FALL 2025 Research Group

Julian Theseira 

Julian Theseira coordinates the CAIDP Policy Group, managing workflows and reviewing AI policy submissions to countries around the world. Julian has been involved with CAIDP since September 2022. Julian also coordinates the Climate Action Network's (CAN) Global Stocktake (GST) Working Group, coordinating global environmental civil society organisations' submissions to the GST, the evaluation mechanism of the Paris Agreement, and leading engagements with country parties to the Paris Agreement. As a former management consultant with Deloitte, Julian worked with clients, including Fortune Global 500 companies, to enable their business continuity and success in an era of technological and other disruptions. Julian managed global social media campaigns and wrote multiple diplomatic reports on various multilateral meetings during previous experiences with international organisations in Geneva, Switzerland. Julian was an Erasmus Mundus scholar at Charles University, Czechia, and Jagiellonian University, Poland, and had graduated Phi Beta Kappa with High Honours from the College of Social Studies at Wesleyan University, USA, where he was a Freeman Asian Scholar. 

Ren Ben Lee Dixon (Agile Team Leader)

Ren Bin Lee Dixon is an AI policy researcher specializing in the societal and regulatory implications of AI. She focuses on crafting policy analyses that support responsible AI governance and informed decision-making. She has published policy briefs on AI incident reporting with the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) and has advised organizations such as the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, UNESCO, and OHCHR on AI governance. Ren Bin holds a Master’s in Public Policy with a concentration in AI policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, where she also guest lectures on AI policy topics. Before transitioning into AI policy, she built a career in marketing and communication across Malaysia, China, Denmark, and the United States. Her international experience has given her a nuanced understanding of global affairs and a diverse perspective that informs her research and analysis.

Idil I. Kaner (Agile Group Team Leader)

Idil is a qualified Attorney in New York and a Solicitor in England & Wales. She holds an LLB in Politics, Philosophy, and Law from King's College London, where she served as an Undergraduate Research Fellow in Digital Humanitarianism, exploring blockchain's legal and ethical implications. Idil also advised tech companies on AI Ethics, helping integrate ethical principles into their products. Currently, she works as a Legal Consultant in Oman, specializing in the intersection of law and technology.

Aysu Dericioğlu Egemen

Aysu Dericioğlu Egemen is an AI ethicist, editor, patent and trademark attorney, and educator with a multidisciplinary background bridging IP, design, ethics and AI. She holds a Business degree from Bilkent University and a Master’s in Industrial Design from Istanbul Technical University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in ethics by design at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Design Department. She has over 15 years of teaching experience, currently serving as an instructor at Özyeğin, Bilgi, and Mimar Sinan Universities, where she teaches courses on intellectual property, AI ethics and AI literacy for designers. Between 2009 and 2019, she served as a Board Member, consultant, and manager at Ankara Patent Bureau, providing consultancy to Turkey’s top 500 companies, startups, and SMEs. Aysu comes from a family that has contributed to the development of IP law in Turkey across three generations. Aysu is the editor-in-chief of Nioo AI Magazine, a human-centered AI literacy publication. She also leads research and co-design efforts on Nioo Network which is a “turstwothy AI and co-design agency”. She provides customized training programs, speak at conferences, and advise institutions on AI ethics, literacy, governance and IP strategy.  She is a member of UNESCO Türkiye AI Monitoring Group and CAIDP (Center for AI and Digital Policy) Policy Group Fellow. In 2025, she served as research team leader at CAIDP and also contributed to the Hong Kong section of the AI and Democratic Values Index (AIDV). Aysu is the author of “Yap Yapma Kitabı” (2023), a practical guidebook on IP and generative AI for designers, AI developers and users, and creatives. She also co-authored the Turkish chapter in “Design Rights, Functionality and Scope of Protection” (AIPPI Law Series, Kluwer, 2017 & 2022).

Tran Vu Ha Minh

Tran Vu Ha Minh is the Founder & CEO of HaMinh Initiatives Co. Ltd., where she established Humane-AI Asia, Vietnam’s first boutique consulting firm dedicated to responsible and ethical AI. She also serves as Responsible AI Lead Advisor at FPT Software’s AI and a responsible AI speakers & lecuturer, contributing to national & international AI governance and ethics initiatives. Ha Minh is an experienced implementor of ISO 42001 AI management system, a tech working group member of several organizations & professional networks in Vietnam, and an experienced trainer, delivering courses on AI governance, risk management, and ethics at FPT Software and leading universities in Vietnam. She holds degrees in Law and Management from Hitotsubashi University, Professional Accounting from Aoyama Gakuin University (Tokyo, Japan), her work bridges legal, business, and technological domains to promote responsible AI in Southeast Asia.

