UN Open Source Week 2025 – Side Event
Join us for conversations on how open-source technologies and meaningful partnerships are shaping a more inclusive and transparent digital future.
We’ll explore how these tools are sparking innovation, empowering communities, and creating a strong foundation for impact at scale—across both public and non-profit sectors. While open-source digital infrastructure is growing rapidly, challenges like large-scale implementation and smooth interoperability still need to be addressed.
In this session, we’ll share real-world examples from UNICC that show what’s possible when open-source solutions are put into action. We’ll also discuss how collaboration between governments, international organizations, and industry partners is essential to closing digital gaps and bringing transformative solutions to scale.
| Registration & Reception |
| Opening Remarks from the Co-Organizers Dr. Steven Goss, Chair, Management and Technology, Division of Programs in Business, NYU SPS Melanie Hopkins, Deputy Consul General, British Consulate in New York Marian Cano, Counsellor for Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism at the Regional Govt. of Valencia Anish Sethi, Chief, Digital Solutions Centre, UNICC |
| Keynote Address by Louise Burke, CEO, Open Data Institute (ODI) |
| Panel Discussion: Unlocking AI & Data through Open Source Juan Jose Cortes Velez, Director General of Innovation, Generalitat Valenciana Louise Burke, CEO of the Open Data Institute Anusha Dandapani, Chief Ai Hub, UNICC Joseph Ng, Adjunct Assistance Professor & Member Board of Directors, HuMAINority Moderator: Emily Bennett, Head Digital Public Solutions, UNICC |
| Presentation: Partnerships for Scaling AI solutions Anusha Dandapani, Chief Ai Hub, UNICC Dr. Stephen Goss, Chair, Management and Technology, Division of Programs in Business, NYU SPS |
| UNICC/Digital Public Good Alliance Announcement Lucy Harris, COO DPGA Emily Bennett, Head Digital Public Solutions, UNICC |
| Panel Discussion: Open Source Private Cloud: the Transparent, Sustainable and Secure Enabler to Digital Innovation Tima Soni, Chief, Cybersecurity Division, UNICC Paolo Valenza, Chief, Cloud Services, UNICC Alex Aschke, Senior Account Executive, Canonical Matthew Hodgson, CEO, Matrix/Element Moderator: Anu Senan, Business Relationship Manager, UNICC |
| Panel Discussion: Implementing Digital ID at Scale: Open Source and AI-Powered Solutions for the UN and Public Sector Emily Bennett, Head Digital Public Solutions, UNICC Dino Cataldo, CIO, UNJSPF Massimiliano Merelli, Program Director, UN Digital ID Moderator: Anish Sethi, Chief, Digital Solutions Centre, UNICC |
| Closing Remarks Emily Bennett, Head Digital Public Solutions, UNICC |
Date & Time
17 June 2025, 14:30-18:00
Venue
NYU Campus Midtown East
