Kim Ngan Nguyen has been working as a journalist and communication professional in several Mekong sub-region countries and Sweden for more than 10 years.

Ms. Do Thanh Huyen is National Policy Analyst on Governance and Participation, UNDP Viet Nam. Ms. Huyen has been in charge of UNDP’s flagship governance monitoring tool, ‘the Viet Nam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI), as well as policy research and advocacy in anti-corruption, civil service reforms, civic engagement in policy-making, social accountability and innovation for development since 2008. She got an MA in Development Studies from the University of Auckland, New Zealand in 2008.

Andreas Mattsson is a lecturer and program director at School of Journalism at Department of Communication and Media, Lund University. He is also an affiliated researcher at Swedish South Asian Studies Network (SASNET) and has conducted research and teaching about journalism practice and digital technology in comparative international perspective. Besides his university assignments, he works as a freelance journalist for various Swedish and Nordic newspapers and magazines

Pereric Högberg is the Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam; he has been based in Hanoi since 2016.

Earlier, Pereric has held several positions at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Most recently he was Head of Africa Department (2012-2016). Pereric has also worked at the Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa (2002-2006) and at the Embassy in Windhoek, Namibia (1996-1997).

Pereric has a degree in Political Science from Uppsala University, Sweden.

Dr. Brian Hull was born in Ireland. He joined ABB in 2000 in the Low Voltage Systems (LVS) business in the UK. He then held a number of roles including Managing Director for LVS in the UK and Managing Director for Measurement and Analytics in the UK and Ireland. Brian was Managing Director of ABB in Oman and Bahrain for 4 years before becoming Managing Director of ABB in Vietnam.

Brian brings many years of experience, a deep knowledge of key market trends and as well as experience of working in diverse cultures.

Samia Melhem is the Global Lead for the Digital Development Community of Practice at the World Bank. Her operational responsibilities include investment operations in digital platforms & services as well as thought leadership on digital development. She is leading the unit’s Digital government analytical work program, and digital economy projects at a global level.

She has led/contributed to digital government transformational projects in Rwanda, Egypt, Philippines, Vietnam, Tunisia, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Serbia, Moldova, Morocco, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire -  leveraging disruptive technologies to improve delivery of public services; such as education, health, and social protection. She is currently focusing on digital economy, smart cities, innovation, entrepreneurship - focusing on gender and youth inclusion in fragile countries.

In her previous assignments, Samia worked in several regions such as Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa. She coordinated the Africa and Middle East digital development portfolio under the Sustainable Development Vice Presidency. She led production of knowledge toolkits on Digital government readiness assessments, electronic procurement, cloud computing, entrepreneurship & innovation, Telecoms Regulation Policy, Private Public Partnerships in Digital infrastructure, Business models for eServices, and Gender inclusion in STEM.

She holds degrees in Electrical Engineering (BS), Computer Sciences (MS), and Finance (MBA).

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nam successfully defended his doctoral thesis at the National University of Lomonosov in Moscow, Russia (formerly the Soviet Union, now Russian Federation) in 1988. Then back to Vietnam, he joined other founders to establish FPT in the same year. He started his career in FPT as the first programmer, data analyst, and system developer. From 1995 to 1999, he was appointed as the Director of the FPT Software Solution Center. In 1997, Mr. Nam decided to enter the global software market. By establishing FPT Software at the end of 1999, Mr. Nguyễn Thành Nam was appointed as General Director of FPT Software.

At the age of fiftieth, he was the founder of FUNiX Online University in 2015. This is the first online university in Vietnam majoring in training software engineers. Starting with bachelor’s degree and IT certificates, FUNiX use collaboration model with different universities and educational institutes in Vietnam and all around the world.

Teaching and learning activities are organized and managed with a completely new method called FUNiX Way. This method is expected to increase the rate of completing online courses and improving quality of graduates. FUNiX is collaborating with other businesses and organizations to apply FUNiX Way into internal training to help boost the efficiency and reduce the costs. After nearly 4 years, FUNiX has got 2968 students, 2672 mentors in 63 provinces and 23 nations worldwide.