Maria Lungu

Maria Lungu is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia. MAria holds a PhD from Florida Atlantic University, a J.D. from the University of Tennessee, and an MBA from Belmont University. With experience in the Metropolitan Public Defender’s Office and as a legal consultant for Stepping Stones International and the UN, Maria now conducts research at the Center for AI and Digital Policy. Her work examines AI in law, public policy, and criminal justice, focusing on risk assessment, predictive policing, and democratic accountability. Her research is widely published.

Amir Noy

Amir   Noy   is   a   lawyer   specializing   in   the   field   of   data   governance, telecommunications, and intellectual property laws and regulations, in particular with regard to data protection, information security and privacy compliance, media, digital advertising, biometrics, and artificial intelligence. Amir is a PhD candidate at Reichman University (Israel), with a primary research focus on law and linguistics, and the intertextuality of legal discourse and its hermeneutics. Amir also serves as a teaching assistant in “Legal Systems” and “Ethical Aspects of Algorithms” courses. Amir serves as the Tel Aviv KnowledgeNet Chapter Chair of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Sharvari Dhote (Council of Europe Team Leader)

Sharvari Dhote is a data scientist  at Datastreamer specializing in natural language processing (NLP) and a multidisciplinary researcher with over a decade of experience in new technology development. She holds dual Phds in Mechanical Engineering.

Sharvari is passionate about AI policy, having completed courses in AI ethics, bias, and fairness. Her focus includes investigating bias and fairness in NLP systems, ensuring the development of equitable AI solutions. She actively led local machine learning discussion groups, fostering community engagement on these critical topics. She is eager to shape policies that prioritize fairness, accountability, and transparency in the development and deployment of AI technologies.

Uche Anyamele (Council of Europe Team Leader)

Uche is a technology lawyer and an international trade law consultant with experience in different jurisdictions. She is the Managing Partner at Hakakire Legal FCT, Abuja and a Senior Research Fellow (AI Lead) at the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA). Uche researches and advises on law and technology, including Artificial Intelligence, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), climate change and central bank digital currencies. (CBDC)s.

Zoi Roupakia

Zoi Roupakia is an AI technology and policy expert with 20 years' combined experience in machine learning research, innovation policy, and AI governance. A Policy Affiliate at Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy, member of the AI Policy Group at the Center for AI and Digital Policy, and former Policy and AI Research Lead at the University of Cambridge, she supports global innovation policy work with organizations such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). She is the lead author of a forthcoming brief on AI governance in Southeast Asia with UNIDO and of the Manifesto for Global Industrial Safety as part of a UNIDO initiative.  Her work bridges deep technical expertise—including pioneering work at Google, where she was awarded a patent in voice conversion, and speech recognition research at the University of Cambridge—with strategic insight to advance responsible and inclusive AI governance. She was recently named a Future Leader by the Foundation for Science and Technology.

Anushka Sachdev

Anushka Sachdev is an Indian lawyer presently working as a foreign lawyer in Technology and IP law in Belgium. Anushka completed her LLM in IP and Technology Law from Munich Intellectual Property Law Center (MIPLC) in Germany and earned an LLB from National Law University, Delhi. Apart from her present work in Belgium, she has worked in Tier 1 law firms in India. Her work has majorly been around the laws of Copyright, Data Privacy, IT, AI and Trademarks. She has experience working with clients from diverse and regulated sectors such as Media, entertainment, e-commerce, technology, and healthcare.

Sara Concetta Santoriello

Sara C. Santoriello is a Research Fellow in Political Science at the University of Naples “Federico II”, where she serves on the Editorial Committee of Rivista di Digital Politics (il Mulino). As a member of Game of Tech Collective, she organized seminar series and workshops on technology and its social impacts. In 2023, she was Visiting Fellow at the Data Justice Lab at Cardiff University. Her research focuses on the ethics of AI, digital corporations, and platform justice. She is also Editor-in-Chief of Feminisms on LiberoPensiero.eu, where she writes about politics, media, and technology. She holds an MA in Mass Media and Politics from the University of Bologna and has previously been a trainee at the Permanent Delegation of Italy to UNESCO in Paris and at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Rome.

Iakovina Kindylidi (EU Team Leader)

Iakovina Kindylidi is a Greek lawyer based in Portugal, specializing in data, cybersecurity, and intellectual property, with a focus on emerging technologies like AI, Web3, smart contracts, and NFTs. She is a senior associate in the TMT practice at Viera de Almeida (VdA) and a product owner for VdA's deliverables in the Center for Responsible AI. Iakovina also teaches Law & Technology as a lecturer at NOVA School of Law and is an IEEE CertifAIEd Lead Assessor. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Law & AI Governance.

