Leonidas Anthopoulos
Professor, University of Thessaly, Greece 

Dr. Leonidas Anthopoulos is a Professor in e-business at the University of Thessaly, Greece. He is the Director of the Smart City Research Center of the University of Thessaly and he served as a Special Advisor of the Mayor of Trikala, Greece. He has an extensive experience of complex ICT projects such as the smart city projects. During his current mission and at his previous job positions (as an Expert Counselor at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as an ICT project manager at the Information Society S.A. (Greece)) he planned and supervised several critical projects, worth mentioning the smart city of Trikala. He is the Director of the Smart Cities and Systems Research Institute of the University of Thessaly, Greece and the Director of the Postgraduate Program in Project and Programme Management of the University of Thessaly, Greece. He is a member of numerous committees, worth mentioning the ITU United for Smart and Sustainable Cities Group (co-rapporteur of Q5 of the SG20), he is the head of the Smart and Sustainable cities’ working group for the Greek Standards, the Associate Editor of the IET Smart Cities journal etc. He is the author and editor of several book collections, which can be located in Cities, Technological Forecasting and Social Change and Government Information Quarterly (ElSevier), ACM Computing Surveys, monograph for Springer etc. His research interests concern, among others, smart city, e-Government, Enterprise Architecture, Strategic Management, etc.

Natalia Bayona​
Executive Director, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) 

Natalia Bayona leads the innovation, education, and investments strategy of UNWTO, the UN specialized agency for the promotion of        sustainable tourism. With a diverse background on politics, destination management and business, she has become the first innovation  director at UNWTO, has introduced entrepreneurship and education as key factors for tourism and  development, and has positioned UNWTO as an innovation benchmark within the wider United Nations system as recognized by the UN.  Chief Executive  Board (CEB) in 2020. Her work consists of identifying the most disruptive startups and investment projects.  and matching  them  with Member States and leading corporations. As an advocate of youth and technology, she seeks to make entrepreneurs grow for a promising future in all regions.

Cristina Bueti​​
Counsellor, ITU

Cristina Bueti is the ITU Focal Point on Smart Sustainable Cities. She is also the Counsellor of ITU-T Study Group 20 “Internet of things (IoT) and smart cities and communities (SC&C)” and the Counsellor of the Focus Group on metaverse at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). She also serves as TSB/ITU focal point for Latin America. Cristina Bueti graduated from the Faculty of Political Science, Law and International Cooperation and Development of the University of Florence, where she completed postgraduate studies in International Cooperation and Telecommunications Law in Europe. She ​also holds a specialization in Environmental Law with a special focus on Telecommunications. In 2003, Ms. Bueti built on her academic credentials by completing a specialized course in peace keeping and international cooperation with special focus on telecommunications at the Faculty of Laws, University of Malta, before joining the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva in January 2004. As part of the International Women’s Day 2016, she was named as one of the twenty Geneva-based inspirational women working to protect the environment. She has authored over 40 reports on telecommunication issues. A native Italian speaker, Cristina is also fluent in English, French and Spanish.​​​

Okan Geray
Strategic Planning Advisor, Digital Dubai

Dr. Okan Geray has more than 25 years of experience in consulting and advisory roles across various industries. He has consulted for a number of organizations in Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Turkey and Dubai. He worked at A.T. Kearney global management consulting firm for 6 years and was a member of the Global Telecommunications and Higher Technology core team before he joined Dubai Government in 2002. He has fulfilled strategic planning and policy roles in Dubai eGovernment, Dubai Smart Government, Smart Dubai Office and is currently working in Dubai Digital Authority as the Strategic Planning Advisor. His responsibilities include Strategic Planning, Strategic Performance Management and Policy Making among others. Dr. Geray was the Co-Chair of the Enhancing Innovation and Participation Working Group, part of the United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC) global initiative. This working group addressed Smart Governance, Smart Economy and Smart People aspects in smart cities. He has led the two thematic groups “Guidelines on Strategies for Circular Cities” and “City Science Application Framework” in U4SSC. He is currently leading “Guiding principles for Artificial Intelligence in cities”, and co-leading “Enabling People-Centered Cities through Digital Transformation” in U4SSC. Dr. Geray is the Co-Rapporteur of ITU Study Group 20, Question 7 on “Evaluation and assessment of Smart Sustainable Cities and Communities”. He is a member of the IEC-ISO-ITU Joint Smart Cities Task Force (J-SCTF). He is also a member of the ITU Focus Group on Metaverse and is co-chairing Working Group 7 on “Economy, Competition and Regulation”. He was also the Co-Chair of the “Data Economy Impact, Commercialization and Monetization” Working Group, part of the ITU Focus Group on Data Processing and Management. Dr. Geray holds a double major B. Sc. degree in Industrial and Computer Engineering from Bosphorus University in Istanbul Turkiye, an M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. degree in Systems and Control Engineering from the University of Massachusetts in USA. He has published book chapters, several journal and conference papers, and teaches as an adjunct lecturer. ​

