Tech Policy Expertise: Data privacy/protection

  • Saba Shaukat

    Saba Shaukat is a pioneering international business and technology executive with over 25 years of experience. She specialises in leveraging frontier technologies to drive transformative change and has a deep expertise in transitioning FTSE 250 companies into the next wave of growth and profitability.

    Currently, Saba is creating an AI Agency and heads Engagement and Innovation at the Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE), a joint venture between the Home Office and QinetiQ on AI, data analytics, deep fakes, economic crime and emerging technology. She helps the Government in accelerating digital transformation initiatives to drive disruptive innovation and implement policies to enhance security, national resilience, and UK prosperity.

    Previously, Saba was the Group Director of Technical Capability and Innovation at QinetiQ plc, where she led a team of top scientists and engineers. She focused on frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous systems, cyber technologies, immersive augmented reality, human-machine teaming, advanced materials, quantum computing, lasers, and human behaviour.

    Throughout her career, Saba has driven transformational technologies resulting in over £1 billion in new revenue. She has extensive international experience in strategy and commercial development and has held several board positions as a Non-Executive Director and Trustee. She recently became a Board Fellow at the world-wide renowned Royal College of Art(RCA), the leading school in innovation design engineering with the capability to tackle complex challenges faced by society and the planet.

    Saba’s career also includes significant roles at Capita, BT, Vodafone, Deloitte Consulting, and PwC, where she contributed to global market entry strategies, business turnarounds, and new technology ventures for both enterprise and consumer sectors.

    An alumna of Harvard University’s Kennedy School for Executive Leadership Training and the London Business School with an MBA, Saba is a thought leader and board advisor. As a former regional board member of The Prince’s Trust, she has inspired young people from disadvantaged communities to win national entrepreneurial awards.

    Saba is also a contributor to the bestselling book, The Power of Purpose. She is dedicated to embracing disruptive ideas and advancing skills, science, and technology for societal good amid rapid technological change.

    In her spare time, Saba is an avid sailor, traveller, and explorer of new science and technological innovations for the 21st century.

  • Pollyanna Tassell

    I have spent the last 5 years leading the legal functions in high growth scaling two-sided marketplaces, specifically Checkatrade and Carwow, both of whom exist to make it easier to make high value transactions (new roofs, new cars) in industries which traditionally carry low levels of trust. I have a passionate interest in using tech to enable a better consumer experience.

    I also lobbied for the DMCCA to be passed from a digital markets perspective, to ensure that the markets start-up and scale-up companies found themselves in were fair and enabled innovation.

    As an in-house lawyer, my job previously revolved around contract reviews, but now the regulatory landscape is rapidly changing, with new regulations around Consumer Protection, AI, Data, Digital Markets etc, my role now is to keep my business in front of those changes and make they are implemented for the benefit of the company I work for and the businesses and consumers we serve. As a result, I have have been happily thrust into the world of policy, so I can capitalise on the opportunities provided by being in the right conversations at the right time.

  • Ronda Zelezny-Green

    Dr. Ronda Železný-Green is an internationally recognised digital governance strategist, data policy expert, and champion for equitable technology systems. As a Black and Indigenous woman living with ADHD, she brings a rare blend of lived experience, strategic insight, and technical expertise to the global effort to build more just and inclusive digital futures.

    She holds a Ph.D. in Human Geography and an MSc in Sustainable Development (ICT4D) from Royal Holloway, University of London, as well as an MA in Applied Linguistics and a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology Design from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. She also earned a BA in Philosophy and Spanish (Honours) with a minor in Non-Profit Management from Salem College. Fluent in English and Spanish, Ronda brings cultural and linguistic fluency to her work with global partners.

    Her journey began with a bold vision: that digital transformation should serve everyone—not just the powerful. As Co-Founder and Director of Panoply Digital, a women-owned, socially conscious consultancy, Ronda helped governments and international organisations design technology-driven solutions that reflect the realities of those they aim to serve. She co-developed USAID’s Gender Digital Divide course, supporting public officials in Ghana, Malawi, and Senegal to operationalise gender equity in digital policy. Her work has always bridged the gap between theory and practice—turning high-level commitments into action on the ground.

    That same commitment drives her leadership as the CEO and Co-Founder of datocracy, a nonprofit initiative created to democratise access to data and AI education. At datocracy, Ronda is helping to shift the balance of power in the digital space by equipping women, people with disabilities, and the Global Majority with the skills to participate fully—and lead confidently—in the data economy. The platform offers free, community-rooted learning that prioritises accessibility, relevance, and impact. For Ronda, datocracy isn’t just about inclusion—it’s about liberation.

    Before founding datocracy, Ronda served as Program Director at data.org, where she led one of the world’s most ambitious digital public sector learning initiatives. Under her leadership, over 3.1 million civil servants in India and more than 30,000 officials in Nigeria received training in responsible data management and digital governance. She embedded robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure sustained impact because, for Ronda, digital transformation must be measurable, ethical, and human-centred.

