Meet Willem Fourie, a policy entrepreneur working at the intersection of public policy and technology. His journey into public policy began with a deep curiosity about and ultimately a doctorate on civil society, and religious communities in particular, and public life.
As his academic interests evolved, Willem turned his attention to the ethical and leadership challenges in policymaking. He deepened this focus as a senior lecturer in ethics and as an associate professor at the University of Pretoria. His exploration of these themes extended internationally through a fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at Humboldt University in Berlin. At the University of Pretoria he also founded a national language processing team, focused on analysing research for policy analysis – long before the advent of large language model tools.
Today, Willem leads the Policy Innovation Lab at Stellenbosch University, where he serves as the inaugural director and Chair in Policy Innovation. The Lab is a multidisciplinary initiative focused on how emerging technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI), can strengthen public governance. The team is guided by two questions: how AI can improve the effectiveness of policy processes and how AI itself should be governed to promote the public good. For Willem, the Lab is more than a research centre. It is also a platform for practical experimentation and cross-sector collaboration. Under his leadership, the Lab has launched one of the world’s largest platforms for evidence-informed policymaking.
These priorities reflect Willem’s alignment with Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 16. SDG 9 focuses on industry, innovation, and infrastructure, while SDG 16 emphasises inclusive, effective, and accountable institutions. Willem’s work speaks directly to the meeting point between governance and technology.
Willem also co-founded a startup that uses natural language processing to analyse policy content. Both ventures reflect his commitment to turning academic knowledge into scalable tools for real-world impact Willem’s broader experience includes advising the African Union and working with institutions such as the United Nations, the European Union, the OECD, and several national governments. Willem’s perspective on governance is further informed by his experience at a global technology company, where he worked at the intersection of digital innovation, public policy, and sustainability.
He also contributed to the establishment of the Goalkeepers South Africa network at the Policy Innovation Lab with the Gates Foundation’s support. Through his leadership, the network has grown to a community of changemakers focused on localising the Sustainable Development Goals. The secretariat plays a key role in coordinating activities, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and facilitating knowledge exchange.
He works in a field where change is often slow, and progress is rarely straightforward. Public systems are frequently constrained by bureaucratic processes and institutional inertia. Willem chooses to respond with patience and persistence. Rather than resisting the system, he focuses on building strong and collaborative teams capable of navigating complexity and enabling progress from within.
Throughout his career, Willem has placed a strong emphasis on collective effort. He credits his most meaningful achievements to the teams and networks he has built, shaped by trust, mutual learning, and a shared sense of purpose.
Outside of work, Willem is a devoted husband, father, and musician. He plays classical double bass and guitar, using music to stay grounded in creativity and community.
LinkedIn: Willem Fourie