Minister for Communications and Information Society

Houlin Zhao was elected ITU Secretary-General at the 19TH Plenipotentiary Conference in Busan, Korea, in October 2014. He took up his post on 1 January, 2015. Born in 1950 in Jiangsu, China, Mr Zhao graduated from Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and holds an MSc in Telematics from the University of Essex in the UK. From 2007 to 2014, he served as ITU's Deputy Secretary-General, where he effectively assisted the ITU Secretary-General, in close cooperation with the other elected officials of the Union, to manage the implementation of the ITU Strategic Plan and the operations of the ITU Secretariat, in particular with a view to increasing the transparency and efficiency of the organization. He was responsible for implementing important innovations including the promotion of a new category of membership open to the global academic community, internal efficiency measures such as the move to a near-paperless work environment, the increased use of remote participation systems, and measures to increase revenue from sales and cost-recovery services. In addition, he focused closely on membership-driven priorities including maintaining and extending ITU's commitment to accessibility, to multilingualism, and to broad multistakeholder participation in the work of the Union. Prior to this Mr Zhao served in the elected role of Director of ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) from 1999 to 2006. During his two terms of office he spearheaded the introduction of new efficiency measures to improve ITU's standards-making environment through fostering even closer cooperation with industry members, while strengthening the promotion of ITU's leadership in global ICT standards development. From 1986 to 1992, Mr Zhao was a senior staff member in the then CCITT, and from 1993-1998 in TSB. Among his responsibilities as Counsellor for ITU-T Study Groups, he was Coordinator for cooperation with other international technical bodies, including ISO and IEC. Before joining ITU, Mr Zhao served as an engineer in the Designing Institute of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of China, taking an active role in his country's expert meetings on telecommunication standards and national plans, as well as participating in CCITT Study Group meetings as a Chinese delegate. He contributed important articles to a number of prestigious Chinese technical publications, and in 1985 was awarded a prize for his achievements in science and technology within the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. As ITU's 19th Secretary-General, Mr Zhao is committed to further extending ITU's community by encouraging more industry members and academia from around the world to join the ITU family. He has also initiated a more open-door policy to welcome other stakeholders and partners, as well as promoting the greater involvement of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the work of the Union. He is married with one son and two grandchildren, and is fluent in three official ITU languages: English, French and Chinese.

A doctor specializing in disaster medicine, Raed Arafat is the founder of the Romanian Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication (SMURD), established in 1990. Starting 2007, the coordinated the activity of several strategic structures and programs for emergency situations, including: the system of emergency and disaster medical care within the Ministry of Health, the Department for Emergency Situations, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations and the General Inspectorate of Aviation, for emergency management, within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He has extensive experience in operational coordination of emergency services, has participated in and organized numerous training courses and seminars in the field of emergency medical care, control and coordination of emergency services, emergency management, etc. Raed Arafat is a member in several national and international scientific and professional organizations in the fields of Emergency Medicine and Disaster Medicine, and an author and co-author of numerous specialty books, documents and articles. He has received several academic titles and distinctions conferred by prestigious national and international organizations in the field, including that of Knight (Chevalier) of the Legion of Honour, conferred by the French President, the International Emergency Medicine Leadership Award from the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, that of Knight and Officer of the National Order for Merit, conferred by the President of Romania for lifetime achievement in scientific and research activity and for outstanding contribution to the development and advancement of information and communication technology in Romania.

Marius Catalin Marinescu was appointed President of ANCOM in April 2009. A telecommunications engineer, Mr. Marinescu has been working in this sector ever since 1990, both for companies such as Romtelecom (15 years) and for public institutions such as the Inspectorate General for Communication and Information Technology, which he led between 2005 and 2007, or the General Council of Bucharest. His professional interests include areas such as leadership skills, international relations, and human resources policies. At international level, Mr. Marinescu was Vice-Chairman of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) in 2012. In 2013, he simultaneously held the positions of Chairman of the Council of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Chairman of the Network of the Telecommunications Regulators from the French Speaking Countries (FRATEL) and Vice-Chairman of the European Post Regulators Group (ERGP). In 2014, Mr. Marinescu took over the ERGP chairmanship, while continuing to hold the chairmanship of FRATEL and acting as Vice-Chairman of the ITU Council. In 2015, he ensured the vice-chairmanship of ERGP.

