Vera Zakem

Vera Zakem serves as the first woman Chief Technology Innovation Officer for the state of California. Appointed by Governor Newsom, she leads on AI and emerging technologies, innovation, partnerships across California, the nation, and globally on technologies, and ways that technology can be used to serve all Californians. She previously served in the Biden-Harris Administration as USAID’s first-ever chief digital democracy and rights officer, leading rights respecting technology and innovation agenda, including on AI in 100 lower and middle income countries. Previously, she led a public interest technology practice, led strategy and research in the private sector, and the intersection between technology policy, society, and U.S. foreign policy and national security. Vera has also served on the Bipartisan Task Force to Support Democracy. Vera has an M.A. in government from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. in politics from the University of San Francisco.