IIEA Talks

In her speech, Ms Bogdan-Martin addresses the role of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in securing universal connectivity for all, particularly how ICT can be used to assist developing countries to ensure that no one is left behind and that the ITU programmes reach the furthest behind first. She explores how AI can be used for inclusion, providing access to healthcare and education in developing countries, and presents an innovative ITU programme which focuses on migration and connecting refugees from camp to camp. Finally, she highlights developments in cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure, from energy to subsea cables.

This event is part of the IIEA’s Development Matters Series which is kindly sponsored by Irish Aid.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin is the Secretary-General of the Internation Telecommunication Union (ITU), taking office in January 2023, becoming the first woman ever to head the organisation. Ms Bogdan-Martin has held leadership positions in the field of international telecommunications policy for over three decades, with a track-record of brokering innovative partnerships to expand digital inclusion and connectivity for everyone around the world. Previously, Ms Bogdan-Martin served as the Executive Director of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, focusing on delivering new partnerships, global initiatives on connectivity innovation, digital transformation, and youth engagement. She was also co-founder of the EQUALS Global Partnership to bridge the digital divide, and co-creator of the GIGA school initiative. She has been awarded the IEEE President’s Award for ‘distinguished leadership and contributions to the public’ and the SIA Leadership in Government Award for her ‘distinguished career in both domestic and international space policy. In 2025, Forbes named Ms Bogdan-Martin in its 50 over 50 Impact list recognising women using their experience to benefit the world.

2026 marks the fourth year of Ukraine's defence against Russia's full-scale invasion. In his remarks to the IIEA, Oleksandr Kraiev discusses how Ukraine's defence continues to shape the future of Europe's security architecture. He discusses the ongoing negotiations regarding a peaceful settlement to the conflict. Moreover, he reflects upon the changing transatlantic relationship, its implications for Europe's security environment, and the need for other European States to do more to rebuild Europe's security architecture. 

Oleksandr Kraiev is the Director of the North America program in Foreign Policy Council "Ukrainian Prism", a senior lecturer at National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy", and a host at Apostrophe TV channel. He is also a PhD candidate with the topic on Trump's first Main spheres of interest - US and UK foreign policy, US presidents in foreign policy decision making, hybrid security, Ukrainian foreign and security policies.

'New Year Economic Outlook'

Uncertainty remains elevated with regards to the global economic outlook. The effects of geopolitical tensions, protectionism, an unpredictable US administration, and the pace of change in AI are among the issues challenging economic forecasters. In the first edition of IIEA Insights in the new year, Alan Barrett of the ESRI and Daniel Kral of Oxford Economics will discuss the macroeconomic outlook, while Michelle Norris of UCD will weigh up the prospects for housing supply and demand in 2026.

This event has been organised in conjunction with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dublin.

Speakers on this panel include:

Minister Lubna Jaffrey, Minister of Culture and Equality of Norway
Mari Velsand, Director General of the Norwegian Media Authority
Martina Chapman, National Coordinator at Media Literacy Ireland
Angelika Sharygina, AI & Information Integrity Advisor; Founder and Researcher

Full title "From Early Warnings to Lasting Resilience: Strengthening Global Preparedness Through Science and Innovation"

WMO Secretary-General Dr Celeste Saulo explores how the global public infrastructure coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization underpins weather, water and climate intelligence worldwide, enabling early warnings that protect lives, livelihoods and economic stability. This shared system, built on scientific data, observation networks, forecasting centres and international cooperation, supports timely warnings of extreme events, which increasingly affect both developed and developing countries. Drawing on examples from the Early Warnings for All initiative, the lecture shows how global systems translate into national and local capacity, particularly in least developed countries and small island developing states, where climate risks are most acute. The Secretary-General also highlights key initiatives, including the WMO Commons, SOFF and CREWS, that are strengthening shared capacity, sustaining essential global services and ensuring that early warning systems remain a trusted global public good in a changing climate.

This event is part of the IIEA’s Development Matters Series which is kindly sponsored by Irish Aid.

About the Speaker:

Secretary-General Saulo was the first female and the first South American appointed as Secretary-General of the WMO and began her four-year term of office on 1 January 2024. Prior to this she served as the Director of the National Meteorological Service of Argentina and was the first Vice-President of the WMO. She graduated from the University of Buenos Aires in 1996 with a PhD and rose to a full professorship at that university where she became Director of the Department of Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences. Her scientific specialisations are in numerical weather prediction, data assimilation, short-to-medium range prediction and early warning systems.