Ms. Wiesen joined UNDP Viet Nam in September 2017. Ms. Wiesen has over 25 years’ experience in development, working on issues of poverty reduction, governance, civil society empowerment, gender, sustainable human development, HIV, health and strategic partnerships.

Ms. Wiesen was Regional Manager of the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Center from 2013-2014. Prior to this she was the Country Director of UNDP India, and has held a variety of positions at UNDP in policy, strategic partnership, Asia and Africa Bureaus.  Before joining the India office in 2010, Ms. Wiesen was Regional Practice Leader and Programme Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific on human rights, gender inequality and the human development dimensions of HIV, based in Colombo Sri Lanka. Prior to this, she was Senior Advisor on Poverty and Sustainable Human Development for Africa (1993-1998) and Director, Civil Society Division in the Bureau of Strategic Partnerships (1999-2002). Between 2003 and 2006, Ms. Wiesen was the Senior Advisor and Deputy Director HIV, in the Bureau of Development Policy.

Ms. Wiesen has worked in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, North America and Europe. She holds a Masters in International Finance and Energy Policy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, United States.

Vy is currently the General Partner of ESP Capital, an early stage venture fund with the mission to support tech startup companies in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. ESP aims to invest in companies that can create profound impact to improve life quality and effectively utilize technological innovations to disrupt the market, with the goal of becoming the next unicorns in Asia.

Vy has developed her interest in Information Technology since her young age. At 13, she founded TmSpeed Network, specialized in web design and hosting trading. Her passion for entrepreneurship has empowered her to become a dynamic businesswoman, who is highly committed to excellence and innovation. In 2009, Vy founded Chon.vn and served as CEO, developing the website into one of the most popular online fashion shopping centers in Vietnam. From 2014 to 2017, she served as Managing Director of Adayroi.com, one of the leading e-commerce platforms in Vietnam that offers more than 12 product categories and generates an annual GMV of US $100+ million.  Vy graduated as Valedictorian from McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University in the United States.

Kim Andreasson is a consultant to the World Bank and has advised the United Nations since 2003, most recently for the global 2018 e-government survey. He is a Managing Director of DAKA advisory, a thought leadership and research company specializing on the intersection of the digital economy and the public sector, including e-government, cyber security, and digital divides. Kim is regularly moderating events and giving presentations around the world, including in Bahrain, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Kim has spent 15 years in consulting, including as interim Associate Director and a Senior Editor at The Economist Group’s Business Research division where he co-managed the annual report on the Digital Economy Rankings. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Information Technology and Politics and is an elected member of the International Institute of Strategic Studies and the Pacific Council of International Policy. He is also a John C. Whitehead Fellow at the Foreign Policy Association.

Kim is the editor and author of numerous publications and reports. His books Cybersecurity: Public Sector Threats and Responses, and Digital Divides: The New Challenges and Opportunities of e-Inclusion, were published in 2011 and 2015 respectively by CRC Press.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan is cofounder and Director of The Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation (MDI), and cofounder and CEO of The Boston Global Forum (BGF).

For his AI World Society Initiative and the concepts of AI-Government he developed, Vietnam National Television (VTV) named him Person of The Year 2018.

He is the Founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet, Vietnam’s preeminent online newspaper. Tuan was the Founder and CEO of VASC Software and Media Company and VietNet, the first Internet service provider in Vietnam.

The Government of Vietnam named Tuan one of the nation’s 10 most outstanding young talents in 1996.

Tuan created Global Cybersecurity Day, produced the recent BGF-G7 Summit Initiative, and coauthored the Ethics Code of Conduct for Cyber Peace and Security (ECCC). 

In November of 2017, Tuan and Governor Michael Dukakis founded AI World Society Initiative, and on June 25, 2018, Tuan and Governor Dukakis, Professors Thomas Patterson, Nazli Choucri announced the Concepts of AI-Government. In 2018, Tuan created the World Leader in AI World Society Award, and the AI World Society Distinguished Lecture, and became coauthor of AI World Society Ethics and Practices Index.

