|  GICT Office of the Director Mohsen Khalil, Director
Mohsen Khalil is a joint Director at the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the Global Information and Communication Technologies Department. Prior to this appointment, he was Director of IFC's Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa Department. He also served IFC as Chief Investment Officer in the Telecommunications, Transport, and Utilities Department. Before joining the World Bank Group, while also a Professor of Business at the American University of Beirut, Mr. Khalil served as Chief Advisor to the Lebanese Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Board Director of Lebanon's Autonomous Fund for Housing, and advisor to various governments and major corporations in the Middle East. He also worked with McKinsey & Co. Management Consultants, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and MITRE Corporation. Mr. Khalil holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, an M.Sc in management from the Sloan School of Management at MIT, an M.Sc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a B.Sc. in Physics from the American University of Beirut.
Irene Dubill, Budget Analyst
Irene joined GICT in 2003, initially with the Policy Division prior to the her current role. Previously, she worked in the South Asia Region of the Bank where she was mainly involved in infrastructure portfolio in South Asia and budget monitoring. She speaks Tamil and Sinhalese.
Agron Idrizi, Information Analyst
Agron joined the World Bank Group in 1991 and joined IFC in 1998. He currently provides IT support to the Global Product Group departments. He worked in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia department as IT coordinator for both the department and the country offices. Agron holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Literature from the University of Prishtina. Besides being fluent in Albanian, Serbian and Croatian, Agron also speaks German and Russian. Michel Razo, Program Assistant
Michel Razo has worked for GICT since 2000 as a Team Assistant, supporting the front office in an administrative capacity. She was previously assigned to Recruitment Division of IFC Human Resources Department. Michel is originally from Manila, Philippines where she attended a 4 year course at St. Paul College and received her Bachelor of Science in Secretarial Administration. 
Strategy & Business Development Rajesh Pradhan , Adviser
Rajesh joined the World Bank in 1982 and is currently an Adviser to the GICT Department. He has an under-graduate degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT Delhi and an MBA in Finance and Investment from George Washington University.
Rani Kumar, Program Analyst Alexandra Klopfer, Communications Officer Martin Dimitrov, Web Coordinator
Telecom and Media Division Stephanie Von Friedeburg, Manager
Stephanie von Friedeburg is the Manager of the GICT's Telecom and Media Division, a position she has held since 2001. Prior to her current position, she was the Manager of IFC's general manufacturing investments in Central and Eastern Europe. She joined IFC in 1992 working on India and Nepal. In 1993, she transferred to the Europe Department, working on IFC's business in the CIS and Central Europe for over nine years. Prior to joining IFC, Stephanie was employed by Equitable Bank, where she worked in a Leveraged Buy-Out group in New York, and Continental Grain, where she worked on the E3 Fund, one of the first private equity funds for Central Europe. In addition to an MBA in finance from the Wharton School, she holds a Master of Arts Degree in Russian Area Studies from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and an undergraduate degree in International Economics from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
Andrew Bartley, Principal Investment Officer
Andrew joined GICT in 2001 as a Principal Investment Officer in the Investments unit. His current assignments include projects in Latin America and East Asia. Andrew joined the IFC in 1993. Prior to his current position, he was a Principal Investment Officer with the Power Department where he worked on transactions in South Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Before joining IFC, Andrew worked as a consulting engineer for Monenco Agro where he focused on feasibility assessments, systems engineering and project management for large infrastructure projects. He has a B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bristol in the UK, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Adrian Bastien, Associate Investment Officer
Adrian joined GICT in 2006 as an Associate Investment Officer. Previously, Adrian spent just over a year with IFC’s Health and Education department, which was his first rotation in IFC's Global Transaction Team Program. Prior to joining IFC in 2005, he was with the finance division of General Motors Acceptance Corporation - Residential Finance Corporation. Adrian has also worked at Bank of America Securities LLC with the Investment Banking group focused on Technology. Adrian holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and an MA from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, US. Shane Clancy, Investment Analyst
