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Jovan Kurbalija

Key participant in session: 

→ (S1.2) Building trust in digital technologies

Stakeholder group: Intergovernmental organisation

UN Secretary General High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation | Executive Director and Co-Lead

Dr Jovan Kurbalija is the Executive Director and Co-Lead of the UN Secretary General High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation. He was Founding Director of DiploFoundation and the Head of the Geneva Internet Platform. A former diplomat, Dr Kurblaija has a professional and academic background in international law, diplomacy, and information technology. He has been a pioneer in the field of cyber diplomacy since 1992 when he established the Unit for Information Technology and Diplomacy at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies in Malta.

Dr Kurbalija was a member of the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Internet Governance (2004‒2005), special advisor to the Chairman of the UN Internet Governance Forum (2006‒2010), and a member of the High Level Multistakeholder Committee for NETmundial (2013‒2014).

Since 1997, Dr. Kurbalija’s research and articles on cyber diplomacy have shaped research and policy discussion on the impact of the Internet on diplomacy and international relations. His book, An Introduction to Internet Governance, has been translated into 10 languages and is used as a textbook for academic courses worldwide.

He lectures on e-diplomacy and Internet governance in academic and training institutions in many countries, including Austria (Diplomatic Academy of Vienna), Belgium (College of Europe), Switzerland (University of St Gallen), Malta (University of Malta), and the United States (University of Southern California).