Vera Zakem

Vera Zakem is a Senior Technology and Policy Advisor with the Institute for Security and Technology (IST) (formerly Tech4GS). She is a recognized leader, driving strategy at the intersection of global threats, policy, emerging technologies and innovation, and organizational strategy and operations. Vera is a recognized expert on Russian influence and disinformation, the impact that technology plays in society and democracy, terrorism, and human security and stability. Prior to joining IST as a Senior Advisor, Vera led strategy and research at Twitter’s operations, leading initiatives to continuously serve Twitter’s customers globally. Prior, she served as a leader in strategy, partnerships, research, and policy engagement at various think tanks and industry organizations in Washington, DC, including the CNA Corporation, where she spearheaded initiatives on global influence and Russia’s indirect approaches while leading the overall strategy and business strategy for her business unit. Vera is a Term Member at the Council on Foreign Relations, was selected as a Young Leader (Class of 1999) as part of Swiss-American Foundation, and has been recognized by Working Mother Magazine in ensuring women have a seat at the table in policy, the board room, industry, and academia. She received her M.A. from the Johns Hopkins University and is fluent in Russian and Spanish.