Francis Hourant

Francis brings over 15 years of leadership experience in skills development to his role as WorldSkills President and Chair of the Board, as well as an extensive background in management, communications, and international cooperation.

His WorldSkills journey began in 2009 as CEO of WorldSkills Belgium, where he delivered significant growth, expanding from 200 Competitors in 19 industries to almost 900 Competitors across 32 industries.

Francis's career includes experience in the political world, having served as an advisor to several Ministers, Head of Cabinet to the President of the Walloon Parliament, and as Deputy Mayor and President of the Municipal Council.

He has been deeply involved in various WorldSkills initiatives, including serving on the WorldSkills Europe Board from 2010 to 2021 and participating in nearly 40 national and international competitions across all continents. He is particularly proud of the support provided in the DRC and Burundi as part of our ‘One Country, One Africa Friend’ program.

With a background in sociology and social and cultural anthropology, Francis brings a unique perspective to international cooperation within the WorldSkills community, focusing on sustainability, adapting competitive professions, and positioning WorldSkills as a global hub for TVET development.