The Open Technology Fund (OTF) today announced that Laura Cunningham will join the OTF team as the program’s new Principal Director. In this role, Laura will lead OTF’s strategic development, long-term planning, and day-to-day operations, enabling OTF to fulfill its mission to support Internet freedom worldwide.
“As adversaries to a free, open, and secure global Internet enhance their tactics and censorship know-how, OTF is entering a crucial period of programmatic growth to counter these rising threats. Laura’s wide range of experience on Internet freedom issues and knowledge of the community ecosystem make her uniquely qualified to lead OTF at this critical juncture,” said Radio Free Asia President Libby Liu.
“I am excited to be joining the OTF team at such a pivotal time. OTF plays a critical role in supporting Internet freedom worldwide and ensuring that citizens in repressive environments can freely and safely access information and communicate online – without fear of censorship or surveillance. I look forward to leading these important efforts and furthering OTF’s mission,” said Laura.
Laura brings with her over a decade of experience in working to advance global Internet freedom across a variety of donor, non-profit, and government organizations. Prior to joining OTF, Laura was the Senior Advisor for Internet Freedom in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, where she led the Department’s Internet freedom programs focused on technology development, digital security, Internet policy advocacy, and research. Prior to joining the State Department, Laura was Program Manager of ICT Policy and Programs at Internews, where she designed and launched Internews’ global Internet policy and research initiative to support and enhance local Internet policy advocacy worldwide. She also helped to launch and oversee Internews’ technology development and digital security programs.
Previously, Laura worked as a Digital Coordinator at the Center for International Media Assistance at the National Endowment for Democracy, and helped to launch the Liberation Technology Program at Stanford University’s Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law. Laura holds an M.A. in comparative politics and a B.A. in political science, with a minor in computer science, from Stanford University.