Public Affairs Leader & Narrative Strategist; Program Director at Doris Duke Foundation; Former White House Senior Associate Director of Public Engagement
Zaki Barzinji Biography
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.
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How do I book Zaki Barzinji to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Zaki Barzinji for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Zaki Barzinji, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Zaki Barzinji or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Zaki Barzinji
Speaking fees for Zaki Barzinji, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Zaki Barzinji are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Zaki Barzinji, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Zaki Barzinji speak about?
Zaki Barzinji is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Anti-Racism, Artificial Intelligence, Civil Rights, DEI, Diversity & Inclusion, Futurism, Government, Muslim, Social Activism, Social Justice, Technology -
Where does Zaki Barzinji travel from?
Zaki Barzinji generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
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AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Zaki Barzinji for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Zaki Barzinji for your next private or corporate function. -
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Zaki Barzinji is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Zaki Barzinji for your event is available upon request. Zaki Barzinji generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Connie Chung Joe, Shanita Hubbard, Mutale Nkonde, Karen Palmer and Aric Dromi. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Zaki Barzinji for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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