About Us

Ms. Bernadette Lewis was appointed as the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation in August 2020. This is a historic appointment as she is the first female Secretary-general in the 120-year history of the CTO. This is indeed a major accomplishment that should encourage women everywhere to strive for the mastery of whatever profession they may choose and especially in science and technology. Breaking the glass ceiling is not new to Ms. Lewis; she was also the first female Secretary-General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and she is credited for making the CTU the foremost information and communication technology (ICT) inter-governmental institution in the Caribbean. A national of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms. Lewis brings to the CTO a wealth of experience in public and private sectors and is knowledgeable in national and regional ICT issues. The 4th Industrial Revolution, the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated financial contagion, is changing the world irrevocably, ushering us into an environment of unprecedented uncertainty. For the CTO, surviving, indeed thriving in this environment will necessitate innovative leadership, a deep understanding of ICT and faith and courage to deviate from the beaten paths of 20th Century thinking to build a 21st century organisation that is relevant and serves its members with integrity and excellence. Ms. Lewis brings these qualities to the CTO.

Nikisha currently holds the position of Manager within the Finance and Pensions Department at a commonwealth Telecommunication organization . She assumed this role in July 2017, leveraging her extensive background in finance and accounting to contribute effectively. After becoming a chartered accountant, she took on the role of Deputy Manager, overseeing the finance function of a unit within a public limited company with a turnover ranging from £2 to £5 million. During this time, she gained valuable experience in financial management within a corporate setting. Furthermore, Nikisha honed her skills in team management and engagement with international stakeholders while working at a Fortune 500 company. She collaborated with teams across the US, Singapore, Australia, and the UK, enhancing her ability to navigate diverse business environments. Upon moving to the UK, Nikisha furthered her expertise by acquiring hands-on experience and knowledge of UK taxation and reporting laws while working with care home groups. This experience broadened her understanding of regulatory compliance and financial practices within the UK market. Nikisha holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. With her blend of academic qualifications, professional certifications, and hands-on experience, Nikisha emerges as a dedicated financial leader committed to driving organizational success through sound financial management practices and strategic decision-making.

Ademola started his career as a Legal Assistant at SmithKline Beecham plc (now GSK) within the Corporate Legal and Secretariat department. He has since held senior positions in various not for profit, and international organisations including Christian Aid, where he had the privilege of serving the former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams as Chair of the Board of Trustees. Ademola was a member of the governance team at UK Sport which coordinated the successful roll out of the first UK Code for Sport Governance which was nominated for the CGI/ICSA Award in the category of Governance Project of the year 2018. He was most recently Company Secretary at DEBRA. Ademola is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and a member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK).

Letang is Manager of Capacity Development and Training. She joined CTO in February 2019. Before joining CTO, Letang worked at Botswana Telecommunications Corporation where she held different roles over the time including, Skills Development Facilitator / Trainer, Training Supervisor, Customer Service Team Leader, Quality Management Systems Officer. Before that she also worked as a Human Resource Officer at Grand Palm Hotel Casino and Convention Resort, Botswana and also at Botswana Power Corporation in Botswana. Letang holds a B-Tech Degree in Human Resource Development form the University of South Africa and a Diploma in Human Resource Management from Techniko South Africa.

Irene is the Executive Assistant to the Secretary-General. She joined CTO in January 2018. Before joining CTO, Irene worked with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) for over 8 years as an International Relations and Consumer Affairs Officer. Before that she worked at Celtel Uganda (Currently Airtel Uganda) as a customer Service Representative. Irene holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and a Postgraduate in Business Administration, both degrees from Makerere University, Uganda.

Mr. Obonyo the Manager, ICT Development joined the CTO in 2019 as a Senior Programme Officer – International Coordination. He now leads the development, implementation and continuous review of all ICT-related strategic and operational plans, driven by membership needs and focused on achieving strategic targets. His works involves consultations, formulation and implementation of digital transformation activities in the Commonwealth to enable CTO member countries transition into 21st Century Governments with a focus on affordable universal broadband connectivity. Mr. Obonyo leads the project management initiatives and plays a key role in the coordination of global digital policy agenda for the Commonwealth at international forums. He also leads the CTO’s continuous research and development activities into new and evolving technologies and their potential application to the CTO and its membership. Before joining CTO, Leonard worked with Technology Service Providers Association of Kenya as a Research, Projects and Grants Manager. He also worked with Napster Consulting Limited as Project Manager, before that he worked with United Nations Office for Project Services and United Nations Development Programme in Kenya. Mr. Obonyo is a Kenyan national who is passionate about digital development with particular interest in bridging the digital divide and inclusion. Prior to joining CTO, he worked with the private sector and the United Nations at various levels in programme management. Mr. Obonyo holds a postgraduate master’s degree in business administration from United States International University and an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in computer science from Kenyatta University in Kenya.

Celine Akigwe is an experienced professional with over 20 years of managing C-suite executives covering all aspects of professional services in the education, finance, legal, media, and publishing sectors. Early in her career during her time at the BBC, Celine worked as part of the core team for a charity celebrity fundraiser event with Mel B of the Spice Girls, she was also part of the core team that delivered the first film and television awards ceremony for black filmmakers in the UK, now known as Screen Nation Film & Television Awards. Celine has supported executive committees throughout her career and has served as Secretary General for two cultural organisations. Celine is also part of the Alumnae of the UK's largest Igbo cultural and social network having been previously elected as an Executive Committee member. Since 2003, Celine has been educating and promoting the vast and amazing history of the world and humanity from an African perspective. In her spare time, Celine conducts educational tours at the British Museum and in 2016, Celine created mobile a phone application to promote social and economic development in Africa and the Diaspora.

Peter has over 30 years of experience working within the Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation space. After completing a degree in Business Computing Systems, he began his career as a software engineer, progressing into business analysis and project management. Having grown up and studied in London he considers himself fortunate to have lived and worked in numerous countries throughout the world. He spent the first 15 years of his career working for large multi-national corporate organizations within the financial, publishing and technology sectors in London, Switzerland and New Zealand. During the past 15 years, he has worked with large NGO’s and global not-for-profit organisations, providing leadership and hands-on support in digital transformation, mostly throughout Africa, Europe and Asia. Peter is a strong believer in the transformational effect that ICT has in enabling people to access education, financial services, healthcare and communication services, in both urban and rural contexts. He has delivered numerous innovative technology projects that have led to the scale-up and appropriate use of biometrics, mobile payment systems and mobile messaging to support large-scale humanitarian responses to international crises as well as developmental projects in micro-finance. His practical knowledge of the full technology project lifecycle enables him to move projects from concept through to completion. Having a combination of strategic, operational, managerial and analytical skills allows him to deliver innovative solutions that lead to tangible and measurable outcomes. Continuously evolving technologies have always fascinated Peter, and he sees the emerging use of artificial intelligence, identity management, crypto-currencies and the “internet of things” as a turning point in the way that societies increasingly interact with the digital world.