The 19th APT Policy and Regulatory Forum for Pacific (PRFP-19) – 4

speakers

Event Speakers

Meet our speakers

DAY 1 | TUESDAY, 4 August 2026

OPENING | 9:30 - 10:00

Opening Ceremony

Dr. Masanori Kondo

Secretary General of Asia-Pacific Telecommunity

Dr. Masanori Kondo

Secretary General of Asia-Pacific Telecommunity

Tupou'tuah Baravilala

Chair of PRFP

Hon'ble Simon Kofe

Minister for Transport, Energy, Communication and Innovation, Government of Tuvalu

Hon'ble Simon Kofe

Minister for Transport, Energy, Communication and Innovation, Government of Tuvalu

SESSION 1 | 10:00 - 10:30

Plenary

SESSION 2 | 11:00 - 12:30

(Roundtable) Towards a Meaningful Digital Future: Driving Digital Transformation through Strategic Policy and Regulatory Interventions

Tupou'tuah Baravilala

Chair of PRFP

Nicola Bennett

Australia

Ms Bennett leads Australia’s engagement on telecommunications and ICT development matters in the Multilateral Engagement – Telecommunications and Post section of DITRDCSA, supporting the delivery of Australian Government development projects through ITU and APT. Ms Bennett currently assists in the delivery, review and evaluation of telecommunication and ICT development projects funded by the Australian Government in partnership with universities, government administrations, and international and regional organisations. Ms Bennett has worked in international cooperation within the Australian Government since 2018, covering topics related to repatriation, radiocommunications, standardization, and development.

Avish Avneel Naidu

Fiji

Avish Avneel Naidu

Fiji

Fiji’s Director for Digital Transformation and has been a core part of the Fiji’s Digital Transformation Programme since its inception, with a strong background in strategic leadership, policy development, ICT project implementation, and international digital cooperation. Brings expertise in leading cross-functional teams, stakeholder engagement, and fostering partnerships to drive public sector innovation. Avish also leads the Department of Communications in Fiji.

Domingo Kabunare

Kiribati

Domingo Kabunare

Kiribati

Julie Timothy

Nauru

Julie Timothy

Nauru

Julie is the Chief Regulator of the Nauru Communication Authority (NCA), where she oversee the regulation and development of Nauru’s communications sector. Her responsibilities include implementing the Communications and Broadcasting Act 2018, managing telecommunications licensing and spectrum resources, ensuring regulatory compliance, protecting consumer interests, and promoting a fair and competitive communications environment. She represents Nauru in regional and international communications forums, contributing to discussions on regulatory frameworks, industry standards, and the advancement of digital connectivity. She work closely with service providers, government stakeholders, and the community to support the delivery of reliable, accessible, and sustainable communication services for the people of Nauru.

Germain Ruigi

Papua New Guinea

Germain Ruigi

Papua New Guinea

Germain Ruigi is an Economist working with the National Information and Communication Technology Authority (NICTA) of Papua New Guinea. He has experienced in wholesale service and retail ICT market regulation and has wider economic understanding of the ICT sector. He also engage in Digital Transformation initiatives and contribute effectively towards supporting broader national goals.

Gene Kaleuati

Samoa

Gene Kaleuati

Samoa

Gene recently commenced as ACEO for Policy and Planning at MCIT in July 2026, overseeing national ICT development through policy alignment, review, monitoring, and evaluation. Area of study is computer science and previously served at the principal level in MCIT's Policy Division for 4 years and before that spent over 5 years as a Technical Field Engineer in the Private sector.

Andrew Toimoana

Tonga

Andrew Toimoana

Tonga

Mr. Andrew Toimoana is the Director of Information and Digital Transformation under the Ministry of MEIDECC, Government of Tonga. He leads Tonga’s whole-of-government digital transformation agenda, including the development of digital government platforms, secure government network infrastructure, cloud services, cybersecurity initiatives, digital identity, and e-government services. Mr. Toimoana plays a key role in coordinating national digital transformation projects such as TongaPass, the Government Portal, interoperability and data exchange platforms, the Government Data Center, and cybersecurity strengthening across government ministries. He works closely with development partners, government agencies, and stakeholders to support Tonga’s vision for a secure, inclusive, and citizen-centred digital government. He is committed to advancing digital innovation, improving public service delivery, and strengthening Tonga’s digital resilience in line with national development priorities.

Fini Iuni

Tuvalu

Fini Iuni

Tuvalu

John Jack

Vanuatu

John Jack

Vanuatu

John Jack is the Director of the Department of Communications and Digital Transformation, Ministry of Prime Minister in Vanuatu.John has a 20+ years career in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), in national ICT policies, strategies, and governance focusing on digital transformation, connectivity, cybersecurity and internet governance. Most recently John served as the lead coordinator for the development of Vanuatu’s national Digital Transformation Masterplan to help shape Vanuatu’s position on inclusive and secure digital transformation. He has served as Vice Chair and later as Chair of APT’s PRFP for sometime.John published an article titled “E-government in Vanuatu: a whole of government approach” in the Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration in 2018. In 2025, he co-authored a chapter on Pacific Islands Cyber Diplomacy in the Palgrave Handbook on Cyber Diplomacy. John Jack holds a master’s degree in information technology & systems from the University of Canberra, Australia.

