Hessa Al Jaber

H.E. Dr. Hessa Al Jaber is a Qatari engineer, academic and politician. She is the first-ever Minister of Information and Communications Technology in Qatar following the formation of the nation’s new Cabinet by H.H. the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani in 2013. She is the third Qatari woman to assume a ministerial position in the state.

Dr. Hessa holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Kuwait University, and a Master's Degree and Ph.D in Computer Science from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Prior to becoming a minister, Dr. Hessa held the position of Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) since its inception in 2005. During her tenure as Secretary General, Dr. Hessa has overseen the liberalization of Qatar's telecommunications market, ushering in an era of choice and competition. Passionate about ensuring that the benefits of technology reach all sectors, Dr. Hessa has led numerous initiatives to make Qatar a more inclusive society through ICT.

She has spearheaded the efforts aimed at modernizing Qatar’s ICT infrastructure, including the plans for founding the country’s national broadband network, Qatar National Broadband Network (Q.NBN). Additionally, she played an integral role in foundation of Qatar Satellite Company (Es’hailSat), which successfully launched Qatar’s first-ever satellite, Es’hail 1, on 29 August 2013. In addition, she also led the efforts of the modernization of Qatar's government through ICT, streamlining processes, making government more transparent and accessible to its people.

Dr. Hessa has been instrumental in the creation of the Qatar Assistive Technology Center (Mada), which serves people with disabilities in Qatar, and Malomatia, a leading provider of professional technology services and solutions.

Currently, she is United Nations ITU Broadband Commissioner for Digital Development, Commissioner for the WHO/ITU Commission on Information and Accountability for Women and Children's Health, and a member of several boards of directors, including; Qatar University’s Board of Trustees, the Board of Governors of the American School of Doha, Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Journals, Qatar Foundation National Research Forum, the Qatar Financial Markets Authority, and the Network of Global Agenda Councils of the WEF. She is also the Deputy Board Chairperson of Qatar Satellite Company (Es’hailSat) and the Chairperson of Mada’s Board of Directors.

With wide knowledge of ICT development, Dr. Hessa is a contributor to several working papers, studies, and researches at relevant Arab and global conferences and symposiums.

In recognition of her public service, Al Jaber was honored by the ministry of interior as the "National Figure of the Year" on 24 December 2008 to honor key Qatari figures which made significant contributions during that year. In 2012, she was also named the 30th most powerful Arab woman by Arabian Business.

In 2013, she was listed among the 500 most powerful Arabs in the world on Arabian Business magazine, then ranked 20th on the 2013 Arabian Business’ list of 100 most powerful Arab women and, most recently, the Internet Society inducted her as one of eight international Internet leaders to the 2013 Internet Hall of Fame Advisory Board. Moreover, Mashable, which covers global social media news, named her among the eight most impressive women working in technology throughout the world during the 2000s.