Tech ambassador to lead third Future in Diplomacy webinar

Casper Klynge will discuss Microsoft’s approach to Covid-19 with UAE diplomat Omar Ghobash

Casper Klynge is vice president of Microsoft’s Office of European Government Affairs to the United Nations. Victor Besa / The National

Casper Klynge, the world's first tech ambassador, will join UAE diplomat Omar Ghobash in discussion on Thursday night for the third talk in the The Future of Diplomacy series by the Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy.

The former Danish diplomat will discuss Microsoft’s approach to Covid-19 and the benefits, challenges and responsibilities involved in partnership between big tech and government during and following the pandemic.

Denmark was the first country to create a diplomatic posting to technology companies like Google and Twitter. In 2017, after serving in places including Kosovo and Afghanistan, Mr Klynge became the world’s first ambassador to represent his country to tech companies in the Silicon Valley, California.

Today, Mr Klynge is vice president of Microsoft’s Office of European Government Affairs in Brussels, Belgium.

Viewers can submit questions through the talk, which will be moderated by Mr Ghobash, Assistant Minister of Public and Cultural Diplomacy, and author of Letters to a Young Muslim.

The series features leading figures in science, technology, governance, history and philosophy and investigates foreign policy in a world transformed by the outbreak.

The webinar takes place from 9pm on Thursday, May 28. Register here.