Lisa Poggiali

About Lisa Poggiali

I am a published anthropologist and foreign policy professional specialized in technology and democracy with 15+ years of experience developing strategy, policy, and programs, conducting research, and managing people. Strong subject matter expertise in emerging and established technologies, from artificial intelligence to social media platforms, and the geopolitical dynamics and civil society advocacy related to their governance, development and use. Strong cross-functional, communication, and coalition building skills. Systems thinker.

Experience

1. Senior Democracy, Data and Technology Specialist

   USAID

   Aug 2021 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Established a new strategic direction on technology for USAID – digital democracy – which expanded the scale, scope and stakeholders of existing digital work to address the 21st century challenges of data-driven technologies, including surveillance, mis/disinformation, digital inequality, digital authoritarianism and global democratic decline- Led the conception, drafting, and global launch of the Donor Principles for Human Rights in the Digital Age, a deliverable under President Biden\'s Summit for Democracy, which provides guidelines for responsible foreign assistance in digital contexts- Co-led the conception, strategic design, and implementation of the Advancing Digital Democracy Initiative, a Summit for Democracy deliverable that supports countries to strengthen their digital ecosystems to bolster democratic resilience- Spearheaded, with Canadian counterparts, U.S. government development diplomacy efforts in the Freedom Online Coalition, a multilateral coalition that shapes global norms on human rights online and in digital contexts- Support countries to align their domestic policy frameworks with relevant international standards, treaties, and agreements on topics including AI, DPI, data security and protection- Manage multiple high-level technology and democracy workstreams.

Education

• SOAS University of London

  Master's degree, Anthropology of Development, Anthropology of Migration and Diaspora

• School for International Training

  Nairobi, Kenya

  2002 — 2003

• Stanford University

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Anthropology

  2007 — 2015

• Columbia University

  Bachelor's degree, Anthropology, Human Rights

Skills

• Writing
• Editing
• Community Outreach
• Copy Editing
• Research
• Anthropology
• Food Criticism
• Yoga
• Ethnographic Research
• Grant Writing
• Public Speaking
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Cultural Anthropology
• Ethnography
• Music Criticism
• Expository Writing
• History
• Politics
• Proofreading
• Travel Writing
• Teaching
• Qualitative Research