Prof Janny Leung in the University of Macau (UM) State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City, who is also the master of Choi Kai Yau College, has been elected president of the International Federation of Operational Research Societies (IFORS) for the 2022-2024 term. Prof Leung is the first Chinese and the third person from Asia to be elected president of the IFORS.
As the 23rd president of the IFORS, Prof Leung will be responsible for overseeing the affairs of the organisation, including its publications (two official journals, newsletters, and websites), awards, and scholarships, as well as exchange activities and conferences (the triennial global conference and various webinars and workshops).
Prof Leung is dedicated to promoting international exchange of knowledge and access to education in operational research and data analytics, as well as their applications in various fields, most notably sustainable development. In her leadership role, Prof Leung will support the development of operational research and data analytics in Macao and the Greater Bay Area.
Established in 1959 by three national societies, namely the Operational Research Society of the United Kingdom, the French Operations Research Society (Société Française de Recherche Opérationnelle of France), and the Operations Research Society of America in the United States, the IFORS has expanded over the years to comprise 52 national operational research societies around the world, with over 30,000 individual members. The Operations Research Society of China became a member of the IFORS in 1982. The objective of this global federation is to promote the development of operational research as a unified science and its advancement around the world.