Steven Furst (“Steve”) is a senior international strategy, management and information systems specialist with over thirty years of experience in the consulting and ICT industries.  His client base and network covers both the public sector and private enterprise.  For public sector clients, his focus is on digital strategy, architecture, and strengthening service delivery through the application of ICT. For private and state owned enterprises, his focus has been on the nexus of business and digital strategy, and systems program delivery assurance. His areas of experience include digital transformation strategy and leadership, program and project management, ICT acquisition, enterprise solutions and technology platforms, business process reform, and change management.

Steve has consulted to a wide range of governments and enterprises in a variety of Asian, African, and Latin American countries as well as in the United States.  With a focus on emerging economies, he has advised Prime Ministers' offices and initiatives, national councils, Ministries of Finance, national and state-level transportation agencies, and public and private commercial enterprises. He has presented to a variety of senior-level regional and international conferences. Working with FPT since mid-2016, Steve is focused on conceptualizing, developing, and delivering digital transformation services and a portfolio of digital government and smart city solutions to clients in Vietnam and the region.

Nguyen Phi Van is chairperson of SIHUB and Vietnam Angel Network. Phi Van has got extensive experience in global trade and has advised various governments on SME and franchise development. She is a passionate supporter of youth initiates in Vietnam and author of 2 youth-focused books “Cross the rice field & Reach the world” published 2016 and most recently I, The Future, & The World, published November 2018.

Dr Long Pham is working for University College Cork specifically for the ASEAN markets, where she works with governments, universities, industries and education services in UCC internationalization strategies.

Long is a recent PhD graduate in analyzing resident engagement for smart city programs, local policy development, and regulation for technology adoption to promote smart and sustainable city development.

Long moved to Ireland in 2014 to be a researcher in policy analyses and smart city adoptions for the International Energy Research Centre, University College Cork.

Prior to Ireland, Long was an executive at IBM’s Governmental Programs for over five years in Vietnam and worked closely with Vietnamese and American governments on technology and free trade policies at all stages.

Do Van Nguyet is the founder and director of Live & Learn for Environment and Community, a Vietnamese NGO. She has initiated and promoted networks for young Vietnamese people to build awareness and join actions in environment and governance. Her NGO run several Code for Change to promote the application of technology for development issues. Her NGO has been widely recognized as an innovative organization in youth development, climate change education and active multi-stakeholders facilitation. In 2017, Live&Learn won international Stars Impact Awards for the work on children and young people. Her NGO is currently connecting groups working on air monitoring and citizen science.

Nguyet has special interests in youth empowerment, social innovation, capacity and network building with civic groups and businesses on sustainability and governance. She has been selected to represent NGOs and youths in Viet Nam to attend a number of international events and networks, included: Personnalités d'avenir (2016, France); International Visitor Leadership Program (2014, US); The 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2011, South Africa), Asia Pacific Young Leaders in Education for Sustainable Development, Asian Young Leaders in Governance. She holds a MSc degree in International Development Studies (Wageningen University and Research Center, Netherlands). Nguyet’s goal is to build up “critical masses” of young people in promoting sustainability education and practices in Vietnam.

Ms Marianne Oehlers is the Head of UNICEF's Programme Partnerships Office in Ho Chi Minh City. Since 2015 her focus has been to strengthen and expand partnerships for children with the City Government on its urban agenda for children, the business community on child rights and business principles, the innovation eco-system on 21st century skills development, child focused and youth led innovation and with youth led and non-governmental child rights organisations to strengthen children and young people's empowerment and meaningful participation in issues affecting them. Previously she was based in the UNICEF head office in Hanoi as Chief of Sub National Engagement. Marianne has also worked with UNICEF in the Kyrgyz Republic, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and was previously Senior Programme Manager with UK based NGO EveryChild, and Senior Child Rights Programming Advisor with Save the Children in Sub Saharan Africa.

