Sir John Daniel is the former president and CEO of Commonwealth of Learning. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1994 for his contribution to higher education, confirming 30 years of outstanding contribution to the development of university distance education. Sir John Daniel was vice chancellor of the Open University UK from 1990 to 2001. From 2001 to 2004, he became UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education in Paris.

Sir John Daniel has published more than 300 books and essays. His most famous book Mega-Universities and Knowledge Media: Technology Strategies for Higher Education explores the role of technology in education. In his latest book Mega-Schools, Technology and Teachers: Achieving Education for All, he discusses the role of technology in expanding secondary education.

The Open University of China (OUC) hired Sir John Daniel as senior consultant in October 2012.