Thomas Davin

UNICEF

Global Director, UNICEF Office of Innovations

Description

Since taking the role of Director of UNICEF’s Global Office of Innovations in 2021, Thomas has pioneered an era of expanded reach, scale and impact for child-centered innovations worldwide in close collaboration with private sector and government leaders worldwide. Thomas spearheads a radical reinvention of the UNICEF Innovation team as a core change catalyst for UNICEF’s impact globally, and harnesses the indomitable energy and deep expertise of his team to spot innovations that offer transformational potential for children, from data science to AI, blockchain, innovative finance constructs or innovative products to be picked up, co-created and scaled with the expertise and support from young innovators and partners across public and private sectors, so that, together, we create global social goods that advance humanity. Thomas' and his team offer strategic advice to the UN Secretary General’s office on emerging technologies and the ability within the UN to harness such technologies to advance humanity, with a focus on using global frameworks such as the Global Digital Compact to foster a collective movement as a catalyst for bridging the gap and creating an equitable future for all children. Thomas is a board member to the Global Digital Public Good Alliance and the UN Innovation Network, and supports a range of executive roles in support to World Economic Forum partnership alliances as well as Broadband Commission supported initiatives. Before assuming his current role, Thomas served UNICEF in leaderships role across the Balkans, South Asia, and the Middle East, and served as Head of Mission for country offices in Thailand and Algeria. Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, a master’s degree in political science, and cherishes time with his two beautiful children who continue to inspire his creativity, passion, and drive for an equitable future for all.