Calum Handforth

Digital Programmes Strategic Manager, UNDP

Speaker Bio

Calum is Digital Programmes Strategic Manager at UNDP – working at the UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development (in Singapore), and the UNDP Chief Digital Office. He has led innovation, digitalisation, and smart cities programmes globally – and advised governments around the world. Calum has drafted and led legislation, policy, and strategy to catalyse innovation; delivered digital infrastructure and digital inclusion programmes; worked to develop safe-and-secure innovation ecosystems; and shaped the development of numerous digital and innovation initiatives.


He has worked in local and national government, the private sector (including strategy consulting, and advising and mentoring start-ups), and international development. Calum was previously Co-Chair of the Digital Infrastructure Taskforce, part of the World Economic Forum’s G20 Working Group on Smart Cities. He is a Panel Member of the Mayor of London’s Infrastructure Advisory Panel, a Policy Fellow at the University of Cambridge Centre for Science and Policy, and a Churchill Fellow.