Maria Koomen (Facilitator)

Maria is CFG’s governance programme director, working at the intersection of emerging technologies, democracy, and governance. At CFG, she contributes to enabling principled, effective governance of emerging technology in the public interest, for today and tomorrow. Her efforts focus on ensuring that governance systems evolve to keep pace with technological and societal change.

Before joining CFG, Maria led the Open Governance Network for Europe, fostering collaboration between the Open Government Partnership and Democratic Society to strengthen democracy within the European Union.

Previously, she managed the Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program at Carnegie Europe, driving global research and policy initiatives on democracy, civic space, technology, and international affairs.

Maria holds a master’s degree from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and a bachelor’s degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada