Spring 2026 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. 

Sarah Chao, Georgetown University

Sarah Chao is a Georgetown University student, pursuing honors in Government and double minoring in Tech, Ethics, & Society (TES) and Law, Justice, & Society (LJS). She intends to pursue law school after completing her undergraduate degree. Prior to CAIDP, Sarah worked as a Google Public Policy Fellow, researching technology law and policy issues such as privacy, artificial intelligence, online speech, content moderation, antitrust, and digital safety. She is also currently a Research Fellow at the Knight-Georgetown Institute, where she analyzes the use of empirical evidence in digital platform litigation across district, appellate, and Supreme Court jurisdictions.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahh-chao/

Anika Jaitley, Northwestern University

Anika Jaitley is a 3rd-year pre-law student at Northwestern University, studying cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and legal studies. She is passionate about exploring how emerging technologies are reshaping the legal landscape. As a research assistant for the Law and Technology Initiative at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, she investigates the current and potential impacts of AI in the judiciary, focusing on both practical applications and ethical considerations. On campus, she leads a newsletter that examines the ethical and societal implications of technology, and she contributes to the law journal, writing on topics including AI trade secrets versus litigation transparency.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anika-Jaitley 

Ginny Driscoll, Georgetown University

Ginny Driscoll is an undergraduate student at Georgetown University studying Computer Science with minors in Economics and French. Through her work with Georgetown’s Scientific Research Journal and proximity to current political events in Washington, D.C., the intersection of technology and policy has become a central focus of her academic and professional interests. Ginny is particularly interested in how developments in Artificial Intelligence and network security can influence and shape our nation’s policy.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginnydriscoll

José Pedro Fermandois, Georgetown Law

José Pedro Fermandois is a Chilean lawyer with a background in constitutional and regulatory matters. He has extensive experience in legislative and administrative processes, including advising the Presidency of the Republic of Chile at the Ministry of the Presidential Secretariat on the exercise of regulatory powers, legislative initiatives, and constitutional affairs. He is currently an LL.M. candidate at Georgetown University Law Center, where he focuses on privacy, and AI regulation. At the Center for AI and Digital Policy, he works on research and advocacy related to U.S. and comparative AI governance.

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-pedro-fermandois-santa-cruz-52576b182/ 

Alyssa Heminger, George Washington Law

Alyssa is a second-year law student at The George Washington University with a focus on artificial intelligence, business, and intellectual property law. She has experience conducting legal research and drafting judicial orders as a judicial intern at the Superior Court of California, Santa Clara County. During her first law school summer, Alyssa studied abroad in Munich, Germany, where she focused on EU data protection law and European institutions. She holds a B.S. in Political Science and Community Development from Portland State University, graduating with highest honors for her thesis on regulating automated decision-making under U.S. legal frameworks. Outside of her studies, Alyssa enjoys running and catching the latest movie.

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssaheminger

Dr. Grace Thomson, AI Policy Clinic Director

Grace is an Advisor in Policy and Strategy on AI and Public Innovation. She leads strategy and operations of the AI Policy Clinics and the research logistics of the CAIDP Index. As a CAIDP Fellow, she led policy engagement with the UK ICO on Generative AI and advised the G7, the UN, and the African Union on AI governance. Member of the UNESCO Global CSO & Academic Network, UNESCO/IESALC IG on Ethics, Safety, and Inclusion, UAE AI Education Forum, and CLETEC. She mentors CSOs and civil servants on SDG-aligned projects for the Diploma in Governance and Public Innovation (CAF-Universidad Complutense de Madrid).

Tamiko Eto, MS CIP- Senior Teaching Fellow

Tamiko is Founder of TechInHSR, a consulting agency specializing in AI research compliance and ethical standards. She has 20 years experience in research compliance, technology risk assessment, and data sharing. Ms. Eto is a recognized thought leader in interpreting and shaping policies around AI-enabled research, bridging the gap between cutting-edge innovation and regulatory frameworks. Her work focuses on building institutional capacity for AI oversight through frameworks that are rigorous and pragmatic, ensuring AI research can advance without compromising the fundamental protections that safeguard research participants.

Varsha Sewlal - Teaching Fellow

Varsha is a  Privacy and Tech Lawyer with a background in civil litigation, human rights law, and commercial law. Executive Legal and Deputy Information Officer at the Railway Safety Regulator. Her expertise lies in ICT advisory and training services, drafting legal guidelines and policies, and conducting research on  AI regulation, global data protection, cybersecurity frameworks, and ICT law. Varsha is passionate about ICTs and development, crafting effective policy proposals that balance innovation with risk mitigation for societal good. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science, LLB, and LLM in Commercial Law, and is a doctoral candidate.  Varsha attained the CAIDP AI Policy Certificates with Distinction and is a Research Fellow and member of the CAIDP Policy Group.

