Selma Talha-Jebril

Selma Talha-Jebril is a global education specialist with over 15 years of experience managing international education programs and policy initiatives. She currently serves as the Director of Research and Policy at the World Innovation Summit for Education. In this role, she leads WISE’s research and policy agenda, spearheading initiatives at the intersection of education, innovation, and emerging technologies—most recently, on artificial intelligence, higher education and workforce development. She co-curated the 11th edition of the WISE (2023) Summit and is currently leading WISE12 (2025) Summit.Throughout her career, Selma has worked with international organizations, foundations, and academic institutions to advance inclusive, equity-driven education systems across the Global South. Prior to joining WISE, she was a senior specialist the Institute of International Education (IIE) in New York and the M&E and Knowledge Management Specialist with Chemonics in Washington, D.C. Selma is passionate about leveraging evidence to inform policy and practice, amplifying grassroots innovation, and fostering global collaboration to tackle the world’s most pressing education challenges.