Session 554— Side Event: Celebrating Twenty Years and Achieving Future Milestones Together | WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025
WSIS SIDE EVENT | on the sidelines of the WSIS+20 UNGA High-Level Meeting | Venue: Doha Conference Room, 11th floor, UNDP HQ - FF Building, 304 East 45th Street, New York
Context
Over two decades ago, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) set in motion a global effort to harness information and communication technologies (ICTs) for inclusive, knowledge-driven development. Established to build a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented information and knowledge societies, WSIS laid the foundation for global digital cooperation, catalyzing transformative change by connecting people, fostering innovation, and advancing sustainable development.
Marking twenty years since the Tunis phase of the WSIS Summit in 2005, the UN General Assembly, through resolution A/70/125 adopted in 2015, called for a high-level review in December 2025 in New York. This review is a timely opportunity to assess progress over two decades, share lessons learned, and define a renewed vision for the next phase of the global digital agenda.
The side event, “Celebrating Twenty Years and Achieving Future Milestones Together,” brings stakeholders together to celebrate the achievements of the WSIS process while looking ahead to opportunities in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The session will encourage dialogue, the exchange of experiences, and collaborative approaches to strengthen global digital cooperation.
As digital technologies continue to reshape economies, societies, and daily life, the WSIS vision remains highly relevant, guiding efforts to ensure that digital transformation is inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. The session is an important moment to showcase progress, reinforce collaboration and collective actions for the next chapter of global information and knowledge societies.
Agenda
09:00-09:03 Moderator Welcome & Housekeeping
09:03-09:06 Opening Remarks
Nur Sulyna Abdullah, Chief, Strategic Planning and Membership, and Special Advisor to the Secretary-General, ITU
09:06-09:15 Co-organisers remarks
1. Mr. Robert Opp, Chief Digital Officer, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (confirmed)
2. Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (confirmed)
3. Mr. Jorge Cancio, Director of International Relations, Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), Switzerland (confirmed)
09:15-09:21 Remarks from the WSIS+20 Co-Facilitators
4. WSIS+20 Co-Facilitators
· H.E. Mr. Ekitela Lokaale, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations
· H.E. Ms. Suela Janina, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Albania to the United Nations
09:21-09:42 Speakers’ Interventions
Vision and the Future of WSIS Beyond 2025
Guiding Questions:
o What is the vision for WSIS and global digital cooperation in the years beyond 2025?
o How can multistakeholder collaboration be strengthened to achieve these priorities?
5. Ms. Nonkqubela Thathakahle Jordan-Dyani, Director-General, Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, South Africa
6. H.E. Mr. Ambassador Muhammad Radzi Jamaludin, Ambassador, Malaysia
7. Mr. Mactar Seck, Chief Frontier and Emerging Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation Section, UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
8. Mr. Howie Wachtel, Senior Director, UN and International Organizations Policy, Microsoft (Private Sector)
9. Ms. Katharina Mänz, Acting Head of BMZ Unit 110, Digital Technologies, BMZ
10. Mr. Joshua Ingersoll (ITU Youth Advisory Board)
09:42-09:55 Interactive Discussion
09:55-10:00 Closing Remarks & Group Photo
Ms. Nur Sulyna AbdullahChief, Strategic Planning and Membership, and Special Advisor to the Secretary-GeneralInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Dr. Tawfik JelassiAssistant Director-General for Communication and InformationUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Mr. Robert OppChief Digital OfficerUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Mr. Jorge CancioDirector of International RelationsFederal Office of Communications (OFCOM), Switzerland
H.E. Ms. Suela JaninaAmbassador and Permanent RepresentativePermanent Mission of the Republic of Albania to the United NationsWSIS+20 Co-Facilitator
H.E. Mr. Ekitela LokaaleAmbassador and Permanent RepresentativePermanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the United NationsWSIS+20 Co-Facilitator
H.E. Mr. Ambassador Muhammad Radzi JamaludinAmbassadorMalaysia
Ms. Nonkqubela Thathakahle Jordan-DyaniDirector-General: Department of Communications and Digital TechnologiesSouth Africa
Mr. Mactar SeckChief Frontier and Emerging Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation SectionUN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
Ms. Katharina MänzActing Head of Unit Digital TechnologiesGerman Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Katharina Mänz has been working at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) since 2012. As a trained political TV news journalist, she initially worked for several years as a press officer at the BMZ before moving to the parliamentary department and finally turning her attention to digitalization. Among other topics, she is the contact person for the GovStack initiative launched jointly with Estonia, the ITU and DIAL. Since 2022, she has been deputy and currently also acting head of the Digitalization division
Mr. Howie WachtelSenior Director, UN and International Organizations PolicyMicrosoft
Mr. Josh IngersollSenior Manager - Lasercom ProductsAmazon Leo for GovernmentITU Youth Advisory Board
Ms. Gitanjali SahStrategy and Policy CoordinatorInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU)Moderator