When the AI in Lebanon Conference brings together the nation’s brightest minds in artificial intelligence and digital transformation, it looks to thought leaders who don’t just adapt to change, they design it.

Dr. Yousif Asfour, a seasoned innovation strategist and Chief Innovation & Transformation Officer at the American University of Beirut (AUB), is one of those leaders.

Asfour heads multiple pioneering units at AUB, including the Office of Information Technology, AUB Online, and the Talal and Madiha Zein Innovation Park.

At the AI in Lebanon Conference 2025, he plays a pivotal role not just as a speaker, but as a strategic facilitator, aiming at translating Lebanese talent and academic strength into real-world AI opportunities.

With over three decades of executive experience across the education, technology, and finance sectors — both in the US and the Middle East — Asfour brings a rare combination of deep technical knowledge and institutional leadership.

He previously served as President of the CIO Lebanon Association, co-founded TechCARE, Lebanon’s National Research and Education Network, and now chairs the HPC4L High Performance Computing Steering Committee, a critical enabler of national-level AI research and infrastructure.

At AI in Lebanon 2025, his mission is clear: to empower innovators, university students, and public sector professionals to move from concept to execution. “

Innovation is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” he often says. With his leadership, AUB becomes more than an academic institution; it becomes a launchpad for national AI transformation.