Early Career Fellowship > 2026 Fellows

2026 Fellows

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Allan Magezi
(Uganda)

I am a digital policy analyst from Uganda with extensive experience in the telecommunications sector and digital space. My work focuses on bettering affordability, bridging connectivity gaps, and shaping regulatory frameworks—including spectrum management, licensing, and competition policy—across East Africa.

I am passionate about creating inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystems that empower communities and expand equitable access to technology. I have engaged in different digital spaces such as ICANN, where I contribute to the implementation of the Next Round of generic top-level domains (gTLDs) …

helping to expand the Domain Name System (DNS) and help more diverse and accessible Internet identifiers.

This experience deepened my understanding of global Internet governance, multistakeholder approaches, and policy development, reinforcing my commitment to a safe, resilient, and inclusive Internet. During this program, I will focus on exploring solutions to overcome fiber congestion in Nairobi and Kampala, aiming to better network efficiency and broaden access in urban areas.

Outside of work, I enjoy playful moments with dogs and cows, connecting with nature, and recharging for the work ahead.

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Amira Dhawan
(India)

I am Amira Dhawan, a practicing lawyer and tech policy enthusiast. I primarily practice in the domain of technology, media, and platform-related disputes. My work sits at the intersection of law and digital platforms, where I engage with questions of platform accountability, online harms, and the evolving role of regulation in shaping digital spaces.

My experience includes working on issues relating to content moderation, data protection, and intermediary liability. Through this work, I have developed a strong interest in how legal frameworks respond to rapidly changing technologies and where they fall short …

in protecting users.

I am particularly interested in examining gaps in current laws, especially in addressing harms caused by automated systems and large-scale content platforms. My focus lies on AI governance, intermediary liability, and the evolving responsibilities of online platforms. I am interested in contributing to more grounded, enforceable approaches to digital regulation.

As an Early Career Fellow at the Internet Society, I aim to better understand the operational and logistical realities of how digital systems function and how these intersect with legal and regulatory frameworks. I am particularly interested in how rules translate into practice and where enforcement, implementation, and system design create challenges for effective regulation.

When I am not focused on technology and governance, I can be found baking new delicacies and running.

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Ammara Yasin
(United Kingdom)

I am a PhD student at University College London, working at the intersection of electronic and electrical engineering and science and technology studies (STS). I combine technical analysis with critical sociopolitical inquiry.

Currently, I am examining the privacy and security of methods to circumvent network shutdowns. I unpack how these methods can contribute to reconfiguring global digital networks, building frameworks to understand how well these workarounds protect users’ privacy against state-level adversaries …

My academic background began with a computer science degree, where I got hooked on the “why” behind technology—why it’s built the way it is, who it serves, and who it excludes.

I care deeply about building technology that considers people in the most difficult circumstances. This includes someone navigating a network shutdown in an authoritarian context or a person in the criminal justice system trying to rebuild their identity, as seen in my work with the OICD. This thread runs through all my work, from policy contributions to tool development.

Outside research, I find my way into some eclectic corners. I once explored the social impact of artificial intelligence (AI) through the lens of ethnomusicology, with absolutely no prior background in music theory.

I’m also a big believer that the best technical work happens in conversation with people from completely different disciplines.

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Amy Utomo
(Indonesia)

I work at ChildFund Australia as a regional Swipe Safe officer, coordinating the rollout of an online safety app across the Asia-Pacific. My background sits at the intersection of gender, technology, and development. I’ve worked with the World Bank Group and the ASEAN Foundation, focusing on gender inclusion, stakeholder engagement, and research.

I’m also part of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) network and currently contribute to the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression network (SAFEnet), reflecting my growing interest in digital rights and online safety advocacy …

I’m motivated by the idea that technology should empower, not exclude. Whether it’s through online safety, education, or community initiatives, I care about creating spaces where people feel informed, protected, and able to participate fully.

Outside of work, you can find me at home playing with my three cats or practicing my Korean through addictive dramas. I also enjoy pilates and yoga, which help me reset when things get overwhelming, and I’ve been getting into running.

Catalina Arango Patino
(Canada)

I am a Colombian communications professional and a Montreal-based digital literacy educator and social researcher. I hold a master’s degree in communications and media studies from the University of Ottawa. My work sits at the intersection of digital inclusion, education, and community engagement.

Over the past 10 years, I have collaborated with civil society organizations, academic institutions, and international networks across the Americas, focusing on research, communications, and knowledge mobilization.

I am the founder of DigiMasters, a family-centered initiative that helps parents and children build safe …

critical, and confident relationships with the Internet.