Over 14 years of professional experience in the field of electronic communications and media regulation, monitoring and benchmarking regulatory practices at the EU and national level across a wide range of European markets. Since November 2015 is one of the key experts in the consortium of Cullen International, WIK-Consult and the Research Centre for Information, Law and Society (CRIDS) of the University of Namur on a study for the European Commission “Substantive issues of review in the areas of market entry, management of scarce resources and general consumer issues”. Between 2008 and 2014 was leading two major projects for the European Commission analysing electronic communications and information society sectors in the Enlargement countries and providing assistance for national regulatory and policy making bodies in bringing their telecoms rules in line with the EU directives. Before joining Cullen International in 2002, Veronica worked for Ericsson business consulting practice in Stockholm.

Marcel Opriș has been heading the Special Telecommunications Service (STS) ever since 2005. The Special Telecommunications Service is the central specialized structure, with legal status, which organizes and coordinates the activities in the special telecommunications field for the Romanian public authorities and other users as provided for by the law, as well as in the field of emergency calls. The institution has a military organization and is part of the national defence system.

Renée Roland serves as Special Counsel to the Bureau Chief of the Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. In this role, Ms. Roland is responsible for addressing public safety and homeland security issues for the Bureau, including strategies for robust and resilient commercial communications networks and systems, cyber security and communications reliability, public safety spectrum and licensing, and Emergency Alert Systems. Prior to this position, Ms. Roland provided counsel on special projects for the Office of Chairman Julius Genachowski, including evaluating and recommending technical solutions for ubiquitous mobile voice service. Ms. Roland has served as Senior Legal Advisor and Chief of Staff for the Offices of Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Mignon Clyburn covering spectrum, international and public safety issues. Ms. Roland was also responsible for participating in planning efforts related to The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Prior to joining the Commission, Ms. Roland served as Deputy Chief Counsel - Telecommunications for New York-based technology company, Prism Communication Services, Inc. Ms. Roland began her career in private law firm practice in Washington, D.C. specializing in media, wireline and satellite issues. Ms. Roland received her J.D. from the George Washington University National Law Center, and her B.A. in Economics from Georgetown University.

Charles Cuvelliez is a civil engineer and holds a Ph D from the Polytechnic School (Free University of Brussels, ULB).He has a Master’s degree in Operational Research (degree of complementary studies 2 - Institute for Statistics, ULB) and also holds two additional specialised degrees in Applied Sciences (degree of continued studies) and in Telecommunications (degree of specialised studies). He started his career in the industrial sector (Solvay) and focused on telecommunications from 1997 onwards.He has worked for different major national and international groups: Belgacom, France Telecom (through its subsidiary Mobistar and the international branch Orange Business Services) and KPN Orange.He has carried out different functions in the fields of interconnection, wholesale/carrier, strategy and product development. Between 2004 and 2009 he worked for Orange Business Services (formerly Equant), within the IP Advanced Services Department, with a view to developing a programme and a portfolio of mobile products and services for multinationals. In addition Charles Cuvelliez is a member of the ULB’s scientific body and he teaches at the ULB (Polytechnic School). In 2009 Charles Cuvelliez was elected as a member of the BIPT Council.

Laurent is a graduate from the university of Hertfordshire (UK), a chartered engineer of the IET and a European Engineer. He has over 16 years’ experience in spectrum management having worked for the Radiocommunications Agency (UK), then in 2003 for Ofcom (UK) and since 2012 for ANFR (France). He has worked on many different area of spectrum regulation. He was the Regional and Emergency Services team manager dealing with PMR and Emergency services spectrum for 3 years then was appointed as the head of spectrum planning for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games in Ofcom where he organized also the 2007 UK legs of the Tour de France and was seconded from Ofcom to the London Organising Committee in 2009 to take the head of spectrum managements for London 2012. After the Olympics and Paralympics, he joined the ANFR as the head of spectrum planning and European Affairs. He took on the CEPT FM49 (on BB-PPDR) chairmanship in 2014 until 2016 as well as the FM54 (on GSM-R/PMR) until 2015.

He has been working in the Frequency Division of the Norwegian Communications Authority (Nkom) since 2000. He previously worked within the mobile communications sector. He has worked with services like satellite, PMR, low power equipment (short range devices), radar and IMT. Since 2012 he is the Head of the section for mobile services.

