Quinn Anex-Ries is a Senior Policy Analyst on CDT’s Equity in Civic Technology team, where he focuses on ensuring that government uses of AI advance equity, mitigate bias, and protect individual rights.
Quinn previously served as a Policy Associate at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, where he contributed to the organization’s work on federal AI policy, especially the implementation of the AI Executive Order. Across this work, Quinn advocated for policy solutions focused on combating algorithmic discrimination and protecting equal opportunity in the online economy.
Quinn holds a Ph.D. in American Studies and Ethnicity from the University of Southern California, where his doctoral research examined the history of technology policy, civil rights, and free expression in the United States. During his graduate studies, Quinn interned with New America’s Open Technology Institute and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Quinn also graduated cum laude from Smith College with a degree in Africana Studies, Chemistry, and Biomathematics.

With two decades of experience in the public sector, Kimberly Barnard, CPPB, NIGP-CPP currently serves as the technology buyer for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District. Her diverse background ranges from intelligence analysis at the Department of Defense to overseeing capital improvements and procurement at the Marin Housing Authority.
As a public procurement professional, Kim is committed to creating and sharing high-quality technology contracts with other public agencies and is passionate about educating vendors on leveraging cooperative contracts for public agency sales. In 2024, she issued 9 cooperative on-call IT professional services contracts in collaboration with Axia Cooperative, and is excited to contribute sharable contracts to the newly formed Bay Area Procurement Alliance.
Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures from Indiana University – Bloomington, attended American University in Beirut’s Graduate Program for Urban Planning and Policy and earned a Certificate in Construction Management from UC Davis. In addition to her role at the Golden Gate Bridge District, she co-chairs the GovAi Coalition’s Cooperative Purchasing Committee and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Procurement Institute.

Phil Bertolini is a senior vice president for Government Technology, the premiere event and thought leadership content provider for state and local government technology professionals. Previously, he served as deputy county executive and CIO for Oakland County, Michigan. During his 31-year tenure, Phil built a world-class IT organization in the second-largest county in Michigan, just north of Detroit. As Oakland County CIO, he oversaw more than 150 employees serving over 1.2 million residents. In 2005, he was also promoted to deputy county executive, holding dual positions until his retirement. Phil’s efforts earned the county national attention, winning numerous awards for technology innovation and excellence. He was named Governing Magazine’s Public Official of the Year and Government Technology Magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers. He was also honored by the President Obama White House as a Champion of Change.

Annie Bui is a Doctoral Candidate in Public Administration (DPA), where her research focuses on GenAI readiness in Local Governments. As President of the Student Public Administration Association (SPAA) and a Graduate Assistant in the MPA program at the University of La Verne, she actively contributes to advancing public management education. She also works for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), where she supports small businesses growth and innovation. Drawing on leadership roles at Samsung, First Solar Vietnam, and Toastmaster International, Annie brings a unique perspective to the readiness and adoption state of GenAI in the public sector, with a mission to help public leaders proactively embrace this emerging technological change.

Kailey Burger Ayogu is Managing Director at the HKS Government Performance Lab where she leads the Procurement practice which supports local, state, and federal government officials to make procurement more efficient, results-driven, equitable, and strategic. The GPL’s procurement initiatives include the Procurement Excellence Network which provides resources, tools, and peer connections to over 2,000 members, a procurement executive education program at Harvard, as well as direct technical assistance models. Prior to joining the GPL, Kailey served as Assistant Commissioner for the NYC Administration for Children’s Services where she led the design and planning for the child abuse prevention services continuum that serves over 30,000 children and their families each year. Kailey earned her law degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and was a Zuckerman Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School while earning her Master’s in Education Policy & Management from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Kailey lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, Nworah, and their two adorable sons.

Ethan serves as the Chief Information Officer at TriMet, the regional transit authority in Portland, Oregon. He got his start in AI in the 1990s, when he earned a Ph.D. in computational biology in which he used machine learning to compare three-dimensional protein structures. He is a Fellow of the Leading Change Institute and a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum. He is passionate about public service and has spent his entire career in the not-for-profit and government sectors.