Carissa Mears (EU Team Leader)

Carissa Mears is a Toronto based lawyer and consultant with nearly a decade’s worth of experience. Her interests are at the intersection of artificial intelligence, privacy and data governance. She is called to the bar in Ontario, Canada, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago with work experience in North America and the Caribbean within a variety of industries. As a lifelong learner she is pursuing an LLM in Privacy and Cybersecurity Law at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto where she has written a significant research paper on AI regulation within the US, the EU and Canada. As a Google Women Techmaker Ambassador she mentors women who are interested in technology careers. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Law with Honors from the University of the West Indies.

Christian Stiegler

Christian Stiegler is an internationally renowned researcher and expert on emerging technologies. He is the Director of Guiding Light, an organization promoting ethical and sustainable technological practices. Dr. Stiegler has held professorships in the UK and Germany, including at Brunel University London and University of the West of England. He is the author of influential works on digital media and technology, including The 360° Gaze (MIT Press). His research focuses on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, extended reality, and related technologies. As a leading voice in the global 'Tech for Good' movement, he consults for organizations such as the European Commission, UNICEF and GIZ to help foster an equitable technological future.

Giovanna Jaramillo-Gutierrez

Giovanna is a data scientist and AI policy researcher consultant. She is part of the EU team within the Center for AI and Digital Policy’s Policy Group (US) and serves as Research Team Lead at Arcadia Impact’s AI Governance Task Force in the UK, focusing on frontier AI risk management and incident monitoring. Beyond research, she teaches AI and data science at allWomen.tech and facilitates the Center for AI Safety’s ‘AI Safety, Ethics and Society’ course. She is a ForHumanity Certified Auditor (FHCA) for the EU AI Act and a Certified AI Governance Professional (AIGP) by the IAPP. Previously, she spent more than a decade at the World Health Organization (WHO), leading outbreak analytics and surveillance during public health crises, including pandemic influenza, Ebola and COVID-19.

Caroline Lancelot (PhD) is a Social and Behavioral Scientist conducting academic research on the impact of Technology on Society, with a focus on the psychological, behavioral, human, ethical, and societal issues associated with technology development, deployment, and use. 

She is recognized as a Privacy Leader (Academia) and was given the PICCASO Privacy Awards in 2023. Prof. Lancelot is the author of 50+ articles, book chapters, and communication articles in peer-reviewed, high-profile academic journals and conferences. In addition to her contribution to the Policy Group at the Center for AI and Digital Policy, Caroline is collaborating with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), where she serves as a member of the European Advisory Board. Caroline is an advocate for human rights, human dignity, and human well-being, as well as for responsible, trustworthy, and sustainable tech and AI practices, at the intersection of emerging technologies and ethics. In her research, Caroline has worked with a variety of organizations such as NGOs, companies (e.g., IBM), and regulators (e.g., the French Data Protection Authority-CNIL and the European Commission). Caroline completed her PhD in Social Sciences from the Paris Dauphine University (France) and currently resides in Nantes, France.

Rémy Ibarcq

Rémy Ibarcq is a data and AI professional passionate about the transformative impact of AI and data on business and society. As a Data & Analytics Specialist at L'Oréal, he manages data governance projects and develops BI solutions. His expertise in AI governance extends to roles as a Global AI Policy Researcher at CAIDP, an AI project collaborator at Data For Good—where he explores AI’s benefits through data science—and an AI Ethics Facilitator at Latitudes, raising awareness of AI’s societal challenges. Rémy is known for his strong communication and problem-solving skills, honed in diverse, multicultural environments.

Andrea Palumbo

Andrea Palumbo currently works as researcher on projects financed by the European Commission at the Centre for IT and IP Law (CiTiP) of KU Leuven, where he also pursues a PhD on the protection of fundamental rights in risk-based EU regulation of digital technologies. Before joining CiTiP, Andrea has been working in law firms in the areas of ICT and financial services law, as an adviser for a trade association, and in national and EU financial regulatory authorities. Andrea holds a master’s of law from LUISS University and an advanced LLM in IP and ICT Law from KU Leuven.

