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Ms. [[Sophia Bekele]] is an entrepreneur, business executive, ICT activist, and international policy adviser on ICT/Telcom to public and private enterprise.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Bekele Sophia Bekele, wikipedia.org]</ref><ref>[http://www.aitecafrica.com/user/view/Sophia+Bekele Aitec Africa]</ref>  She is the founder and CEO of [[CBS International]] and [[DotConnectAfrica]].<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>

Ms. [[Sophia Bekele]] is an entrepreneur, business executive, ICT activist, and international policy adviser on ICT/Telcom to public and private enterprise.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Bekele Sophia Bekele, wikipedia.org]</ref><ref>[http://www.aitecafrica.com/user/view/Sophia+Bekele Aitec Africa]</ref>  She is the founder and CEO of [[CBS International]] and [[DotConnectAfrica]].<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>

She is also the founder and [[CEO]] of CBS International, a private California-based firm engaged in [[technology transfer]] to [[emerging economies]], and SbCommunications Network, an Ethiopian IT company. In 2002 SbCNet was known for being successfully awarded a highly controversial bid for a government contract to build an integrated information network infrastructure for the [[Ethiopian Parliament]]. Bekele was also an elected member of the [[ICANN]] Council of the GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization), which advises on global internet policy. She has served on [[United Nations]]-sponsored committees, such as the [[UNECA]]-sponsored African Information Society Initiative (AISI), where she represents the private sector in discussions about the economic development of Africa. She is also involved with the creation of policies towards bridging the economic gap between Africa and other economies, through the use of [[Information and communication technologies]] (ICT).

CBS International<ref>[http://www.cbsegroup.com/ CBS International]</ref>, is a private California-based firm engaged in technology transfer to emerging economies, which also set up [[SbCommunications]] Network, an Ethiopian IT company. In 2002 SbCNet was known for being successfully awarded a highly controversial bid for a government contract to build an integrated information network infrastructure for the Ethiopian Parliament.<ref>[http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ethiopian-people-books-llc/1103147818 Sophia Bekele]</ref> She has served on United Nations-sponsored committees, such as the [[UNECA]]-sponsored African Information Society Initiative (AISI), where she represents the private sector in discussions about the economic development of Africa Bekele was then elected member of the ICANN Council of the GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization)<ref>[http://gnso.icann.org/en/council/soi/bekele-statement.htm Sophia Bekele - Nominating Committee appointee to the GNSO Council]</ref>, which advises on global internet policy. During her term, she has championed the IDN Policy Dialog for the international community. Bekele also initiated the first African-run bid for a .africa TLD, and is currently championing it across Africa under the non-profit, non partisan organization [DotConnectAfrica].<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/ DotConnectAfrica]</ref> DotConnectAfrica has been endorsed by various prominent Pan-African organizations, Communities and African governments.<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/31565131/African-Union-AU-Endorsement-of-DotConnectAfrica African Union AU Endorsement of DotConnectAfrica]</ref>

Sophia is of Ethiopian decent but studied in the USA for her Bachelor's Degree in Business Analysis and Information Systems at San Francisco State University and earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in management Information Systems from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California. She is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)<ref>[http://www.isaca.org/Certification/CISA-Certified-Information-Systems-Auditor/Pages/default.aspx Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)]</ref>

, Certified Control Specialist (CCS), and Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT).<ref>[http://www.isaca.org/Certification/CGEIT-Certified-in-the-Governance-of-Enterprise-IT/Pages/default.aspx Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT)]</ref>

 

Bekele travels globally for her work and shuttles regularly between her residences in Walnut Creek, California and Africa, where she also has a firm base.

 

 

==ICANN Work==

==ICANN Work==