The Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Bernadette Lewis to lead the organization as its first female Secretary-General in its 120 year history. Ms. Lewis, a national of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, was recruited for the position following a competitive selection process.
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Lewis led the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and was also its first female Secretary-General. She is credited with revitalizing and re-establishing the CTU as a credible, vibrant and relevant information and communication technologies (ICT) organization and ensuring its success and growth at a time when rapid technological innovations were disrupting the telecommunications industry.
Ms. Lewis brings to the CTO, expertise in ICT and more than 25 years of experience working in the public and private sectors, as well as national and international ICT organizations. A passionate and strong advocate for ICT-enabled development, Ms. Lewis has received many awards for her pioneering work in the ICT sector.
Speaking about her appointment, Ms. Lewis stated, “The COVID- 19 pandemic has changed the world forever. I believe that the CTO has a very important role to play in supporting its members in making effective use of ICT to transform their nations and to become more resilient in the face of the impact of COVID- 19 and the other challenges that will assail us all in the 21st Century.” Ms. Lewis also stressed the need for every citizen of the Commonwealth and beyond to have affordable access to ICT and to be able to use them effectively to improve the quality of their lives.