Vanessa Gray of the ITU joins our Strategic Advisory Group
We are excited to announce the newest addition to the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster’s (ETC) Strategic Advisory Group (SAG): Vanessa Gray, Head of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau’s Division of Environment and Emergency Telecommunications (ITU-D). Vanessa will step into the role of International Non-Governmental Organization representative, succeeding Dagbjartur Brynjarsson from NetHope. With her extensive expertise and passion for making a difference, we are confident she will be an invaluable asset to our team.
The ITU has been a longstanding Global ETC partner, consistently contributing to emergency telecoms preparedness. Their commitment to developing guidelines for national emergency telecommunications plans in high-risk countries and providing thought leadership has been instrumental in fulfilling the ETC's crucial mandate. The ITU is dedicated to closing the digital divide and driving digital transformation, prioritizing the needs of those in the world's Least Developed Countries and marginalized communities. Collaborating closely with government entities and regulators, the ITU sets guidelines for resilient telecoms infrastructure and effective preparedness, including spearheading the Early Warning for All initiative.
Together, the ETC and the ITU have developed the Emergency Telecommunications Preparedness Checklist, a resource designed to enable national governments—and the broader humanitarian community—to assess and compare national readiness in disaster communication, identify areas needing attention, and support the development of national emergency telecommunications plans. Additionally, the ETC and ITU are working on Disaster Connectivity Maps, providing real-time data on connectivity in disaster zones, which aids first responders in assessing the status of telecommunications infrastructure and coverage.
Please join us in warmly welcoming Vanessa Gray to the ETC SAG. Together, we are committed to enhancing the effectiveness and impact of emergency telecommunications to ensure better preparedness and vital connectivity.