Artificial intelligence
10 OpenAI public policy staff
These ten current and former OpenAI public policy staff have held policy, global affairs and government affairs roles at the company. A reader can learn what public policy work at OpenAI involves from people who have done it.
Professionals to explore
01—10Anna Makanju
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Global Affairs · OpenAI
Vice President, Global Affairs at OpenAI from June 2023 to September 2024, then Vice President, Global Impact there until April 2026. Since April 2026 they have been Head of AI for Civil Society and Philanthropy at The OpenAI Foundation, and they serve on the advisory council of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the advisory board of ClearyX.
Brittany Smith
LinkedInExperience: UK Policy & Partnerships Lead · OpenAI
UK Policy & Partnerships Lead at OpenAI since October 2023; the profile says they lead UK policy and partnerships and have worked at the intersection of AI and equity. Before OpenAI they were a Program Officer on AI2050 at Schmidt Futures, Policy Director at Data & Society and Policy Partnerships Lead at Google DeepMind.
David Robinson
LinkedInExperience: Head of Policy Planning · OpenAI
Head of Policy Planning at OpenAI since May 2023, based in New York. Before OpenAI they were Faculty Director at Apple University (2022–2023) after teaching there from 2020, a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, and a consultant to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in 2022.
Donnie Fowler
LinkedInExperience: Head of US State Policy and Partnerships · OpenAI
Head of US State Policy and Partnerships at OpenAI since March 2026; the role description says building and leading OpenAI's policy and partnership teams for all 50 US states. Before OpenAI they were Senior Director, Global AI Public Affairs at Meta (2022–2026), CEO of Tech4America and an adjunct professor of public policy at the University of San Francisco.
Johanna Shelton
LinkedInExperience: External Affairs Lead, US Policy · OpenAI
External Affairs Lead, US Policy at OpenAI since April 2024, based in the Washington area. Before OpenAI they were Director, Public Policy at Google from 2007 to 2024, and earlier Senior Counsel to the House Energy & Commerce Telecommunications Subcommittee and a legal advisor at the Federal Communications Commission.
Matt Rimkunas
LinkedInExperience: Head of US Federal Affairs · OpenAI
Head of US Federal Affairs at OpenAI since November 2025, after serving as Congressional Lead - Global Affairs there from April 2024. Before OpenAI they were Director of Government Relations at Breakthrough Energy (2021–2024) and Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Senator Lindsey Graham from 2011 to 2021.
Meng Jia Yang
LinkedInExperience: Senior Counsel, Global AI Policy & Regulation · OpenAI
Senior Counsel, Global AI Policy & Regulation at OpenAI since March 2024, based in Washington, DC. Before OpenAI they were Senior Counsel, Policy & Regulation at Airbnb (2022–2024) and a litigation attorney at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Williams & Connolly LLP, and they are an investor with Citrine Angels.
Sandy K.
LinkedInExperience: Head of Policy, APAC · OpenAI
Head of Policy, APAC at OpenAI since February 2024, based in Singapore. Before OpenAI they were Head of Global Strategy, Reality Labs Policy at Meta (2022–2023), Policy Committee Chairperson at the XR Association and a Global Strategic Initiatives Manager at Facebook, and they sit on a University of Pittsburgh law school advisory board.
Steve Dowling
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Communications & Public Policy · OpenAI
Vice President, Communications & Public Policy at OpenAI from January 2020 to January 2023, an executive-level role in San Francisco. Before OpenAI they were Vice President, Communications at Apple (2015–2019) and Sr. Director, Corporate Public Relations there (2003–2015), and earlier Silicon Valley Bureau Chief at CNBC.
Traci Lee
LinkedInExperience: State and Local Government Affairs Lead · OpenAI
State and Local Government Affairs Lead at OpenAI since April 2024, with a headline noting they are a former criminal prosecutor. Before OpenAI they were Director, US State and Local Government Affairs at Okta (2022–2024), Senior Public Policy Manager and Director, Public Policy (West) at Lyft, and an Assistant District Attorney in San Francisco.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's jurisdiction to your question, since US federal, US state, UK and Asia Pacific policy work each involve different lawmakers and processes. Check whether they are still at OpenAI and whether they came from government, law or another tech company, because that shapes how they describe engaging with regulators on AI.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does an AI company decide which regulations to support or oppose?
- 02What do lawmakers most often misunderstand about how AI models work?
- 03How does AI policy work differ between US states, Congress and other countries?
Reaching OpenAI public policy staff
How can I contact one of these OpenAI public policy staff?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: OpenAI, based on profile data retrieved on October 8, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach OpenAI public policy staff?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these OpenAI public policy staff a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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