Artem Kobrin is a privacy and AI compliance lawyer with 10 years of experience, including significant roles as a privacy legislative compliance consultant at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and senior privacy specialist at Ukraine's largest bank “PrivatBank”. He holds various certifications, including FIP, AIGP, CIPT, CIPM, CIPP/E, CIPP/US, CIPP/C, CIPP/A, CDPSE, and OneTrust Fellow of Privacy Technology. He is a co-author of the first GDPR compliance book in Ukraine. He is a member of the Expert Committee on the Development of Artificial Intelligence in Ukraine under the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

Tomiris Amirova (G7/G20 Team Leader)

Tomiris is an Academic Associate at the Florence School of Regulation, European University Institute. Previously, she held an internship position at the Centre for European Policy Studies, where her responsibilities included supporting stakeholder engagement through research and event coordination for the EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council and the EU Global Gateway. Tomiris holds a Master of Arts in Transnational Governance with a specialization in Digitalization, Technology and Media from the European University Institute’s School of Transnational Governance in Florence, Italy. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Sedef Akinli Kocak (G7/G20 Team Leader)

Dr. Sedef Akinli Kocak is a recognized leader in artificial intelligence with over a decade of experience driving AI adoption, advancing responsible AI practices, and shaping technology policy. She currently serves as the Director of AI Professional Development at the Vector Institute, where she leads strategic programs that build workforce capacity and support the integration of advanced AI technologies across industries. Dr. Akinli Kocak is known for designing and delivering high-impact AI initiatives that align with business objectives. She also serves in advisory capacities to several national and international organizations committed to ethical and sustainable technology development. Her contributions to the AI ecosystem have been widely acknowledged. She was named Leader of the Year 2025 in the Women in AI North America: AI for Good Awards, listed in the Top 25 Women in AI: Canada Edition, and nominated for the DMZ Women of the Year Award in 2022. In addition to her role at Vector, Dr. Akinli Kocak was appointed Adjunct Professor at Ontario Tech University, where she supports research and education through the Trustworthy AI Lab. She is an active member of ACM, IEEE, Engineers for a Sustainable World, Women in AI, and AI4Good.

Ruoyi Lu

Ruoyi Lu is an associate at Linklaters whose work operates at the intersection of technology, national security, and regulatory law. His practice focuses on guiding global technology leaders through China's intricate regulatory landscape, particularly concerning AI governance, data security, and the national security implications of cross-border operations. He has advised on compliance with pan-Asia data protection and cybersecurity regulations and provided specialised regulatory due diligence for M&A and fundraising transactions in sensitive sectors.

Beyond his advisory role, Ruoyi is actively involved in shaping policy frameworks. He contributes to policy advocacy and lobbying efforts on behalf of several major industry associations and business chambers on AI governance and data localisation issues.

Ruoyi’s focus on technology regulation is rooted in his academic background. He holds an LL.B. from the China University of Political Science and Law, where his thesis explored the regulatory pathways for medical artificial intelligence from a data security perspective. Ruoyi holds the PRC Law Profession Qualification and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional - Europe (CIPP/E).

Shuvarthi Bhattacharjee

Shuvarthi Bhattacharjee is a Senior Consultant in the Government and Public Services domain with a leading global consultancy firm. He has over ten years of international experience in academia and the not-for-profit sector, focusing on projects related to digital health, AI governance, healthcare management, evidence synthesis and participatory research.

He contributes to global initiatives and organizations like IEEE, the IHME Global Burden of Disease study and the UN Global Digital Compact. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of the IEEE AgeTech initiative’s Study Group on Wearable Devices for Healthy Ageing.

Shuvarthi is completing his PhD in co-designing digital health technologies at the University of Brighton, UK, in 2025. He holds a background in public health and an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering. Since 2024, he has been engaged with CAIDP, first as a Research Group Member and later as a Team Leader, earning distinction in both roles. He is dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation at the intersection of health, technology and policy.

Humeyra Cirit

Humeyra Cirit is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in both New York and Istanbul. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in National Security and Cybersecurity Law from George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC, and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Bilkent University Faculty of Law in Ankara, Turkey. Mrs. Cirit is CIPP/US certified and a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). Actively engaged in the evolving AI sector. She currently practices law in the USA.

Caroline Friedman Levy

Caroline Friedman Levy is a clinical psychologist, researcher and policy specialist with expertise applying behavioral science to policy implementation. She holds a B.A. from Cornell University, a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Vermont, and an M.Sc. in health, community and development from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She recently co-led the research team that published "Liability as a Policy Lever in AI Governance: Amplifying the Global Discussion" for the Policy Network on AI (PNAI) at the UN-convened Internet Governance Forum (IGF). Her policy background includes serving as a Fellow at the UK Department for Education, as a Research-to-Policy Collaboration Scholar at Penn State's Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, and as an appointee to the consultative network which advised the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.

