Dr. Tawfik Jelassi

Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, UNESCO

Dr. Tawfik Jelassi is a distinguished leader in digital transformation and technology governance, serving as UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information since July 2021. In this pivotal role, he oversees UNESCO’s programs on building inclusive knowledge societies, leading digital transformation, strategizing the role of ICT in education, and fostering freedom of expression worldwide.

Dr. Jelassi brings extensive academic and professional expertise to tech diplomacy, holding a Ph.D. in Information Systems from New York University and postgraduate diplomas from the University of Paris Dauphine. His multifaceted career spans academia, corporate leadership, and government service across Europe, the United States, and Tunisia.

Before joining UNESCO, Dr. Jelassi served as Programme Director and Professor of Strategy and Technology Management at IMD Business School in Lausanne (2015-2021). His commitment to democratic governance and technological advancement was demonstrated during his tenure as Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Information & Communication Technologies in Tunisia’s democratic transition government (2014-2015).

His diverse professional background includes serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ooredoo Telecom in Tunisia, Dean at Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris, and Professor & Chairman of the Technology Management Department at INSEAD. Dr. Jelassi is also a Commissioner on the Broadband Commission and plays a leading role in international forums on digital governance and tech diplomacy.