Barbara
Wanner

Drawing on more than 40 years of professional experience, Barbara Wanner provides clients with in-depth expertise on cutting-edge technology policy issues, such governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data flows, privacy regulations and online security and safety protocols, and management of the Internet and Domain Name System (DNS), to name a few areas.

In particular, Barbara possesses hands-on experience representing client interests in the digital policy space in multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations and its specialized agencies, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. She has a successful track record developing cross-sectoral consensus on digital policy priorities and implementing innovative advocacy initiatives before these multilateral organizations, presenting high-profile verbal interventions and written comments aimed at promoting US business interests.

Complementing these skills in the diplomatic arena, Barbara possesses top-rate writing and communications skills as well as extensive experience conceptualizing and implementing large-scale in-person conferences and virtual webinars on cutting edge digital policy issues.

Barbara served as vice president for digital policy at the US Council for International Business (USCIB) from October 2012 through March 2024. In that capacity, she worked with Fortune 500 corporate members and government officials on a wide range of digital policy issues, including AI policy and regulatory governance as well as initiatives to promote Data-Free-Flows-with-Trust, to enhance cybersecurity and privacy of personal data, and to ensure sound and inclusive approaches to Internet governance. Through leadership positions in the Internet Corporate of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) business stakeholder group, she also actively promoted the business user perspective on management of the Domain Name System (DNS).

Prior to joining USCIB, Barbara served as director, global services summit at the Coalition of Service Industries (CSI), where she planned CSI’s annual Global Services Summit as well as staffed its ICT Working Group, promoted CSI members’ interests in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, and advocated before the US Congress on legislation to grant Russia Permanent Normal Trade Relations.

From 2005 to 2011, Barbara was senior projects coordinator for the U.S. Asia Pacific Council (USAPC), a program of the East-West Center. In this capacity, she was the lead liaison with the U.S. Congress, which entailed representing the Center’s interests before relevant appropriations and authorization committees. She wrote and published USAPC’s Washington Report, a bimonthly publication that provided an “inside-the-Beltway” perspective on developments in U.S.-Asia Pacific relations, and planned the 20th General Meeting of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) in Washington, DC.

Before her East-West Center tour, Barbara was deputy director of the International Electronics Manufacturers and Consumers of America (IEMCA). And for nearly 15 years, Barbara served as Senior Political Analyst for the Japan Economic Institute (JEI). Other assignments included: a tour at Matsushita Electric Corporation of America (now branded as Panasonic in the US) and work on Capitol Hill for former Rep. Paul Findley (R., Illinois).

Barbara has an M.A. in Political Science from Columbia University and a B.A. in International Relations from Bucknell University. She also received a Certificate in International Business from Georgetown University.