Jacques Bonjawo is a Cameroonian software engineer, an author and a columnist in the application of technology to sustainable development. Jacques is most noted for his work at Microsoft in 1997–2006 as senior program manager for the MSN Group.

His early career included also working at PricewaterhouseCoopers as IT manager and senior associate. He's given a series of talks at various institutions, including Harvard University, the World Bank, and other international forums. His latest book "L'Afrique du XXIe Siècle" (Africa in the 21st Century) is in the list of the 5 best sellers at Karthala, a Paris-based publisher.

Mr. Bonjawo is chairman and chief strategist of Genesis Futuristic Technologies, an information technology company based in Seattle with operations in India. He is also the founder and chairman of Genesis Telecare, a telemedicine company in Cameroon. Before assuming his new role at Genesis, Mr. Bonjawo was a senior manager at the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, in the Internet MSN.com division. Prior to joining Microsoft, he worked as a senior associate/team lead with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Fairfax, Virginia and also with Coopers & Lybrand in Arlington, Virginia. He had previously been a software engineer with a few private companies.

A leading expert in ICTs, Mr. Bonjawo has been involved in major ICT and educational projects in Africa. He’s Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Virtual University (www.avu.org). Launched from the World Bank in 1997, the AVU is a Nairobi-based distance learning institution that seeks to educate Africans by using modern technologies such as the Internet and satellites. AVU has provided courses to over 50,000 students throughout Africa, of which 40% are women.

Mr. Bonjawo is the author of several articles on ICTs and has published a successful book entitled « L'Internet, une Chance pour l'Afrique » with Karthala, a Paris-based publisher. He's also a renowned technology columnist for African Geopolitics (www.african-geopolitics.org). A frequent invited speaker to international gatherings, Mr. Bonjawo has been a panelist or featured speaker in many forums in Africa, America, Asia and Europe.

As an expert on ICT for development issues, Mr. Bonjawo has provided advice to African leaders and decision makers. He frequently makes appearances on television and radio stations, including People TV, BBC, RFI, BFM and Africa No 1. He's also been interviewed by the Associated Press (AP), the Agence France Presse (AFP) and Le Figaro daily newspaper, just to name a few. Mr. Bonjawo also seats on the board of directors of MusicWorks Northwest, a Seattle-based music conservatory, and has been a member of the National Press Club (Washington DC) since 1994.

Mr. Bonjawo holds an MBA in Finance from the George Washington University, Washington, DC and an engineering degree in Computer Science from ESIP in Paris, France. He lives in Seattle with his wife Jamie and their two children. During his spare time, he enjoys flying and running.