Nora Abusitta

In this capacity, Nora leads the partnership with the World Economic Forum to shape the formation and operation of Collaborative Networks delivering concrete solutions for specific digital issues. These Networks comprise experts from the governmental, business and civic sectors.

Prior to this role, Nora was Senior Vice President for Development and Public Responsibility Programs at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). In this position, Nora launched and grew ICANN’s Development and Public Responsibility Department, with a focus on ICANN's approach to corporate social responsibility and the organization’s role as an enabler of growth in the DNS industry and related digital industries around the world. Under her Department, ICANN relaunched its Online Learning Platform, ICANN Learn, and launched a new youth conference program to complement its Fellowship Program.

With a focus on Internet governance, Nora’s work at ICANN also included coalition-building and collaboration network development, management and direction. Nora served as Secretariat Director of President Ilves’ Panel on Global Internet Cooperation and Governance Mechanisms, and oversaw ICANN’s role in facilitating the NETmundial Global Multistakeholder Meeting on the Future of Internet Governance in São Paulo, April 2014. Nora also served as the Executive Director of the NETmundial Initiative. Prior to this, Nora was responsible for ICANN’s engagement with intergovernmental and international organizations.

Previous to her role at ICANN, Nora served as Advisor to the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in the United States. She advised the Ambassador on strategy, organizational design, and continuous improvement. She oversaw the set up of the first consulate for the UAE in the US, based in Los Angeles.

Before her role as advisor, Nora was Chief of Staff to the Ambassador of the Embassy of the UAE in Washington, DC. In that capacity, she was responsible for all operational aspects of the Embassy including interfacing and coordinating with the various functions within the Embassy such as protocol, public, political, media, cultural, and trade relations. Nora also oversaw high level events and official visits.

Nora holds a Bachelor Degree in French and Russian from the University of Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh, Scotland, where she also completed a Masters Degree in Simultaneous Interpreting and Translation. She also holds a Masters degree in French literature from Arizona State University. Nora has completed the Executive Program at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. She is a graduate of the Summer Institute of Public Diplomacy at USC.

Nora currently serves on the Board of TechWadi, the leading non-profit (501c3) organization building bridges between Silicon Valley and the MENA region.

She is fluent in French, English and Arabic, and has intermediate knowledge of Russian and Spanish.