Sarah has spent the last six years with the City of Seattle growing and maturing the City’s Data Privacy & Surveillance Ordinance Compliance Programs. Now, as the City’s Data Privacy & Responsible AI Program Manager, she helps ensure City departments incorporate best practices into daily operations and public service offerings, in alignment with regulatory and policy frameworks.
Sarah’s interest in the intersection of data privacy, ethics, policy & emerging technology has driven the development of the City of Seattle’s Responsible AI Program. The heart of the program focuses on transparent and responsible enablement of AI tools that will innovate and improve public services for Seattle residents.
Sarah earned her Master’s Degree from the University of Washington in Information Management, specializing in data science and privacy.

Joseph is a seasoned leader with over 23 years of experience in Data Analytics, Risk and Audit. He is an imaginative innovator and inspirational mentor that leads with integrity and passion. He cultivates a trusting and collaborative culture that's highly engaging and maximizes productivities. Joseph is articulate and insightful, enabling him to develop long lasting, trusted relationships with internal teams, external clients and regulators. Joseph is adept at simplifying complex matter into actionable components and utilizing data driven solutions to provide insights to key stakeholders.
Joseph has held various global leadership roles in innovation and analytics over the past 10 years. In January of 2021 he was appointed the Head of Innovation and Analytics for Bank of New York Mellon’s Internal Audit department after a track record of success as the Head of Data, Analytics and Automation for BNY Mellon’s AI department, beginning 2016. Prior to BNY Mellon, Joseph held two global leadership roles at AIG, starting as the Head of Data Analytics within the Internal Audit Department and progressing to the Head of Data Analytics within the Chief Data Office. From 2000 to 2012, Joseph held multiple positions in the Risk Information Services group within Deloitte’s Risk Advisory Services.

With more than 30 years of experience in information technology (IT) and cybersecurity, Kathy is a five-time Chief Information Officer (CIO) with a background across all IT and business domains. As a Mandiant Consulting Practice Leader Ms. Cruz helps clients assess, design and build effective security programs focusing on threat intelligence, defensive posture, proactive cyber management, security validation, incident response and incident preparedness.
Ms. Cruz is the recipient of the Silicon Valley YWCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) Award, is a past Board member of the Gentle Barn Foundation headquartered in Santa Clarita, CA, a past Board Member of the Career Action Center in San Jose, CA, and a former member of Golden Gate University School of Technology and Industry Executive Advisory Board. She previously served as an Ensign in the California State Guard, Cyber Operations Detachment.

Brendan Michael Daly is a Deputy Director and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the City of San Diego, CA where he develops and implements security architecture, risk management, security policy and leads cross-functional teams in support of the City’s Strategic Plan. Brendan has 25 years of experience delivering IT services in the Public Sector with an emphasis on Cybersecurity. Additionally, Brendan serves as the Cyber Lead for the San Diego Regional Cyber Lab and Advisor to the Board of Directors for the San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence. He holds a BS in Natural Resources Management and a MS in Information Technology from the University of Maryland. Brendan is an ISACA Certified Information Security Manager and holds professional certificates in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, Insider Threat Management and Cybersecurity Awareness.

Leila Doty is an advocate for and architect of public policy that promotes the responsible design, development, and use of technology. She is passionate about creating a more equitable technological future for all and likes to engage complex sociotechnical issues from policy, social science, and data science perspectives. She currently serves as a Privacy & AI Analyst at the City of San José. Since joining the City in 2022, she has made a lasting impact on how the City procures and governs AI systems, including by creating the City's framework for governing AI systems via the public procurement process and drafting the City's landmark AI policy. Leila works with the rest of the Digital Privacy team to manage the GovAI Coalition, a collective of government agencies across the country united for responsible AI in the public sector. Before joining the City, Leila worked on a range of tech policy issues including platform accountability, data privacy, antitrust, and copyright reform at nonprofits and governments. She graduated from Stanford University with a M.A. in Public Policy, a B.A. in Public Policy, and a minor in Computer Science.

Jayson is a public sector technology subject matter expert with 20 years of city and county government experience. Prior to joining AWS Jayson served as the Chief Information Officer for the City of Cincinnati where he led the city’s enterprise technology department, chaired the city’s IT Governance Board, and managed the city’s capital budget and project approval processes. Jayson also has a background in public safety technology having served as a county 911 and Emergency Communications Director, as well as experience in the private sector as a Business Analysis Manager responsible for technology contracts and procurements totaling $350 million in annually.

