Jennifer A.

Background

About Jennifer A.

I am a Senior Policy Advisor with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights & Civil Liberties. In part, I am responsible for Chicago & San Diego regions, AI & Equity and MASSAH community engagement, ensuring civil society, industry, and government partner inclusion in policy, accountability and program development. I am a quick-learner, empathetic communicator & natural connector with a bias to action and a clear ability to both lead strategy & execute with over 20 years’ experience across 8 countries in the private, public, nonprofit & multilateral sectors. In 2014, I founded Inara Strategies, a global impact strategy & business consultancy applying a systems & human-centered approach to catalyze economic growth, tech-enabled innovation & social impact – often via private sector engagement. With Inara, I led the design, build & launch of the inaugural, global 2022 Digital Equity Accelerator for nonprofits serving traditionally marginalized communities in the USA, India & Morocco for Aspen Digital & HP, Inc. From 2017-2020, I designed & led initiatives & negotiations in North America, Israel, Palestine, Jordan & Europe, such as: I led tech & humanitarian partnerships with Fortune 500 & companies; designed blended finance-based, sustainable initiatives for inclusive tech innovation accelerators & national economic growth ventures; & served as a personal advisor to senior USG officials & Swiss Ambassadors on private sector development in Palestine & MEPPA execution. From 2015-2017, while leading USAID's private sector competitiveness work across 7 industries in the West Bank & Gaza, I achieved the first business deal between Gazans and an international company based in Israel, revitalizing the garment sector. Prior, I was a microfinance & impact investment in emerging markets specialist, intelligence analyst (US) and data scientist. I am a frequent public speaker on topics ranging from AI & emerging tech for social good & national security to impact investment in Israel & Palestine, & have been featured at SXSW, news outlets (incl. Ha'aretz, Jerusalem Post) & diplomatic roundtables. In 2021, I was recognized as a Top 50 Under 50 National Security & Foreign Affairs Leader & in 2020 as a MENA-American National Security & Foreign Policy NextGen Leader by New America Foundation & NextGen NatSec. I earned my M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) & A.B. from the University of Chicago and conduct business in Arabic and Hebrew. I am also a certified trauma-informed Yoga Teacher and emerging author.