Najat Vallaud-Belkacem (born Najat Belkacem on 4 October 1977) is a French socialist politician, who on 25 August 2014 was the first French woman to be appointed Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Research, joining the Second Valls Government.Previously she was Minister of Women's Affairs (16 May 2012 to 25 August 2014, Ayrault government and First Valls Government, Minister of City Affairs (2 April 2012 to 25 August 2014, First Valls government), Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (2 April 2012 to 25 August 2014, First Valls government), and Government spokesperson (16 May 2012 to 31 March 2014, Ayrault government). Vallaud-Belkacem was the spokesperson of Ségolène Royal's campaign during the 2007 French presidential election and again in 2009 for the 2011 French Socialist Party presidential primary.
Since 2008, she has been a councillor of the city of Lyon, responsible for major events, youth and community life.