Zaki Barzinji

Zaki Barzinji is a public affairs leader, narrative strategist, and philanthropic executive whose career spans government, the private sector, and civil society. With more than a decade of experience in public affairs, narrative strategy, and community-centered leadership, Barzinji has focused on elevating underrepresented voices and broadening public discourse. He holds degrees in political science and English from Virginia Tech.

Barzinji served in the White House as senior associate director of public engagement and as President Barack Obama's liaison to Arab Americans, Muslims, Sikhs, and other minority faiths, working to amplify perspectives seldom represented at the highest levels of government. Before his tenure at the White House, Barzinji was a tech policy advisor and deputy director of intergovernmental affairs for Governor Terry McAuliffe, where he contributed to the launch of Virginia's first open data portal and managed the governor's national cybersecurity initiative for the National Governors Association. He also served as president of the Muslim Youth of North America, a national organization serving young Muslim Americans.

Prior to joining the Aspen Institute, Barzinji led state and local government affairs for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, collaborating with governors and mayors to address the digital divide, modernize technology policy, and strengthen digital infrastructure. At the Aspen Institute, he served as senior director for Empowered Communities, overseeing projects at the intersection of technology, policy, equity, and justice for systemically marginalized communities.

Barzinji is program director of the Building Bridges Program at the Doris Duke Foundation. The program supports artists, cultural leaders, and storytellers whose work deepens public understanding of Muslim communities in the United States, advancing narratives that reflect the complexity and diversity of Muslim American experiences. Barzinji brings expertise in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, helping communities preserve, interpret, and share their stories with integrity.

In addition to his public service, Barzinji is a writer and storyteller whose creative work has been recognized by the Disney/ABC "First 10" TV Comedy Lab and the NYC Midnight Screenwriting Challenge. His writing and commentary appear in Politico, The Atlantic, BuzzFeed, The Washington Post, CNN, and other national outlets. Barzinji's background in government, technology policy, and creative storytelling positions him as a knowledgeable voice on narrative equity, digital inclusion, and cross-cultural understanding.