Abdullah Elbi - Team Leader S26

Abdullah Elbi is a doctoral researcher at KU Leuven Centre for IT and IP Law, focusing on the regulation of AI, fundamental rights, data protection, including biometrics, digital identity, human oversight, and employee surveillance. He is a qualified lawyer and certified data protection and AI specialist (CIPP/E & CIPM) with over 7 years of experience in the field. At CiTiP,  Abdullah advises on EU and nationally funded projects and provides strategic guidance on data and AI governance.

Agustina Brizio  - Team Leader S26

Agustina Brizio is a lawyer and public policy specialist focused on artificial intelligence governance and digital transformation. She holds an MPA in Digital Technologies and Policy from University College London, where her research examined the use of AI tools for evidence synthesis in government. Agustina has held senior public sector roles in Argentina, including Undersecretary of Information Technologies, where she led national AI governance initiatives, cybersecurity strategies, and guidelines for trustworthy AI in the public sector. She currently works as Digital Technologies and Innovation Manager at Asuntos del Sur and contributes to global AI governance research through academic and multilateral networks.

Aiko Shimizu - Team Leader Sp26

Aiko Shimizu leads AI workforce and skills strategy at the intersection of government policy, economic security, and responsible AI adoption at Microsoft. She is also an Adjunct Fellow at the Pacific Forum, and an Advisory Board Member at the Japan Reskilling Initiative. Prior to her current role, Aiko held various public policy roles across the U.S., Japan, and Germany.

Aiko received her graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). She received her Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Chicago.

Alessandro Ciceri - Team Leader Sp26

Alessandro Ciceri is a digital policy researcher specialising in AI governance. He holds an LLM with Distinction from the University of Exeter, where his research focused on AI, data protection, and the GDPR’s right to be forgotten in the context of large language models.

He has contributed to AI governance initiatives through his work with the ITU’s AI for Good, where he supported the AI Governance Dialogue 2025 and contributed to the Annual AI Governance Report 2025. Alessandro is also the founder of the Youth AI Governance Forum, a platform dedicated to promoting meaningful youth representation in AI policy discussions.

 Amanda Camilotti  - Team Leader S26

Amanda Camilotti is a global attorney at the intersection of international law, tech, and data privacy. She has more than 10 years of experience leading international negotiations, communicating with diverse stakeholders, and managing contracts. She holds a Master of Laws degree and an MBA with a double concentration in Supply Chain Management and Sustainability from the University of Denver.

Amanda leverages her legal and business expertise helping organizations tackle governance, risk, and compliance challenges through effective risk assessment and mitigation strategies. Currently serving as a Team Leader for the Center of AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP), she holds certifications such as SANS AIS247: AI Security Essentials for Business Leader and Google Cybersecurity Professional certificate. 

Ameneh Dehshiri – Team Leader, Spring 2026

Ameneh Dehshiri is an AI and digital rights lawyer and researcher working at the intersection of technology, law, and human rights. Her work focuses on AI governance, data protection, and internet freedom, with particular attention to algorithmic bias, data sovereignty, and rights-based regulatory frameworks. She advocates for ethical, transparent, and accountable technologies, especially in contexts of mass surveillance, digital censorship, and corporate power. Through research and policy engagement, she aims to ensure that technological development remains aligned with fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Angesom Teklu - Team Leader Sp26

Angesom Teklu is a Ph.D. student in Policy Analysis researching the societal, economic, and geopolitical implications of frontier AI technologies. With over five years of experience in data analysis and evidence-based policy design, he applies rigorous methodologies to technology impact assessments and policy analysis.

Angesom holds a master's degree in Sustainable International Development with specialization in global economic financing and partnerships. For the past five years, he has worked as both researcher and practitioner, investigating complex challenges at the intersection of global systems and emerging technologies.

Arife Karaçelik- Team Leader S26

Arife Karaçelik is a lawyer with experience in technology, data protection, and e-commerce. She is certified Data Protection Officer (DPO) and has worked on legal issues related to GDPR

compliance, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. She combines her legal practice with an interest in emerging technologies and international technology policies; focusing particularly on the intersection of law, AI governance, and digital transformation

Ademulegun Blessing - Team Leader S26

Ademulegun Blessing is Vice President, Chief AI Ethicist at the African Tech for Development Initiative and Founder of Grinwad Integrated Tech Hub. Research focused on algorithmic bias detection and AI governance frameworks for Global South contexts. Team Leader at CAIDP, Fellow at the Pan-African Center for AI Ethics (PACFAIE) and ForHumanity, and sits on the Executive Board of TechKids AI, UK. As co-developer of VisionX Scan, reduced AI system biases by over 30% and co-authored The Truth Behind The Code. Holds certifications in AI Governance (AIGP), Enterprise IT Governance (CGEIT), and Corporate Governance (CGPC).