Shane joined GICT in September 2005 as an Investment Analyst in the Telecom and Media Division. His current assignments include projects in Central America and South Asia. Prior to joining IFC, he had 4 summers of finance and accounting work experience in the Canadian Oil and Gas industry. Shane has a BS in Economics from the Wharton School, with a concentration in finance, and a BA in French from the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has a Diplôme International from Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, and speaks French. Eric Crabtree, Senior Investment Officer
Eric joined the Telecom and Media division of GICT in 2002. Prior to joining GICT, he worked for six years on general manufacturing transactions in Central and Eastern Europe. Before joining IFC, Eric worked in Moscow as a consultant to American Standard, Owens Corning, Johnson Controls, Ryland Homes and other US construction-related companies entering the markets of the former Soviet Union. Eric holds a BA in Economics from Oberlin College and an MBA from Georgetown University. He speaks Russian. William Kerr-Smith, Principal Industry Specialist
William joined GICT in 1998 and has worked in a number of African countries as well as countries in Asia, Central Europe and Latin America. Before joining the IFC, William held a number of senior positions in the telecommunications industry and the telecoms consulting business. Most recently he was Director of Marketing for BT's International Consulting division. He holds a BA from the Open University of the UK and a Higher National Diploma in Electrical Engineering from the Napier College of Science and Technology. Stephanie Leydier, Investment Officer
Stephanie joined GICT in 2006 as an Investment Officer. Before joining IFC, Stephanie worked for 3 years as an Advisor to the Executive Director representing France at the Board of the World Bank Group. Prior to this, Stephanie worked for 6 years in project finance in emerging markets with Proparco, the French Investment Corporation, working on debt and equity transactions in the telecoms, power, transport and water sector in Africa and East Asia. Stephanie has a Master degree in Economics and a Master degree in Finance from the Centre for Studies and Research in International Development (CERDI) in France. She is fluent in French. Tsige Makonnen, Program Assistant
Tsige (Meme) is currently a team assistant in the Investment Division. Tsige joined the World Bank Group in March 1999 as an Information Associate for the Vice President's Special Program Unit, which was a subgroup of Environmental Social Sustainable Development Department. Tsige holds a BA in International Affairs, with Third World Concentration, and a minor in French and political Science from James Madison University in Virginia. She speaks French and Amharic. Wiebke Schloemer, Investment Officer
Wiebke joined GICT in 2004 as an Investment Officer. Prior to joining IFC, Wiebke spent 5 years in project finance in emerging markets with the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg, and DEG, the German Investment Corporation, working on debt and equity transactions in the telecoms, power and water sector in Africa, East Asia and Eastern Europe. Wiebke has a Master degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Goettingen in Germany and holds a Postgraduate degree in Development Policy from the German Development Institute. She speaks German and French. Aniko Szigetvari, Senior Investment Officer
Aniko joined GICT in 2002 as an Investment Officer. Previously, Aniko spent over 3 years with IFC’s restructuring and workout department, focusing on East Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa. Prior to joining IFC in 1998, she was with the finance divisions of Kraft Foods International and DHL Worldwide Express both in Austria and Hungary. She also worked at McKinsey & Company. Aniko holds an MBA from the Wharton School and an MA from the Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
Portfolio & Technology Division Kent Lupberger, Senior Manager, Portfolio and Technology Division
Kent E. Lupberger is Senior Manager, Portfolio and Technology, in the Global Information and Communication Technologies Department, a joint department of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Kent rejoined the Department in November 2006. Previously, he was Manager, Investments, from 1996 to 2001. The Department provides loan and equity financing and policy advice for telecommunications, IT and broadcast media activities. Kent is responsible for the Corporation’s growing portfolio of US$953.1 million of loans and equity investments. Prior to joining IFC, Kent worked for Chase Manhattan Bank in Chile and the United States. Kent holds an undergraduate degree in Anthropology from the University of Colorado, an MBA degree from ESADE (Barcelona, Spain), and a Master of International Management from Thunderbird (Arizona, USA).