Jaldeep is a Project Manager with Fojo Media Institute for the Southeast Asia Media Training Network. The project is a collaboration between six partners including in Vietnam, the Media Training Centre and the Vietnamese Journalists Training Centre.

For six years, Jaldeep was a Strategy and Content Advisor to the National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea. He spent two years with the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with Radio Okapi and a year in Haiti, also with the UN. Jaldeep managed Governance and Media Development projects in Nigeria and Serbia for the BBC World Service.

He was a BBC Local Radio Reporter in England, a BBC Television Reporter in Scotland, a Radio Netherlands International Producer/Presenter and a Producer at ITN for Channel 4 News in London.

Jaldeep led the undergraduate course in Multi-Media Journalism at Bournemouth University in England. He has also contributed to the Media Helping Media site, a free resource for journalists and media managers seeking to improve their skills.

Ms Jonghwi Park is the programme specialist of the Asia Pacific regional programme on ICT in Education at UNESCO, supporting 48 Member States of the region. Her team at UNESCO Bangkok focuses on policy-level supports for Member States, including ICT national policy reviews, ICT in education master plan development and regional comparative research on the current issues, with special emphasis on the role of ICT to facilitate the achievement of SDGs. She holds a M.A in Educational Technology from Hanyang University, Korea and a PhD in Learning Sciences from McGill University, Canada.

Professor Tae Seob Shin is the chair of the Department of Education and a project manager at the Institute of School Violence Prevention at Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea. He received his BA and MA from Seoul National University and completed his PhD in educational psychology at Michigan State University. His research interests include psychological characteristics of at-risk students, motivation to learn, and promoting social emotional learning through cooperative learning. He has authored numerous papers and book chapters focusing on students’ non-cognitive aspects including motivation and social interactions among peers.

Noelle de Guzman is Regional Policy Manager for Asia-Pacific at the Internet Society, the world's trusted independent source of leadership for Internet policy, technology standards, and future development.

In this role, Noelle engages with stakeholders across the region to carry out ISOC’s policy-related initiatives, working closely with governments and regulators to develop conducive environments that enable the Internet to become a platform for innovation and socio-economic growth

Prior to joining ISOC, Noelle worked as a development analyst for global consulting firm Devex, where she examined public-private partnership trends in development cooperation. She began her career as a field researcher and journalist, and was special features editor of Philippine broadsheet BusinessWorld before pursuing a Master's in Media, Communication and Development at the London School of Economics, where she focused on Internet policy and regulation.

Nguyen Hoai Nam is senior officer at Policy Division for ICT in Education, ICT Department, Ministry of Education and Training of Viet Nam. He has been working at MoET for more than 15 years with extensive experiences in a wide range of subjects from general education to higher education. In his role, he is responsible for conducting research, building strategic plans and making policies in educational technology, online education, innovation and development of curricula, promotion STEM education, and development of human resources in information technology sector. Several of his research findings were used to apply in many educational policies that were issued by the MoET to reform the national educational system. Nam holds a master’s degree in Educational Technology.

Starting the career in 2000, Nhi has various and interesting experience in both manufacturing sector and non-profit sector. Up to now, she has worked for almost 13 years in community development projects including 4 years with UNICEF, 3 years with Asia Injury Prevention Foundation and 2 years with GIZ. She joined Microsoft Vietnam 5 years ago as Microsoft Philanthropies lead, working closely with Corporate, External and Legal Affairs team to be in charge of planning and execution of Philanthropies program in Vietnam and South East Asia which includes  Digital skills & job for youths, Technology for Social Impact; Employee Engagement with the aim of empowering young people and organizations to capture opportunities in digital economy focusing on underserved youths and girls.

Nhi graduated from RMIT university (Melbourne, Australia) in 1999, Bachelor of Applied Science. She received the Master of Economics and International Project Management of Paris 12 Val de Marne University (France) as the top graduate.

Nhi is fluent in Vietnamese and English.

Lars Werner is the Head of Networks (CTO) of Ericsson Vietnam & Myanmar, Laos & Cambodia. He has a long experience in the Asia telecom market where he has had multiple strategic leaderships roles to ensure the introduction of new technologies & transformation in the Asian Telecom Market.

