Doreen Bogdan Martin Elected First Woman ITU Secretary General

Doreen Bogdan-Martin has been elected the first woman Secretary General at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

ITU is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for matters related to information and communication technologies (ICT). It was established on 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, making it the oldest UN agency.

“I fully believe in the power and potential of connectivity to drive economic growth and transform healthcare, education, employment, gender equality and youth empowerment. As Secretary General, I will continue to push this institution to be even more agile, innovative and relevant, to help everyone, everywhere, embrace tomorrow’s digital environment and the huge opportunities it brings,” Doreen said.

Doreen is a globally recognized leader with 30 years of experience in the ICT sector and government relations, and multilateral organizations, including nearly 28 years with ITU.

Before her new role, she was the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) Director, a position she assumed in 2019. Doreen also led ITU’s Strategic Planning & Membership Department from 2008-2018.

Doreen holds a Master’s degree in International Communications Policy from American University in Washington, DC, and post-graduate certification in Strategies for Leadership from the Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland. She is also certified in Accountability and Ethics by the United Nations Leaders Programme.

She is an affiliate of the Harvard University Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society, is a Generation Unlimited Champion, a Champion of the EDISON Alliance, and a Member of the Global Future Council on Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality led by the World Economic Forum.

Doreen serves on several advisory bodies, including the Geneva-Tsinghua Initiative, the SDG Lab Advisory Board, the UN Technology Innovation Labs, and the Alumni Expert Council of the Internet Governance Lab of the American University in Washington DC. She is also a qualified amateur radio operator and a member of the IEEE.