Konstantinos Kyranakis
Deputy Minister, Ministry of Digital Governance, Greece

Konstantinos Kyranakis (born 19/4/1987) is a graduate of the Law School of the University of Athens with postgraduate studies in strategic communication at the American College of Athens.   He has worked as a freelancer in the field of digital marketing, creating websites and applications. He was a co-founder of the BrainGain initiative for the return of young people to Greece and an elected president of the Youth of the European People’s Party, from May 2013 to May 2017.  In January 2017, the international magazine “Forbes” selected him among the 30 most influential young people under 30 in Europe, in the Law & Policy category.
In the National elections of 2019, he was elected for the first time as a Member of Parliament in the South Sector of Athens, where he was re-elected in the elections of June 25, 2023 and on June 27 he was sworn in as Deputy Minister of Digital Governance of Greece.

H.E. Mr Nape Nnauye
Minister, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Tanzania

Hon. Nape Moses Nnauye is the United Republic of Tanzania’s Minister for Information,Communication, and Information Technology and Member of Parliament for Mtama Constituency in Lindi Region. He is a natural communicator who can energize and inspire people towards common goals. Nape has a successful track record in public programs, contributing to important roles and positions. Born and raised in Tanzania, Nape earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Language, and Journalism with Honors from Bangalore University in India, and a Master’s in Public Administration from Mzumbe University, Tanzania. Nape is a diligent student with Diplomas in Diplomacy and Foreign Relations and Social Sciences from the Centre for Foreign Relations and Kivukoni Academy of Social Sciences, respectively. Currently, he is a student of first degree in Law (LLB) at Open University of Tanzania.
Nape has actively served with Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), the current ruling party in Tanzania, since his primary school days. Nape played various roles within CCM and the government, contributing to their political and economic growth. Nape is a member of the National Congress, National Executive Committee, and former National Secretary for Ideology and Publicity of CCM. Nape remains passionate about Africa’s and Tanzania’s development and actively shares his unique treasure of practical knowledge and purposeful emphasis with youth. Nape is a mentor to the future development agents of Africa.

Seizo Onoe
Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU

Seizo Onoe took office as Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023. Known in the industry as “the father of LTE” (Long-Term Evolution mobile broadband), he now aims for global outreach to bridge standardization gaps, deliver the benefits of technology widely and speedily, and ensure meaningful and affordable broadband access for everyone. Before his election as TSB Director by ITU Member States, he completed an over 30-year career with Japanese mobile operator NTT DOCOMO. In 2021, he became Executive Vice President and Chief Standardization Strategy Officer for NTT Corporation and a Fellow of NTT DOCOMO. From 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Architect and President of its subsidiary DOCOMO Technology. From 2012 to 2017, he served as NTT DOCOMO’s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, a Member of the Board of Directors, and Managing Director of R&D Innovation Division. Earlier, he served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO’s R&D Strategy Department and Managing Director of the company’s Radio Network Development Department. Mr Onoe holds a Master’s degree in electronics from the Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering.