Lars is original from Denmark, were he hold a degree from Copenhagen Technical University. He has experience working with design, programming, deployment, system expert roles before he moved into Technology Strategic Roles.

Seán O’Connell leads the social innovation and experimentation with the Governance and Participation Unit of UNDP Vietnam. Seán was coordinator of the SDG Challenge 2017, Vietnam’s flagship competition for startups to accelerate the achievement of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, and Youth Co:Lab Viet Nam 2018, a programme supporting Viet Nam’s next generation of social entrepreneurs through training and incubation, in partnership with Citi Bank and the Ministry of Science and Technology. He is currently leading Industry 4.0 experimentation with UNDP, such as using A.I. to strengthen citizen’s access to information, supporting startup partners to adopt 3D printing for prosthetic limbs, integrated Near Field Communication technology to combat plastic waste, as well as digital innovations to empower persons with disabilities in Viet Nam.

Rafael Masters is the CEO of Vulcan Augmetics, an award winning Vietnamese start up that makes affordable, customizable prosthetic limbs for developing markets. Within Vulcan he focuses on guiding the company vision, long term strategy, partnership development and business strategy.

Rafael has a lifetime’s experience with special needs and skills development, and 11 years’ experience in business in Vietnam. He is a member of the Industry Board of Advisers for RMIT Vietnam and is a published academic writer and presenter, as well as a regular panel guest in the Ho Chi Minh blockchain and startup community as a business representative. He also plays the saxophone badly.

Le Anh Tien Co-Founder botbanhang.vn 

- Co-Founder Govi - Artificial intelligence application platform (AI) in job search for workers

- Founder of Smart Glass Project for People with Disabilities - MultiGlass

- International Gold Medal for Science & Technology 2012.

- Golden Globe Award 2015 in the fields of science and technology

- Vietnamese Talent Award 2011, 2015, 2016.

- In the Forbes 2017 - 2018 “People to watch” list

- 6-year experience in PM and BA in domestic and foreign technology projects.

- Specialized in R&D on AI, Machine Learning.

Britt Stakston is one of Sweden´s leading experts and speakers on digitization, the new medialandscape and social media (i.e in relations to politics and civic engagement). She is a board member of Wikimedia Sweden, The Kality foundation and The Swedish Magazine Publisher’s Association. She has also served as an advisor to the former Swedish IT-minister.

As a PR-strategist Brit has worked with many of the world’s leading brands and is considered as one of the most influential PR-strategists in Sweden. She has also been awarded for her inspiring way of educating and evangelizing concerning the development of society in a digital age. In her work as a media strategist she focuses on media trends, democracy, engagement and manipulation of media.

As a follow up to her book "Politics 2.0 - democracy in a digital age" she this year launched a podcast called ”Backing democracy” , in Swedish ”#backademokratin”.

Guy Berger is UNESCO’s director for Freedom of Expression and Media Development, based in Paris. He has been a speaker at a wide range of Internet related conferences, and has overseen 12 UNESCO research publications concerning Internet and freedom of expression issues. One of these is the handbook for journalism teachers titled "Journalism, 'fake news' and disinformation". His work includes the finalisation of indicators for UNESCO's concept of "Internet Universality" as well as participation in UNESCO's exploration of the pro's and con's of artificial intelligence. Between 1994 and 2011, Berger was head of the School of Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University, South Africa, where he developed that institution’s New Media Lab and the Highway Africa annual conference dealing with internet issues in Africa.

Bui Le Anh Thu - from Vietnam. Thu is a young journalist contributing for Thanh Nien has been in the Media Industry for over 4 years, since she was a freshman of University of Social Sciences and Humanities HCMC. Thanh Nien is one of the leading Vietnamese language dailies providing latest world and domestic news and commentary.

