Nicole Manger

Foreign Policy & Technology Strategist | Entrepreneur | Speaker

“I am passionate about helping mission-driven leaders anticipate and shape the AI era. I design policy and financing frameworks and convene global partners to advance democratic, safe and beneficial AI — and to strengthen leadership capacity for an AI-augmented future of work."

Discover my work

Organizations I Have Partnered With:

Global Solutions Initiative - Nicole Manger is a Strategy Fellow on Digital Public Infrastructure, AI, and Future of Work.

TUM Think Tank - Nicole Manger is a Fellow of Practice on public-interest AI

1. INTRO

Artificial Intelligence is fundamentally reshaping power, productivity, and geopolitics. Periods of such structural transformation bring uncertainty, but they also create rare opportunities to define the rules, institutions, and leadership models of a new era. Technological progress cannot be paused, but it can be governed, directed, and aligned with democratic values and long-term societal resilience.

I work with leaders across governments, multilateral institutions, AI research labs, technology companies, and foundations to navigate this transition with strategic clarity. I design policy and financing architectures, advise on geopolitical technology strategy, and convene cross-sector coalitions and trusted dialogues to strengthen responsible AI governance and leadership capacity in an AI-augmented future of work. My focus lies at the intersection of global AI policy, public-interest technology, and the strategic positioning of institutions and companies in an increasingly contested technological landscape.

2. VISION

(1) Ethical, Responsible AI that Advances the Public Good

A future where AI systems are developed and deployed in ways that strengthen democratic institutions, protect human rights, and generate long-term societal value. This includes supporting public institutions in managing frontier AI risks — while also advising private sector actors and AI labs on navigating emerging regulatory, ethical, and geopolitical expectations across jurisdictions. Responsible AI governance is no longer solely a public-sector challenge; it is a shared strategic imperative.

(2) An AI-Literate, Future-Ready Society

A workforce, leadership class, and civic ecosystem capable of understanding and shaping advanced AI systems — not merely reacting to them. This requires developing ethical judgment, systems thinking, and institutional adaptability in an era increasingly shaped by autonomous and agentic systems. Building leadership capacity is the human infrastructure of AI governance.

(3) Digitally Sovereign, Geopolitically Strategic Democracies

A globally connected yet strategically autonomous digital order. Europe represents one critical arena: strengthening its digital infrastructure, compute capacity, and regulatory coherence while acting as a bridge between U.S. innovation, Asian scale, and emerging global ecosystems.

At the same time, AI governance and technological power are inherently global. My work therefore approaches digital sovereignty not as isolation, but as strategically positioned interdependence. To this end, I support governments, multilateral actors, and technology firms in navigating the geopolitical dynamics shaping AI development, regulation, and global market access.

ABOUT ME

I am an internationally recognized expert in AI ethics and safety, global AI governance, public sector innovation, and the future of work. My work spans the full arc of public-interest technology – from designing AI-enabled tools, building data and AI financial architectures, to shaping international technology policy and governance frameworks. Key outcomes include launching the Complex Risk Analytics Fund (CRAF'd), the Data Innovation Lab, and multilateral negotiations for the Global Digital Compact, leading to the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

Currently, I focus on building the human and organizational capacity that technology governance depends on. I work with leaders, teams, and organizations to develop the skills required in an AI-driven world: ethical judgment, systems thinking, strategic foresight, and the ability to navigate complex institutional, cultural, and geopolitical landscapes.

I serve as a member of UNESCO’s ‘Women for Ethical AI’, and as a Fellow with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Global Solutions Initiative, advising G7 and G20 digital policy processes. Appointed as an expert to the UNESCO–G20 Technology Assistance Facility, I help governments advance AI literacy, capacity, and multi-stakeholder cooperation.

Over the past decade, I have led transformative initiatives at the intersection of technology, diplomacy, and innovation, working with organizations such as the German Federal Foreign Office, US. Department of State, the Munich Security Conference, and the German Agency for Development Cooperation (GIZ).

My global experience spans working with the United Nations, the EU, country champions as well as partnerships across the private sector and civil society in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

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MISSION

I work with leaders across governments, multilateral institutions, AI research labs, technology companies, and civil society to navigate the structural transformations driven by frontier technologies like AI.

My mission is to strengthen the strategic, institutional, and human capacity required to govern and deploy AI responsibly — across sectors and across borders.

I support:

Policy Leaders and International Stakeholders
in advancing democratic AI governance, inclusive growth, and strategically positioned digital sovereignty — connecting Europe with global partners across the U.S., Asia, and emerging ecosystems.

Business and Technology Executives
in navigating AI-driven risks and opportunities — from regulatory shifts to geopolitical competition — strengthening resilience, trust, and long-term positioning in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Public Institutions
in building the expertise and governance models required for ethical, participatory, and effective AI deployment — grounded in transparency, interoperability, and sustainable digital infrastructure.

Leaders and Professionals
in developing the judgment, systems thinking, and strategic foresight needed to lead in an AI-augmented future of work — and to actively shape public-interest technology and responsible innovation.

Government Technology & Public-Sector Transformation

How governments can modernize infrastructure, adopt trustworthy AI, and build the capabilities and skills needed to deliver efficient, citizen-centric public services.

Frontier AI Safety & Multilateral Governance

Designing global frameworks, “AI red lines,” and cooperative safety agreements that manage the risks of advanced systems while preserving innovation and strategic stability.

FOCUS

Europe’s Digital Sovereignty & Global Role

Strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty through secure, open, and interoperable digital public infrastructure and European digital commons. Advancing the EU as a global partner in responsible, rights-respecting AI and democratic, open-source technology design that supports strategic autonomy, innovation, and public-interest impact.

AI Ethics & Human Rights

Ensuring that AI systems uphold human agency, dignity, and fairness, with robust oversight mechanisms that protect individuals and communities from emerging harms.

AI, the Future of Work & Education

Preparing organizations, workforce, and learning institutions for rapid transformation through future-skills development, re-skilling pathways, and new models of lifelong education.