Nagla Rizk, PhD

Professor of Economics and Founding Director of the Access to Knowledge for Development Center

Nagla Rizk is a distinguished Professor of Economics and the Founding Director of the Access to Knowledge for Development Center (A2K4D), as well as its Middle East and North Africa Observatory on Responsible Artificial Intelligence, at the Onsi Sawiris School of Business, American University in Cairo.

Her research focuses on the economics of knowledge, technology, and development, with particular expertise in:

• Responsible data and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Future of work and platform economy
• Gender, inclusion, and AI policy in Egypt, the Middle East, and North Africa (MENA)

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Leadership and International Initiatives

Dr. Rizk leads several regional and global initiatives, including:

• Middle East Chapter, Global Index on Responsible AI
• North Africa Hub, Open African Innovation Research Partnership (Open AIR)

She also holds key advisory and governance roles internationally:

• Member, ITU Academic Advisory Body on Emerging Technologies
• Member, Meta AI Governance Working Group for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey (AMET)
• Member, Global Academic Network, Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP)

Her committee and organizational memberships include:

• Global Future Councils, World Economic Forum
• Digital Rights in Society Working Group, Paris Peace Forum
• Data Governance Working Group, Global Partnership on AI (GPAI)

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Policy Impact

Dr. Rizk has made significant contributions to policy development in Egypt, including:

• Advocacy and research on open source technologies
• Regulation of ride-sharing services
• Promotion of the right to information

She serves as a member of the Technical Secretariat of Egypt’s National Council for Artificial Intelligence and was a major contributor to Egypt’s First AI Strategy (2019). Additionally, she served as Knowledge Economy Expert for Egypt Vision 2030 Development Strategy.

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Academic Affiliations and Teaching

Dr. Rizk holds prominent academic positions internationally:

• Faculty Associate, Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University
• Affiliated Fellow, CopyrightX network, Harvard Law School
• Affiliated Fellow, Information Society Project, Yale Law School
• Associate Member, Center for Law, Technology and Society, University of Ottawa

She has taught at: Columbia University, Yale Law School, University of Toronto, and held leadership roles at the American University in Cairo:

• Chair, Department of Economics, Onsi Sawiris School of Business
• Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, Onsi Sawiris School of Business

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Education

• PhD in Economics, McMaster University, Canada
• Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Economics (Highest Honors), American University in Cairo