Vera Zakem

Vera Zakem is the Founder and CEO of Zakem Global Strategies, a firm focused on the intersection of technology and democracy. She has built a notable career over the past 20 years, advocating for inclusive digital societies and working on issues related to digital democracy.

Currently, she serves as the Chief Digital Democracy and Rights Officer at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where she plays a key role in promoting digital rights and democracy initiatives. In addition to her work at USAID, she is also a Senior Technology and Policy Advisor at the Institute for Security and Technology, contributing her expertise to various initiatives aimed at enhancing security and governance in the digital realm.1245

Zakem is recognized for her leadership in building transatlantic coalitions and addressing the challenges posed by misinformation and digital threats to democratic processes.23