Anthony Fisher leads the Department of Revenue's Data Governance program and the strategic deployment of Data Management strategies across the department. He is also a subject matter expert within Data Sharing, Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. Complementary to his duties with the Department of Revenue, he holds board member roles with Public Sector Network, GovAI Coalition, and Government Data Advisory Board. In addition, he holds office as the President of the Rocky Mountain Rugby Union and is an avid rugby player.
The Department of Revenue (DOR) has over 1,500 employees that provide services to the people of Colorado through the Colorado Lottery, Division of Motor Vehicles, Marijuana Enforcement Division, Specialized Business Group (Tobacco, Racing, Gaming, and Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement), and Taxation Division.
Public Sector Network is an accredited B Corporation and social learning platform, created to improve the life of public sector employees - and the citizens they serve. Our platform is only open to government professionals who want to learn through best practice and example, in a safe, secure network.
The GovAI Coalition is composed of over 600 public servants from over 250 local, county, and state governments that represent over 150 million Americans across the nation united in our mission to promote responsible and purposeful AI in the public sector.
The Government Data Advisory Board (GDAB) is representative of all State of Colorado agencies and government offices. We work collaboratively to promote the use of good data to serve Coloradans. We are working to align our respective agencies to create common understandings and efficiencies and then develop resources that can be taken by agencies and adopted for use, such as guides and policies.
Established in 2014 as the successor to the Eastern Rockies Rugby Football Union (founded 1967), Rocky Mountain Rugby boasts a rich history within USA Rugby. Encompassing one of the nation's most historic rugby regions, Rocky Mountain member clubs have achieved remarkable success, capturing over 40 national championships (including at least 30 at the highest levels) and appearing in over 60 national championship finals since 1979. The union currently fosters a thriving rugby community with 24 senior men's clubs, 8 senior women's clubs, and an additional 18 programs currently in development.

Stephen is the CIO at Samsara. He oversees all aspects of the company’s Information Technology including, business applications, data & analytics, information security, IT service management, and all core IT services.

Albert Gehami is the Privacy Officer for the City of San José, overseeing responsible and effective deployment of AI, technology, and data initiatives. Under his leadership, San José has been recognized as a national leader in privacy and AI governance, having been highlighted as a national exemplar by the White House, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Homeland Security, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and other forums. His office is responsible for managing the GovAI Coalition, a group of over 500 Local, State, and Federal agencies committed to effective and responsible AI and vendor accountability.

Phong Huynh is a Deloitte Consulting LLP Principal. He has been with Deloitte for 25 years. Phong is the Deloitte’s Marketplace Leader for Transportation and Labor in California. He co-founder of an asset in Deloitte called GovConnect. He is the Market Offering Leader for Government Experience Management (GEM) focused on elevating the user experience to the constituents and employees of Government. Phong also was the national Government Ecosystem & Alliance Leader and was the Assets Leader for Human Services Transformation and Digital Government practices. Previous technology roles at Deloitte include serving as the national System Development capability leader, where he led a practice of over 2,500 practitioners across the United States and India. And Phong has successfully delivered on digital transformation projects across many States for programs like Medicaid, SNAP, Child Welfare, Courts, and Unemployment Insurance.  He resides with his wife and two kids in Irvine, CA.

Ryan Jockers is an experienced leader in data analytics, strategic planning, and project management. He is currently the Assistant Director of Reporting & Analytics at the North Dakota University System, where he oversees data initiatives and artificial intelligence models to support the system's success. Ryan is also an adjunct instructor of Economics at Bismarck State College and Valley City State University. He holds a Master of Science in Applied Economics and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota.

Rangapriya (Priya) Kannan is the dean of the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business and a professor in the School of Global Innovation & Leadership. Her research primarily focuses on how individuals achieve innovation within limited resources using creative resourcing and reframing. Kannan’s background includes expertise in leadership to affect strategic change, designing interdisciplinary programs, employee development, alumni and community outreach, and creating inclusive work environments. She holds a doctorate degree in management from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Tamara Kneese is Director of Data & Society’s Algorithmic Impact Methods Lab. Before joining D&S, she was Lead Researcher at Green Software Foundation, Director of Developer Engagement on the Green Software team at Intel, and Assistant Professor of Media Studies and Director of Gender and Sexualities Studies at the University of San Francisco. Tamara holds a PhD in Media, Culture and Communication from NYU and is the author of Death Glitch: How Techno-Solutionism Fails Us in This Life and Beyond (Yale University Press, 2023).

