Meet the Speakers
Ms. Nicola Bennett
Acting Assistant Director, International Engagement – ITU & APT
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, Australian Government
Ms. Bennett is part of the International Engagement – ITU and APT section of DITRDCA, and leads Australia’s engagement on telecommunications development issues in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT), as well as the delivery of Australian Government ICT development projects in the Asia-Pacific.
Ms. Bennett has worked in international cooperation within the Australian Government since 2018, covering topics related to repatriation, radiocommunications, standardization, and development
Mr. Muhammad Nadzmi Abd Aziz
Director II, Policy Research and Advocacy Department
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)
Nadzmi Aziz is a regulatory and stakeholder engagement specialist with a decade of experience in the communications, satellite, and e-commerce industries. As Director II of the Policy Research and Advocacy Department at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (“MCMC”), he focuses on policy research, regulatory development, and online safety advocacy efforts to shape Malaysia’s communications and multimedia landscape.
In this role, Nadzmi works on developing national policies, analysing emerging technological and digital challenges, and fostering collaborations with key government agencies, industry stakeholders, and international organizations. Prior to MCMC, he held various roles at TM Technology Services Sdn. Bhd., Sea Limited, and MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd., contributing to key national and international initiatives.
Nadzmi holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Sogang University, Republic of Korea, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from the University of Sunderland, UK.
Mr. Peng Zhao
Vice-President, Policy & Regulatory, GSOA
Peng is the Vice President of Policy & Regulatory at GSOA, where he leads advocacy efforts around satellite spectrum management, licensing, and national policy initiatives. With experience in telecoms, mobile, and satellites, he has advised governments and industry players globally.
Previously at Eutelsat OneWeb, Peng shaped licensing frameworks for Low Earth Orbit constellations and satellite regulatory procedures for WRC-23. At GSMA, he led a global campaign optimizing spectrum licensing for mobile operators, engaging policymakers and advocating best practices across developing markets.
Peng holds a Master’s in Telecommunication from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and an Executive MBA from London Business School. He speaks English, Mandarin, and French fluently.
Ms. Natasha Nayak
Senior Policy Manager, APAC for the GSMA
Ms. Natasha Nayak is the Senior Policy Manager, APAC for the GSMA.
Prior to joining the GSMA, she was a senior manager with the consulting firm, Ernst & Young’s Policy group. Natasha is a competition lawyer who has worked globally on technology regulation and innovation policies. She has consulted for the UN Development Program, World Trade Organization, the Economist Intelligence Unit as well as different governments. She was appointed as a fellow at Hoover Institution, Stanford University, USA and is the recipient of the Thomas Edison Innovation Fellowship at George Mason University, USA. Her writings on innovation policy and regulation issues have been published widely.
Natasha has a LL.M from George Washington University, USA and has studied Economics for Competition Law at King’s College, UK.
