The Digital Statecraft Academy (DSA) is proud to welcome the inaugural cohort of DSA Cambridge Fellowship, a selective 12-month leadership initiative for public leaders navigating the complexities of technology, data, and governance. Delivered by The DSA and supported by a range of partners including the Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP) at the University of Cambridge, Microsoft, Cambridge University Press, The GovLab (NYU), Data for Policy CIC, and the Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure (CDPI), the programme equips participants with the strategic insight, ethical grounding, and practical tools needed to govern effectively in an era defined by artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, and data-driven decision-making.
This inaugural cohort reflects a remarkable diversity of expertise and perspectives. Fellows come from government institutions, international organisations, academia, and the private sector, spanning six continents and representing Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania. Their collective experience encompasses digital governance, data strategy, AI policy, emerging technologies, and public sector innovation, creating a truly global, interdisciplinary dialogue.
The Fellows are:
- Mohammed Alotaibi – Senior Policy Advisor, Saudi Government, Saudi Arabia
- Iván Caballero – Director of Digital Risk Analysis, National Security Department, Government of Spain, Spain
- Andrea Fernández Conde – Deputy General Director of Dissemination, National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), Mexico
- Jean-Martin Dénis – Lead Data Steward, Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Switzerland
- Guy Gresham – Independent Advisor, Sedex, and SESAMm, United States
- Natalia Grincheva – Associate Professor, LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, Singapore
- Liesje Klomp – Chief Data Officer, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands
- 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
- Arturo Muente Kunigami – Lead Modernization of the State Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank, United States
- Jennifer Pougnet – Head of Data & Digital Policy Strategy, Roche, Switzerland
- Giulio Quaggiotto – Strategic Innovation Advisor, Prime Minister’s Office, UAE
- Yannik Sassmann – Senior Policy Officer & Data Scientist, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany
- 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
- Rosie Worth – Head of ICT Strategy and Governance, International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Kingdom
- Jazib Zahir – Director, Center for Entrepreneurship, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan
The fellowship unfolds across four integrated phases. It begins with foundation and network building, where Fellows refine their learning questions, set priorities, and establish trusted professional connections. The Cambridge residency forms the programme’s immersive core, offering expert-led sessions, field visits, and peer dialogue that sharpen strategic thinking and focus. During individual project development, Fellows translate their learning into high-impact initiatives, engaging stakeholders and drawing on mentorship, with opportunities to share their work publicly. The programme concludes with project delivery and assessment, where Fellows demonstrate tangible outcomes, reflect on their leadership journey, and formally join the DSA alumni community.
This inaugural fellowship represents a bold investment in the next generation of leaders equipped to navigate the policy challenges of the algorithmic age. We look forward to following their journeys and sharing the impact of their work in shaping the future of data-driven governance.
If you would like to be notified when applications open for the next cohort of the DSA Cambridge Fellowship or for other DSA programmes, please submit your Expression of Interest here. For more information, visit the programme page.