Inspirational Figures

Lilac Al-Safadi: The First Saudi Lady to Serve as a University President

Published

12 hours ago

5th March 2025

Huda Az

Lilac Al-Safadi, a prominent figure in Saudi Arabia's e-learning and technology sectors, has significantly contributed to the industry's growth through her exceptional achievements.

Lilac Al-Safadi is among the most well-known and influential people in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s e-learning and technology fields. Her outstanding achievements have significantly impacted the growth of this important industry.

The Kingdom’s dedication to empowering women and expanding their role in leadership positions at all levels is demonstrated by Lilac Al-Safadi’s tenure as President of the Saudi Electronic University, which she held from 2020 to 2023. This makes her the first Saudi woman to hold the office.

Throughout her more than two decades of academic and professional career, Lilac Al-Safadi has worked at several esteemed organisations, including Microsoft and King Saud University. She has also significantly contributed to developing and implementing the Kingdom’s educational and digital transformation strategies, which have helped propel these fields forward.

Academic and Professional Careers

Lilac Al-Safadi has a PhD in computer science from the University of Wollongong in Australia. She previously earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science from King Saud University and a Master’s degree in the same subject with a software engineering concentration.

Moreover, Lilac Al-Safadi’s strong academic foundation allowed her to apply her vast experience in a variety of domains, including digital transformation, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence.

These experiences have helped her become one of the most recognised and powerful people in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s digital education sector, where she was instrumental in the growth and advancement of the subject.

Lilac Al-Safadi started various key projects while she was the head of the Saudi Electronic University, which had a big influence on the growth of online education.

The implementation of the three-semester system is among the most renowned of these efforts, as it helped to increase the effectiveness of educational procedures and broaden the range of resources available to students.

Furthermore, since 2022, she has been a member of the National Centre for e-Learning’s Board of Directors, where she has been instrumental in creating and advancing national policies on digital education. She also supports the Kingdom’s goal of achieving digital transformation in the educational sector.

Along with her leadership positions, Lilac Al-Safadi has advised several well-known governmental and academic organisations, such as Takamul Holding Company, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, and the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, “Monsha’at.”

Her vast background in formulating plans and carrying out technical projects has helped these institutions and enabled them to accomplish their technical and developmental objectives.

Entrepreneurship

The impact of Lilac Al-Safadi has spread beyond academia to the technical industry and entrepreneurship. As Vice President and National Technology Officer at Microsoft in 2020, she could acquire a wealth of knowledge in the areas of digital innovation and creating cutting-edge technical solutions.

Additionally, from 2010 to 2012, she was the Director of King Saud University’s Women’s Technology Incubator. She made a substantial contribution to the empowerment of Saudi women entrepreneurs, particularly in the technology and entrepreneurship sectors, by giving them the guidance and support they needed to advance their projects and improve their competitiveness.

Notably, her contributions went beyond management and institutional development alone. She presented over 50 research papers at conferences and in scientific articles on e-commerce and artificial intelligence, solidifying her standing as a leading authority in these domains.

She was also instrumental in accomplishing the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, helping to draft and establish policies related to digital transformation and e-learning that were up-to-date with contemporary demands and worldwide advancements.

Lilac Al-Safadi is a role model for successful female leadership in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia because she was able to combine academic, administrative, and technical expertise. This contributes to the development of the digital education sector and enhances the role of women in leadership positions.