Ryan Kurtzman is the Technology Partnerships Officer for City of Long Beach Technology and Innovation Department. He leads the City's technology pilot programs, data privacy and AI governance efforts, and strategic initiatives for the Department to support the exploration and adoption of new technology to support more responsive and equitable services. Prior to that, he served as the Smart Cities Program Manager and a Management Assistant for five years. His experience in Long Beach includes developing community programs and policies that leverage new and emerging technology to improve connectivity, mobility, digital equity, and economic outcomes for all residents.
Before that, Ryan served as a Policy Fellow for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti where he brokered partnerships and created program evaluation tools to advance the City's Great Streets Initiative and park equity goals. He graduated from UCLA with a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning with a focus on transportation policy and planning, and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.

Vinhcent Le is on the board of the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA), and also currently serves as the Senior Technology Equity attorney at the Greenlining Institute, focusing on consumer privacy, closing the digital divide, and preventing algorithmic bias. Le’s work has helped establish the CPPA and define its strategic plan, secure funding to increase broadband access among underserved communities, and to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public sector automated decision systems. Le received a J.D. from the University of California, Irvine School of Law, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego.

Bianca Lochner, Ph.D., has over 20 years of experience in information technology and local government. Throughout her career, she led multiple digital transformations and innovations in education and the public sector, modernizing legacy technology and positively impacting how citizens and businesses interact with the city government. As the Chief Information Officer for the City of Scottsdale, she combines her passion for public service and the power of technology to transform the way government delivers to the community it serves. She previously served as the Assistant CIO for the City of Phoenix and as the CIO for two school districts, leading a broad portfolio of technology infrastructure and digital projects, developing Smart City strategies, creating a more transparent and open government, and fostering innovation and partnerships to improve efficiency and service delivery and enhance the citizen experience and well-being.
Bianca is the co-founder and co-chair of the Cybersecurity Council of Arizona, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding Arizona's cybersecurity workforce. She is also a board member and advisor for the ArizonaCIO, Girls in Tech, the Arizona Technology Council, the Regional Wireless Consortium, Evanta, the Greater Phoenix Smart Region Consortium Connective, and the World Academy of Science, Engineering, and Technology. She holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science, a Master’s Degree in American Studies, a Ph.D. in Educational Technology, a Postdoctorate in Management of Information Systems, and an Executive MBA from ASU's Thunderbird School of Global Management. Bianca is the recipient of the 2022 GoldenGov City Executive of the Year award and was recognized as Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers of 2023.

Joe Markwith is an accomplished professional at CDW, where he serves as a key leader in driving innovative technology solutions for a diverse clientele. With over a decade of experience in the IT industry, Joe combines his deep technical knowledge with a passion for customer service, ensuring that clients receive tailored solutions that meet their unique needs.
At CDW, Joe has successfully led numerous projects, leveraging his expertise in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and network infrastructure. His collaborative approach fosters strong relationships with clients and partners alike, making him a trusted advisor in navigating the ever-evolving tech landscape.
Joe holds a degree in Information Technology and is dedicated to continuous learning and professional development. Outside of work, he enjoys mentoring young professionals and engaging in community service initiatives. His commitment to excellence and innovation makes him an invaluable asset to the CDW team and its clients.

José has spent the last 3 years at Snohomish County starting and growing the county's Data Management & Governance program. This includes data and records management, privacy, records digitization, enterprise content management solutions, and the development and implementation of AI and GenAI solutions and governance at Snohomish County. Prior to Snohomish County, José worked at other public agencies such as the Washington State Department of Health, and the University of Nevada-Reno. With a background in computer networking, systems administration, and IT service management, José uses his education and skills to bridge technology and business goals to provide productive and cost effective solutions, while focusing on building strong customer relationships.

Andrew Ngui is an award-winning, MIT-trained innovation leader and Chief Digital Officer with a proven track record of driving transformative change. As a visionary systems builder and strategist, he has effectively catalyzed and engineered radical inclusivity, fostering unity across diverse teams in various sectors including government, economic development, innovation leadership programs, and startups.
Andrew's demonstrated success stems from his unique ability to harness curiosity, creativity, and courage. This approach has enabled him to launch and scale human-centered initiatives that advance equitable change. His expertise lies in curating new opportunities through both top-down and bottom-up approaches, skillfully devising pilots and experiments to validate business hypotheses and address complex challenges.
As a skilled procedural and technical leader with a strong sense of urgency, Andrew excels at actively engaging and corralling diverse stakeholder groups. He ensures their voices are heard and integrated into strategic initiatives, building consensus and driving collective action. This inclusive approach has consistently led to the successful implementation of initiatives that not only meet but exceed organizational goals.
Andrew's efforts have yielded remarkable results, optimizing productivity and accelerating revenue and growth by orders of magnitude. He is adept at creating environments where innovation thrives, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and sustainable impact. His work goes beyond immediate outcomes, focusing on long-term, transformative change that reshapes organizations and communities.
Throughout his career, Andrew has demonstrated an exceptional ability to navigate complex systems and unite diverse teams around common goals. His leadership style, characterized by strategic thinking and unwavering commitment to inclusivity, has established him as a respected practitioner in the field of innovation.

