Francisco Javier Varela Sandoval
International Strategy Forum Academy Fellow, Digital Society Programme
Biography
Francisco is the International Strategy Forum Academy Fellow with the Digital Society Programme. His research at Chatham House focuses on Sovereign AI development pathways.
Before joining Chatham House, Francisco was a Fellow at France’s National Institute for Public Service, focusing on comparative administration. Over a 15-year career, he has worked as a policy practitioner, researcher, and lecturer in Mexico.
From 2017 to 2022, he taught microeconomics, economic growth, and public policy at ITAM. Since 2008, Francisco has held key roles in Mexico’s Federal Government, including at the Ministry of Public Service, the Office of the President, and the National Transparency Institute. He has also interned with the French Government and UNDP-Thailand and led research at the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness.
He holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science from ITAM, a master’s in public affairs from Princeton University, and a master’s in public management and comparative administration from the University of Strasbourg.
Past experience
| 2023–2024 | Fellow, Institut National du Service Public, France MA, University of Strasbourg |
| 2020–2022 | Director of Institutions and Governance, IMCO, Mexico |
| 2017–2022 | Lecturer of Economics, ITAM, Mexico |
| 2018–2020 | Chief of Human Resources Policy Unit, Ministry of Public Service, Mexico |
| 2017–2018 | Deputy General Director of Financing Policy, Ministry of Health, Mexico |
| 2015–2015 | MPA, Princeton University |
| 2013–2015 | Deputy General Director of Project Analysis, Office of the President, Mexico |
| 2008–2013 | Multiple roles at the National Institute for Transparency, Mexico |