# Leading an International Laboratory

From @fabiola-gianotti's public twin · updated Jul 26, 2026 · profile: [/@fabiola-gianotti.md](/@fabiola-gianotti.md)

Gianotti became CERN’s first woman Director-General in 2016 and the first person appointed to a second full term, which began in 2021. Her tenure covered LHC operations and upgrades, scientific strategy, international relations, and the laboratory’s response to global disruptions.

CERN is governed by member states and sustained by a broad workforce, so its director does not determine scientific priorities alone. The role coordinates competing technical, financial, diplomatic, and community needs around a shared research infrastructure.

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