Data, Technology and Digitalisation Series: Digital Skills for Youth

Event date: 10 June 2021, 11:00 - 14:00

The Commonwealth Secretariat is hosting a webinar in partnership with Microsoft about the skills that young people need to be competitive as employees, entrepreneurs and digital citizens. Over 60 percent of the Commonwealth's 2.4 billion citizens are aged 29 or under. This webinar will offer an opportunity for young people from across the Commonwealth to talk about their digital skills needs and challenges with industry experts.

Discussions will kick off with opening remarks from The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and Senior Leaders at Microsoft.

The webinar will then offer two panel sessions, the first of which will look at country and organisational initiatives in building digital skills for young people. The second session will be led by the Commonwealth Young Professionals and will discuss youth experiences and ideas on digital skills gaps and opportunities. A demonstration of digital skills capacity-building tools will also be demonstrated by Microsoft, followed by a Q&A session.

Speakers

Opening Session

  • Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland QC - Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
  • Chris Perkin: – General Manager Public Sector – Microsoft UK

Panel 1: Policy Imperatives 

  • Yves N. Iradukunda - Permanent Secretary at Government of Rwanda - Ministry of ICT and Innovation
  • Sylvia Poll - Head of the Digital Society Division in the Telecommunication Development Bureau of the ITU
  • Lee Jones - Microsoft Public Sector Digital Skills Lead UK 

Panel 2: Youth Aspirations

  • Jubilanté Joanna Cutting - Founder of Guyana Animation Network, Commonwealth Youth Award Regional Finalist, Attorney-at-Law
  • Jaya Rajwani - Award-winning Social Innovator, a Computer Engineer, a Femtech Founder & and an Advocate of Technology for Social Good
  • Dr. Chike Opara - Medical doctor and digital product designer
  • Shauna Tagaloa Katafono - Co-founder of Traseable Solutions
  • Dunola Oladapo - Founder and trustee of Luton Lights, G(irls)20 Ambassador, UK Coordinator of CYPAN, Team member of Generation Connect at ITU
  • Benjamin Rommel - Microsoft Business Program Manager

 

D17536_V2_ITC_4th_Digital_Skills_Flyer.pdf (71.22 KB)

Learn more about the speakers and read their bios (PDF)

Participation

The webinar will take place on 10 June 2021 from 11 am (BST/GMT+1)

For more information please contact: Margaret Dalziel, ICT Digital Platforms Coordinator, Commonwealth Secretariat

Economic development
Secretary-General Patricia Scotland
Youth