JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
19 September 2017, 09:00 – 10:00 (SAST/UTC+2)
ISOC South Africa Gauteng Chapter
09:00 – 09:50: Live Panel: Digital Divides
The InterCommunity’s interactive node in South Africa will focus its discussion on the topic of “digital divides”. The discussion will be guided by the following topics:
- Impact of digital divides on the digital economy and redress of social and economic disparities (focus on challenges and successes)
- The role of government in bridging digital divides (focus on policy, strategies for fuelling innovation & entrepreneurship, interventions and opportunities)
- The impact of cyber threats on the digital economy and ways to mitigate them
- Digital inclusion for youth and women
- Q&A from the floor
Moderator: Yolanda Mlonzi, Project Manager at Added Value South Africa
Find panelist biographies below.
Venue
Tshimologong Precinct
45 Juta Street Braamfontein
Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Panelist Biographies
Dr. Towela Nyirenda-Jere – NEPAD
Towela has 20 years of experience spanning the academic, private and civil society sectors and is currently working with the e-Africa Programme at the NEPAD Agency (a technical agency of the African Union charged with facilitating and coordinating priority development programmes). The e-Africa Programme is the ICT task team of the Agency focusing on 4 key areas: ICT Broadband Infrastructure e-Skills & Capacity Development, e-Applications and Services and Enabling Environment, Governance and Partnerships.
In the realm of Internet Governance, Dr. Jere is a graduate of the inaugural ISOC Next Generation Leaders Programme; has completed several Internet Governance training programmes offered by the Diplo Foundation (Introductory and Advanced phases; Internet Governance Strategy, Policy and Research), has participated in the European School on Internet Governance. She advocated for and obtained observer status for the NEPAD Agency to the ICANN GAC, helped to launch the Southern Africa Internet Governance Forum, contributed to launching the African School on Internet Governance and continues to advocate for increased awareness among African policy makers of the importance and significance of Internet Governance processes at national and continental level. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts with specialisation in Internet Governance through the University of Malta and the Diplo Foundation.
Walter Brown
Spent the greater part of his life after graduating and registering as a professional engineer in the early 1960s – more than 50 years – seeking ways to speed up the development of integrated telecommunications in Africa. His African national, regional, continental and international work with organizations like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), SADC, and various global private sector ICT companies, has given him a deep insight into the challenges faced by all African countries in developing their ICT socioeconomic sectors. Walter’s current post-retirement focus is using ICT to improve the well-being of African citizens residing at the base of the development pyramid, without disrupting the standard macroeconomic models of ROI-driven new investments and growth. Walter believes strongly that building national ICT information and knowledge networks from the top of the development pyramid downwards, and addressing the information and knowledge needs of the economically and socially marginalized global citizens from the base of the pyramid upwards, can and must coexist if long term national growth and stability is to be sustained.
Pria Chetty, Founder & Director Endcode
Pria Chetty has over 10 years experience as a technology law and policy advisor to public and private sector organisations, developing country governments and international organisations. In 2007, Pria founded a leading South African technology law firm which was acquired by Pricewaterhouse Coopers in 2011. Following the acquisition, Ms. Chetty was responsible for establishing and heading the technology legal and regulatory service area for the PwC national advisory practice. She left PwC in 2013 and went on to serve as an expert consultant on an ITU project focusing on technical assistance in the area of cybersecurity law and policy for Southern African countries.
As a thought leader, Pria has presented at local and international technology conferences including conferences in Egypt, Canada, Senegal and Namibia and published in local and international newspapers, magazines, and journals. She has also published book chapters examining emerging technology law and policy topics with particular emphasis on recommendations for developing countries. Pria currently serves as a member of regional and international expert groups and advisory boards including the BRICS Cybersecurity Expert Group and the Southern African Innovation Network and is an Associate at the Global Cybersecurity Centre at Oxford University.
Pria is passionate about facilitating technology law and policy that enables ICT opportunities in Africa.
