Bio

Combiz Abdolrahimi is a Global Emerging Technology & Innovation Leader, having served as a national security lawyer, policymaker, financial regulator, and chief innovation officer, advising Presidents, Cabinet-Level Secretaries, Senators, and Global CEOs on technology and innovation issues. He is a senior executive with over 15 years of public & private sector experience helping governments & Fortune 500 firms to run data-driven digital transformation projects, manage multi-billion dollar budgets & tech investments, & harness the power of tech to meet consumer & mission needs. He has scaled data-centric & tech-powered systems to modernize, secure, & advance innovations, energy, trade, banking, healthcare, national security, anti-corruption, compliance, critical infrastructure, & cyber programs. He has worked with industry & gov’t leaders on shaping business, policy, legal, ethical, regulatory, & tech dimensions of artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, digital assets, payments, IT, procurement & acquisition, cloud & edge, quantum & IoT, 5G/6G, cybersecurity, FinTech/RegTech, digital connectivity & identity. Combiz serves on multiple boards including UMD iLEAD, OECD BEPAB, FinTech Chair for the Department of Commerce's Trade Finance Advisory Council, & Foreign Policy for America NextGen Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I) WG Co-Chair, a globally recognized advisor who speaks to audiences worldwide & recipient of many awards including the 2020 Fed 100 Award (recognizing the top 100 executives in government) & the Apolitical/World Economic Forum 2021 Agile 50 Award (recognizing the world’s 50 most influential people driving innovation in gov't, regulation & policymaking) & CSIS 2022 U.S. National Security & Foreign Affairs Leadership List. Combiz served in the public sector since he was 19, working on innovation, national security & foreign policy, human rights, climate & energy, ESG, diplomacy, diversity, healthcare, financial services, financial inclusion, trade, & technology, liaising with gov’t and industry leaders from 150 countries. Born in Texas, the son of immigrants, Combiz’s first job was working the cash register for his family’s small business—at the age of 12. He is a graduate of UCLA; American University of Beirut; & Georgetown Law, receiving his B.A., J.D. & LL.M. Combiz speaks several languages, such as Persian, Azerbaijani, Arabic, Turkish, & Spanish, & holds an active security clearance. He aspires to follow in the footsteps of an American hero, Amb. Charles Hostler, & serve as an Ambassador.