Linda Raftree

Linda Raftree

Linda (she/her) founded the MERL Tech Initiative (MTI) in 2014, building on two decades of work at the intersection of community development, gender, youth participatory media, rights-based approaches and digital development. She is a well-known expert on responsible data approaches, AI policy and governance, inclusive digital approaches, safeguarding and safe tech-enabled program design, and MERL Tech. Linda excels at organizational and sector strategy in times of political flux and technological change. She runs sector-wide convenings through MTI and the New York City Technology Salon, which she started in 2011. Linda is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP & CIPM). She also serves on CDAC’s SAFE AI Pool of Experts and teaches AI and MERL at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Linda leads and manages MTI overall, joins MTI teams for specific projects, and takes on independent projects in her areas of expertise.

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  • Organization
    MERL Tech Initiative (MTI)
  • Profession
    Founder
Related sessions
In person
9 July 2026
14:00 - 17:15
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia

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