Constance Bommelaer de Leusse

I am responsible for enabling the organization's international partnerships across stakeholder communities, including governments, academia, civil society, and business. In addition, I lead Internet Society training activities, empowering champions to build a bigger and stronger Internet. Since 2020, I have also taught at the university Sciences Po in Paris.

I have more than 20 years of experience in digital policy and capacity building and I was instrumental in developing new Internet governance institutions. In 2008 I founded the Internet Technical Advisory Committee to the OECD, facilitating participation of global technical and academic communities into international policy discussions. I bring significant experience on issues related to access, security, empowerment, and governance. Well versed in consensus-based and multistakeholder approaches, I served on a number of committees such as the UN MAG for the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and the World Economic Forum Internet For All Steering Committee. 

In 2013, I was seconded to UNESCO to help develop their Internet governance strategy and analyze the impact of digitization on their mandate. In this role, I co-authored the UN Information Society concept, i.e., rights-based, open, accessible and multistakeholder. The latter has, since then, been used as a foundation to support the evolution of digital policy frameworks at the national and regional level.

Before joining the Internet Society, I worked for the French Prime Minister’s services on information society issues. I was responsible for creating public-private partnerships to accelerate the country's economic and social digitization. I also led the development of alliances with African Francophone countries.

I hold a Master in Law from the university of Paris 2 Panthéon Asass, a post-graduate degree in EU Politics from the university Sciences Po, and a Diploma in Management from the London School of Economics (LSE).

I grew up in the US and have lived near Geneva (Switzerland). I am currently based in Paris with my husband, our three children and Domino, our pet rabbit. When not working I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family.

Image credit: © Jordi Ruiz Cirera/Panos