By Herman Schepers
Well a lot has happened since the last PIP update at the beginning of the year! Through working on a number of interesting international advocacy projects in connectivity and digital policy we have been able to grow the PIP network and expand our client offering. I set up PIP with the idea that we bring together the right mix of consultants who have the seniority, individual networks and deep expertise to deliver policy impact for clients and who promote dialogue between different groups. I’m happy to say that all the new PIP members bring something unique to the group and strengthen what we can offer to our clients.
Professor Antonio D’Amico, joining as an Associate, has tremendous experience in policy and technology working for a number of organisations in Brussels and Italy. His expertise in project management and European funding proposals adds an additional offering to our client services and I look forward to sharing more on that soon.
We strengthen our capabilities and network on the African continent with the addition of Dr Chux Daniels, Osondu C. Nwokoro and Kwaku Antwi who join as senior advisors.
Chux is a Research Fellow based at the prestigious Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) of the University of Sussex, UK. He is an internationally renowned expert in innovation policy and has worked in many developing countries and with the international development community.
Osondu has had a very distinguished career in Nigeria working in senior roles for the national telecoms regulator, NCC, and for a number of operators in regulatory and policy. He is considered a leading strategic advisor who has been at the forefront of the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in Nigeria.
Kwaku is another passionate policy advocate with a keen interest in how next generation networks and community based networks can help advance digital inclusion and connectivity in Ghana and across the African continent. He is a PhD candidate at the University of Cape Town and lectures regularly in business and academic contexts.
PIP has also extended its offering in LATAM by developing partnerships with Katia Pedroso in Brazil and Catalina Diazgranados in Argentina. Katia is the co-founder of TELCOnsultoria – a consultancy firm that specialises in regulatory issues, with a strong focus on telecoms and connectivity – with many years of experience working with the Brazilian Regulator Anatel. Catalina, a Colombian national, is based in Argentina and has worked in leading policy and regulatory roles for the Colombian Regulator CRC as well as having extensive expertise in telecoms policy across the LATAM region.
More detail on their specific expertise can be found on the PIP website. Most importantly they are all great people to work with and I consider myself very fortunate to have them on board.