Annie Butial, Program Assistant
Annie is a Program Assistant in the Portfolio and Technology Investments Group. Before joining the World Bank group in 1994, she worked at the Asian Development Bank in Manila, Philippines. Annie graduated with a Bacherlor’s degree from the Philippine College of Commerce in Manila, major in Advertising, minor in Marketing. She also obtained a Certificate in Commercial Science from the same college. Stephen Chow, Budget and Finance Officer
Stephen joined GICT in March, 2001. His current responsibilities include planning and analysis, the fiduciary oversight of the department’s budgetary matters, and financial reporting. Prior to joining GICT, Stephen was in the Corporate Strategy and Resource Management Department and worked in the areas of strategic planning and budgeting. Before joining the World Bank Group, Stephen was involved with the development of Arco Chemical and W.R. Grace’s capital expansion plans in Asia. Much of this work required seeking new strategic opportunities, building financial models, assessing business potentials, and analyzing potential markets. He also briefly worked at American Express as their Business Development Manager for the Travel and Entertainment industry before joining the Bank. Stephen holds a BA in Economics from Simon Fraser University (Canada), an MBA from the University of Ottawa (Canada), and an MS from John Hopkins University. He speaks Cantonese. Luc Dejonckheere, Principal Investment Officer
Luc joined the Portfolio and Technology Division of GICT in 2002 and has over 15 years of experience in corporate finance, strategic management and financial advisory services. He is currently working primarily in the Middle East and North Africa region and has carried out restructuring work in Argentina and in Morocco. Prior to his current position, Luc worked for six years at IFC’s Corporate Advisory Services department. Before joining IFC Luc worked in corporate strategy consulting with the LEK Partnership in London and in M&A advisory with Lazard in Germany. He also worked with the UNDP in Panama and in Guatemala. Luc holds an MBA degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a Masters degree in Economics and in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the University of Louvain, Belgium. Luc is proficient in French, Spanish, German and Dutch. Andi Dervishi, Investment Officer
Andi joined the Information Technologies Investments Group in August 2000 from IFC's Corporate Advisory Division. Before he joined the IFC, he worked for Deloitte & Touche in their Corporate Advisory / M&A Services Group, and for a Albanian Private Equity Fund. He has experience in starting and managing several businesses, including two in the telecommunications area. Andi holds a B.A. in English from Tirana State University and an MBA from Emory University. Jason Downes, Senior Investment Officer
Jason joined IFC in 2004 with 12 years of private equity and investment banking experience. He is currently a Sr Investment Officer focusing on Central & Eastern Europe. Prior to joining IFC, Jason was a Co-founder and Vice President & Chief Investment Officer of ru-Net Holdings a Russian IT services investment company. At ru-Net, Jason and was responsible for fund-raising and for originating, structuring, and executing ru-Net’s investment transactions. Prior to ru-Net, Jason worked in Equity and Debt Capital Markets teams for Moscow-based investment banks Renaissance Capital and United Financial Group. Earlier in his career, Jason held investment banking positions at UBS and Credit Lyonnais Securities in London and Paris. Jason attended the City University, London. Nikunj Jinsi, Principal Investment Officer
Nikunj joined the IFC in 2003. He has over 13 years of experience in the telecommunications, media and technology area in Asia, Europe and the US. Prior to IFC, Nikunj founded the Singapore office for AsiaTech Ventures, a leading global technology venture capital firm managing over US $250 M, in 1999. He held the position there of Managing Director, where he was responsible for the South East Asia region representing his firm as a board director for many leading Asian technology firms. Prior to joining AsiaTech, Nikunj spent four years in the investment banking industry in Asia focusing specifically on corporate and project finance activities for telecom, media & technology companies. Nikunj started his career working for KPN Telecom in The Netherlands. Nikunj obtained an MBA degree from Stanford University, which he attended as a Fulbright Scholar. In addition, Nikunj has a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Delft University of Technology, Netherlands. Pravan Malhotra, Senior Investment Officer
Pravan joined IFC in 2007 with over 10 years of private equity, debt and investment banking experience. He focuses on private equity investments in technology, media and telecommunications companies in India. Prior to joining IFC, Pravan was a Principal with ORIX Venture Finance, a New York-based subsidiary of a Japanese financial services conglomerate. At ORIX, Pravan was responsible for analyzing, structuring, and executing principal investment transactions in venture-backed technology, telecommunications, business services, health care and financial services companies. Prior to ORIX, Pravan worked with Metropolitan Venture Partners, a transatlantic venture capital fund in New York and London, and Global Bridge Ventures, an emerging markets focused venture capital fund in San Francisco. Earlier in his career, Pravan was an investment banker at BMO Nesbitt Burns and a credit analyst at the Tokai Bank in Chicago. Pravan holds a BA from Coe College and an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Horacio Rivera-Piza, Senior Information Officer
