About Us

Leadership & Governance

The Forum's governance structure is designed to ensure balanced representation, rigorous oversight, and sustained alignment with our mandate of advancing cooperative governance for the global digital economy.

Our governance model reflects the multistakeholder nature of our work. Decision-making authority is shared across two complementary councils, each contributing distinct expertise and institutional perspectives. This dual structure ensures that the Forum's research, convenings, and policy recommendations are grounded in both academic rigour and practical experience.

Council Structure

The Forum's leadership is organised into two complementary councils that together guide strategic direction, research priorities, and programmatic work.

Professional Council

Industry executives, government officials, and senior practitioners who provide strategic guidance and ensure GDEF's work remains relevant to the challenges facing the digital economy. The Professional Council helps set priorities, facilitate partnerships, and connect GDEF's research to real-world policy and business outcomes.

Academic Council

Professors, PhD researchers, and senior scholars who drive GDEF's research agenda and ensure the intellectual rigor of our publications and policy recommendations. The Academic Council provides evidence-based analysis, peer review, and thought leadership across key digital economy topics.