Daniel Pimienta
Daniel Pimienta was born in Morocco, read Applied Mathematics in Nice (France) and holds a Ph.D. in Computer Sciences. Between 1975 and 1988, he was a Telecommunication System Architect and Planner in La Gaude’s IBM lab. In 1988, as Scientific Advisor and Head of REDALC project, in Union Latina (Santo Domingo), he coordinated one of the first PC based interface and the launch of national networks in LA@C (Peru, Dominican Republic and Haiti). In 1993, he created a pioneer civil society ICT4D structure, Networks & Development Foundation (FUNREDES – http://funredes.org ), realizing more than 30 projects in the field, within a research-action concept, on social impact of ICT, virtual communities, digital literacy, Caribbean integration, multi-stakeholders strategies, etc. FUNREDES, an APC member, maintain a permanent focus on linguistic diversity in the Internet. Trying to be a gateway between people, ideas, cultures and regions, Daniel Pimienta is involved in Francophonie networks, ICIE Info-Ethic network, MAAYA linguistic diversity network, G@ID Champion network, Digital Solidarity Fund, among other structures, and, since 2007, teaches Information and Communication Sciences, in Antilles-Guyane University, in Martinique.

H.E. Mr. Adama Samassékou
President of WSIS Preparatory Committee for Geneva Phase
President of the African Academy of Languages,
Former Minister of Education of Mali (1993-2000)
Mr. Adama Samassékou, aged 56, married with three children, completed his primary and secondary education in Mali.
After obtaining a Master of Arts in philology and linguistics from Lomonossov State University in Moscow, Mr. Samassekou continued his studies in Paris. After obtaining a DEA postgraduate diploma in African linguistics from the Sorbonne and a DESS specialist postgraduate diploma in organizational science from the Université de Paris-IX (Dauphine), he was subsequently head of the Linguistic Department of the Institute of Social Sciences of Mali, then director of the National Library of Mali and adviser to the Minister of Culture.
Playing an active role in community life, Mr. Samassékou was the founding president, for Mali and Africa as a whole, of the Peoples' Movement for Human Rights Education. In the political sphere, he was the founding chairman of ADEMA-France.
Having been Malian Minister of Education for seven years (1993-2000) and former spokesperson for the Government of Mali (1997-2000), Mr. Samassékou is currently president, with ministerial rank, of the African Academy of Languages.