Samia M Melhem

Samia M. Melhem serves as Lead Policy Specialist and Global Lead on Digital Capabilities at the World Bank Group, where she has established herself as a leading voice in digital transformation and development over the past two decades. After earning degrees in Electrical Engineering from the American University of Beirut, Computer Sciences and an MBA from George Washington University, she has built an impressive career spanning over 50 countries. Her work focuses on leveraging digital technologies for development, including digital government operations, digital identification projects, and public service delivery transformation. She chairs the Digital Development Community of Practice and leads research on digital resilience and COVID-19 responses. At George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, she serves as part-time faculty and board member while maintaining advisory roles with Cambridge University Press Data and Policy, GSMA Digital Skills Task Force, and the EU's AI4GOV. Her contributions were recognized with a presidential excellence award from the World Bank in 2019 for her work on the West Africa Regional Digital Identification project. Beyond her operational responsibilities, she advocates for gender inclusion in STEM and serves as a board member for Lebanese International Finance Executives, demonstrating her commitment to both technological advancement and social impact.