Horacio brings eighteen years of engineering management experience in consulting, communications and information technologies to the GICT. After several years as a consultant to IFC, Horacio joined as a staff in September 1999. Prior to joining the IFC, he founded an Internet Service Provider in Ecuador, worked as a Vice President of Systems Development for TV Answer, an interactive television startup, and as a consultant for Analysis Group with private clients and U.S. Government agencies. Horacio started his career as a real-time software engineer for Singer Link Simulation Systems in the nuclear power industry. Horacio holds a Computer Science degree from Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico, a Master's in Engineering Management, a Doctoral degree in Engineering Economics and International Business, both from George Washington University, and an Executive MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Yasmina Sam, Investment Analyst
Yasmina joined the Portfolio and Technology Division of GICT in November 2005. She is responsible for the proper management of Department’s portfolio with a focus on reports, marketing write-ups, compliance requirements, data accuracy, work program, equity options and valuation, and maintenance of databases. Prior to joining GICT Yasmina worked for 5-1/2 with IFC’s Syndications Department as Investment Analyst. She holds a Bachelors Degree of Arts with a double major in Management and Economics from Guelph University, Ontario, Canada. She speaks five languages which include English, French, Amharic, Tigrigna and Italian. Joseph Solan, Consultant
Joseph Solan was Senior Manager of the Portfolio and Technology Division at GICT. He was responsible for a US$1.4 billion portfolio of loans and equity investments in telecommunications, IT and media, as well as new investments in technology related businesses globally. Joe has over 25 years of banking experience in all regions of the world, including 12 years in the telecommunications and private infrastructure sectors. Prior to joining IFC, he worked for 3i plc, London, a major UK financial institution. Joe holds a BSc (Hons) degree in engineering from Imperial College, London, completed graduate studies at Cambridge University, and then obtained an MBA from London Business School.
Policy and Public Sector Investments Philippe Dongier, Manager
Philippe Dongier, a Canadian national, joined the World Bank Group in 1998. He has played a range of leadership roles in the infrastructure and sustainable development sectors (1998-2001) and worked on operations and analytical work in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Philippe managed the Bank's support to Afghanistan reconstruction (2001-2004), and led a corporate initiative on strengthening the Bank's organizational effectiveness (2004-2005). He recently authored a World Bank report entitled ‘Infrastructure: Lessons from the Last Two Decades of World Bank Engagement’. Prior to joining the Bank, Philippe was with McKinsey & Company (1993-1998), advising companies and governments on issues of strategy and organizational restructuring, including in the telecom and IT industries. From 1986 to 1992, he worked in Nepal and Vietnam in decentralized and community-based infrastructure and finance, and enterprise development. Philippe holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BA in economics from McGill University.
Mavis Ampah, Senior ICT Policy Specialist
Mavis joined the GICT in 2003. She is the regional co-ordinator for the Sub-Saharan Africa Team of the Policy Group. Prior to joining the Bank, Mavis worked in South Africa for two years as Chief Executive of the African Connection Program. Mavis has a BA in Economics from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), and a MA from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Laurent Besancon, Senior Regulatory Specialist
Laurent joined GICT in 2003 and currently coordinates the Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (RCIP). His current duties also involve providing policy and capacity-building support to Governments in the East and Southern Africa region on an ad-hoc basis. Prior to joining GICT, Laurent worked for 3 years as a consultant for National Economic Research Associates (NERA) in London, advising Governments, regulators, and the private sector on wide-ranging regulatory and economics issues. Laurent also worked for France Telecom UK as regulatory affairs manager as well as for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as a strategy analyst in the Strategy and Policy Unit. Laurent graduated from the Institut National des Telecommunications in France and from the business university Paris Dauphine and holds a MA in Telecommunications Economics from Michigan State University. Natasha Beschorner, Senior ICT Policy Specialist
Natasha Beschorner, a UK national, joined the World Bank in 1993, and GICT in 2004. She is the Regional Coordinator of the East Asia & Pacific team for the Policy group. Her areas of expertise include applied ICT for development planning and decision-making, including e-government; health information systems; and telecommunications sector reform, particularly extending the reach of information and communications infrastructure to rural and remote areas. She has extensive experience working in low-income economies, including fragile states and post-conflict environments. Her main responsibilities include design and management of investment projects and technical assistance programs on telecommunications reform and ICT for development in East Asia and Africa. She has a MS in Information Technology/Information Systems from Johns Hopkins University, a MA in Economics/Environment/Politics of the Middle East from the London School of Oriental & African Studies and a BA in Arabic/Spanish from Oxford University. She speaks French, German, Arabic and Spanish. Yann Burtin, Senior Operations Officer
Yann joined GICT on a secondment from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1996. He has worked on Telecom Sector Reform in several countries including Algeria, Tanzania, Niger, South Africa and Russia. Yann is currently stationed in the Paris office of the World Bank. He has an Advanced Degree in Industrial Organization and a Masters degree in Applied Economics from the University of Pierre Mendès in France and the University of Exeter in UK. He speaks French and some Spanish. Kashmira Daruwalla, Senior Procurement Specialist
