Anja Kaspersen

Anja Kaspersen is an authority on artificial intelligence ethics, technology governance, and international security. She serves as director for global markets development, frontier and critical technologies at IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization. In this role, Kaspersen oversees IEEE SA initiatives focused on technology and AI governance and standards development, including the IEEE Industry Connections Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems and the Research Group on Issues of Autonomy and AI for Defense Systems. Her work emphasizes safety by design, ethical considerations, and the development of standards and verification tools to guide the governance of AI and related frontier technologies throughout their lifecycle.

Kaspersen has held leadership roles in diplomacy, humanitarian affairs, and technology. She is the former director of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs in Geneva and deputy secretary general of the Conference on Disarmament. Previously, she led strategic engagement and new technologies at the International Committee of the Red Cross. Before joining the ICRC, Kaspersen served as senior director for geopolitics and international security and was a member of the executive leadership committee at the World Economic Forum. She is a former Norwegian diplomat and has experience across diplomatic, private sector, and academic sectors.

Kaspersen is a former co-director and senior fellow at Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, where she launched the Artificial Intelligence Equality Initiative with Wendell Wallach. Together with scholars in technology governance, supported by Carnegie Council and IEEE, Kaspersen and Wallach provided a proposal for international governance of AI with modalities for implementation. Through the initiative's podcast, she has engaged leading voices on topics such as AI and warfare, model bias, and deepfakes, contributing to public discourse at the intersection of technology and ethics.

She is a member of INTERPOL's Standing Committee on Ethical Matters and serves as an executive in residence at New York University. Kaspersen is also a member of the UNCTAD/UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development Multi-Stakeholder Working Group on Data Governance at All Levels, a special advisor on digital technologies, equity, peace and democracy with the Kofi Annan Foundation, and a member of the Force for Good Advisory Council. She is an alumni International Gender Champion, co-founder of the IEEE Life Science Innovation and AI Industry Connections Program, and a member of the Council of the International Military Council on Climate and Security.

Kaspersen has received recognition for her leadership and contributions to technology and ethics, including being named among the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics. A published author and public speaker, she advocates for multilateralism and the role of science and technology diplomacy in ensuring responsible innovation and the ethical development and use of intelligent systems. Her multidisciplinary background spans peacekeeping, humanitarian law, geopolitics, and AI standards, providing insight for audiences addressing societal questions posed by emerging technologies.