A 2023 Chat with Frederic Werner: Head of Strategic Engagement at ITU; Chief of Strategy and Operations for AI for Good; one of the creators of the landmark AI for Good Global Summit; past Communications & Program Director of ETIS - The Global IT Association for Telecommunications; past Head of Marketing and Communications at the European Organization for Conformity Assessment

This week, Stephen Ibaraki has an exclusive interview with Frederic Werner.

Frederic Werner, based in Geneva, Switzerland, currently serves as the Head of Strategic Engagement at ITU, the United Nations' specialized agency for ICTs, and also holds the position of Chief of Strategy and Operations for AI for Good. Fred leads TSB's strategic engagement initiatives, covering digital marketing and communications, membership and business development, business intelligence and analytics, fundraising and resource mobilization, community building and event design, as well as piloting AI-powered tools to enhance business processes and operations.

As one of the creators of the landmark AI for Good Global Summit, his mission centres on connecting AI innovators with problem owners to collectively advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Motivated by the potential of communication technologies and AI, he believes in harnessing their power to drive business, improve society, and tackle global issues.

Prior to his role at ITU, Frederic worked in Brussels as the Communications & Program Director of ETIS - The Global IT Association for Telecommunications, where he played a pivotal role in the creation of a pan-European network of CIOs and cybersecurity professionals. Earlier, he was the Head of Marketing and Communications at the European Organization for Conformity Assessment, where he led capacity-building projects, trainings and events with the European Commission to enhance the ICT infrastructure in EU candidate countries.

On the academic front, Frederic has a B.A. in Business & Human Resources Management with a Communications Minor from Vrije Universiteit Brussel. He also completed an MBA in International Business from the United Business Institutes, a Technical MBA in Telecoms Technology from Informa Telecoms in Dubai, and an executive course from the MIT Sloan School of Management focused on AI's Business Strategy Implications.

A recognized figure in the AI sphere, Frederic is a regular keynote speaker and panellist at global tech and AI events, such as SXSW, AI Africa Expo, World AI Festival Cannes, World AI Summit Amsterdam, WSIS, AWS Reinvent, GITEX, and NAIA.R, to name a few. His insights on AI and the Sustainable Development Goals have led to numerous interviews and features across media, books, and podcasts.

Having lived in diverse countries such as Belgium, Senegal, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Austria, Turkey, Hungary, and Switzerland, Frederic brings a unique and global perspective to his partnerships and collaborations.