Adele Waugaman

About Adele Waugaman

Adele is a senior leader at the intersection of technology, policy, global development, and philanthropy. For over 15 years she has guided digital transformation in emerging economies and led digital transformation change management strategies in funding organizations. She is passionate about harnessing the potential of data, digital, and AI to advance economic development and human wellbeing. Her experience includes leading cutting-edge programs, public-private partnerships, and global advocacy campaigns for governments, multilateral agencies, philanthropies, and non-profits. She has held fellowships with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Wilson Center Executive Branch AI Lab, and WomenLift Health, and served as an expert advisor to the G20, UN Broadband Commission, Lancet and Financial Times Commission, and Humanitarian Innovation Fund. As a spokesperson for the organizations she represents, she has been cited in news stories in the BBC, Fast Company, Financial Times, National Public Radio, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal. Her published work includes serving as the lead author of USAID\'s digital health policy and co-author of its cross-sector digital strategy, in addition to multiple reports she has authored or edited at the intersection of digital transformation and global health, humanitarian assistance, and global development.

Experience

1. Senior Program Officer, Ai Innovations Advocacy

   Gates Foundation

   Jan 2025 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Lead the development and implementation of the Gates Foundation\'s cross-sectoral Artificial Intelligence (AI) for development advocacy strategy. Guide the foundation\'s engagement in a $100M+ collaborative aligning development financing in AI innovations and ecosystems in emerging economies. Manage a portfolio of investments strengthening AI integration into country and regional policy, governance, workforce, and digital public infrastructure. Represent the Gates Foundation at key global fora including AI Summits, and G20, multilateral, and regional fora. Run a Gates Foundation internal AI community of practice designed to increase organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

Education

• Bard College

  BA, Sociology, Ethnic Studies

• The George Washington University

  M.A., International Affairs (International Law, U.S. Foreign Policy)

Skills

• Grant Writing
• Marketing Communications
• Editing
• Non-Profits
• Writing
• Sustainability
• International Relations
• Research
• Policy Analysis
• Strategic Partnerships
• Strategic Communications
• French
• Spanish
• Business Planning
• Community Outreach
• Program Evaluation
• Program Management
• Public Relations
• Social Media
• Social Entrepreneurship
• International Development
• Media Relations
• Business Strategy
• Social Networking
• Blogging
• Team Building
• Program Development
• Politics
• Press Releases
• Digital Strategy
• Capacity Building
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Health
• Marketing Strategy
• Strategy Development
• Corporate Communications
• Public Speaking
• Budgeting
• Policy
• Social Marketing