Titi Akinsanmi

Public policy thought leader and digital economy expert

Titi Akinsanmi is a distinguished public policy thought leader and digital economy expert currently serving as Google’s Global AI Policy Team Lead, where she spearheads policy development for responsible artificial intelligence. Her motto—”Inspire. Inform. Involve. Impact.”—encapsulates her mission as an unconventional strategist with an innate ability to connect disparate elements in the digital policy landscape.

With over two decades of global experience spanning 35+ nations, Akinsanmi has established herself as a leading voice in shaping enabling environments for innovation across the African digital economy and beyond. At Google, she guides the development and presentation of trustworthy products that respect users’ rights while setting policies for responsible access to Google’s platforms and products, balancing individual and societal interests. She has previously held regional government affairs and public policy roles within Google, including serving as Policy and Government Relations Lead for West and Francophone Africa.

Akinsanmi’s distinguished academic credentials include serving as a Berkman Klein Fellow at Harvard Law School from 2018-2020, where she focused on digital rights, privacy, and internet governance issues. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Development Management from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Master of Laws (LLM) in Privacy and Cybersecurity from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University.

Her expertise encompasses digital identity, data governance, internet policy, AI governance, and fostering innovation while mediating emerging technological tensions. Throughout her career, she has initiated, managed, and led delivery on projects spanning ICT & development, digital education, the Information Society, and Internet Governance across multiple continents. Her experience bridges public and private sectors, having worked with international institutions including AfriNIC, the World Bank Institute, IICD, Mindset, UN-GAID, UNECA, SchoolNet Africa, and MTech Communications.

Akinsanmi serves on multiple prestigious boards and advisory bodies, demonstrating her commitment to global digital inclusion and policy development. She is a Board Member of the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP), ACCES Employment Canada, and Junior Achievement Nigeria. She also serves on the advisory board of the Yemi Shyllon Museum of Arts and is an advisory member for the World Economic Forum‘s Global Future Council on the Digital Economy, as well as a member of WEF’s Digital Identity strategy team.

A published author of both academic and non-academic papers, Akinsanmi has been recognized as a thought leader whose insights are sought after by leading organizations and governments worldwide. Her pragmatic belief in the perseverance of the human spirit and commitment to ensuring humanity remains central to technological development has made her a respected voice in global digital policy circles.

Born, bred, and formally educated in Africa, Akinsanmi describes herself as a “non-techie techie” who understands technology developers well enough to interpret their work for the broader world. She is married, a mother of three children, and enjoys kickboxing, travel, movies, and music. Her personal philosophy is guided by the Latin phrase “dubito, ergo cogito, cogito ergo sum” (I doubt therefore I think, I think therefore I am) and the Ubuntu principle of interconnected humanity.