Before founding Madison AI, Erica co-founded OnStrategy, a strategic planning consulting and software company in Reno, NV. She’s dedicated most of her career to helping leadership teams around the globe achieve their visions of success through thoughtful, focused strategic planning and execution. In 2024, she led the team at OnStrategy in developing Madison AI in collaboration with Washoe County, NV. She embraced Madison AI's potential to empower regional governments to meet increasing citizen service demands during revenue stagnation. You might also know her from her book, Strategic Planning for Dummies, and YouTube Channel, The Virtual Strategist, where she has guided thousands of organizations through the strategic planning and execution process. Her content reaches over 1 million people annually.

Irina Raicu is the director of the Internet Ethics program at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, at Santa Clara University. She is a certified information privacy professional; was a member of the Partnership on AI’s initial working group on Fair, Transparent, and Accountable AI; and served as a member of the city of San Jose’s privacy advisory task force. She has co-authored a variety of educational resources published by the Markkula Center, including AI ethics case studies, and has worked with multiple companies in the process of developing their responsible AI policies and processes. Her writing has appeared in publications including The Atlantic, Forbes, MarketWatch, Slate, the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Jose Mercury News, and Recode.
Website: https://www.scu.edu/ethics/
On Twitter/X at @IEthics

Mariel Reed is CEO and founder of Pavilion (withpavilion.com). Pavilion's platform enables public servants to find, use, and share contracts and easily connect with suppliers - for free - in one simple search. Previously, Mariel served as a public servant with the City & County of San Francisco. She was also an early employee at Coursera, a venture-backed education technology startup that has since gone public. She is grateful to be combining her experience in public service and the technology startup world at Pavilion. 

Emily works at the intersection of public administration and technology to build greater public oversight over emerging technologies and the data that powers them. She is currently Emerging Technology Division Head in the Information & Technology Services Department for the City of San Antonio (her hometown). Emily also serves as Vice Chair of United for Smart and Sustainable Cities, an international collaborative platform led by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), UNECE and UN-Habitat. She is a Board Member of UrbanAI, and the GovAI Coalition, a network of over 250 public agencies in the United States working to promote responsible and purposeful AI in the public sector.
Previously Emily advised UN-Habitat’s “People-Centered Smart Cities Flagship Program” and authored six UN playbooks on smart cities for local governments. Emily’s professional experience spans academic, non-profit, and government agencies including City Form Labs, a Singapore-based smart cities laboratory, and the Massachusetts Office of Information Technology (MassIT). She has several years of public sector experience in digital transformation governance and implementation.
Emily has published and presented her work in national and international forums including UN-Habitat, StateScoop, UrbanAI, and GovTech Magazine, as well as the World Urban Forum 11th Session and Smart City World Expo. She holds a Masters in City Design & Development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Rustin Royer is a seasoned cybersecurity professional with over a decade of experience helping organizations stay ahead of emerging threats. As Solution Manager at Fortinet, specializing in Security Operations for the Western Region, he works with organizations to develop integrated, strategic cybersecurity solutions that protect people, devices, and data across a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Throughout his career, Rustin has built an understanding of threat management, network security, and the role of advanced technologies in fortifying defenses. Before joining Fortinet two and a half years ago, Rustin worked at leading organizations like Symantec (now part of Broadcom) and Secureworks, where he gained extensive experience in managing and responding to cybersecurity incidents.
At Fortinet, Rustin is helping customers leverage the company’s comprehensive suite of security solutions to address modern threats. Fortinet’s integrated platform includes AI-powered tools that enhance threat detection and response, using machine learning to proactively identify anomalies and automate defenses across the entire network. This integration of AI and machine learning is helping businesses detect and mitigate threats faster, reduce response times, and stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks.
Fortinet, a global leader in cybersecurity, is trusted by over 805,000 customers worldwide. Its solutions are recognized for their scale, integration, and cutting-edge technology—delivering real-time protection through AI-enhanced security features that continuously learn from the threat landscape.