Nam Phuong Ngo 

Nam Phuong Ngo is a PhD candidate in Law at the University of Liverpool, UK, focusing on competition law and the regulation of emerging technologies. Phuong graduated as the Valedictorian of her Bachelor of Laws programme at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, Vietnam, and completed her Master of Laws at the University of Liverpool as a Hodgson Law Scholar. Before her PhD, Phuong practised at a leading commercial law firm in Vietnam, where she provided legal advice on business and regulatory matters. Dedicated to interdisciplinary collaboration, Phuong aims to advance legal frameworks that address the complexities of emerging technologies.

Christabel Randolph (Bangladesh, Georgetown Law)

Christabel is an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.  She holds an Advanced Certification in AI Policy from CAIDP. She has experience working across South-Asia and the Middle-East with multinational corporations, the WHO, IDLO and in private practice. She completed her LL.M in Technology Law & Policy as a merit scholar  from Georgetown University Law Center. She also completed a masters in law & economics as an Erasmus Mundus scholar. Christabel commits time as General Secretary of Vattara Hope Foundation, a non-profit that runs the School of Hope (founded in 1990) for slum children in Dhaka and Executive Member, Board of Trustees of World Concern Bangladesh operating micro-finance for ultra-poor in Bangladesh. 

Dr. Grace Thomson, Policy Clinic Coordinator

Grace advises on strategy, governance, and policy for AI in Education and public innovation. She founded the AI Academy and is an Advisory Board member of the AI Education Forum in the UAE. She is a member of the UNESCO/IESALC Implementation Group on Ethics, Safety, and Inclusion and a Mentor for the Diploma en Gobernabilidad e Innovación Pública (CAF-Universidad Complutense de Madrid). Grace attained the CAIDP AI Policy Certificates with Distinction and joined the Policy Group, where she led statements to the UK government on AI governance. She was designated a Research Fellow by the CAIDP Board. 

Tamiko Eto, MS CIP- Senior Teaching Fellow

Ms. Eto serves as Director of Research Operations at the Mayo Clinic. She has 19 years of experience in the field of human subjects research protection, conducting reviews of complex industry and federally funded AI research. She leverages this experience to implement policies and guidance for AI-enabled healthcare solutions. To facilitate researchers and ethics committees across the US and globally, she has developed tools and checklists for application in the regulatory review of AI research. Tamiko also serves on the AI Ethics Advisory Board for the Institute of Experiential AI (EAI) at Northeastern University. She attained the CAIDP AI Policy Certificates with Distinction and is a Research Fellow and member of the CAIDP Policy Group.

Jason Raymond - Teaching Fellow

Jason Raymond is an International Business professional with extensive experience in DevOps and project management for Ed Tech. His work in the Caribbean and African regions focuses on UNESCO's ICT Competency Framework, online safeguarding, data protection, and open licensing. Jason holds an MA in International Business and an MSc in Internet Applications Development, building on a BSc in Chemistry and Management. Jason graduated with the CAIDP AI Policy Certificate and the Advanced AI Policy Certificate, upon serving as a Team Leader with Distinction. 

Aditi Rukhaiyar - Team Leader F25

Aditi Rukhaiyar is a technology policy and strategic communications professional with extensive cross-sector experience spanning the public, private, and non-profit domains. She has designed and led high-impact campaigns and advocacy initiatives to advance organizational policy and business priorities, with particular expertise in Responsible AI, misinformation and disinformation, data privacy, and cybersecurity. Adept at distilling complex issues into clear, actionable narratives, she engages stakeholders ranging from C-suite executives and policymakers to investors, technical experts, and media. Her multidisciplinary background integrates stakeholder engagement, partnership development, project management, and strategic storytelling. Aditi holds advanced degrees from Columbia University, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and Lady Shri Ram College.

Adrianna Tan - Team Leader F25

Adrianna Tan is an experienced technical product and program leader who is currently the Director of Product Management at Monterey Bay Aquarium. Previously, she was the Director of Product Management at San Francisco Services, AI evals red team project lead at Humane Intelligence, and member of the GSA federal advisory committee on AI. She is interested in the impact of AI on humans and society. She is also a co-author on “Red Teaming for Trust: Evaluating Multicultural and Multilingual AI Systems in Asia-Pacific” and the “Singapore AI Safety Red Teaming Challenge Evaluation Report”.