Georg Schöne is a radiocommunications expert with more than 25 years of experience in fixed, mobile and broadcast radiocommunications industry, frequency spectrum management, monitoring, software architecture and development. He is holder of a PhD (Dr.-Ing.) in Microwave Technologies from the Institute for Microwave Technologies of the University of Karlsruhe/Germany (Now: KIT). He started his professional career as Scientific Employee and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (IHE), University of Karlsruhe in 1983 and had a Post-Doc Stipendia financed by Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft DFG from 1986-1988 for investigating Radar remote sensing aspects. In 1988 he became Head of the Microwave Engineering Division at Dose Maschinenbau GmbH in Lichtenau/Germany with a focus on power microwave. In 1992 he founded together with Dr. Manfred Lebherz the L&S Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH (the later LS telcom AG) and started the development of software based radio network planning tools and the frequency spectrum management system SPECTRA. Since 2000 he is Member of the Board in the position as CTO of the meanwhile formed LS telcom AG. He is responsible for research and strategic development; human resources and business development. Since 2012 he is board member of the US entity LS telcom Inc. in Bowie/Maryland. During his career he was heading or co-managing personally software implementation projects for spectrum management and Mobile Network Planning in more than 25 countries. Georg is frequently acting as a lecturer for spectrum management subjects and contributing papers to international workshops and conferences. Since 2002 he is member of the advisory board to the International Master School of the University for Applied Science in Offenburg (Germany).

Andreas Geiss is Head of Unit for Spectrum Policy in DG CONNECT of the European Commission. He is the Chair of the Radio Spectrum Committee. He has been working for the European Commission since 2002 in various positions. His responsibilities included mobile communications, the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme and negotiations with the Member States in different settings. Before joining the European Commission he worked for the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO), where he was project leader for projects dealing with terrestrial and satellite communications. He has been involved in the European preparations for World Radiocommunications Conferences since 1995. Andreas has a master's degree in electrical engineering and started his professional career in 1991 at the German Regulatory Authority in the area of telecommunications.

With a Masters degree in Competition Law and 12 years’ experience in this area, Elisabeth joined Orange Group in Sept 2001 from France Telecom. In 2005 she became Vice President, Group Regulatory and Spectrum Policy for Orange Group and in 2007 Vice President, Group Spectrum Office for the whole FT Group. She also held the post of Vice Chairman of GSM Europe for 2006 - 2007. During 1999-2001, she was personally responsible for gaining clearance from the EC and US Competition authorities for all FT’s major Merger and Acquisition activity in both Europe and the US. Successes included approval of Atlas, Global One, Equant, Orange and Wanadoo/Freeserve. Elisabeth’s career includes a spell as a designated Expert to the Council of Europe concerning telecommunications matters, and as a Non Executive Director of Info AG and Uni2 - respectively FT/ Transpac subsidiaries in Germany and Spain. She has also represented the company on the boards of ETNO and GSME. Elisabeth’s approach has always been pragmatic and based on the perceived strategic needs of the business and its various stakeholders, but without sacrificing attention to detail. As Chair of GSMA’s Spectrum Management Group her aim is to provide clear direction to the group, based on close interaction with the Association’s policy makers, and to provide the latter with clear and unambiguous guidance at a technical level.

Valentin Popoviciu is the Vice-president of RCS & RDS company and has over 18 years’ experience in the IT&C field. Valentin coordinates and is involved in all RCS & RDS operations: television, fixed and mobile internet, fixed and mobile telephony, online products and energy sector. Valentin’s career in the telecom industry began in 1998 at RCS & RDS as Branch Manager and a year later he was promoted as Development Director for the group. Mr. Popoviciu graduated from the Faculty of International Economic Affairs and started his activity in the IT and telecommunications sector as a hobby, subsequently having an active contribution to the development of innovative services in this segment. He is mainly concerned with identifying new opportunities and tracking the development trends for the telecommunication services, which closely follow the changes in the consumers’ behaviour and needs.

Since March 2016, he has been the Director General of the National Radiocommunications Company (RADIOCOM). Previously, he served as Head of Station at the TV and FM Station of Cozia, within RADIOCOM. He graduated from the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology within the University Politehnica of Bucharest and has been leading important telecommunications companies for more than 25 years. Throughout his career, he constantly improved his skills and knowledge, gaining specific attestations and certifications in the telecommunications field.

Regulatory Manager, Telekom Romania Communications S. A.

Catalin Buliga is a highly experienced telecom professional, with 28 years of activity in this industry. He was appointed as Director of Technology Vodafone Romania in May 2016, prior to that he was Head of Fixed Access Network. He returned to Vodafone after seven years spent in UPC where he was employed within leading Technology positions, including CTO at UPC Romania and UPC Hungary. Catalin Buliga has graduated the Technical University Gheorghe Asachi in Iasi, Romania, in 1995.