Paul J Foster

Paul J. Foster was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Global Esports Federation Board on March 30, 2021. Paul leads the Executive Office in delivering the strategic direction and development of the world’s esports organisation. From the foundation of the GEF, Paul served as the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Advisor to the GEF Board and was instrumental in establishing the GEF.  

With over three decades of experience leading strategic, operational and policy teams in global organizations, Paul is an award-winning innovative leader known for convening and mobilizing partnerships, bridging human connections, and leveraging technology and thought leadership for sustainable development aimed at improving inclusive global progress.  

He served as a Vice President at the World Expo 2020 Dubai, pioneering the organization’s start-up and lifecycle planning, budgeting, and vision-setting cycles. Prior to his tenure in the United Arab Emirates, Paul committed more than 20 years to the Olympic movement – including leading teams worldwide in more than 12 Olympic and Continental Games including an extended tenure as Head of Protocol, Events and Hospitality at the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland.  

Paul is an advisor and consults across diverse organizations and worked with Sovereigns, Heads of State and Government, Royal Families, Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries across multiple portfolios to evolve vision setting, strategy, ambition and possibilities beyond the immediate desired outcome.  

With a demonstrated commitment to continued education, mentorship and teaching, Paul has achieved graduate and post-graduate studies in Business, Economics, International Affairs, Diplomacy and Protocol.  

Paul serves as Chairman of the Board of the World Technology Games Organization and has studied Artificial Intelligence (AI) at MIT Sloan School of Management and the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL).  

Paul communicates in English, Italian, French and Spanish and contributes to academia as an Associate Professor and Lecturer in International Relations in Rome, New York. He is an experienced registered Yoga teacher (E-RYT® 500) from YogaWorks (USA) and Byron Yoga Centre (Australia).