📋 Mandate & Responsibilities

The Secretary General serves as the chief executive officer of Aevum Encyclopedia, responsible for the day-to-day management and strategic implementation of the organization's mission. Reporting directly to the Global Editorial Board and Governance Assembly, the Secretary General oversees all operational divisions and represents Aevum in international forums.

01

Strategic Governance

Oversee the execution of the strategic plan approved by the Governance Assembly, ensuring alignment across all 47 regional chapters and editorial divisions.

02

Editorial Oversight

Ensure the highest standards of accuracy, neutrality, and academic rigor across all 2.4+ million articles through the peer review and verification pipeline.

03

Global Partnerships

Manage relationships with 200+ institutional partners including universities, research bodies, governments, and international organizations.

04

Technology & Innovation

Drive the AI-powered knowledge infrastructure, overseeing the development of semantic search, knowledge graphs, and multilingual NLP systems.

05

Community Stewardship

Nurture the global contributor community of 180,000+ verified experts, ensuring a safe, inclusive, and productive editorial environment.

06

Financial Stewardship

Manage an annual operating budget of $42M, ensuring fiscal responsibility while expanding free access to knowledge worldwide.

💬 A Message from the Secretary General

When we launched Aevum Encyclopedia, our vision was radical in its simplicity: what if the sum of human knowledge were free, verified, and accessible to every person on the planet? Six years later, with over 2.4 million articles in 140 languages, that vision is no longer a dream — it is our daily reality.

We have built something extraordinary together. Not a static archive, but a living, breathing organism of knowledge — powered by AI, curated by experts, and sustained by a global community of contributors who believe that knowledge belongs to everyone.

Our work is far from finished. As we look toward the next decade, I am committed to deepening our AI capabilities, expanding into underrepresented languages, and strengthening the trust that makes this platform the gold standard for verified knowledge.

— Dr. Elena Strömberg, Secretary General, Aevum Encyclopedia

📅 Appointment & Key Milestones

January 2022
Appointed Secretary General
Elected by the Governance Assembly following a global selection process. Took office on January 15, 2022, succeeding interim SG Prof. David Okafor.
March 2022
Strategic Roadmap Launched
Unveiled "Horizon 2028" — a comprehensive six-year strategic plan focusing on AI integration, multilingual expansion, and community growth.
September 2022
AI Verification Engine v1.0
Launched the first AI-powered fact-checking system, reducing article verification time by 73% and establishing new accuracy benchmarks.
June 2023
100-Language Milestone
Under Dr. Strömberg's leadership, Aevum reached 100 active language editions, including Swahili, Yoruba, and Quechua.
February 2024
UNESCO Partnership
Formalized a strategic partnership with UNESCO to ensure knowledge preservation for endangered languages and cultures worldwide.
November 2024
Term Renewed
Re-elected unanimously by the Governance Assembly for a second term extending through 2028, with expanded mandate on AI ethics.

👥 Office Leadership Team

The Secretary General is supported by a team of Deputy Secretaries General and Directors who oversee specific operational domains.

NK

Prof. Naledi Khumalo

Deputy SG — Editorial
Content Quality & Peer Review
RL

Dr. Renata López

Deputy SG — Technology
AI, Platform & Infrastructure
HT

Hiroshi Tanaka

Deputy SG — Community
Contributor Programs & Engagement
AM

Dr. Amira Mansour

Deputy SG — Operations
Finance, Legal & Administration
JW

Jakob Weißenberger

Chief of Staff
Executive Office & Strategy
SP

Sofia Petrova

Director of Communications
Public Relations & Media

📬 Contact the Office

The Office of the Secretary General is available for inquiries from contributors, institutional partners, media, and the general public. Please use the appropriate channel below.

📧

General Inquiries

sg@aevum.org
Response within 48 business hours

🏛️

Institutional Partnerships

partnerships@aevum.org
For universities, governments & NGOs

📰

Media Relations

press@aevum.org
Press office: +41 22 908 4400

📍

Headquarters

Aevum Encyclopedia
Chemin de Bellochure 12
1208 Geneva, Switzerland

Office Hours

Day Hours (CET) Status
Monday – Thursday 09:00 – 18:00 ● Open
Friday 09:00 – 16:00 ● Open
Saturday 10:00 – 13:00 ● Limited
Sunday ● Closed

🏗️ Governance Structure

The Secretary General operates within Aevum Encyclopedia's multi-layer governance framework, designed to ensure accountability, transparency, and broad representation.

Governance Assembly

The supreme governing body composed of 50 elected representatives from all regions. Sets policy, approves budgets, and elects the Secretary General.

Global Editorial Board

An independent body of 30 domain experts who oversee content standards, resolve editorial disputes, and audit verification processes.

Office of the SG

The executive arm responsible for implementing decisions, managing operations, and coordinating the global network of chapters and teams.

Regional Chapters

47 regional offices worldwide that adapt global strategy to local contexts, manage community contributors, and drive language editions.