Adele is a fellow at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative and an independent consultant focused on the intersection of communications technologies (mobile, social networks) in global development. A frequent commentator on technology and development trends, she has spoken at a variety of international conferences on technology, philanthropy, health and development, and appeared in news outlets including the BBC, Financial Times, New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
Previously she was Senior Director of Technology Partnerships at the United Nations Foundation, where she managed a $30 million partnership with Vodafone that leveraged information and communications technologies (ICTs) to strengthen global health and humanitarian work. She also oversaw the award-winning Access to Communications publication series that produced five landmark reports charting how advances in communications technologies are creating opportunities to make aid and development work more open and effective.
Her prior experience includes providing strategic and communications support to technology companies as well as humanitarian and human rights groups. She also has worked as a journalist and editor covering U.S. foreign policy and international affairs.
Adele holds an MA in International Affairs, with specializations in International Law and U.S. Foreign Policy from The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, and a BA in Sociology and Multi-Ethnic Studies from Bard College. She sits on the Board of Directors for TechnologySalon.org, and on the Board of Advisors for the Mobile Alliance for Global Good.