Camille Garrison – Team Leader S26

Camille Garrison is a Jamaican corporate/ commercial attorney with experience in advising clients on capital markets transactions, intellectual property protection and strategy, and general corporate/ commercial matters. She helps businesses structure deals, protect their intangible assets, and navigate legal complexity.

Camille also has a keen interest in technology law, particularly in the development and regulation of artificial intelligence. This passion drives her work in AI policy and governance, data protection, and digital intellectual property. Outside of work, she enjoys marathoning, hiking, playing tennis, a good game of chess, and remaining engaged with the evolving landscape of AI policy and regulation.

Chazara Clark-Smith - Team Leader S26

Chazara Clark-Smith serves as the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy and Governance Lead for the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) where she led the development of AI strategy and adoption across the IRS. Chazara was also Senior Technical Advisor to the Deputy Director of Submission Processing - Application Development. In 2024 Chazara was awarded the IRS Commissioner’s Award for her role in leading the Information Returns Intake System (IRIS) program. In December of 2023 Chazara also earned the Service to the Citizen Award for her delivery of the IRS Information Returns Modernization program.

Diana Duran- Team Leader S26

Diana Durán is a purpose-driven strategic communications, public affairs, and technology policy leader with 12+ years of experience connecting governments, policymakers, civil society, and citizens across Latin America. Specialized in public policy, digital advocacy, and emerging technologies, including AI governance. 

Led cross-regional campaigns contributing to the approval of 41+ national laws by bridging civic voices and institutional decision-making. Passionate about using storytelling, data, and technology to strengthen democracy, expand access, and support mission-driven organizations through empathetic, human-centered leadership.

Emma Jones - Team Leader S26

Emma Jones is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Sheffield, UK. Her teaching focuses upon the impacts of digital technology on the legal sector. She is Director of Sheffield Digital Justice, an inter-disciplinary extra-curricular initiative designed to develop students’ critical AI literacy through a variety of projects, including an AI Policy Clinic. She is co-author of the groundbreaking textbook ‘Digital Lawyering: in the 21st Century’ (Routledge, 2021) with a second edition forthcoming in 2026.

Emma is an active researcher in several fields, including digital technology and legal education and wellbeing and emotions in legal education and practice. 

Faith Kabata - Team Leader S26

Faith Kabata is a lawyer specialized in international human rights law, focussing on artificial intelligence and human rights. In 2024, she completed post-doctoral research on legal and ethical issues in artificial intelligence and human genomics at the University of KwaZulu Natal. She is a lecturer at Kenyatta University School of Law.  Previously, she was the academic Dean of the School and an advisor in the Presidency in Kenya on human rights and rule of law. She holds a LL. B degree from University of Nairobi, LL.M from University of Notre Dame, USA and PhD from University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Farhan Yusuf - Team Leader S26

Farhan Yusuf is a pharmacist with fourteen years of experience in health spanning across the public, private and non-profit sectors. He has supported various technical areas in programs implemented in the health sector including leadership & governance, program management, monitoring & evaluation, communications, knowledge management, public private partnerships & policy development. He now brings the same experiences from the health to the technology sector with a keen interest in AI policy and supports a local organization called the Tanzania AI Community as a Policy Advisor while also consulting on different health and leadership related programs in Tanzania and globally.

Germán López Ardila - Team Leader S26

Germán López Ardila is a lawyer and lecturer specializing in technology policy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and Internet governance. He is Vice President of the Colombian Chamber of IT and Telecommunications and a member of UNESCO’s AI Ethics Without Borders Network. He teaches tech policy and governance in Colombia, Guatemala, and Chile. Germán participated in Georgetown University’s Latin American Leadership Program and has been a fellow of organizations such as the Internet Society, LACNIC, the Institute of Technology and Society of Rio de Janeiro, and the Center for AI and Digital Policy.

Hande Ulker Pehlivan - Team Leader S26

Hande is a lawyer based in Istanbul, Türkiye, working in the pharmaceutical industry with a focus on regulatory compliance, technology, and governance. Her professional interests center on the intersection of artificial intelligence, human rights, ethics, and the rule of law. 

She is a former Researcher at the Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP), where the program played a key role in shaping her AI policy perspective. As a Team Leader, she is committed to supporting collaborative, inclusive, and rigorous research processes, drawing on both her legal background and her experience as a CAIDP alum.

