Geography: Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Felicia Anthonio

    Felicia Anthonio is GlobalCampaign Manager – #KeepItOn at Access Now, an organisation which campaigns to promote digital rights and freedom of expression. The #KeepItOn Campaign is global campaign of over 345 organizations that fights against internet shutdowns. Felicia leads the coalition strategic advocacy and campaigns to mobilize and engage various stakeholders to end internet censorship around the globe. Felicia has authored and co-authored several publications on internet shutdowns and hosted the Kill Switch Podcast. Felicia is also an Advisory Council member of the US-based Open Technology Fund (OTF) and a board member of the World Expression Forum (WEXFO), in Norway.

  • Elise Soucie Watts

    Elise is the Executive Director of Global Digital Finance (GDF), board member, and also board advisor to several firms on policy & regulatory issues. She is also the co-host of the podcast The Outside Context which considers how technology is impacting the future of civilisation.

    Previously, she was at the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), leading Digital Assets and Data Strategy work, and prior to that she worked at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), across both their Technology, Resilience and Cyber Division. and International Division.

    Named ‘Next Generation Leader of the Year’ at the 2022 Women in Finance Awards UK, and part of the Innovate Finance Standout 45 on the Women in Fintech Powerlist 2024 as a Regulatory and Policy Expert, Elise’s dual public and private sector experience positions her to lead both regulatory advocacy and contribute technical knowledge to support the growth of the digital finance ecosystem.

  • Elena Sinel

  • Dr Erin Young

    Dr. Erin Young is Head of Innovation and Technology Policy at the Institute of Directors where she leads the IoD’s policy, strategy and thought leadership work on technology, science and innovation. Before joining the IoD, Erin was Project Co-Lead and Research Fellow in Public Policy at The Alan Turing Institute, where her work influenced the UK’s National AI Strategy and AI Opportunities Action Plan. Previously, Erin held positions at the UN in Paris, WPP in London, MediaX at Stanford University, and Thomson Reuters in New York City. She sits on the Strategy Steering Board for the City of London Corporation’s Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce and advises the Hg Foundation on AI, inequalities and skills. Erin holds a BA from the University of Cambridge, an MSc in Education (Learning and Technology) from the University of Oxford, a PGC in International Business Practice, Finance and Organisational Behaviour, and a DPhil in Science and Technology Studies from the University of Oxford.

  • Doris Li

    Doris is a technology policy leader with experience shaping regulatory approaches to emerging technologies and designing frameworks that center safety and accessibility. She is currently a Tech Policy Manager at Ofcom, where she leads projects and programs for regulating generative AI under the Online Safety Act. Prior to Ofcom, she spent several years at Meta as a Senior Product & Regulatory Operations Specialist, where she managed a global safety program to combat the abuse of content moderation systems. As Meta’s Inclusive Product Council Member, she evaluated company priority products against safety and accessibility standards to provide guidance for research, engineering, and product teams innovating in AI and the Metaverse.

    In addition to her day-to-day work, Doris is an Inclusion Advisor to Open Data Institute’s Solid Initiative, an open-source project which reimagines data use and sharing, and regularly volunteers with organisations promoting diversity in tech spaces, including Women in Data. She is passionate about bridging policy, product, and community engagement to amplify historically underrepresented voices in the development and governance of data-driven technologies.

  • Devika Malik

    Devika brings a decade and a half of experience across tech, policy and journalism to her work as an international consultant and researcher on platform governance. Previously she led Meta’s work hate speech, misinformation and violent extremism in South Asia. Based in New Delhi, Devika is working with the Council on Tech and Social Cohesion as well as the Integrity Institite on catalytic prosocial tech regulation in the Global South.

  • Dani Dhiman

    Dani joined Formation Advisory in 2024, bringing a deep expertise in tech policy and digital regulation. Over her career, she has advised tech companies, startups, regulators, and policymakers around the world on emerging digital regulation issues at the forefront of technological innovation. Dani has held a range of policy, research and technical roles at organisations such as the UK’s largest tech trade body, techUK, Vodafone Group, Digital Catapult, and Starling Bank. Dani currently serves on the AI Futures Council for the generative AI startup, Synthesia.

  • Clara Aranda

  • Caroline Hurst

    Caroline Hurst is Global Digital Child Safety Lead at the LEGO Group. She is part of the Child Rights and Safety team, who represent the voices and needs of children and provide tools to the business to ensure the LEGO Group can responsibly engage with children.

    Caroline brings many years of experience as a child safety policy expert, having worked in Trust and Safety roles at Meta and Spotify previously. She holds a deep understanding of online safety trends impacting children, especially issues related to age-appropriate design, harmful content and empowering children and their families to be digitally smart, happy and healthy online.

  • Ashly Jiju

    Ashly Jiju is a researcher and policy professional specialising in geopolitics and technology policy, with a focus on artificial intelligence and data protection. Drawing on experience across the UK, UAE, India, and Nepal, she bridges academic research, stakeholder engagement, and strategy consulting to thoughtfully address the complexities of technological change.

    She holds an MPhil in Politics and International Studies from the University of Cambridge, where her research focused on how AI and big data reshape privacy, security, and global governance. She also holds a BA (Hons.) in Political Science with Economics from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi. She is dedicated to advancing innovation that benefits society through thoughtful and ethical governance.

    Ashly has played a key role in advancing high-impact initiatives addressing complex challenges in technology and governance. She has engaged with governments, companies, NGOs, and international bodies to craft strategies, lead research, and drive policy development. Her work includes contributing to multiple books and policy reports, advising a rapidly expanding digital media startup, and leading large-scale fundraising efforts for projects focused on digital inclusion and worker support. She has led sizeable, cross-functional teams and designed digital safety programmes that have empowered thousands to engage confidently and safely in digital spaces.