Mario ManiewiczDirector, ITU Radiocommunication Bureau
Mario Maniewicz began his second term as Director of the
Radiocommunication Bureau (BR) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023.
He first took office in January 2019, following his election at the at ITU's
2018 Plenipotentiary Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and was
re-elected at the
2022 Plenipotentiary Conference in Bucharest, Romania.
Mr Maniewicz is an electronics engineer specialized in telecommunications. He has been with ITU for over 30 years, holding various management positions in the Radiocommunication and Development Bureaux as well as in ITU Regional Offices.
From 2014 to 2018, he was Deputy Director of BR, the part of ITU responsible for the global management of the radiofrequency spectrum and satellite orbits. He also headed the Informatics, Administration and Publication Department and oversaw preparations and served as conference secretary for the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15).
From 2011 to 2014, he was the Chief of the Infrastructure, Enabling Environment, and E-Applications Department in ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), where he directed assistance to developing countries to bridge the digital divide, promoting networks, services, and applications based on information and communication technologies (ICTs) while ensuring the use of appropriate technologies to build or extend infrastructure and as adapt to the rapidly changing telecommunication and ICT environment.
In addition, he promoted ICT access and use for marginalized groups including women, youth, indigenous people, persons with disabilities and people living in remote communities.
From 2007 to 2011, he was Chief of ITU's Policies and Strategies Department, helping developing countries with policies and regulations to attract investment and enhance networks and services. Earlier, he headed ITU's Capacity Building Division and held regional administrator and expert posts at ITU offices in Brazil, Chile, and Peru offices.
Prior to joining ITU, Mr Maniewicz worked at Uruguay's government-owned telecommunications company ANTEL, starting as an engineering assistant and telecommunication engineer before serving as Director of the ANTEL Training Centre.
From 1984 to 1986, he was Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Engineering at Uruguay's Universidad de la República, specializing in electronics, circuits, and electrical measurements.
Mr Maniewicz is married and has two children. He speaks Spanish, English, French and Portuguese.