Jim Ackers is the Regional Education Adviser at UNICEF South Asia and co-chair of the regional SDG 4 Technical Working Group, Learning and Education2030+ (LE2030+) with UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific and UNESCO Bangkok. Prior to the current post, he was heading the training and education program at UNESCO IIEP and has worked for 13 years serving as regional education advisor and Disability Focal Point at UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa (2009-2014); East Asia and the Pacific (2014-2017).

Jim has also taught at the University of London Institute of Education and Newcastle University in the UK and worked for the UK government in Africa. He holds a PhD in Education Policy from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK, a Masters in Applied Linguistics, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and a BScEcon from the London School of Economics.