Alec Ross

Alec Ross is recognized as one of America's foremost experts on innovation. He serves as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Johns Hopkins University and authored "The Industries of the Future," published by Simon & Schuster in February 2016. The book delves into the technological and economic trends that will shape the next decade, including cybersecurity, big data, the commercialization of genomics, and the code-ification of money, markets, and trust.

Eric Schmidt, former Chairman of Google, described Ross as one of the rare individuals who can discern patterns in chaos and provide guidance for the future. He noted Ross's diverse expertise allows him to tackle global challenges with innovative solutions.

Ross’s career accolades include being named one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy Magazine and receiving the U.S. Department of State Distinguished Honor Award, the Oxford University Internet & Society Award, recognition as one of Huffington Post's 10 Game Changers in Politics, and the Tribeca Film Festival Disruptive Innovation Award.

Previously, Ross served for four years as Senior Advisor for Innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a position tailored for him to leverage technology and innovation in American diplomacy. His responsibilities covered a range of issues such as cybersecurity, Internet Freedom, disaster response, and the implementation of network technologies in conflict zones.

Ross also played a significant role in the political sphere as the Convener for the Technology, Media & Telecommunications Policy Committee during Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and was part of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team. In 2000, he co-founded One Economy, a technology-centered nonprofit organization that expanded from a basement operation into a global entity aiding millions of low-income individuals across four continents.

In addition to his professional achievements, Ross has contributed to academic discourse, with articles in the Johns Hopkins SAIS Review of International Affairs and the NATO Review. He also frequently lectures at esteemed institutions such as the United Nations, Oxford University, Harvard Law School, and Stanford Business School. Ross began his career as a sixth-grade teacher in Baltimore through Teach for America, where he continues to reside with his wife and their three children.