Hi there, I'm Hisham. I work at the United Nations, and I have a passion for building bridges between the tech sector and the international development and humanitarian sector, and for advocating for tech policies that protect and serve vulnerable, conflict-affected communities. I have worked with local governments, grassroots orgs, tech companies, international organizations, and the United Nations to design and build solutions and programs that meet pressing social impact needs, and to ensure that the policies shaping emerging technologies reflect the realities of those most affected by crisis and displacement. 

​

I am currently the Global Lead for Technology and Digital Partnerships at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, where I support the agency's digital engagement strategy and its external positioning on AI, digital technology, and data. I build partnerships with the tech sector, including frontier AI companies, to advance responsible AI governance and advocate for inclusive tech policies that protect refugee rights. Prior to this, I lead US private sector partnerships for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the world's largest humanitarian organization and 2020 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. I also spent 6 incredible years at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), closing out as their Senior Officer for Global Technology Partnerships. I also consult on product and partnerships for tech for good startups like Tarjimly and Altru.

​

Beyond my day-to-day work, I co-chair the Conflict and Humanitarian track at RightsCon 2026, the world's leading summit on human rights in the digital age, and steering committee member for the Conflict and Tech Community of Practice in the Bay Area, bringing together practitioners working at the intersection of technology, conflict, and crisis response.

 

I'm fluent in technology, data, refugee resettlement and international development. Much of what I do is confidential, but you may have caught me speaking on The World, in the NYT,  on BBC Arabic or at UC Berkeley. You can also get a sense of my scope by clicking on some of the logos below! 

​

Whether you need help on a special project or are just interested in talking shop, connect with me on LinkedIn or drop me a line at me@hishamz.com.