Ana Lucia Martin -Team Leader F25

Ana Lucia Martin holds two bachelor's degrees in Psychology and in Spanish-German Studies. She will soon graduate from her Master's degree in Public Policy and Human Development from UNU-MERIT and Maastricht University. She is a former Blue Book trainee. Currently working at the European Health and Digital Executive Agency, where she gained experience in project management, financial analysis, and feedback to policy,  assisting projects funded by European funds (Digital Europe Programme, CEF Telecom and Horizon Europe). She is particularly interested in the development of regulation around healthcare and AI, including medical wearables, and evidence-based policy research of innovation. 

Dr Andrea Thomas  -Team Leader F25

Dr. Andrea Thomas is a global education leader shaping the future of learning where culture, technology, and human connection meet. For nearly two decades, she has helped educators and leaders in over 45 countries harness virtual exchange, digital innovation, and responsible AI to expand access and strengthen collaboration. A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Fulbright Specialist, and UN Global Diplomacy Fellow, Andrea is the Founder and CEO of The Common Place and Team Lead at the Center for AI and Digital Policy. At the heart of her work is a mission to build trust and create the conditions for peace.

Anisa Abeytia - Team Leader F25

Anisa Abeytia is a research and policy leader with over 10 years of experience managing interdisciplinary teams, developing digital equity and AI-adjacent programs, and translating complex findings into actionable policy. Proven record engaging U.S. government agencies, NGOs, and global institutions. Skilled in prompt engineering, LLM/multimodal evaluation, and red-teaming. Focused on inclusive innovation, ethical governance, and responsible AI in national security and humanitarian contexts. PhD Candidate in Science & Technology Policy Studies at the University of Sussex. Holds MAs from Stanford University and the University of San Francisco.

Atdhe Lila- Team Leader F25

Atdhe Lila is the Executive Director of the Institute for Technology and Society (ITS) in Kosovo and Co-Founder of DigiLegals LLC, a consulting firm. With over 10 years of experience, he has specialized in technology law, data protection, AI regulation and governance, and digital rights. He has led projects with USAID, GIZ, LuxDev, the Council of Europe, and other international partners, focusing on legal innovation and digital transformation. Atdhe holds an Advanced LL.M. in Law & Digital Technologies from Leiden University and is committed to advancing human rights and regulatory frameworks in the digital age.

Candice Alder - Team Leader F25

Candice Alder is a psychotherapist and AI ethicist with interest in the ethical and human-centred integration of AI technology for the betterment of humanity.  Candice is an IEEE CertifAIEd authorized AI assessor and standards development working group member, as well as the author of Canada’s first guidelines on the ethical integration of AI into psychotherapy practice.  Candice is president of the Board of Directors for the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, and her professional mental health experience spans over 20 years of working with marginalized children, youth, and families in such settings as public education, non-profit, government, and private practice

Cecilia Garcia Podoley-  Team Leader F25

Cecilia Garcia Podoley is a lawyer and seasoned ethics, compliance, and AI-governance specialist with three decades of international experience. She has led compliance programs at several multinational enterprises, and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Board and Co-Chair of the AI and Compliance Working Group at Ethics & Compliance Switzerland. Cecilia holds a JD in public international law, a specialization in high-tech law, and recent certifications in computational social science and AI governance. Fluent in four languages, she advises the Ethical AI Alliance, writes on AI ethics for Le Monde Économique, and advises companies on ethical AI and AI governance. She lives in Geneva, Switzerland.

Charitarth Bharti - Team Leader F25

Charitarth is a privacy and AI consultant based out of Toronto, Canada with a strong legal and policy foundation and extensive experience advising clients at the intersection of technical and legal requirements. He is a published researcher and teacher/trainer in technology and digital policy and brings his passion for the subject to both academic as well as professional advisory domains. When he’s exhausted keeping up with the pace of innovation in the AI domain, he spends his time hiking, climbing, playing tennis/soccer and skiing in the winter season.

Daire Maria Ni Uanachain -Team Leader F25

Daire Maria Ni Uanachain is an award-nominated educator, researcher, and EdTech strategist working across Ireland, Italy, and France. She leads education initiatives focused on innovative teaching and equitable, democratic AI integration and collaborates with European universities on research into generative AI, digital literacy, and inclusion. Daire regularly facilitates training and roundtables on ethical AI in education and has developed practical frameworks for its integration. With a strong background in interdisciplinary education and policy translation, Daire’s work centers on civic participation and youth empowerment in technology-enhanced learning environments.

Danait Girma-  Team Leader F25

Danait Girma is a Digital Transformation Advisor with experience in strategy, policy, and delivery across Ethiopia’s digital economy. At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, she has provided inputs on Ethiopia’s AI Strategy and is currently supporting the development of the Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy. She has also contributed to Ghana’s Digital Economy Policy and initiatives advancing Digital Public Infrastructure. Holding an MSc in Data Science and multiple certifications in AI governance, safety, and security, Danait focuses on translating digital strategies into tangible impact that drives inclusive growth and strengthens institutional capacity.