Jiri Rutner is a results-driven leader with over 14 years of experience managing high-impact projects and initiatives. His expertise spans strategy activation, capacity building, portfolio management, change management, and operational excellence. Skilled in aligning technology, data, and AI with business operations to drive integration and innovation, Jiri applies a systems thinking approach to solve complex challenges, enabling local governments to operate with the speed and innovation of the private sector.
In his current role as the Homelessness Solutions Enterprise Manager for the City of San José, Jiri operates an Incident Command System using Scrum methodologies to support initiatives aimed at addressing some of the community's most pressing challenges. His work focuses on innovative approaches to public sector operations.
Jiri is also a founding member and External Affairs Committee Chair for the GovAI Coalition, a group dedicated to ensuring AI serves the public good. He supports the coalition’s expansion efforts, concentrating on AI upskilling and capacity building within government entities.
Previously, Jiri led the creation of the Business Operations Project Management Office for the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services, overseeing a $700M portfolio focused on the construction of healthcare facilities across the county. He also served as the public-private partnership liaison, working on P3 projects to drive innovative infrastructure development. His leadership earned the department a NACO Achievement Award in 2023 for a systems-focused approach to behavioral health service delivery.
In addition to his work in the U.S., Jiri has international experience, including projects such as Corrections Victoria's prison radio infrastructure in Australia and collaborating with the Australian government on marine pollution emergency response efforts. He also brings extensive experience in procurement and construction management across various sectors.

Steve Saman is a Solution Consultant for Adobe Public Sector, specializing in Digital Transformation. He helps government customers modernize their business practices by moving away from manual, inefficient processes to more streamlined and secure digital workflows. A California resident, Steve is passionate about the potential for digital technology in the state & helping that technology deliver value to California residents & employees.

Kris is originally from Canada and has lived and worked across North America with global companies and their partners.  Most recently she worked in the gathering of data, engaging predictive and cognitive analytics, to improve and enhance business outcomes – which was foundational to creating complex and powerful solutions for her clients.   Kris is an accomplished IT & Business Professional, having worked for several years at IBM enabling clients to use technology to drive better outcomes and the enhancement of workforces and workplaces.  Kris has seen the power of Artificial Intelligence as the marketplace has advanced from the simplicity of chatbots to tools and models that have enabled governments to leverage their analytics more broadly across society.  Kris is an advocate for ‘we don’t know the outcome yet thinking’, and that only through courageous use of technology can we explore and advance to new possibilities.

Parth Shah's contribution to the development of AI began as an electrical engineering and computer science student at MIT. He quickly rose to leadership positions such as Sloan Business Club Entrepreneurship Director, MIT Machine Intelligence Community Board Member, and Founder of FLUX, an accelerator to support MIT student entrepreneurs starting their own companies.
Parth worked at Nvidia, a time-tested leader in microchips and software for AI intelligence applications. His engineering efforts focused on deep learning and data projects furthering his understanding and the industry of AI and its applications. Parth’s next move, to Nodal Inc., allowed him to apply his expertise to his long-standing interest in the public sector. As the company’s founding engineer, he developed location data analytics solutions for smart cities such as Boston, MA.
Today, Parth is the CEO of Polimorphic, where his team has created the first full front office suite of products built from the ground up for government organizations. Leveraging state-of-the-art AI and other leading-edge technologies, Polimorphic customers are improving constituent access to municipal services, increasing constituent self-sufficiency, and improving constituent satisfaction while reducing the administrative burden on staff.

As the Equity through Data Lead for the City of San Jose, Arti oversees Citywide efforts toward data informed service delivery and service improvement with specific focus on equity outcomes. She is leading the Data Governance work at the City which is meant to promote and implement a data driven approach that harnesses the power of data and AI while solving real life challenges at the City. Prior to this Arti served as a Data Architect for the City where she established the Open Data and Data Analytics program at the City. During the pandemic she was a core team member on the SJ311 team and helped deliver AI tools to provide Language Translation and Virtual Agents on City’s 311 platform while incorporating data and equity analysis to inform the 311 outreach program.
Arti started her career in the private sector, having worked for Microsoft and Expedia in software engineering roles before moving on to the City where she finds her work ever more fulfilling and meaningful.