    Earlier in her career, Ronda shaped digital learning systems at scale. At the Internet Society, she led the design and rollout of a global learning platform that reached more than 15,000 learners annually across 15 countries. She created multilingual courses covering topics such as privacy, encryption, and internet governance, and built a cross-sector network of over 77,000 stakeholders, while managing a $2.5 million global portfolio. Her work proved that learning can be both technically rigorous and radically inclusive.

    At the GSMA, she delivered regulatory training for policymakers in over 150 countries, helping national governments and regulatory bodies adapt to the fast-changing landscape of digital policy. Her expertise in agile regulation, e-governance, and public sector innovation positioned her as a trusted advisor on the global stage.

    Ronda’s foundation in digital equity was shaped through her early work as an educator. From the U.S. and the UK to South Korea, Equatorial Guinea, and Madagascar—where she served in the U.S. Peace Corps—she has witnessed firsthand the barriers that prevent communities from accessing the full promise of digital opportunity. These experiences continue to ground her belief that digital transformation must start with people—not just infrastructure or innovation.

    Across every role, initiative, and country, Dr. Ronda Železný-Green is helping to redefine who digital systems are for—and how they can be reimagined to serve equity, accountability, and collective progress.

  • Nathaly Espitia Diaz

    Community communicator and journalist dedicated to working with grassroots communities. My passion lies in listening to others, learning through active participation, and leading with a focus on building trusted relationships and fostering collective care. I am also the co -creator of one of the first communication and resource projects centered on digital security for Indigenous and Black/Afro communities in LAC called Convite https://noisradio.co/convite

    I enjoy building regional networks with an intersectional approach, where journalists and Digital Rights defenders connect with artists. I collaborate with community communicators, journalists, and social and environmental leaders across Latin America and the Caribbean.

    As a co-founder of Nois Radio, a communication collective, I am deeply interested in exploring sound universes and creating engaging radio and podcast experiences. We produce radio programs that blend soundscapes with voices, music, live sounds, and performative actions. Together with different members of grassroots communities we create communication projects to strengthen community well-being and promote social and climate justice. Her work intersects technology, communication, culture, environment, and social change. Before joining The Engine Room, she served as a program officer for the Americas at Internews.

  • Nana Adjoa Khartey

    Nana Adjoa is a lawyer, technology enthusiast and social development activist. Nana Adjoa has served as the Secretary to the National Communications Authority, the national regulator of the electronic communications industry in Ghana. She works closely with the Chairperson, the Board and Management to ensure the efficient running of the corporate governance structures of the Authority. Prior to her employment with the National Communications Authority, she was in 2018 appointed the Executive Director of the National Folklore Board, the state institution responsible for protecting the intangible cultural heritage of Ghana. During her tenure, she facilitated the passage of the folklore user fees into law and the Folklore Board also gained international recognition.
    She was also a speaker on telecommunications at the 2023 International Bar Association Communications and Competition Conference in Rome, Italy and the 2023 International Bar Association Conference in Paris, France.

    She is a board member of the Institute of ICT Professionals of Ghana as well as the Street Children Empowerment Foundation and a member of Women in Mining Ghana. She is also the founding director of the Social Bridge, an NGO that engages in social intervention projects. Nana Adjoa was a board member of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), the authorised body, legally permitted to assay, buy and sell precious minerals and to license agents in Ghana. She was also a member of the board of directors of the PMMC Jewellery Limited.

    Nana Adjoa was called to the Ghana Bar in 2015. She has Certificates in Sustainable Dispute Resolution, Sustainable Development and International Anti- Corruption from the University of Milan, Italy and a Masters in Business Administration. She also has a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Certificate (MITx) in Policy for Science, Innovation and Technology.

    Her legal expertise spans advisory services to international and Ghanaian clients on high profile transactions across various fields including corporate and commercial law, minerals and mining law, intellectual property law and labor law; due diligence reporting; drafting and review of legal documents, and providing clients with company incorporation and company secretarial services. She has worked with reputable law firms in Ghana namely Kulendi@Law, and JLD & MB Legal Consultancy. She was one of the two young female lawyers selected in 2017 to participate in the ASLA (Association of Legal Studies Associates) Lioness of Africa Project where she worked with Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer and NCTM Studio Legale in Italy.

    Nana Adjoa has also represented Ghana at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), UNESCO, the Commonwealth and Open Society Initiative. She has also published an article in the International Bar Association Newsletter and was a speaker on telecommunications at the 2023 International Bar Association Communications and Competition Conference in Rome, Italy, and at the 2023 International Bar Association Conference in Paris, France.

