Salem Avan on Clubhouse

Bio

Director for Information and Communications Technology at the United Nations

With oversight of strategy and leadership of policy, governance, cybersecurity, data, innovation and frontier technology.

Advanced work in the area of partnerships, including the establishment of the United Nations Technology Innovation Labs (UNTIL) which were integrated into the work of the Executive Office of the SG. Established partnerships with various United Nations to use technology and data to empower mandate implementation across the areas of work of the UN.

Previously responsible for knowledge management and information technology at the UN, including creating peace-techology innovations for Peacekeeping Operations and spearheading the use of frontier technologies such as AI, natural language processing, mixed reality and computer vision, blockchain and predictive analysis.

Earlier still, joined UN Peacekeeping in 1994 during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia going on to serve in frontline leadership positions in field missions in various countries including Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Western Sahara, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Eritrea and Ethiopia. Led significant technology projects with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and for the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

A national of the UK, he has a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Glasgow.