Jean-François Furnémont is the Founder and CEO of Wagner-Hatfield, a research and consulting company offering numerous services pertaining to policy, regulation and strategy in the media and digital economy sectors.

Jean-François holds a BA in Journalism and Communication Studies at the Université Libre de Bruxelles – ULB, a MA in International Relations and European policy at the Université de Liège – ULG and a MA in Public Finances at the Université Catholique de Louvain – UCL. Former freelance journalist and former spokesman of a political party, he is the author of several books of political science and a number of publications on media policy and regulation.

He held the position of Director General (2003-2014) of the audiovisual media regulatory authority (CSA) of the French speaking Community in Belgium. He has also been actively involved in the Board of the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA) as vice-Chairman (2008-2011) and as Chairman (2011-2014).

As the author of many studies, research projects and publications, Jean-François excels in the following fields : drafting and reviewing of media primary/secondary legislation and broadcasting codes, advice and capacity building for media regulatory authorities and ministries, material scope of media regulation (online media, social networks, video-sharing platforms), jurisdiction issues, licensing and related systems, media concentration and transparency of media ownership, promotion of domestic and European works and financial support schemes to audiovisual creation, hate speech, fight against disinformation, protection of minors, commercial communications, articulation between self- and co-regulation and statutory regulation.