She has had several opportunities to approach and engage with young leaders from ASEAN Countries through lots of international workshops and conferences. In 2018, Thu was the competitive candidate among young adults in Vietnam who was chosen to attend the YSEALI Academic Fellows in the US on Civic Engagement theme. During this 5-week intensive program, she collaborated with other fellows to create a project called “News Literacy” to develop strategies to cope with fake and biased news, the misinformation in journalism and media in each country across Asia.

Recently, Thu was invited to attend the Institute for News Literacy Fellows in Asia in HCMC, hosted by The Journalism and Media Studies. This was the institute which consisted of a series of news literacy workshops targeted at media educators and practitioners from Southeast Asian countries to explore news and information literacy courses taught at many universities around the globe, including the United States, Russia, Hong Kong and Poland. Now, she is moving on a project called “News Literacy” to equip people about fake news, misinformation and fact checks in the area of universities and non-government organizations.

Dr. Hang Dinh is the Director of the Centre for the Further Training of Professional Journalists (VJTC) at the Vietnamese Journalists Association. VJTC runs 90 courses a year funded by the VJA’s budget, international donor support and Vietnamese media houses.

Last year Dr. Hang worked to develop and publish Regulations for Vietnamese Journalists in the Usage of Social Media and Reporting in Digital Age.

She was also a key member of the Task Group publishing the Vietnam Media Law (2016) and the Code of Ethics for Journalists in Vietnam the same year.

Dr. Hang has also been a media consultant and project manager for international development agencies. She designed and implemented a three-year program to develop and train regional television stations in Lao Cai, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Dak Lak.

From 2004 to 2009 she worked with Australia Network for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in close collaboration with Vietnam Television and provincial radio and television stations.

Alongside media development experience Dr. Hang also has substantial experience as a journalism educator. She is a Senior Lecturer at the Academy of Journalism and Communication at Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy in Hanoi. Before that she was the Dean of the Faculty of Public Relations and Advertising at the same Academy. She obtained her doctorate at the University of Sydney for a thesis on “Economic Reforms and Political Control: Educational and Training Strategies to Enhance Quality Journalism”.

Hang Dinh started out as a television journalist with VTV before becoming presenter and producer of a number of television current affairs and documentary programs including the award winning “Home Land” on Vietnamese boat people in refugee camps in Hong Kong.

Do Duc Lan is a senior researcher in the National Center for Sustainable Development of General Education Quality, Vietnam National Institute of Educational Sciences (VNIES). After nearly ten years of working as a mathematics teacher in secondary school, he started his research career in VNIES 5 years ago. In his role, he is responsible for conducting research on curriculum, pedagogies and assessment not only in mathematics but also in general education. He strongly suggests approaches that technology supports curriculum and how to use the technology best in mathematics and STEM education. One of his research focus areas is on STEM approach to develop digital skills of students. He has been involved in many projects of the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and collaborated in the research with international educational organizations and universities such as UNESCO, UNICEF, OECD and the University of Glasgow. Some research findings were used to write reports to MoET. He holds a master’s degree in Mathematics Education.

Céline Charpiot-Zapolsky is Vice-President of LINAGORA and CEO of LINAGORA Vietnam

• After graduating in 2001 from ESCP Europe, a top French business school, she worked for Capgemini, starting as a consultant and soon moving up as an account manager for European Institutions. She joined Linagora in 2008 as VP International Business Development and was shortly appointed VP Sales in 2009. Céline is in charge of global Sales and partnerships for LINAGORA and is also responsible for developing new markets & offers, including in Vietnam.
• She has been involved in the creation of French tech Hub in Vietnam (2016) and has been appointed as French Tech Viet Ambassador since then. She was appointed “CCE” (External Trade Advisor) in 2017 by Prime Minister and was nominated as Vice President for FR-VN Council in MEDEF International in 2018.
• She is also Vice President of ABVietFrance association that encourages networking for FR/VN companies and CEOs. She is also involved in many initiatives to develop digital education. She created OPEN UP educational program with Back Khoa Hanoi in 2014, She founded openhackademy in 2017 (Grande Ecole du Numérique dedicated in opensource) and has been part of executive council for IMT-BS since 2016.