Khaled directs a diverse civic technology portfolio and the San José 311 Contact Center for the nation’s twelfth largest municipality. The City organization consists of 7,000 employees and carries over $5 billion total budget, serving 1 million residents and 80,000 businesses in the heart of Silicon Valley. The City’s quest is to be as innovative as the community we serve. San José is recognized for its leading role in innovation, artificial intelligence, digital privacy, driving equity through data, and digital empowerment.
Over two decades, Khaled has held senior leadership roles in the government and private sectors, including Los Angeles County and City of Irvine, earning his teams’ national awards for operational excellence through technology and innovative solutions.

As the Chief Data Officer at the City of Tacoma, Enzhou Wang is responsible for the overall success of the data & analytics program at the city. He also oversees the GIS team and the web & digital collaboration teams. Prior to joining the City of Tacoma, he worked as a senior IT Manager at the City of Bellevue, as an enterprise architect at Seattle City Light, and as a software developer at Microsoft and Esri.

Jaime Wascalus began her career in web and application development and moved into leadership roles after discovering the joy of working with and guiding smart, creative, and diverse teams. In 2022 she joined the City of Saint Paul’s Office of Technology and Communications as Director and CIO, leading talented public servants who support a city that works for all. Jaime serves on the GovAI Coalition Board and is also Chair of the Use Cases Committee, working with talented public servants across the US exploring safe, responsible, and impactful applications of AI in the public sector. Jaime also serves on the Smart North Board and Full Stack Saint Paul, helping to build a more diverse technology workforce in the Twin Cities.

Lee has a significant range of government experience and holds strong partnerships in the community and within the City of San José organization. In his current role as Assistant City Manager and Chief Operating Officer, he works with the City Manager through the coordination and engagement of departments to carry out City Council policy direction and ensure service delivery goals.
Lee has also been a Deputy City Manager with portfolios consisting of environmental and utility services, as well as, transportation and aviation city service areas, which include the Community Energy, Environmental Services, Airport, and Transportation departments. In addition, he simultaneously served as Co-Director of the City’s Emergency Operations Center during the City’s COVID-19 pandemic response.
Lee has previously held the position of the City Manager’s Chief of Staff and Director of the City Manager’s Office of Administration, Policy, and Intergovernmental Relations. Before these positions, Lee spent time as the Budget Director for the Mayor’s Office, as an Assistant to the City Manager, and as a Senior Executive Analyst in the City Manager’s Office of Economic Development working on downtown issues. He began his City Hall career as the Chief of Staff for the Office of former Councilmember Nancy Pyle. Lee also spent time in Sacramento serving as a Legislative Aide.
Born and raised in San José, Lee holds a Master of Public Administration in public policy and administration in local government from the University of Colorado, Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Sonoma State University. He also holds a certificate in local government management and leadership from Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government.

Akiko is the Director of Digital Media Enterprise Product Marketing, based in Adobe’s headquarters in San Jose, CA.
With 25 years of experience at Adobe, she has overseen multiple products, segments and regions, including product management, business architecture, product marketing, and go-to-market strategies.

Meg Young studies how to support the public to drive technology assessment in practice. She has collaborated with public agencies, advocacy group, and community-based organizations on capacity-building for data governance, technology oversight, and public engagement. Much of her work focuses on promoting digital rights in municipal government; she led a course on digital rights in Results for DM5 and DM6 certification in America's What Works Cities program. Prior to joining Data & Society, Meg was a postdoctoral researcher at Cornell Tech Digital Life Initiative, and a fellow in the New York City Office of Technology Innovation. She holds a PhD from the University of Washington and an MS and BA from the University of Michigan.

Angela Zhao is a Privacy and AI Analyst for the City of San José on the Digital Privacy team. Her work focuses on the deployment of responsible and effective AI, technology, and data initiatives across both City departments and nationwide. Her team manages the GovAI Coalition of over 550 agencies committed to effective and responsible AI. Angela manages the Use Cases Committee and the AI Registry Committees to implement a system for sharing and creating AI models and vendor accountability. San José and her team have been recognized as national leaders in privacy and AI governance by organizations such as NIST, Department of Homeland Security, and the White House. 
Angela graduated from Stanford University with a M.S. in Computer Science and a B.S. in Symbolic Systems.