Hien Phan - Team Leader S26

Hien Phan is a Privacy and Technology Counsel with cross-regional experience in technology, market expansion, FMCG, healthcare, and life insurance. She holds Master’s degrees in International Law (UK) and IT Law (Estonia), and has completed advanced training in AI governance, including the AI Governance Track, Cooperative AI, and CAIDP AI Policy Clinics. 

Her interests lie at the intersection of law, technology, and fundamental rights, with work spanning AI in education and AI-driven risk assessment in life insurance. As part of the CAIDP community, Hien hopes to learn from and contribute to collaborative research and policy analysis that support responsible AI.

Ishu Gupta - Team Leader S25

Ishu is a Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellow, leading the City of Green Bay’s innovation and data strategy. Appointed by Mayor Genrich, he drives the City’s approach to data, AI, and capacity building - helping to tackle strategic priorities with fresh ideas and cross-functional solutions. He is passionate about change management, responsible technology and innovation in governments. He takes a people-centered approach to research and initiative-building, believing that true impact comes from inclusive and collective leadership. He holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering from Aligarh Muslim University.

Janice Lam - Team Leader S26

Strategy and public policy leader working at the intersection of innovation, regulation and technology to  advance AI policy design, governance and digital accessibility in highly regulated industries. Adjunct  lecturer at the University of Toronto on AI in Healthcare and advisor to multilaterals, governments, startups,  and insurers on health policy reform, strategic partnerships, product strategy, AI & data governance, and  digital health. Previously, a strategic advisor at the WHO on access to medicines and health technologies  in 50+ countries. Janice holds a MSc from LSE and an HBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business.

Joanita Nagaba - Team Leader S26

Joanita is the founder of Uzawi Initiative, a non-profit organization focused on AI, society and democracy in Africa. She is a lawyer, a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). 

She has trained in Law, Ethics and Policy of AI at the KU Leuven AI Summer School and the Center of AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP). Joanita is a member of the AI and Privacy Working Group at the Africa AI Policy Lab, the Data Privacy and Governance Society of Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya. 

Jonathan Lim – Team Leader S26

Australian lawyer, technology analyst, and policy adviser with experience in AI, cybersecurity, and technology regulation. He held roles across the Australian Department of Defence; Department for Foreign Affairs & Trade; and in private practice advising on privacy, ICT regulation, and cyber risk. He holds several postgraduate qualifications including a Juris Doctor, a Master of Cyber Security, and Master of Legal Practice.

His work focuses on AI governance, responsible innovation, and high-risk technologies. He is a member of the International Institute of Space Law, and International Law Association's Committee on AI & Technology Law.

Karma Peiró- Team Leader S26

Technology researcher and executive leader specializing in AI ethics, algorithmic accountability, transparency, and data governance, with 25+ years of experience addressing the social impact of digital technologies.

Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Visualisation for Transparency Foundation (ViT), leading interdisciplinary projects that promote responsible, explainable, and transparent open data for public institutions and civil society.

Dr. Kollin Napier - Team Leader S26

Dr. Kollin Napier is Director of the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN), leading Mississippi’s coordinated strategy for AI literacy, workforce development, and applied adoption across education, government, and industry. Based at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, he works with the Governor’s Office, state agencies, legislators, and industry to advance economic competitiveness. He chairs the Mississippi AI Workforce Readiness Council, serves on the Artificial Intelligence Regulation Task Force, and has provided state and federal testimony, including before the U.S. Congress. Under his leadership, MAIN has delivered no-cost training at scale, built statewide AI labs, secured millions in funding, and forged partnerships.

Kristina Horn  -Team Leader S26

Kristina Horn serves as the Manager of the Artificial Intelligence Initiative at CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County (CLAOC), where she leads programs connecting talent to careers in AI, supports local and state AI policy efforts, and fosters collaboration across education, industry, and government. She also works with tech companies to train large language models, applying RLHF techniques, evaluating model outputs, and designing prompt strategies to improve AI performance and reliability. In Spring 2025, she was a research group member at the Center for AI and Digital Policy, focusing on ethical frameworks, democratic values, and human rights. 

Kyla Williams Tate - Team Leader S26

Kyla Williams Tate is the inaugural Director of Digital Equity for Cook County, Illinois, where she leads efforts to expand technology access in the nation’s second-largest county. She spearheaded the county’s first Digital Equity Action Plan and Digital Equity Map. In 2025, she was named NDIA’s Digital Equity Champion and ScaleLIT's Literacy Leader.

Kyla’s work bridges public policy, AI, digital equity, and art. She is a Rising Civic AI Leader certified by Aspen Digital and the Aspen Policy Academy, holds a Research Group Certification with Distinction from the Center for AI and Digital Policy, and is an Illinois Road Scholar.