Darleen Langen- Team Leader F25

Darleen Langen is a lawyer specialising in the intersection of law and technology. Her areas of expertise include data protection, AI and international law. She recently obtained her LL.M. in Information and Communication Technology Law. Her thesis is about the legal regulation of AI systems that predict political crises. She also worked as a Research Assistant in Public and International Law and participated in research in the area of International Solidarity and AI. She has in-house experience as a lawyer in the corporate sector, focused particularly on technology and the internet.

Elias Kassaye –   Team Leader F25

Elias Kassaye is a globally experienced digital governance strategist, ICT professional, and AI policy advocate with over a decade of service across United Nations missions and international ICT initiatives. His expertise spans governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), with a focus on bridging the digital divide, promoting ethical AI, and advancing international standards in digital resilience and governance. Elias graduated with Distinction graduate of CAIDP and contributed to the AIDV Index.  

Elias has successfully led the establishment and operationalization of PMOs, SMOs, and digital governance functions. Certified in PRINCE2®, ITIL®, COBIT®, GRCP®, GRCA®, BRMP®, and AI governance. He is an active member of BCS, ISACA, OCEG, PMI, the Internet Society chapters, Axelos, PeopleCert, and the UN Innovation Network. Elias holds a BSc in Computer Science and an MBA with distinction. His research examines the geopolitical implications of AI governance and strategies aimed at reducing the digital divide. 

Emma O’Connell  -Team Leader F25

Emma O’Connell is a legal researcher and public procurement expert with a strong focus on AI governance. With a background in European and Global law, specialising in international trade and investment law, her research examines how legal frameworks must evolve to address emerging technologies. She has co-authored publications on AI and procurement and was one of six individual contributors to the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights report “AI Procurement and Deployment in line with the UN Guiding Principles on BHRs” (A/HRC/59/53). Recognised as an industry leader and speaker at the World AI Cannes Festival and other global forums, Emma is shaping next-generation standards for transparent, ethical, and accountable AI regulation

Engy Said - Team Leader F25

Engy is a PhD candidate and lecturer at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University. Her research interests focus on conflict analysis and resolution, political economy, economies of war, governance and institutions, post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding, identity conflicts, climate change and environmental peacebuilding, with a particular focus on the MENA region and the Mediterranean. Engy has a keen interest in exploring how economics can be leveraged as a tool to reconcile divided societies. Her past research projects have included environmental peacebuilding in the Middle East, the role of identity in conflict and peacebuilding, and the intersectionality between corruption and conflict, particularly in multiethnic and multireligious societies.

Facundo Bonaura - Team Leader F25

Facundo Bonaura is a lawyer specialized in Tort Law (UBA) and State Advocacy (PTN), with additional training in artificial intelligence, legal innovation, and technology governance. He has authored articles on AI and researches regulatory frameworks, legislative initiatives in Argentina, AI adoption in the Judiciary, and neuro-rights. Currently pursuing a Postgraduate Program in Generative AI, Prompting & Law (UBA), he is also an active member of OdiseIA, ALTA, and the CAIDP AI Policy Clinic.

Farah Alqattan - Team Leader F25

Farah Alqattan currently resides in California.  She has successfully obtained degrees in Criminal Justice and Cybersecurity. Her educational, professional, and personal background has been founded and fortified in health sciences, justice, innovation, faith, and service. 

Farah has applied her intelligence, intuition, higher guidance and radical optimism to inspire creativity and personhood morale by launching 7 book publications and sharing a paper highlighting the risks and benefits of AI. Her recent endeavors have been focused on AI Governance and Policy. Looking to the future, Farah envisions a vibrant paradise for her neighbors that is both physically and virtually safe. 

Giovana Fleck - Team Leader F25

Giovana Fleck works on the intersection of journalism, research, and advocacy, using storytelling as a catalyst for change. Her work spans critical areas, including human rights, technology, and digital policy, demonstrating a commitment to uncovering and disseminating impactful narratives. Giovana possesses a track record of conducting in-depth, open-source investigations and employing rigorous narrative and policy analysis. For the past years, she has been leading Global Voices' Civic Media Observatory and working as an editor for stories about the Lusophone Africa region. She currently works at RNW Media as the policy advisor for media and human rights. 

