Michael Bąk (He / Him)

Michael has worked for more than two decades in Asia across issues of the political economy including public policy, tech, research, social development and democratic governance in diverse contexts. He is regarded as a bridge builder, an authentic and inspirational leader, and an empowering manager driven by a commitment to justice and equity. He’s worked in small start-ups and massive organisations. Often as a diplomat, he has represented influential global leaders: USAID, the United Nations, and Facebook. As a leader and strategist managing and empowering distributed teams, he builds strategic collaborations of diverse stakeholders and internal cross-functional teams to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time: diversity and inclusion, human rights, content moderation, complex crises, digital citizenship, trust & safety, and democracy & digital governance, among others. In public and private sector roles, he has delivered insightful analysis and high impact programmes through trusted partnerships at all levels, from CSO leaders to cabinet ministers, to address some of our most wicked social challenges. Experience in complex crises, social transformations, and leading public policy for a tech company has afforded unique insights into the challenges society faces and the organisational culture, agency and constant focus on impact and values needed to effectively tackle them. He has worked in over 20 countries, speaks multiple languages, and regularly collaborates with the tech sector, governments, multilaterals, activists, civil society and academia.