The Digital Statecraft Academy (DSA) has announced its inaugural cohort of the DSA Cambridge Fellowship, a 12-month programme supporting public leaders at the intersection of technology, data, and governance. Data for Policy CIC is proud to be a partner in this initiative, alongside the Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP) at the University of Cambridge, Microsoft, Cambridge University Press, The GovLab (NYU), and the Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure (CDPI). The fellowship provides participants with practical tools, strategic insight, and guidance to navigate an era shaped by artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, and data-driven policymaking.
This inaugural cohort brings together a diverse group of professionals from six continents, representing government institutions, international organisations, academia, and the private sector. Their experiences span digital governance, AI policy, emerging technologies, data strategy, and public sector innovation. Together, they form a truly global network of leaders, ready to collaborate, and tackle complex challenges in public leadership.
The Fellows are;
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Mohammed Alotaibi – Acting Governor, Research, Development & Innovation Authority, Saudi Arabia
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Iván Caballero – Director of Digital Risk Analysis, National Security Department, Government of Spain, Spain
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Andrea Fernández Conde – Deputy General Director of Dissemination, National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), Mexico
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Jean-Martin Dénis – Lead Data Steward, Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Switzerland
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Guy Gresham – Independent Advisor, Sedex, and SESAMm, United States
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Natalia Grincheva – Associate Professor, LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, Singapore
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Liesje Klomp – Chief Data Officer, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands
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Lauren Maffeo – Senior AI/ML Program Manager, The State of Maryland, United States
- Bassam Al Mannai – Assistant Secretary General, The Centre for Future Foresight and National Visions, The National Planning Council, Qatar
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Arturo Muente Kunigami – Lead Modernization of the State Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank, United States
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Jennifer Pougnet – Head of Data & Digital Policy Strategy, Roche, Switzerland
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Giulio Quaggiotto – Strategic Innovation Advisor, Prime Minister’s Office, UAE
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Yannik Sassmann – Senior Policy Officer & Data Scientist, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany
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Lillian Smith – Manager of Research and Emerging Technology, National Information and Communication Technology Authority (NICTA), Papua New Guinea
- Rhonda A. Syler, PhD – Associate Professor at James Madison University, United States
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Rosie Worth – Head of ICT Strategy and Governance, International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Kingdom
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Jazib Zahir – Director, Center for Entrepreneurship, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan
The fellowship unfolds in four phases. It begins with foundation and network building, where Fellows clarify their priorities, refine learning questions, and begin forming connections that will guide their year ahead. The Cambridge residency provides an immersive experience of workshops, field visits, and peer dialogue, helping participants deepen their understanding and refine their project goals. During individual project development, Fellows apply what they have learned to initiatives with tangible impact, drawing on mentorship and collaboration. The programme concludes with project delivery and assessment, where fellows present their work and join the DSA alumni community.
Through this programme, these exceptional leaders are poised to make a meaningful contribution to public policy, demonstrating how collaboration, learning, and applied expertise can shape data-informed governance. Data for Policy CIC supports this cohort and looks forward to following their journey, learning from their projects, and sharing the insights they generate with the wider community.