Strategic Management Board of UNESCO in 2026

In November 2025, at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference held in Samarkand, Mr. Khaled El-Enany (Egypt) was elected as the new Director-General of the Organization. He is the 12th Director-General of the Organization, the first from an Arab country and the second from Africa to hold this position since Amadou Mahtar Mbow of Senegal. He was elected by UNESCO Member States following a long campaign centered on the vision of “UNESCO for the People.”

He served as Minister of Antiquities of Egypt in 2016 and subsequently as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities from 2019 to 2022. During this period, he led complex public administrations, steered national policies and legislative reforms, and strengthened international cooperation in the fields of archaeology, museums, and tourism. Prior to his ministerial appointments, he directed the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the iconic Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Khaled El-Enany is Professor of Egyptology at Helwan University in Egypt, where he has taught for more than thirty years and held academic leadership responsibilities. He holds a PhD in Egyptology from Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 University in France, where he has also been invited on several occasions as a visiting professor. He is the author of numerous international scholarly publications and has delivered lectures and keynote addresses in more than thirty countries worldwide.

A member of several academic institutions, notably the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology in Cairo, Professor El-Enany is an internationally recognized figure for his contributions to academia, heritage, public service, tourism, and international cooperation. His distinctions include being named Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (France) in 2015, receiving the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland in 2020, and being awarded the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) in 2021. In 2024, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 University and was appointed Special Ambassador for Cultural Tourism by UN Tourism, as well as designated Patron of the African World Heritage Fund. In 2025, he received the French insignia of Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour.

In April 2026, Professor Qun Chen (China) was appointed Assistant Director-General for Education.

Professor Chen began his career as a science scholar at East China Normal University (ECNU), a leading research institution, where he subsequently held senior leadership positions, serving as Vice-President from 2003 to 2012 and as President from 2012 to 2018.

From 2017 to 2023, Professor Chen served as Deputy Mayor of Shanghai, China, before becoming Vice-Chairman of the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. In these roles, he oversaw key portfolios, including education, social and legal affairs, contributing to the advancement of Shanghai’s education system.

With a PhD in Physics, Professor Chen is internationally recognized for his contributions to scientific research and interdisciplinary sciences.