SESSION 3 | 14:00 - 15:00

(Case Study) Tuvalu Vaka Cable - protection and regulation

Kelly Wang

Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre, Australia

MODERATOR

Kelly Wang

Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre, Australia

Kelly Wang is Assistant Director at the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre (CCRC) a whole of Australian Government initiative embedded within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Prior to CCRC, Kelly worked at the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific delivering and financing transformational telecommunications infrastructure in the Pacific and Timor-Leste. She has also worked in commercial and policy roles at the Treasury and Department of Finance and is a Chartered Accountant.

Simalua Taliu

Government of Tuvalu

Simalua Taliu

Government of Tuvalu

Yichen Li

Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre, Australia

Yichen Li

Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre, Australia

Yichen Li is a Consultant in EY Parthenon’s Strategic Capital Advisory team in Canberra, Australia. She brings experience across policy development, technical assistance, research and analysis, and commercial and financial evaluation. Her primary experience lies in international development, with a focus on undersea telecommunications cable policies. Yichen plays a supporting role in advancing activities delivered by the Australian Government’s Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre (CCRC), an initiative that supports secure and resilient undersea internet cable development across the Indo-Pacific. Prior to her current role, Yichen was a Policy/Programs Officer in the Research Policy and Programs Branch at the Australian Government Department of Education. She holds a Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) and Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University.

Aftab Siddiqui

APNIC Foundation

Aftab Siddiqui

APNIC Foundation

Aftab Siddiqui is Head of Stakeholder Relations at the APNIC Foundation, based in Sydney, Australia. He brings more than two decades of experience across Internet infrastructure, network operations, policy engagement and regional capacity development, including over ten years in the service provider industry and eight years leading technical initiatives at the Internet Society. His work has focused on strengthening the resilience, security and sustainability of the Internet ecosystem across the Asia Pacific, working closely with governments, regulators, network operators, technical communities, development partners and civil society. At the APNIC Foundation, Aftab leads stakeholder engagement and partnerships across the technology sector, government, academia and development organisations. He also contributes to the design of regional technical assistance, research and capacity-building initiatives that help countries translate international connectivity into secure, reliable and inclusive national services. Drawing on his operational engineering experience and regional policy engagement, he advocates for a holistic approach to infrastructure resilience and long-term sustainability.

SESSION 4 | 15:30 - 16:45

(Business Dialogue) From Connectivity to Competitiveness: Turning Digital Access into Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Mr Alapati Taupo

Tuvalu Telecom

MODERATOR

Mr Alapati Taupo

Tuvalu Telecom

Petaia Moeaga

Digital Nation Project, Government of Tuvalu

Petaia Moeaga

Digital Nation Project, Government of Tuvalu

Savenaca Vocea

ICANN

Savenaca Vocea

ICANN

Save is ICANN’s Vice-President for Stakeholder Engagement serving the Oceania region. He is responsible for managing relationships within the Oceania Internet community to bring ICANN to the region. This involves outreach, support and engagement with user groups, governments, private sector, civil society and technical community throughout Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands to further the global cause of ensuring a secure, stable, and resilient Internet. Before joining ICANN, Save was the Policy Development Manager at APNIC. He supported policy discussions around IPv4, IPv6 addresses and Internet resources managed under APNIC. He led stakeholder engagement for APNIC into the Pacific Islands region promoting technical capacity development and participation in APNIC. In 2004, he helped co-found the Pacific Network Operators Group (PacNOG), a technical capacity development platform for network engineers in the Pacific Islands. Save managed the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association, PITA secretariat between 1997 to 2001. His early technical career started at Telecom Fiji Ltd supporting the expansion of underground cable networks and rural telecom services throughout Fiji.

Warren Finch

Internet Society, Australia

Warren Finch

Internet Society, Australia

Warren work for the Internet Society as an IXP Development Expert, focusing on supporting Internet infrastructure growth and interconnection initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region. With a career in IT that began in 1994, Warren brings a broad range of experience from technical consulting to Internet community training.

Joe Guan

Viasat

Joe Guan

Viasat

Leads Government and Regulatory Affairs for Viasat across East Asia, shaping regulatory and policy environments to enable strategic growth and long-term leadership. He supports the expansion of Viasat’s advanced satellite and next-generation connectivity portfolio across spectrum, telecommunications, and space policy landscapes throughout the region. Prior to joining Viasat, Joe served as Head of Policy for Greater China at the GSMA and as Head of its Spectrum Policy Program for Asia Pacific. Earlier in his career, Joe worked at New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on spectrum management.

18:00 onwards

speakers

Event Speakers

Meet our speakers

DAY 1 | TUESDAY, 4 August 2026

Opening Ceremony

Plenary

(Roundtable) Towards a Meaningful Digital Future: Driving Digital Transformation through Strategic Policy and Regulatory Interventions

(Case Study) Tuvalu Vaka Cable - protection and regulation

(Business Dialogue) From Connectivity to Competitiveness: Turning Digital Access into Innovation and Entrepreneurship

------------------------ Dinner Reception by the Host ----------------------