Through my work, I design and deliver multilingual workshops and create accessible resources that help families navigate online safety, social media, misinformation, and healthy digital habits. I am particularly interested in empowering communities—especially Spanish-speaking families—to become active and informed participants in the digital world.

Alongside my professional work, I am passionate about writing and storytelling, and I am currently working on my first novel.

Dana Beltran
(Colombia)

I am a Colombian sociologist with a focus on development, specialized in the regulation and management of telecommunications, information and communication technologies (ICTs), and the digital ecosystem.

I currently coordinate the community networks area at Asociación Colnodo in Colombia, where we drive initiatives that promote self-managed connectivity, especially in rural areas. I work closely with Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, women, peasant associations, and signatories to the peace agreement. I also engage in advocacy to advance the recognition of community connectivity projects and community networks within public policy and regulatory …

frameworks, while promoting the enabling conditions needed to ensure these initiatives are sustainable.

In 2025, I participated in the Policy Shapers Program at LACNIC and completed a diploma in Internet governance at the Catholic University of Uruguay. In 2024, I participated in the Líderes Program at LACNIC, where I developed the research project “Community Networks Using International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) Spectrum: A Solution to Bridge the Digital Divide in Colombia”.

I am passionate about advocacy processes, meaningful discussions about connectivity, and multistakeholder collaboration. Personally, I enjoy spending time with my family, dancing salsa, walking my dog, and practicing pilates.

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Ethan Chiu
(United States)

I am a student at Yale University finishing dual degrees in history and global affairs, with a policy focus on semiconductors, national security, and democratic institutions.

My senior thesis is built on fieldwork across eight major chip-manufacturing hubs, where I spent time with the migrant workers who keep the global semiconductor industry running. At Yale, I founded the Foreign Policy Initiative to connect underrepresented students with national security work, and I currently manage research on China and Taiwan at the Council on Foreign Relations …

I’ve also worked on technology policy on Capitol Hill and at the Pentagon, experiences that convinced me that good industrial policy has to protect both democratic institutions and the workers who sustain them. That conviction comes partly from growing up as the son of Taiwanese immigrants and partly from a near-fatal accident that reshaped how I think about vulnerability and resilience. I care about building policy that takes both seriously.

When I’m not writing or researching, you can find me running, playing saxophone, managing my residential college gym, or cooking Taiwanese food with friends.

Love Arinze
(Nigeria)

I am a cloud network engineer focused on designing and operating the systems that keep global platforms running. Working at the intersection of reliability and security has taught me how to build infrastructure that stays dependable in high-stakes conditions.

I enjoy building practical projects and writing guides that simplify complex infrastructure for other engineers. I care deeply about Internet resilience—especially in fast-growing digital environments like Nigeria’s, where the decisions we make today will shape opportunities for millions tomorrow …

Outside of work, I volunteer on initiatives expanding technology access in underserved communities. I’m also part of a reading community where we explore literature and host discussions, which gives me a different lens on people, culture, and how stories connect us.

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Maria Antonia Bravo Reyes
(Spain)

I am a data scientist and product builder translating network performance data into evidence for inclusive digital infrastructure policies. I spend my time making complex technical systems legible and actionable for decision making. I currently lead the technology delivery team for UNICEF’s digital inclusion division.

When not in front of my computer, you can find me at a padel court or trying to throw a decent mug on the ceramics wheel with mixed results.

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Olabimpe Abigail Adeloro
(Nigeria)

I am a cybersecurity and data protection specialist, and the founder of MOBA CyberSafety Nexus. I train and mentor individuals to build practical cybersecurity skills and prepare for global opportunities.

My work focuses on helping people understand how to stay safe online while equipping them with the knowledge to start and grow careers in cybersecurity. With a background in accounting and years of experience in training and community building, I have helped over 5000 learners in transitioning into cybersecurity roles.

I also contribute to global conversations on Internet governance and digital safety through speaking engagements, community initiatives, and online education …

I am passionate about reducing the success rate of cybercrime through awareness, education, and access to the right opportunities. I believe a secure and open Internet should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their background.

Outside of work, I enjoy community volunteering, building communities that help learning and growth, and creating relatable content that simplifies cybersecurity and stories that blend technology with everyday life.

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Reem Khalil
(Sudan)

I work at the intersection of IT governance, research, and inclusive digital access in fragile and emerging contexts. My professional experience spans IT governance within the telecommunications sector and national digital transformation initiatives.

