Doreen Bogdan-Martin has become the first woman to be elected as secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – the UN telecom agency.
“She will be the first woman to lead the UN specialized agency in its 157-year history,” ITU said in a statement. ITU was established in 1865 and became a United Nations specialized agency in 1947. The ITU is UN specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), driving innovation in ICTs together with 193 member states. The telecommunications agency sets guideposts for radio, satellite, and internet and strives to improve access to ICTs in underserved communities worldwide.
Elections: Bogdan-Martin won the elections for the seat with 139 votes out of 172, defeating Russia’s Rashid Ismailov who got 25. The American candidate will succeed China’s Houlin Zhao, who has been in the role since 2014. The elections were held in Bucharest, Romania.
“The world is facing significant challenges – escalating conflicts, a climate crisis, food security, gender inequalities, and 2.7 billion people with no access to the Internet. I believe we, the ITU and our members, have an opportunity to make a transformational contribution. Continuous innovation can and will be a key enabler to facilitate resolution of many of these issues” said Bogdan-Martin. She will begin her four-year term as ITU Secretary-General on January 1, 2023.
Big win: Her win is significant for Washington as the U.S. Secretary of State Anton Blinken wrote an endorsement in her brochure and President Joe Biden issued a supportive statement. Blinken congratulated Martin and said: “This outcome reflects a broad endorsement by member states of Ms. Bogdan-Martin’s vision for universal connectivity, digital empowerment, and leadership at the ITU that is innovative, collaborative, and inclusive. With her election, the ITU itself has become more inclusive and representative, as Ms. Bogdan-Martin is the first woman elected as Secretary-General in the Union’s 157-year history.”
Who is Bogdan-Martin? In her previous role as director of the ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, Bogdan-Martin focused on job creation, digital skills development, diversity, gender equality and social-economic inclusion. She has 30 years of experience in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector, government relations, and multilateral organizations, including nearly 28 years with the ITU.
Her candidacy for the top job was endorsed by U.S. President Joe Biden, who said she had the “integrity, experience, and vision necessary to transform the digital landscape”. Biden said that “She understands the importance of connecting every school to the internet and making sure every student can access virtual learning, providing women and girls the digital tools they need to succeed, and extending the benefits of online health and educational resources.”
Brief: American candidate Doreen Bogdan-Martin becomes the first woman to lead the UN tech agency in its 157-year history.
