Fatou Jabbie, Principal and Founder and CEO of USL Technology Inc, an owner’s representative for Hospitality, Data Centers, Industrial and buildings, specializing in scaling energy efficiency and deeper retrofits, sustainable design strategies, whole building energy simulation modeling, energy code compliance, ASHRAE 9.1 / Appendix G, NYC clean energy and efficiency policies, LEED (new and existing building) consulting.

Ms. Jabbie has a background in Computer Science with more than 15 years of professional experience as an I.T network systems engineer working in Wireless Telecommunication, eCommerce and

Finance and sectors. In her previous roles working in the data center environment where power consumption is 24x7 365 days a year, pivoting into sustainability and energy efficiency in the built environment has been a natural fit. Fatou is responsible for overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations where she employs an integrated and systems thinking approach working with architects, engineers, companies, and government agencies in new building design and construction projects, better integrate intelligent technologies, and engineer network solutions.

Ms. Jabbie is an Efficiency Advisor on the NYC Retrofit Accelerator. She is also on the Sustainability Committee of the Hotel Association of NYC (HANYC). The NYC Retrofit Accelerator is a free City program available to assist Landlords, Owners and Shareholders with property improvements. As an Efficiency Advisor, her company works with engineering and management teams to incorporate energy efficiency as part of their daily operations plan into immediate and/or longer-term capital planning projects while evaluating economic, engineering and environmental benefits in the decision making process.

Ms. Jabbie a MSc. in Sustainability Management graduate from Columbia University, LEED Accredited Professional in new building design and construction, and has a degree in Computer Science from Kentucky State University. 

Beran is a young woman who is very passionate about the effects of ICTs and how it can be used to better lives. She returned to her native Gambia after acquiring both her Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) in Computing Science and her master’s in computer networks (Distinction) at Middlesex University in North London, United Kingdom.

She is currently serving as Chair the Youth Empowerment Project’s ICT Core Team Committee and also the National ICT Consultant for the International Trade Center responsible for coordinating all ICT sector related issues under the Project. Under her chairmanship, the IT Association (ITAG) has since been revived, a Startup Association has been in the works and the Tech ecosystem is reactivated. Her Institution ITAG is the sole representation of ICT institutions, professionals and students in The Gambia.

As the Vice President of the IT Association since 2010, Beran Led the transformation of the Association to becoming an active status from a dormant one 8 years prior her taking over. She was able to successfully implemented a handful of activities one of recent being the standardization of ICT Training in The Gambia which is a great milestone in the industry.

She has diverse work experience ranging from Government and International Relations to ICT in the Private Sector. As the Deputy Director ICT at the Directorate of National Treasury (DNT) under Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs in The Gambia, she oversees the deployment of Gambia’s first automated Government accounting system, the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS).

She has also worked as the sole representative for De La Rue Identity Systems in The Gambia charged with the design, set-up, implementation and administration of The Gambia’s first Machine Readable Passports as System Administrator of The Gambia Passport Office. I worked closely with other De La Rue set-ups in the West African region including the Sierra Leone Passport System.

She also runs an ICT Consultancy Firm and have deployed various systems under this Role. She is also a mentor for Women in Technology in The Gambia and a Girls in ICT Advocate.she has great interpersonal skills, work well under pressure, an independent thinker and a doer who is highly motivated.

Beran is what you will call a superhero in community Development and has actively been in the Large Community of ICANN having been an ALAC Leader for Africa from 2013-2015. She is also current advisor to The Gambia Government on ICT Policy having facilitated The Gambia joining the Government Advisory Committee of ICANN in 2014. She has served as an advisor to different agencies in the ICT sector and is at the forefront in the development of ICT Policy in The Gambia.