Chafic Chaya

Expertise:

• Internet Governance & Public Policy
• IPv6 Deployment and Routing Security (RPKI)
• Connectivity and Peering
• Multistakeholder and Government Engagement
• Capacity Building & Digital Skills Development
• WSIS, SDGs, and Global Digital Compact
• Technical Community Collaboration and Stakeholder Partnerships
• Community Building

Dr Chafic Chaya is the Regional Manager for Public Policy and Government Affairs for the Middle East (Senior External Officer). With over 25 years of experience in the Internet and telecommunications sectors, he works closely with governments, regulators, policymakers, and intergovernmental organisations to promote a secure, scalable, and resilient Internet infrastructure, grounded in multistakeholder collaboration and inclusive public policy.

He is an active contributor to national, regional and global Internet governance fora, including the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and the United Nations activities related to the Internet, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the League of Arab States, as well as the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process. Through these engagements, he advances dialogue and cooperation in support of the WSIS Action Lines and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At the RIPE NCC, Dr Chaya leads outreach, public policy engagement, and capacity development initiatives across the Middle East and beyond, supporting the growth of Internet infrastructure and good governance practices. He also oversees academic and professional training programmes in the region that empower the next generation of Internet professionals and strengthen local technical communities.

Dr Chaya holds a Doctorate in Business Administration with a focus on Internet governance, an MBA, and a degree in Telecommunications Engineering. His commitment to Internet advancement is reflected in his active roles and collaborations with numerous national, regional, and international activities and organisations, including the Order of Engineers in Beirut, the American University in Dubai’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board, the Policy Network on AI (PNAI), GigaNet, the global IGF, the national and regional initiatives (NRIs) and others. Through these efforts, he continues to foster strategic partnerships and policy dialogue to build a more open, secure, and inclusive Internet across different regions.