as vice-Chairman (2008-2011) and as Chairman (2011-2014).

As the author of many studies, research projects and publications, Mr Furnemont excels in the following fields : drafting and reviewing of media primary/secondary legislation and broadcasting codes, advice and capacity building for media regulatory authorities and ministries, material scope of media regulation (online media, social networks, video-sharing platforms), jurisdiction issues, licensing and related systems, media concentration and transparency of media ownership, promotion of domestic and European works and financial support schemes to audiovisual creation, hate speech, fight against disinformation, protection of minors, commercial communications, articulation between self- and co-regulation and statutory regulation.

Mr Furnemont holds a BA in Journalism and Communication Studies at the Université Libre de Bruxelles – ULB, a MA in International Relations and European policy at the Université de Liège – ULG and a MA in Public Finances at the Université Catholique de Louvain – UCL. Former freelance journalist and former spokesman of a political party, he is the author of several books of political science and a number of publications on media policy and regulation.

Jeff Paine is a Singapore-based professional with over 28 years of experience at leading multinational corporations, including Visa, Microsoft, Reuters and the Royal Bank of Canada. Jeff has lived in Singapore for more than 25 years and has spent over 15 years in regional-based roles covering Asia. In 2014, he established PS-engage, a government relations consulting firm. Assisting clients with regulatory and policy work, PS-engage collaborates with top IT, e-commerce, finance, and payments companies to deliver constructive government interactions.

Mr Paine is also the Managing Director of the Asia Internet Coalition, a leading industry body that advocates for effective regulatory changes for the internet economy. Mr Paine was a Co-Chair of the Financial Services Committee for six years and is currently a Co-Chair of the Small and Medium Enterprises Committee at the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. Mr Paine is also a member of the Tax Feedback Panel at the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) and recently has been appointed to the Board of Directors at Celata Tech: a company that develops geographical intelligence platforms and solutions.

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.

Junichi Ishii is Director for International Affairs at Personal Information Protection Commission, Japan (PPC). He has been involved in the work on trusted government access in the OECD, which recently issued ministerial declaration on high-level principles. His work in the PPC also focuses on promotion of Cross-Border Privacy Rules, which have been developed as a work of APEC and now are addressed in the newly established global forum aiming at broadening participation to it; and enhancing relationship with foreign counterparts in bilateral as well as multi-lateral ways including international fora such as Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). He also serves as the Chair of Data Privacy Sub-Group, Digital Economy Steering Group in APEC.

Prior to join the PPC in April 2018, he served also for the PPC by way of secondment from a private company, Yahoo Japan Corporation, to which he belonged for 13 years from April 2005. In that company, he started his work on the protection of personal information and privacy from October 2010 and experienced public policy related work with main regard to deliberations on the amendment of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information. He also has experiences of attendance to International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners and APEC Data Privacy Sub-group meeting several times.

Jūratė Šovienė is the Chair of the Council of the Communications Regulatory Authority of Lithuania.

Ms. J. Šovienė has 20-year experience in competition policy, regulation and strategy including leading positions at the Lithuanian Competition Council. She also served as Chief Legal Adviser to the President of Lithuania holding position of the Head of Legal Affairs Group at the Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania. Ms Šovienė has more than 10-year experience as the Senior Expert/Project Manager in a number of EU projects in the field of competition law.

Ms. Šovienė has experience in Academia too as the former Member of Economics Study Program Committee at Kaunas University of Technology, research fellow and the lecturer of administrative law. In 2016, Ms Šovienė was awarded a prize by Lithuanian Academy of Sciences for a co-authored monography “The Impact of Cartels on National Economy and Competitiveness”. She was also recognized as one of the 40 Notable Women Competition Professionals in Enforcement in Europe, the Americas, Africa (by W@Competition, 2019) and was awarded the State Award the Medal of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas for the significant contribution to the protection of fair competition by the President of Lithuania (2018). After taking position of the Chair of the Council of Lithuanian regulator, Ms. Šovienė participated as the speaker at many national and international conferences, joined the BEREC Board of Regulators.

Ms. Šovienė has Master’s degrees in Business Management and Law.

Lim May-Ann is the Director of the Data Governance practice at technology consultancy firm Access Partnership, and is concurrently the Executive Director of the Asia Cloud Computing Association (ACCA). She has worked extensively on digital policy, including data governance issues, digital economy development, emerging technology such as Web3 and blockchain, metaverse development, ICTs for development, equitable access to finance and digital tools, sustainability challenges in the technology space, and cybersecurity. She has worked with many global, regional, and local organisations such as APEC, ASEAN, PECC, INTERPOL, Council of Europe (CoE), the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), FELEBAN in Latin America, and the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), on thought leadership development, government outreach and stakeholder engagement efforts.

She is appointed to the Singapore Data Protection Appeal Panel 2019-2023 (2 terms), and sits on various international agency task forces, such as the World Bank Group’s Cloud and Data Infrastructure Private Sector Advisory Committee, World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Digital ASEAN Taskforce, the Data & Jurisdiction Team for the Internet & Jurisdiction Policy Network.

A strong advocate for career coaching, inclusive education and digital policies, Ms Lim also volunteers as a youth mentor with Advisory Singapore, and is the chairman of nonprofit organisation Engineering Good, which focuses on assistive technology and digital inclusion of the underprivileged and disabled. An active dive instructor, Ms Lim also organizes sea cleanups and advocates for ocean sustainability.

