Bio

Vilas Dhar is President and Trustee of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, a 21st-century philanthropy advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and data solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. Under his leadership, the Foundation bridges technological innovation and social impact with a commitment to justice and equity. These core values sustain his deep optimism that technological advances can ensure a more prosperous and sustainable future for all. Vilas is an entrepreneur, technologist, and human rights advocate with a lifelong commitment to creating more robust, human-centered social institutions. Prior to joining the Foundation, Vilas founded and led two successful social impact organizations, including a nonprofit incubator and a sustainable public interest law firm. He has also served as the Gleitsman Fellow on Social Change at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Practitioner Resident on Artificial Intelligence at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center in Italy, and a Senior Fellow of the Berggruen Institute. A leading voice on equity in a tech-enabled world, Vilas champions a new social compact for the digital age that prioritizes individuals and communities in the development of new products, inspires economic and social opportunity, and empowers the most vulnerable. A frequent speaker on these topics, Vilas has been invited to share his insights through international forums, academic papers, and news commentary. His work has also been published in the Harvard Business Review, Nature, Forbes, and Project Syndicate addressing data for good, the role of philanthropy in AI, and how CEOs, policymakers, and civil society leaders can guide their organizations through the AI revolution. Vilas also serves as a Trustee of the Christensen Fund, Co-Chair of the Global AI Action Alliance at the World Economic Forum, Expert Contributor to OECD.AI, Advisor to MIT SOLVE, and as a Director of the Network of Engaged International Donors. Vilas holds a J.D. from NYU School of Law, a Master’s in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and dual Bachelor's degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Illinois. He is currently completing his doctoral dissertation at the University of Birmingham, where his research drives novel approaches to economic and policy infrastructure for a data-enabled society to support and empower vulnerable populations.