  • Nana Adjoa Adobea Khartey

    Nana Adjoa Adobea Khartey
    Senior Partner, Afrimore Advisors
    LL.B, MBA, MSc (Comm. & Int’l Marketing), Cert. Int’l Space Law, Cert. AI & Tech Policy,
    Cert. Dispute Resolution, MIoD

    Nana Adjoa Adobea Khartey is a highly accomplished lawyer and governance strategist
    with over a decade of legal leadership across telecommunications, fintech, intellectual
    property, and regulatory policy. she brings exceptional cross-jurisdictional insight and a
    deep understanding of legal systems in emerging and developed markets.

    She is the co-founder and senior partner of Afrimore Advisors, a law firm headquartered
    in Accra. As head of the corporate and technology practice of the firm, she provides top-
    tier legal advisory to fintechs, ISPs, and digital platforms, shaping financial structures, IP
    protections, and data privacy frameworks aligned with international standards such as
    GDPR. She is recognised for her ability to lead legal innovation—leveraging digital tools
    to enhance compliance, mitigate legal risks, and drive business growth.

    Nana Adjoa previously served as Company Secretary of the National Communications
    Authority (NCA), where she led governance reforms, spearheaded regulatory
    transformation, and established the Authority’s first Dispute Resolution Committee—
    significantly reducing litigation and fostering industry collaboration. Her tenure as CEO
    of the National Folklore Board was equally transformative, culminating in the passage of
    national legislation on folklore user fees, partnerships with UNESCO and Marvel Studios,
    and a 60% increase in sector revenue through strategic IP licensing.

    A boardroom mainstay, she has held non-executive directorships with government and
    private sector institutions including the Precious Minerals Marketing Company and the
    Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana. She is also the founder of the Adobea Khartey
    Mentorship Series—empowering young women into leadership with an impressive track
    record of advancement.

    Certified in Negotiation, Mediation, and Sustainable Dispute Resolution from the
    University of Milan, she is a strong advocate for alternative dispute resolution and conflict
    transformation. Nana Adjoa is also a proud member of the Institute of Directors (Ghana
    and UK), promoting excellence in corporate governance.

    Nana Adjoa is an active global voice in legal innovation, having spoken at the
    International Bar Association conferences (Paris, Rome and Mexico City), and
    contributed to international legal discourse through publications on digital regulation
    and space law. She holds certifications from MIT, Berkeley Law, McGill University, and
    the University of Milan, and continues to serve on international committees in law,
    space, and technology.

    With a unique blend of legal, governance, and communication expertise, Nana Adjoa
    Adobea Khartey offers clients trusted counsel at the intersection of law, innovation, and strategy.

  • Mina Mohammadi

    Mina Mohammadi is a data journalist and researcher. She currently works as an AI Policy Program Manager at the Mozilla Foundation. Prior to this, she worked as a Data Analyst at Google News Initiative. She holds a Masters of Science from the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford, and a Bachelors from New York University. Mina’s main research interests exist at the intersection of privacy-enhancing tech (PETs), tech workers rights and computational social science methods.

  • Lucie Caswell

    Lucie is a senior strategist and negotiator, specialising in connecting IP and innovation, copyright and digital music rights affairs. Lucie has negotiated international relations and commercial deals on all ‘sides’ of the stakeholder table. Lucie also leads government policy for the UK’s entertainment retail sector, representing music, video and games.

    Lucie started her music career at iconic, independent music publishers, later spending time focusing on song rights and innovation licensing, going on to bring a range of music services and rights holders into agreement, including for Deezer, Sony/SYCO, Sandbox Game, Singa and Bandcamp.

    Representing at sector level, Lucie is the former CEO of the UK’s performing artist organisation, the FAC, Chief Policy, Rights and Public Affairs Officer for the Music Publishers Association and, is currently Chief Innovation and Government Affairs Officer for the UK’s entertainment retail body, ERA.

    Lucie is a dedicated advocate of equal opportunities and ethical innovation; championing arts as catalyst for change and emancipation.

  • Lian Najami

    Lian Najami is the Head of Trust & Safety Policy for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa at TikTok, where she leads efforts to build inclusive, safety-focused digital policy. A Rhodes Scholar and Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, she brings over a decade of global experience in tech governance, public policy, and advocacy. Lian is a recognised voice on ethical tech, minority rights, and platform accountability.

  • Laveena Iyer

    Laveena is a global technology and telecoms analyst at Economist Intelligence, this is the research and analysis business of The Economist Group. Based in the London office, she delivers industry, geopolitical and macroeconomic insights to clients in the government, corporate and academic sectors. In this role she also oversees client relations and partnerships for corporate clients in India.

    She is a seasoned industry analyst with over a decade of experience and in 2021 Onalytica named her among the industry’s top 10 technology analysts. She is a sought-after public speaker and has presented at conferences in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Her expertise lies in topics such as geopolitics of technology, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, 5G, cybersecurity, digital wallets and sustainability in technology.

    She often shares her comments on industry trends and latest developments with news media such as the BBC, Nikkei Asia, South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera and CNA Singapore. Prior to this role, Laveena covered corporate strategy, start-ups and the tech industry in India as a financial correspondent for a business magazine.