Bio coming soon …..

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.

An experienced Trustee / Non-Executive Director as Vice Chair at Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust, a unique heritage site in the heart of Bristol (UK), Lynn is also a Trustee / Non-Executive Director at The Bristol and Bath (UK), Parks Foundation.

Reflecting on becoming Director General at the IIC at the outbreak of a pandemic, Lynn said, ‘these last two years have been like no other we have known, with many challenges coming our way. In 2020 we successfully pivoted the organisation through a digital transformation programme to maintain a full schedule of events and by increasing the outputs delivered. Transforming the programme enabled us to continue to deliver the professional service and increase our engagement with IIC members and stakeholder community to remain connected to them through such a difficult time.

As we move through 2022, I am delighted to return to a combined in-person and online programme and to continue to evolve the IIC in to the next phase, with the vision and strategic focus to deliver our objectives and to build on our growth, engagement and retention’.

Bio coming soon ….

Michel Van Bellinghen, Master of Laws (UCL), started off at the university in 1990 as a researcher, then became an assistant under the supervision of Professor Françoise Tulkens, at the UCL Laws Centre for Criminal Law.

Mr Van Bellinghen became an assistant advisor at the Ministry of Justice in 1992 under the supervision of Professor Marc Bossuyt and joined the BIPT in 1997. From 1999 to 2003 he held the position of expert at the private office of Rik Daems, who was the Federal Telecommunications Minister at the time, and afterwards took up the function of Assistant Head of the Private Office. From 2003 until 2009 he was nominated Member of the BIPT Council for the first time. Following this mandate he remained closely affiliated to the Council and supervised the legal department of the regulator during a number of years. He has written scientific publications.

In 2013 Mr Van Bellinghen held a position on the Council as a Member. In January 2017 he was assigned Chairman of the BIPT Council.

Mr Van Bellinghen served as Chair of BEREC in 2021.

Bio coming soon …..

Nerida O’Loughlin was appointed Chair and Agency Head of the ACMA from 14 October 2017 for five years.

Prior to joining ACMA, Ms O’Loughlin was Deputy Secretary in the Department of Communications and the Arts providing policy advice across telecommunications, broadcasting, online content and the arts. Ms O’Loughlin has also been responsible for major projects in the communications portfolio, including leading the Digital Television Switchover Program. Ms O’Loughlin served as interim CEO of the Digital Transformation Agency from 2016 to 2017. Over her career, Ms O’Loughlin has also held senior positions in the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments, predominantly across the technology and cultural sectors.

On 6 April 2019, Ms O’Loughlin was appointed as an Associate Member of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. On 10 June 2019 Ms O’Loughlin was awarded a Public Service Medal in the Queen’s Birthday honours for ‘outstanding public service through contributions to a more digital Australia and government’.

Philip Collerton is Chief Commercial Officer of Uptime Institute, where he is responsible for all commercial and service delivery activities globally. Mr Collerton has extensive experience in data center operations, data center training and staffing, data centers consolidation and establishing data center footprints in new markets and geographies.

Rafaela Nicolazzi is Google’s International Privacy Policy Lead for Europe in the Government Affairs & Public Policy team leading on topics such as data flows, Artificial Intelligence, children’s privacy and EU legislation based in Brussels. Since joining Google in 2012, Ms Nicolazzi has worked with product, legal teams and engaged with privacy and policy stakeholders and regulators around the world. She is also one of the founders and advisory board members of Dínamo, a startup advocacy group.

Tiernan Kenny  is the Head of International Strategy and Engagement at Ofcom, the UK’s regulator for communications services. He oversees Ofcom’s engagement with counterpart regulators, governments, international organisations and other groups.

Before joining Ofcom, Mr Kenny spent several years working on technology and digital policy issues in both Brussels and London, including privacy and data protection, cybersecurity, intellectual property, media policy and platform regulation. He has spent time working in the non-profit sector, focusing on accessible technology standards. He also worked for the UK’s largest business association on Brexit-related issues.

Bio coming soon …..

Undral Amarsaikhan is the CEO of TenGer TV and co-founder of Unread Media, a hybrid media company focused on empowering the next generation through disruptive storytelling and experiences.  Both Unread and TenGer TV are part of the TenGerLeague Media Group, the only public media company listed on the Mongolian Stock Exchange.

Mr Amarsaikhan is a member of Global Shapers Ulaanbaatar Hub, a youth initiative by World Economic Forum. In 2017, he was selected to join The Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland as one of the 50 youth representatives around the world.

Mr Amarsaikhan holds degrees from UCLeuven in Belgium and National University of Mongolia.

Yi Shen Chan specialises in policy and regulatory issues in the telecommunications, media and technology sector. His experience includes radio spectrum policy and management, digital broadcasting, economic regulation of telecommunications infrastructure, and competition issues in the communications and audio-visual markets.

Most recently, he was a director at Plum Consulting where he specialised in spectrum management issues, such as allocation, valuation and pricing of spectrum for mobile and other uses, cost benefit analyses and impact assessments of policies and regulations relating to mobile and other wireless technologies. Yi Shen has led numerous consultancy projects and advised governments, regulators and industry players around the world, including Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the UK.

Bio coming soon ……