Diplo US, founded in 2018, is a non-profit organization working to increase the capacity of individuals and institutions to follow and engage in digital policy and diplomacy. It aims to improve global governance and international policy development.

Diplo US supports a wide range of stakeholders to build their capacity in order to engage effectively in US and international policy processes, negotiations, and diplomacy.

Diplo US seeks to:

  • Strengthen stakeholders, especially from small and developing states to allow them to effect their own futures and development;
  • Increase accountability and inclusivity in the sphere of digital policy, whether in the US or globally;
  • Enhance the legitimacy of international policy making;
  • Advance global governance and international policy development.

In particular, the niche of Diplo US is exploring the impact of digitalization and emerging technologies on core diplomatic functions such as:

  • Digital policy issues on the US and international diplomatic agenda (from cybersecurity and digital commerce to big data and blockchain technologies);
  • Trends and tools in diplomatic training, from visual elements such as infographics and illustrations, to massive open online courses (MOOCs), webinars, and blended learning;
  • Artificial intelligence (AI), automation, robotics, and their potential impact on the core social and ethical pillars of humanity;
  • Trends and practical insights into the use of technologies in our daily lives.

To accomplish these goals, Diplo US

  • Provides capacity development programs in areas of digital policy and multilateral diplomacy;
  • Trains officials from small and developing countries; and
  • Provides specialized academic programs for professional diplomats in both traditional and contemporary diplomacy topics;
  • Develops and uses tools for e-participation in global governance, including remote participation in international meetings and social media for global negotiations; and
  • Undertakes and publishes policy research activities on issues related to digital policy and diplomacy to support and enhance the organization’s impact.

Board members

Anne-Rachel Inné
Anne-Rachel InnéPresident
Anne-Rachel Inné is the Director-General of Niger’s National Agency for the Information Society.

Before this appointment,  Anne-Rachel was the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Regional Director for Africa with Ambassadorial credentials, serving as liaison to the African Union and UNECA. She worked to programme, organise and implement the ITU’s strategic and operational objectives on digital in all sectors, in Africa.

Before joining ITU, she was the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, at the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) and the primary link to Governments of US, Canada, and more than 25 Caribbean and North Atlantic economies that constitute ARIN’s region and the focal point for International IGOs, IOs and their work. She participated to the writing of the OECD Policy Paper on: Routing security: BGP incidents, mitigation techniques and policy actions.

Immediately prior to working for ARIN, Anne-Rachel was the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)’s Vice President Government Engagement in Geneva, Switzerland, and worked for ICANN for 11 years.

Dustin Loup
Dustin LoupVice President and Treasurer
Dustin is the Senior Director, Policy Development and Analysis at Ready.net. Previously, Dustin acted as the Project Manager, National Broadband Mapping Coalition at the Marconi Society, as well as the Executive Director of ICANNWiki. Bringing with him a history of working in the internet industry, Dustin supports communities in broadbank and digital equity planning.
Vladimir Radunović
Vladimir RadunovićSecretary
Serbian-born Mr Vladimir (Vlada) Radunović is a lecturer in cybersecurity policy, Internet governance, and e-diplomacy on postgraduate and professional courses. He also serves as an expert with the Geneva Internet Platform, and leads the Geneva Dialogue on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace. He served as a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) from 2016 to 2020, and a member of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group of the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) from 2012 to 2014. Vlada has been a lecturer, speaker, and resource person on a number of educational and training programmes and events worldwide, including within the WSIS and IGF processes. His professional and research focus is on cybersecurity, cyber-diplomacy and e-diplomacy, Internet governance, broadband policy and net neutrality, and capacity development. He holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Belgrade and a Master’s in Contemporary Diplomacy from the University of Malta. He is currently working on his PhD in cybersecurity. Vlada is currently member of the Board of Directors of Diplo US.
Tereza Horejsova
Tereza HorejsovaMember of the Board
Originally from the Czech Republic, Dr Tereza Horejsova is currently based in Washington DC. Joined Diplo in 2012, Tereza has had an international career in academia and the non-governmental sector in the Czech Republic, the United Arab Emirates, and Switzerland. During her stay in Geneva (2012‒2016), she coordinated the activities of the Geneva Internet Platform. She holds an MA in International Area Studies and a PhD in European Studies, both from the Charles University in Prague.
Martin Rauchbauer
Martin RauchbauerMember of the Board
Martin Rauchbauer is a senior Austrian diplomat and a tech governance expert. He is currently the executive director of the Djerassi Resident Artists Program in Silicon Valley after having served for two years as Austria’s first tech ambassador to Silicon Valley, and more than five years as head of Open Austria, and Austrian consul in San Francisco.

Team members

Pavlina Ittelson
Pavlina IttelsonExecutive Director
Ms Pavlina Ittelson joined Diplo in 2017 and currently serves as the executive director of Diplo US. Her expertise is in the legal aspects of internet governance, science diplomacy and tech diplomacy, on which she is a regular lecturer in Diplo’s postgraduate and professional courses. Her research focuses on the comparative analysis of digital policies and the practice of diplomacy. Pavlina also serves as Diplo’s lead in engaging with civil society organisations on the issue of internet governance.

Annual report and Financials

Diplo US’s mission is to provide educational programs online and in person, as well as conducting research related to internet policy and diplomacy. The main mission is to empower all actors involved in the digital policy discourse on international level to be able to actively engage and represent their viewpoints in the digital policy fora. Financial and other information about our charity’s purpose, programs and activities can be obtained by contacting Pavlina Ittelson, Executive Director, 1100 15th Street NW, Floor 4, Washington, DC 20005-1707, 202-834-4946. If you are a resident of any of the following states, please review the relevant disclosure statement.

ILLINOIS: Contracts and reports regarding Diplo US are on file with the Illinois Attorney General.

NEW YORK: Upon request, a copy of the latest financial report filed with the Attorney General as well as a full description of the programs and activities supported by contributions can be obtained by contacting Diplo US at 1100 15th Street NW, Floor 4, Washington, DC 20005-1707. Financial reports can also be obtained from the charities registry on the Attorney General’s website or by writing the Charities Bureau at 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005. For more information about charities, visit the Charities Bureau online at www.charitiesnys.com or call 212-416-8401.

WASHINGTON: The notice of solicitation required by the State Office of Consumer Affairs is on file with the Washington Secretary of State, and information relating to financial affairs of Diplo US is available from the Secretary of State, and the toll-free number for Washington residents: 800-332-4483.

CONTRIBUTIONS ARE DEDUCTIBLE FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. REGISTRATION IN A STATE DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION OF DIPLO US BY THE STATE.