Kashmira Daruwalla, an Indian national, joined the World Bank Group in 1985. She presently works as the procurement specialist for the GICT department. Her current duties include providing policy guidance and advice to client countries and World Bank staff to ensure fiduciary and quality compliance in procurement. As a Senior Specialist, she is involved in developing new and innovative practices, approaches and solutions to difficult and complex procurement issues. She works closely with task teams to provide support on output-based aid; electronic-Government Procurement and Public Private Partnerships in e-Government. She is a member of GICT's practice teams on (i) Rural Access, Backbone Networks, and Broadband; (ii) e-Government and IT applications; and (iii) IT Industry Development. She has a Masters degree in Project Management from the George Washington University and in Acquisition from the University of Virginia. Beauty Dhlodhlo, Program Assistant
Beauty Dhlodhlo is a Zimbabwean national who joined the World Bank Group in December 1995 under the IFC's Africa Project Development Facility (APDF), SME Department in Harare, Zimbabwe. She subsequently moved to the APDF's South Africa office in February 2000 and joined MIGA, Africa Region Office, Johannesburg in April 2002 until she joined GICT in September 2006. At GICT, she is responsible for assisting the Manager of the Public Policy and Operations Division. Prior to joining the Bank, Beauty worked with BP and Shell Marketing Services and The Ministry of Education in Zimbabwe. Anat Lewin Dreazen, Operations Analyst
Anat Lewin Dreazen works for GICT as an analyst. Her current work focuses on Middle East and North African countries in ICT data and statistical capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, e-government and ICT applications. She has also managed a $1.3 million Trust Fund for analytical work in the ICT subject area. She is also interested in media, convergence and IT industry issues.Before joining this group, Anat worked for the World Bank's Development Data Group as a Data Advisory Services Consultant and for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia as an ICT Consultant. She holds a Master of International Affairs degree from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, studied Arabic at the University of Jordan in Amman, and speaks English, French, German and Arabic.Her practice areas are: E-Government and ICT Applications, Media, and IT Industry. Boutheina Guermazi, Regulatory Specialist
Boutheina Guermazi joined the World Bank in April 2004. She is involved in telecommunications sector reform in a number of African countries - supporting the adoption of Telecom and ICT policies and the elaboration of pro-competitive legal and regulatory frameworks. She wrote and published a number of articles and book chapters on trade law, telecommunications policy and regulatory reform. Before joining the Bank, Boutheina was Assistant Professor at the faculté des Sciences Juridiques Politiques et Sociales of Tunis and a Telecommunications Advisor to the Sector Reform Unit at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). She also worked as a strategy analyst for the Strategic Unit at ITU and a telecom consultant for the UNDP. Boutheina holds a PhD in Telecommunications Law and Policy from the Faculty of Law at McGill University, Canada, an LLM in International Law from Indiana University and a Bachelor degree in public law from the University of Tunis. She held a Fulbright Scholarship and was a research scholar at the Social Science Research Council (USA) and the Center of Studies for Regulated Industries (Canada). She speaks Arabic, French and English. Naomi Halewood, Operations Analyst
Naomi joined the GICT in 2004. She is currently working on a number of ICT projects in the East Asia and Pacific region, and is part of the Monitoring & Evaluation team, for which she performs data analysis and research. Prior to joining GICT, she worked in the Development Economics Data Group of the World Bank, and for the Center for International Political Economy in New York. She has a MBA and a MA in international development from American University, and a BA in political science and sociology from Brandeis University. Isabelle Huynh-Segni, Postal Policy Specialist
Isabelle is a French national who joined the Bank in 2001 on a secondment program from the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry (MEFI). She covers regulatory issues mainly related to postal projects and focuses on the modernization of the postal industry. She spent 5 years with the MEFI in the department charged with postal and telecommunication regulation and was then sent to Washington for a two year assignment with the French Treasury office at the French Embassy. She holds a BA in political sciences and is graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Postes et Télécommunications. Kaoru Kimura, Consultant
Kaoru Kimura, a Japanese national, joined the GICT in 2004. She is the regional analyst for the Sub-Saharan Africa team of the Policy Group. She has been working for several operational projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia. In addition, she has been actively involved in monitoring and evaluation activities in the ICT sector and has worked on the ICT At-a-Glance tables and the Little Data Book on Information and Communication Technology series. Prior to joining GICT, Kaoru was at Nippon Telegraph and Telecommunication (NTT) in Japan, where she worked on marketing, business consulting, and designing communication systems for multinational corporate clients. She has an MA in international development studies from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Japan.