Sophia Papathanasopoulou
Head of Broadband Unit, General Secretariat of Telecommunications and Post, Ministry of Digital Governance, Greece

Mrs. Sophia Papathanasopoulou holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA).  She has a multi-year experience in the private sector, being a Senior Engineer for the development of telecommunication products at Intracom SA,  the biggest telecommunications industry in Greece.  In 2009 she joined the public sector and was enrolled in the General Secretariat of Telecommunications and Post of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, at the post of a Policy Officer at the Directorate for Standardization and Certification of Telecommunications.  Her present position at the Ministry of Digital Governance is Head of Broadband Unit and her duties include Standardization in Telecommunications and ICTs (she’s Head of National Delegation at ETSI and ITU) and the creation of institutional framework through Ministerial Decrees and Regulations for the development of broadband, sharing of infrastructures and ICT products. 

Teppo Rantanen
Executive Director of Economic Policy, Competitiveness and Innovation, City of Tampere, Finland 

Teppo Rantanen is the Executive Director, City of Tampere, growth, innovation and competitiveness. He is responsible for Smart City program and other major city development programs.
Teppo has been with Deloitte 2002-2016, last two years in London as a member of Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications leadership team, before that CEO of Deloitte Finland for 12 years
Before joining Deloitte Teppo was Nordic leader of Andersen Risk Consulting, located in Stockholm and prior to that in Helsinki and London

Ursula Wynhoven
Head, UN Affairs Division, ITU

Ursula Wynhoven is an international lawyer with 22 years’ experience. She joined the ITU in September 2017 as its Representative to the UN in NY. Previously, Ursula spent 14 years working for the UN Global Compact, where her last position was Chief, Social Sustainability, Governance & Legal and she was a member of the office’s Executive Committee. Ursula led the UN Global Compact’s social sustainability and governance platforms and workstreams, including on human rights and decent work, gender equality, poverty and inequality, peace, anti-corruption and the rule of law. Ursula also led legal affairs and oversaw policy development and implementation of the UN Global Compact’s integrity measures. Ursula began working with the Global Compact in 2002 and as one of the earliest staff members played an active role in helping to grow the initiative to more than 13,000 signatories in more than 160 countries with a full roster of workstreams advancing virtually all aspects of corporate sustainability. Ursula’s tenure with the UN Global Compact also included a six month loan as Senior Advisor, Business and Human Rights to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Prior to joining the UN, Ursula worked in law firms and government human rights agencies in Australia and the US and for the OECD in Paris on the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Ursula has Masters of Law degrees from Columbia Law School, where she was a Human Rights Fellow, and Monash Law School. She has Bachelor’s degrees in Law, Economics, and Letters. She is admitted to practice in jurisdictions in Australia, the US (California) and the UK and has passed the New York bar exam. Since 2007, Ursula has been an Adjunct Professor in Corporate Sustainability, Business and Human Rights at Fordham Law School and previously taught Business and Human Rights at the Reykjavik University School of Law. Ursula is a Trustee of the Parker School of Foreign and Comparative Law at Columbia Law School.

Christina Yan Zhang
CEO and Founder, The Metaverse Institute

Christina is a metaverse pioneer. She started her master research on the topic in 2006 to develop universities’ international strategies. In 2012, with full scholarship, she completed a PhD in using digital twin in the metaverse to augment the AEC industry.
Christina is an award-winning business leader with 17 years of experience turning forward-thinking ideas into high growth businesses. She has extensive experience working with governments, universities, and business on innovation strategies.
She has sat on 20+ advisory committees for UNESCO, World Bank, Commonwealth, EU, and UK Governments. She is Vice Chair of the UN International Telecommunication Union Metaverse Working Group on Sustainability, Accessibility & Inclusion. She sits on TechUK’s digital twins board and advisory council of International Science Council on the future of science.
She chairs a weekly twitter space discussion with experts on pragmatic use of metaverse across industries, which is promoted to a global community of 100,000+ leaders.
She advises governments and UN agencies to use metaverse, AI, Smart cities technologies to improve the real world. For example, she recently chaired the opening panel for The World Intellectual Property Organization’s summit on IP and Metaverse and addressed UNESCO on the future of education using metaverse.