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
Executive Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN). She has a wealth of experience in the Internet Governance and Policy arena, having served most recently at ICANN as the Vice President of Global Engagement and Manager of Regional Relations and in the Regional Internet Registry system where she served as the Chief Operating Officer at AFRINIC.
Executive Director of ICANNWiki. In this role, his responsibilities include managing and carrying out all aspect of the organisations operations and activities alongside his team. Dustin was originally hired as Editor and Community Manager in June 2015. Since then he has attended a variety of conferences and worked with a diverse set of stakeholders to move the project forward in a way that benefits the Internet governance community as a whole. In addition, Dustin is Assistant Director of the Washington, DC Chapter of the Internet of Society.
Cybersecurity and E-diplomacy Programs Director for DiploFoundation. He is a lecturer in cybersecurity policy, Internet governance, and e-diplomacy and serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) and as an expert with the Geneva Internet Platform. He served as a member of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group of the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) from 2012 to 2014.
Team members
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.
Ms Pavlina Ittelson joined Diplo in 2017 and currently serves as a Program Officer at Diplo US. She also monitors the topics of jurisdiction and alternative dispute resolution for the GIP Digital Watch Observatory. Prior to joining Diplo, Pavlina was a legal project manager in the fields of international business, science, and technology. She previously worked as an Attorney in Slovakia and the Czech Republic specialising in international business transactions. Pavlina received her degree in Law from Comenius University, Bratislava, and her LL.M. in International Business Law from Central European University, Budapest. A native of Slovakia, Pavlina now resides in the Washington, DC area.