Arturo Muente Kunigami, Consultant
Arturo, a peruvian national, joined the World Bank in 2006. He is currently involved in ICT and telecommunications projects in Latin America, as well as in analytical work in the Latin American and the Caribbean region and the State-owned Enterprises and IT Industry Development practice groups. Prior to joining GICT, Arturo was a consultant at Apoyo Consultoria in Peru, dealing mainly with rural telecommunications and telecom regulation projects in developing countries. He also worked at an ISP, a local bank and with the regulatory agency, Osiptel. Arturo holds a MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University and a BA in Economics from Universidad del Pacifico in Lima. Gareth Locksley, Senior Telecommunications Specialist
Gareth joined the World Bank in 1999 and is the Regional Coordinator for the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Team of the Policy group. He worked with Cable & Wireless and with the Competition Directorate of the European Commission where he was a member of the team that drafted the Directives that opened the EU fixed and mobile telecommunications market. Samia Melhem, Senior Operations Officer
Samia Melhem is the chair of the e-Development Thematic Group and leads GICT's Knowledge and Learning program focusing on internal and clientcapacity building through knowledge sharing on ICT4Ds. She is a member of the e-Government and IT Applications practice group in the Global ICT department at the World Bank (GICT) where she has been working as a Senior Operations Officer . Her current operational and analytical responsibilities include technical assistance and advisory services related to eGoverment projects in developing countries. In her 20 years of experine in development at the World Bank Group, Samia has worked on ICT4D in a several sectors: Telecoms policy ®ulation, ICT for public sector reform (taxes, customs, trade), education, Knowledge economy and private sector development. Samia held several positions in different regions such as Africa, Middle East and Europe and Central Asia and has experience with a large set of countries from Asia, ECA, Middle East and Africa.Her interest is in planning, developing and implementing large scale information systems for governments, and on using ICT as a tool to support public administration reform and introduce governance, transparency and organizational change. Within the WBG institution, Samia is the GICT coordinator for topics of ICTs and Governance and Accountability, and ICT for Gender economic empowerment. She holds degrees in Electrical Engineering (BS), Computer Sciences (MS) and Finance (MBA).