Hamilton Katsvairo - Team Leader F25

Hamilton Katsvairo is an experienced Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy researcher, educator, mentor and practitioner with over 16 years of practice driving digital transformation and national skills development. He is a thought leader in the fields of AI, business intelligence and digital transformation, with a proven track record in graduate, postgraduate program development and industry collaboration. Hamilton's qualifications include a Master of Big Data Analytics, Master of Business Intelligence, and is a PhD candidate in AI and Strategic Leadership at Marondera University (MUAST), Zimbabwe

Sathiyaseelan Janani - Team Leader F25

Sathiyaseelan Janani is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, and a qualified Attorney-at-Law in Sri Lanka. Her scholarly and professional pursuits are centered on the ethical and governance dimensions of Artificial Intelligence, with a specific emphasis on the regulation of digital labour in the age of algorithmic management and artificial intelligence. Janani advocates for a socio-technological approach to AI regulation. She was an active member of the CAIDP research group in Spring 2025, during which she earned the CAIDP AI Policy Certificate with Distinction, and was appointed as a Team Leader for the Fall 2025 semester.

Javier Ibáñez-Guzman - Team Leader F25

Javier Ibanez is a Corporate Expert on Autonomous Systems at Renault and Co-Director of SIVALab, a joint laboratory with CNRS and UTC Compiègne, where he works on intelligent vehicle technologies, AI, and verification methods. He received an M.S.E.E. from the University of Pennsylvania as a Fulbright Scholar and a Ph.D. from the University of Reading, U.K. Earlier, Javier was a Senior Scientist at A*STAR Singapore, leading autonomous ground vehicle research. He also serves as an expert for the EU and Eureka research programmes. A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the IET (U.K.), he is a Lifetime Member of the IEEE.

Julia Mykhailiuk -Team Leader F25

Julia Mykhailiuk is an expert in AI policy, with a focus on EU and international AI governance. She previously led a Brussels-based think tank, collaborating with the European Commission and EU AI Office on the EU AI Act and related guidelines. Julia is a 2025 Taiwan–US–Europe Policy Fellow at the German Marshall Fund, a Research Fellow at FP21 in Washington, D.C., and a contributor to the OECD's Hiroshima AI Process framework. She has advised UNESCO and takes part in global dialogues on technology governance. Her work has earned her recognition as one of the Top 33 Women in AI 2025.

Kyoungsic Min  -Team Leader F25

Kyoungsic Min is Privacy Counsel and Asia Regional Lead at VeraSafe, where he advises multinational organizations on global data protection and AI governance. He previously practiced at Yulchon LLC in Seoul and Ho Chi Minh City, served in the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, and worked at the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Admitted to practice law in Korea and Washington, D.C., he holds LLB, LLM, JD, and PhD (Coursework Completed), together with AIGP, CIPP/E, and ISO/IEC 27001, 27701, and 42001 PA certifications. He also chairs the IAPP Seoul KnowledgeNet Chapter and serves on the International Committee and the International Human Rights Committee of the Korean Bar Association.

Luisa Jiménez-Mahecha -Team Leader F25

Luisa Jiménez-Mahecha is an AI & Corporate Lawyer. Director at Lloreda Camacho & Co., Professor at Universidad del Rosario. Secretary General of the Colombian Association of Commercial Lawyers and former Vice President of the Colombian Legaltech Association. Author of the paper “Legal and Economic Challenges of AI Regulation in Latin America and the Caribbean” (Aranzadi Thomson Reuters, 2022); and author of “Contractual and Non-Contractual Liability in the Maze of Artificial Intelligence” (E-mercatoria, 2025).

Marcela Campos Jabôr  -Team Leader F25

Marcela Campos Jabôr is a results-oriented Senior Attorney and Government Relations Coordinator with over 15 years of experience in Public Law and Government Relations. Demonstrated track record in leading strategic initiatives, implementing public policies, and negotiating public contracts, including concession agreements and public-private partnership (PPP) contracts, in complex and high-risk environments. Seeks to leverage skills in risk management, compliance, and partnerships between the public and private sectors to drive innovation and sustainability efforts in large organizations. PhD student researching the impact of AI in Public Contracts.

Marin Milenkoski- Team Leader F25

Marin has spent years working in data protection and technology, supporting global clients from healthcare organisations handling sensitive data to recruitment firms, banks, and startups. He has developed compliance strategies, led risk assessments, and collaborated with regulators across Europe. Day-to-day, he engages with data subjects and addresses real-world privacy challenges. Currently, Marin serves as a Senior Consultant in Data Protection and AI Governance, leading teams and building frameworks from the ground up. He has delivered end-to-end solutions aligned with GDPR, the EU AI Act, and ISO/IEC 42001.