UWI ICT expert appointed as lead rapporteur for UN DPI safeguards initiative

UWI ICT expert appointed as lead rapporteur for UN DPI safeguards initiative

St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. June 12, 2024 – The University of the West Indies (UWI) is honoured to pay tribute to Dr Kim Malalieu, who has been appointed as Chief Rapporteur and Executive Steering Committee Member of the United Nations Safeguarding Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Initiative.

Information infrastructure is the cornerstone of modern society, integrating digital networks, communication systems, hardware and software platforms with traditional infrastructure, and integrating operational, policy, legal, regulatory and governance systems with traditional infrastructure. In this regard, information infrastructure can (in some cases) expand the provision of public services. However, safeguards need to be put in place to ensure that information infrastructure promotes equitable access to digital and online resources. These information infrastructure safeguards also ensure that people with low levels of digital literacy and people with disabilities can access these public services.

As a result, the United Nations has established six global working groups to develop a common safeguards framework for the Department of Public Information. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his confidence in Dr. Mallalieu and other DPI experts, saying:

“I am pleased to see this diverse group of experts from around the world come together to develop secure and inclusive digital public infrastructure… I am confident that this group’s efforts will help countries develop guardrails for digital infrastructure so that it can serve the public interest.”

PhD Mallalieu is aware of her vital role in liaising, consulting with all six working groups and UN staff around the world to develop and articulate the Framework and all its related resources. Her commitment to the task and her philanthropic leadership are evident as she says:

“I believe that we have a collective responsibility to forge a path where innovation thrives, everyone’s rights are protected, and every dream is within reach. I believe that if we work together, we can safeguard our digital future.“”.

Dr. Mallalieu is the Head of the Communications Systems Group in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, and is the Principal Investigator of our Caribbean Information and Communications Technology (ICT) research project and Chair of the ICT Steering Committee at the St. Augustine Campus.

Dr. Mallalieu’s passion for the field does not stop there, as she serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) and Vice-Chair of the Advisory Board of the United Nations International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Development Sector Network of Women (NoW in ITU-D). She also coordinates the Mentoring Program of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) and serves on the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Open Institute and the Caribbean Spectrum Management Task Force.

The University of the West Indies is confident that Dr. Marallieu will continue to perform well in his new role.

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Dr Kim Mallarieu is pictured in her office at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

About the University of the West Indies

The University of the West Indies has been a key force in all aspects of development in the Caribbean and has been at the heart of all efforts to improve the well-being of the people of the region for 75 years.

UWI began as University College London in Jamaica in 1948 with 33 medical students. Today, UWI is a global university of international renown with nearly 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona from Jamaica, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Mountain in Barbados, The five islands of Antigua and Barbuda and Global Campusand A global center established in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

The University of the West Indies offers more than 1000 Certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options exist Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it has access to the largest pool of BroadCast Unitedlectual and professional knowledge in the Caribbean, working to address critical issues in our region and the wider world.

The University of the West Indies is consistently ranked as one of the best universities in the world by the most reputable ranking agencies. Times Higher Education). Since UWI first appeared in the Times Higher Education rankings in 2018, it has performed well in several categories, including the World University Rankings, the Golden Age University Rankings (50 to 80 years old), the Latin America Rankings and the Impact Rankings, which are noted for their response to the world’s greatest concerns, as outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including good health and well-being, gender equality and climate action.

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