Juan Navas-Sabater, Senior Telecommunications Specialist
Juan joined GICT in August 1998 and his current duties involve the design preparation and supervision of telecommunications sector reform projects in a number of countries of Latin America, Africa and the former Soviet Union. He is also actively involved in the design and implementation of e-government and information technology components in public sector reform and public financial management projects. Juan worked for three years as Project Manager in the field of advanced telecommunications services for development at the General Communications Secretariat within the Spanish Ministry of Development. He holds a degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the Madrid Politechnical University and a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Policy Economics and Regulation from George Washington University. He speaks Spanish Russian Portuguese French and German. Isabel Neto, Policy Specialist
Based in Maputo, Mozambique, Isabel is a Portuguese national who joined the World Bank in 2004. At the Bank she has written and published a number of analytical pieces on Spectrum Management, Mobile License Renewal, Financing Mechanisms for ICT, among others. She is part of a team working on Regional Connectivity in East and Southern Africa. Additionally, she has been co-ordinating the World Bank Group's participation in the World Summit on Information Society. Isabel holds a Master of Science degree in Technology and Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a B.Sc in Electrical and Telecommunications Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico in Portugal. She speaks Portuguese, English, French and Spanish. Tenzin Norbhu, Senior ICT Policy Specialist
Tenzin Dolma Norbhu joined the World Bank in 2000 and is the regional co-coordinator for the South Asia Team of the GICT policy group. She currently works on ICT and telecommunications projects in Asia. Her areas of expertise include ICT for development; telecommunications sector reform, rural telecommunications access and radio spectrum management. Before joining the Bank, she worked as an engineer in the telecommunications sector in Bhutan in the areas of operations and policy, and later as head of the Bhutan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. She has a MBA in the Management of Technology and an Honors Degree in Electrical Engineering. Tenzin is currently based in New Delhi. Marta Priftis, Senior Program Assistant
Marta joined GICT in June 1998. She works with the Latin America team and is also the knowledge management coordinator for the Division. Marta is also involved in the organization of technical traning programs. Prior experience within the Bank includes 6 years in the IFC Information Center. She has a BA (honors) in International Studies with a concentration in Economics from George Mason University. She speaks Spanish. Christine Zhen-Wei Qiang, Senior Economist
A Chinese national, Christine joined the World Bank in 1998. Her main responsibilities include ICT policy and strategy development; and design, preparation and supervision of information infrastructure projects in Asia. She has written and published a number of articles and book chapters on ICT and development, with a focus on the policy dimension. Her areas of expertise include ICT for development, telecommunications sector reform, growth, poverty and investment climate. She has a PhD in Economics and a M.S.E. in Computer Science and Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University and a BA in German Language and Literature from the International Studies University in China. She speaks Chinese, German and some Spanish. Christine is currently based in Nepal. Michèle Ralisoa, Program Assistant
Michèle is the Regional Program Assistant for Africa in GICT since September 2002. Prior to joining CITPO, she worked in the Country Office of Madagascar where she was mainly involved in the portfolio management of Madagascar and Comoros projects. Carlo Rossotto, Senior Regulatory Economist
Carlo joined the World Bank in 1998 and is the Regional Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa team of the Policy Division of GICT. He is the Task Manager of several lending and technical assistance operations in the Middle East, North Africa, and East Asia and the Pacific regions. He has performed economic and regulatory analysis in several telecommunications related projects including the privatization and fiscal impact of sector reforms. Before joining the Bank he advised European ICT corporations on demand analysis, marketing, corporate strategy and regulatory affairs. He holds post-graduate degrees in Economics and Business Administration from Bocconi University Milan and in Financial and Commercial Regulation from The London School of Economics. He speaks Italian, French and some Spanish. Andrea Ruiz-Esparza, Program Assistant
Andrea joined the World Bank in 1986 and has worked for GICT since mid-2001. She is the regional program assistant for information and communication infrastructure operations in East Asia and the Pacific region and the Europe and Central Asia region. In addition to operational activities, Andrea is the in-house editor and publications coordinator for the division. Andrea frequently works on Bank-wide activities, most recently, the Development Marketplace and the Advisory Committee for the Staff Survey. She speaks some Spanish and French. Prior to joining GICT, Andrea worked in operations in the industry and energy sectors in China and Mongolia, the rural water sector in South Asia, and on issues management in External Affairs. Andrea was the coordinator of the World Bank's Summer Employment Program in 1995/96, and coordinated the North American recruitment for the 1996 Young Professional Program. Peter Silarszky, Economist