My background includes working with a major telecom operator in Sudan, where I contributed to IT governance, compliance, and service management. I also supported digital financial inclusion initiatives at the Central Bank of Sudan, advancing secure digital infrastructure that connected financial institutions, regulators, and telecom providers. Alongside my professional work, my research focuses on how governance systems can …

strengthen resilient telecommunications infrastructure in conflict-affected settings.

I care deeply about the idea that meaningful Internet access is not just about infrastructure, but about resilience and inclusion. I believe that well-designed governance can help protect communities’ access to information, services, and opportunity, especially in places where connectivity can become a lifeline during a crisis.

Outside of work, I enjoy exploring the human side of technology and how digital systems shape everyday life, communities, and social resilience. I am especially interested in bridging global Internet policy discussions with the realities faced by people in underrepresented regions.

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Rohan Sachdeva
(Australia)

I am a compliance officer at .au Domain Administration (.auDA) and a vice-chancellor’s international excellence scholar at La Trobe University, where I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. My professional focus is on building industry expertise in governance, risk, and advocacy, with a specific interest in tech policy. As a part of an exchange program, I studied public policy at Linköping University in Sweden.

My experience includes international fellowships such as NextGen@ICANN 85 in Mumbai, APAN 60 in Hong Kong, APIGA in South Korea, and ASEFInnoLab6 in the Philippines. Through the Early Career Fellowship, I aim to engage more closely with industry leaders to further develop my domain expertise in the Internet ecosystem …

I am an active member of Dexterity Global and a graduate of the Dexterity School of Leadership and Entrepreneurship (DexSchool), where I completed an intensive year-long training and mentorship program.

I love making new friends, learning about different cultures, and staying active through camping, cooking, and running.

Sailesh Patnaik
(India)

I am a senior program officer at the Wikimedia Foundation, currently part of the community development team. I drive collaboration with opportunities that enable volunteers to contribute to free knowledge projects such as Wikipedia and to help contributors and leaders in these spaces.

I bring over eight years of experience in the nonprofit technology space, starting in community help roles and evolving into program design and strategy. My work has centered on understanding how online communities grow, what challenges they face, and how to enable them for success. This has shaped my approach to building and helping online communities …

I care about access, participation, and continuity. My values are rooted in servant leadership principles. I believe that helping communities goes beyond onboarding. It requires systems that enable growth, recognition, and long-term involvement.

I feel proud when I can focus my work on building sustainable structures that communities can rely on, rather than one-time interventions, contributing to a more diverse, multilingual, and inclusive Internet.

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Taylor Tang
(Canada)

I’m a policy analyst and researcher working on public governance and digital transformation, most recently at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. My work focuses on how governments organize themselves, make decisions, and adapt to complex challenges, from budgeting to digital and AI policy.

My background spans international policy and public administrative reform, with experience at Global Affairs Canada and in multilateral settings. I’m particularly interested in how governments can be more effective on long-term and cross-cutting policy issues, such as digital transformation. In these roles, I’ve authored reports on coordination and machinery of …

government transformation and designed workshops on governance structures for better policy outcomes.

Outside of work, I love exploring new cities and spending time in parks with a book.

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Yasmina El Zein
(Lebanon)

I’m a Beirut-based journalist and communications assistant at SMEX, a digital rights organization focused on the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region. In my role, I write and edit content on pressing digital rights issues and turn complex advocacy work into clear, accessible stories for wider audiences.

As a multimedia journalism graduate from the Lebanese American University, I’m especially drawn to human-centered storytelling that reflects Lebanon’s social fabric and that of the Arab world. I’ve also contributed to academic research on the coverage of Lebanon’s 2019 protests on mainstream TV, and I’m interested in continuing to grow in academia, particularly in Internet-related fields …

I believe that knowledge is power and that education is a fundamental pillar of any society. This belief drives my work and my commitment to making information accessible and meaningful for diverse audiences, while advocating for equality both offline and online.

Outside of work, I enjoy listening to music, baking, and reading.

Disclaimer: The Internet Society reserves the sole right to decide if an applicant proposal meets the eligibility requirements.

2026 Fellows

Allan Magezi (Uganda)

Amira Dhawan(India)

Ammara Yasin(United Kingdom)

Amy Utomo (Indonesia)

Catalina Arango Patino(Canada)

Dana Beltran(Colombia)

Ethan Chiu(United States)

Love Arinze(Nigeria)

Maria Antonia Bravo Reyes(Spain)

Olabimpe Abigail Adeloro(Nigeria)

Reem Khalil(Sudan)

Rohan Sachdeva(Australia)

Sailesh Patnaik(India)

Taylor Tang(Canada)

Yasmina El Zein(Lebanon)