Doreen Bogdan-Martin

United States

Candidate for the post of

ITU Secretary-General

What will your top three priorities be if elected, and how do you plan to achieve them?

Four years ago, I promised to aim high, collaborate for impact, and strengthen ITU from within. We are delivering on those commitments, and my next term will build on that momentum through three priorities.

First, bringing everyone on board, from connectivity to opportunity. No one should be left behind in a world where digital access increasingly shapes economic opportunity and participation. Partner2Connect has mobilized over USD 120 billion in pledges. We must turn commitments into country-level action: Expanding skills, making services and devices more affordable, and advancing infrastructure investment with development banks and industry. With UN and other partners, we will expand connectivity to schools, clinics, refugees, and villages, together with our cybersecurity and child online protection programmes.

Second, pushing frontiers through secure and resilient innovation. We will help countries harness emerging technologies responsibly, from AI to next-generation networks and satellite systems, ensuring these frontiers create opportunities while strengthening infrastructure and skills.

Third, transforming ITU from within to become more agile, cost-effective, trusted and future-ready. I will continue the modernization of finance, HR and IT systems, empower staff and strengthen skills across headquarters and our regions.

With my fellow elected officials, members and partners, we will bring our three Bureaux closer together as ‘One ITU’, combining radiocommunication, standardization and development expertise.

As international cooperation looks beyond 2030, how will you help position digital and emerging technologies at the heart of the next global development agenda?

There is no development without digital. Education, health, food security and economic opportunity depend on connectivity and the ability to use it. Digital must underpin the next development agenda.

Building on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and our strategic partnerships, I will deepen cooperation across the UN governments, industry, academia and development finance institutions, connecting global ambition with expertise, investment and country-level action.

This requires whole-of-government approaches that integrate digital into national development priorities.

We have proven models. Giga connects schools. Early Warnings for All strengthens disaster preparedness and the AI Skills Coalition expands AI education.

I will scale these approaches around national priorities, strengthening local capacity and demonstrating impact. We must address connectivity, compute, data, skills and trust together, ensuring an AI divide does not deepen the digital divide. ITU data can help identify gaps, set targets and track outcomes.

How can you ensure that ITU continues advancing cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) for the good of countries and people worldwide?

Next year marks AI for Good’s 10^th anniversary. Advances have been extraordinary, but divides and concerns about security and trust demand ongoing cooperation.

ITU’s strength is its ability to convene. AI for Good brings together over 50 UN partners with governments, industry, academia and innovators. Our Academic Advisory Body strengthens researchers’ voices. I will ensure developers, users and affected communities all contribute, connecting research with the practical needs of our members. 

My focus will remain on standards, skills and policy dialogue, guided by Member States and supported by all three Bureaux.

On standards, I will deepen cooperation with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and partners to advance interoperability, build trust and reduce fragmentation.

On skills, I will expand opportunities through the AI Skills Coalition and ITU Academy, alongside partnerships addressing connectivity and compute gaps.

On policy dialogue, AI for Good and the UN Inter-Agency Working Group on AI will connect discussions with countries’ needs, ensuring developing countries have a meaningful voice.

I will help countries shape their AI futures, drawing on their languages, knowledge and talent to turn innovation into real opportunity.

Against the backdrop of ongoing UN reform initiatives, how will you ensure that ITU continues delivering value to the global digital community?

UN reform can improve effectiveness, coherence and country-level action. ITU has led the charge with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the support of the specialized agencies, to show how expertise across the system can be leveraged on the ground in country teams.

This ensures our technical knowledge and competencies are utilized even in countries where we don’t have a physical presence. We have also spearheaded the work on technology acceleration.

ITU reforms began when I took office as Secretary-General in 2023, well before UN80, guided by a clear conviction: Our members deserve an institution that uses resources responsibly, responds to their needs, and delivers meaningful impact.

Over the past four years, we established an Oversight Unit, set up an independent Ombudsman function, restored timely audits, achieved full IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) compliance, strengthened financial controls, and got the ITU building project back on track and within budget.

Building on these foundations, I launched a transformation programme to modernize how ITU works — simplifying processes, empowering our people and using digital tools to serve our members better.

Carrying these reforms forward will remain a core priority, supported by continued investment in staff skills and change management, focusing on efficiency, accountability and results for our membership. UN reform offers further opportunities for collaboration and savings.

Throughout, I will work closely with our members and report transparently to our governing bodies, ensuring that ITU remains technically excellent, financially responsible and responsive to our members.

What else would you bring to the table as ITU Secretary-General over the next four years?

I bring passion for ITU’s potential to open digital opportunities for everyone.

I bring institutional knowledge and expertise built over decades, combining trusted relationships with a collaborative approach, grounded in listening to our members and understanding their different circumstances. Every member’s voice and priorities must be reflected in our work.

With my fellow elected officials, I will strengthen senior management coordination and ensure regional offices represent the whole organization, giving members access to ITU’s collective expertise.

I will strengthen strategic foresight to help members anticipate change and shape their digital futures.

Through our Network of Women, Youth Advisory Body and Young Professionals Programme, I will keep opening doors for women, girls and young people, ensuring their ideas shape decisions.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

It would be an honour to continue leading ITU. I am proud of our achievements and grateful for the trust and commitment of members, partners and staff.

ITU’s work is about people. Behind every connection, standard and spectrum decision are lives we can improve.

As a mother of four, I want young people everywhere to have the skills, confidence and opportunities to pursue their ambitions and shape the technologies changing their lives.

I seek a second term to build on our work and help members navigate what comes next.

Connecting People, Driving Progress is my commitment.

With the membership’s support, I will advance this goal with energy, determination, integrity and a belief in what we can achieve together.