Peter joined the World Bank in 2003. His current duties include preparation of a project to connect countries in East and Southern Africa to the global telecommunications network, and preparation of an information and communication infrastructure development project in Mongolia with focus on rural access. Peter also supports regional ICT initiatives in South Eastern Europe and works on issues related to distressed telecommunications incumbents and to development of backbone networks infrastructure and services. Prior to joining the World Bank, Peter worked for 5 years as management consultant with A.T. Kearney advising leading telecommunication companies, banks, and electric utilities in Europe on wide-ranging issues including strategy, business planning, post merger integration, and restructuring. He holds a PhD in Economics from the Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education of the Charles University in Prague and graduated from the Czech Technical University in Prague. He speaks English, Hungarian, Slovak, Czech, and some Russian, Polish, and Spanish. Ritin Singh, Senior Telecommunications Specialist
Ritin joined the Bank in 1994 and is presently focusing on the South Asia region. He has played a leading role in assisting client countries plan and implement telecommunications policy reforms. He has extensive experience on regulatory reform, privatization strategy, competitive sector structures, and rural access issues. Before joining the World Bank, he was completing his Doctoral studies (ADB) in a joint program from Rutgers/Princeton on telecommunications and international development. He also has a Master degree in Telecommunications from Michigan State University and Economics from India. Peter Smith, Lead Telecommunications Specialist
Peter, a Canadian national, is Regional Co-ordinator for the Policy Unit's South Asia work program and leader of the Regulatory thematic team. He has worked extensively on projects involving telecommunications sector reform, market structure, regulation, and privatization - mainly in East and South Asia, but also in Africa and Latin America. He has helped organize seminars on telecommunications development in the Asia-Pacific region addressing sector reform, regulatory development, the wireless revolution, and leveraging private investment for rural ICT development. He is the co-author of a short note on "Mitigating Regulatory Risk in Telecommunications". Prior to joining the World Bank Group he was Senior Economist with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. Peter has a Masters degree in economics from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Randeep Sudan, Senior ICT Policy Specialist
Randeep Sudan leads the practices for e-Government and for IT industry development in the Global ICT (GICT) Department of the World Bank. He is currently working on ICT projects in Africa, Central Asia, East Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and South Asia. He is responsible for guiding strategies and policies on e-government and IT industry development for World Bank projects led by GICT. Prior to joining the World Bank he held senior government positions in India, as a member of the Indian Administrative Service. He was Special Secretary to the Chief Minister and ex-officio Secretary Information Technology in the state of Andhra Pradesh and was closely associated with policies and strategies for leveraging ICT for development. He has been the Chief Executive of APFIRST an organization focused on promoting investments in the ICT sector, and also of AP Technology Services, a company specializing in the use of ICTs in government. His areas of expertise include ICT policy, e-government, investment promotion, infrastructure development and public-private partnerships. He has a Masters degree from the London School of Economics. He has taught as a visiting faculty at the Department of Informatics at the University of Oslo.
Svetoslav Tintchev, Senior Telecommunications Engineer
Svetoslav has worked in telecommunications projects in the World Bank since 1992. He has been involved in the management, design implementation and supervision of a number of telecom projects in Africa, Middle East, Central Asia and Central Europe. From 1992 to 1994 he worked with the Africa Technical Department of the World Bank. He worked 18 years with the Ministry of Post & Telecommunications of Bulgaria, working on national network and traffic design models digital switching and data networks implementation. At his departure, he was manager of the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company. He has Master degrees in Electrical Engineering and Informatics from the Technical University of Sofia. He speaks Bulgarian, French, Russian and German. Eloy Vidal, Lead Telecommunications Engineer
Eloy joined the World Bank in 1986 and is presently Regional Coordinator for the Latin America Team in the Policy Division of GICT. He has assisted member countries in restructuring their telecommunications sectors and in the design and implementation of legal and regulatory frameworks. Before joining the Bank, he was Technical Director of COMTELCA, the Central American Regional Telecommunications Commission. He has a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and a Professional Engineering degree from the University of Costa Rica. Bjorn Wellenius, Consultant
After his retirement from the World Bank, Bjorn is at present a consultant with the GICT. His work is focused on creating policy and regulatory conditions that enable increased private investment and competition in telecommunications in emerging and transition economies. Before joining the Bank in 1979, Dr. Wellenius was Professor of Telecommunications Systems at Universidad de Chile. He has a PhD in telecommunications from the University of Essex England and a degree in electronics and telecommunications engineering from Universidad de Chile. Mark Williams, Economist
Mark Williams joined GICT as an Economist in 2006. Prior to joining the World Bank, he worked in economic consulting and has worked in long-term positions within Governments in developing countries. His work has focused on the economics and regulation of utilities, primarily telecoms, energy and post. In addition to his work in Europe, Mark has worked extensively in Africa, Asia, Middle East and the Caribbean. Mark holds degrees from Oxford University and Warwick University.
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