Exec Ed Returns to Bangkok

The Center for Executive Education in Technology Policy (CEE-TP) returned to Bangkok, Thailand for a week of classes, a panel event and networking opportunities. Bringing together 30 participants from 13 different developing countries, the week fostered collaboration, learning and new opportunities. 

The week started with Satellite Communications Policy in the New Space World, led by Jennifer Manner, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Echostar Corporation, and co-chair of the Commerce Dept. Spectrum Management Advisory Committee.The course focused on a wide range of topics including satellite sustainability, licensing, cybersecurity and concluded with a case study. 

Manner was joined by co-instructor Kim Mallalieu, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, and Vice Chair of the Advisory Board for the Network of Women for the World Telecommunication Development Conference, for course “Enabling Greater Diversity in Participation and Leadership in Telecommunications” . The one day course provided a comprehensive overview of the importance of gender diversity, the current situation, actionable next steps best practices and look at examples from specific countries. 

The specific example of Thailand’s efforts to enable greater gender diversity was provided by Guest speaker Perada Phumessawatdi, Government official, Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development, Thailand. Phumessawatdi, who supports policies on gender equality and women’s empowerment, provided an overview of the gender gap in Thailand and initiatives to close the gap, with a focus on ICT. At the conclusion of her talk she urged participants to discuss what they can do to close gender gaps in their organization. 

The program concluded with Approaches to Expanding Internet Connectivity led by Marvin Sirbu, Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. The course focused on current trends in broadband adoption, basics of internet architecture, business models, economics and funding of broadband and developing and deploying a broadband strategy. 

Sirbu was joined by Notachard Chintakanond, Executive Director of National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission Academy (NBTC), and former Executive Director of the NBTC International Affairs Bureau who provided an overview of Internet Connectivity in Thailand including initiatives to expand internet connectivity to rural areas and expanding 5G. 

The week also included a dinner panel “Inclusive Futures: Harnessing Technology and Policy for Global Connectivity”. The panel was hosted by CEE-TP, CMKL University and the AI Engineering Institute (AIEI). 

The panel included remarks from:

• Jon Peha, Professor and Founder and Director of Center for Executive Education in Technology Policy, Carnegie Mellon University
• Kim Mallalieu, Deputy Chair of the Board of The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago
• Supiti Buranawatanachoke, Co-Founder of Satellite Start-up
• Marvin Sirbu, Professor of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University
• Saneh Saiwong, Principle Engineering Expert at NBTC Thailand
• Wanida Kanarkard, Associate Director of AI Engineering Institute, Professor in Computational Intelligence, Khon Kaen University (Moderator)

After the panel discussion, there was time for networking among the CEE-TP participants, CMKL University and AIEI stakeholders, Carnegie Mellon University alumni and tech policy leaders in Thailand. 

The participants will have ample opportunity to continue connecting with CEE-TP and our past participants through alumni events and working groups. If you’d like to participate or learn more about CEE-TP, please sign up to hear from us.