Salam Fayyad Keynote Speaker

Salam Fayyad is a distinguished Palestinian politician and economist renowned for his steadfast commitment to governance reform and economic transparency. Serving as Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority from 2007 to 2013, he pioneered institutional reforms that significantly enhanced public sector accountability and service delivery.​

Born in Deir al-Ghusun, Fayyad pursued higher education in economics, earning a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. His early career included pivotal roles at the International Monetary Fund and as the Arab Bank’s representative in Palestine, where he honed his expertise in financial oversight and economic development.​

As Finance Minister (2002–2005, 2007–2012), Fayyad implemented comprehensive financial reforms, curbing corruption and promoting fiscal responsibility within the Palestinian Authority. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by a ‘bottom-up’ approach to nation-building, focusing on strengthening infrastructure, security, and public institutions in the West Bank, thereby laying the groundwork for a sustainable Palestinian state.​

In recognition of his contributions, Fayyad was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Texas at Austin in 2010. He also served as chairman of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council for the MENA region in 2014. Since 2017, he has been a Visiting Senior Scholar and Lecturer in Public Policy at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, where he imparts his extensive knowledge on governance and economic development to the next generation of leaders. ​

Fayyad continues to engage in global discourse on state-building and economic reform, offering invaluable insights drawn from his extensive experience in public service and international finance.