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FIONA ASONGA
CEO, TECHNOLOGY SERVICE PROVIDERS OF KENYA
Tech-savvy, ethical and strategic, Fiona Asonga is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Technology Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK). For the last 15 years, she has led TESPOK in successfully achieving its mandate, constantly providing a healthy working environment provided by her dedicated nature and loveable aura.
As CEO of the Association, Fiona adeptly provides strategic direction and fosters the growth of her team’s capabilities. She actively involves members in shaping vital industry policies, analysing the ramifications of proposed measures, and efficiently manages fundraising initiatives. Additionally, she expertly represents TESPOK on numerous boards and committees both locally and globally, strengthening its influence and impact all round. She has been at the forefront of campaigning for Kenya as the tech hub of the region, before the concept was considered in the ICT Masterplan of 2015.
Ms Asonga obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in International Business Administration (IBA) with a focus on Finance from the United States International University – Africa (USIU-A) in 2000. During her undergraduate years, she excelled as a Project Coordinator in AIESEC, an International Association of Students Interested in Business Economics and Commerce. Her engagement at AIESEC gave her a chance to win a global essay competition in 1997 on “Interdependence: Learning and Acting for a shared future”. Her exceptional leadership skills were recognised when she spoke at the Official Opening Plenary International Conference in Basel, Switzerland, addressing the crucial role of youth in fostering an interdependent society. One of the focus areas for the essay competition was Information society where she shared her ideas on how technology was changing the world and why the youth needed to think globally and act locally. This early involvement in global affairs ignited her interest in making a positive impact on the country’s ICT sector.
Fiona furthered her academic journey in recent years, earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management and Information Technology Management from the same university.
With an impressive track record in the ICT industry spanning 19 years, Ms Asonga has played a crucial role in representing Africa on a global scale throughout her journey.
From 2011 to 2018, she was a representative of the Number Resource Organisation (NRO), where she played a vital role in promoting an open, stable, and secure Internet. She effectively coordinated collaborative efforts among the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) to ensure smooth Internet infrastructure operation.
During the same period, she was also a member of the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Address Supporting Organisation- Address Council. In this role, Fiona participated in global policy development, established selection procedures for ICANN bodies (including the Board), implemented assigned roles, and advised the Board on number resource allocation policy while collaborating with RIRs.
Her expertise in leadership has been acknowledged by her role as a trainer at the ICANN Leadership Academy from 2015 to 2017. Fiona’s impact on the international stage extended further when she was appointed by the Internet Society in 2018 to develop training material for the Collaborative Governance Project. This project allowed her to provide training globally, as well as at the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) on multi stakeholder engagement. Staff from the industry regulator joined other ICT regulators to the course at USTTI as part of their upskilling training program in 2018.
Presently, Fiona serves as a member of the Executive Council of the Internet Governance Forum Support Association (IGFSA), an organisation established to support the United Nations (UN) Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The IGFSA’s primary objectives are to offer enduring support to the IGF Secretariat and financially back related activities in the field of Science and Technology. She is also currently serving on the Advisory Council of the Global Cybersecurity Alliance that creates and equips communities to deliver a more trustworthy Internet for all.
Ms Asonga was also an essential member of the team of consultants under Digital Frontiers in 2021 working on the ICT sector liberalisation efforts with the Ethiopian Communications Authority, where her insight was invaluable.
Fiona’s dedication to continuous learning is evident through her numerous post-graduate certifications in ICT, from Cisco; Cybersecurity – Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (conducted in Kampala, Nairobi, and Los Angeles), ICT-Assisted Development from London, UK, and Telecoms Regulatory Training, also from London, UK.
Her involvement in policy and regulatory matters has driven her to obtain certificates in Policy Development and Advocacy from the International Center for Parliamentary Studies and Training and Consulting Associates, as well as the Business Advocacy Fund. Additionally, she holds a certificate of Competence in the European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Leadership certificates from both the Collaborative Boston Institute and ICANN.
In the realm of ICT, Fiona is an undeniable force to reckon with. This recognition became evident through her appointment to the Sectoral Working Group on Information, Communication, and Digital Economy for 2023. This working group bears the responsibility of reviewing practices and legislations within this sector to align operations with the rapid pace of technological advancements and the modern demands for customer-centric services.
Beyond her professional obligations, Ms Asonga is a dedicated Roman Catholic. She devoted many years of volunteering at St Paul’s Catholic Church in Nairobi as Parish Pastoral Council Secretary, serving a religious community of over 7,000 members with diverse needs.
Her passion to impact society led her to organise the inaugural Autism Marathon in Kenya that has helped in creating awareness and sensitisation towards affected persons.
TESPOK is a prominent membership organisation in Kenya, representing technology service providers. Its primary goal is to create a platform for members to voice their concerns, needs, and aspirations while bridging the gap between technology providers and regulatory bodies like the Communication Authority (CA) of Kenya and the Roads Authorities. TESPOK achieves its objectives through managing shared infrastructure (KIXP and i-CSIRT), training sessions, policy discussions, and advocacy efforts.
Through close collaboration with regulatory authorities, TESPOK ensures robust representation for technology service providers. This active engagement plays a pivotal role in shaping the developmental trajectory of the technology industry in Kenya, establishing TESPOK as an integral and irreplaceable entity within the nation’s technological landscape.
