The Officers and Operations Team support the Academy’s governance, administration, operations, communications, partnerships, membership engagement, and organizational development in service of its academic and professional mission.
The Academy’s academic standards, ethical frameworks, and strategic direction are defined by its Founding Advisory Board, whose members bring international standing, disciplinary authority, and independent perspective that shape the Academy’s mission and public credibility.
View Founding Advisory BoardOfficers
- Owais A. Farooqi, President
- Anthony Lister, Vice President
- Juli Young, Secretary/Treasurer
Operations Team
The Operations Team provides organizational support, strategic guidance, communications support, partnership development, and professional expertise that advance the Academy’s mission, programs, initiatives, and long-term development.
Continuing Education Independence Statement
Members of the Operations Team serve in their individual capacities in support of the Academy’s organizational mission and operations.
The Operations Team does not participate in the planning, development, selection, approval, management, presentation, or evaluation of continuing education activities or educational content.
Responsibility for continuing education planning, educational content, speaker selection, conflict-of-interest review, and educational oversight resides with Academy leadership and designated educational planning personnel in accordance with Academy policies and applicable accreditation requirements.
Nick Earl, Senior Advisor, AI Strategy, Analytics & Insights
Brings a long record of leadership at the intersection of data, analytics, and enterprise-scale AI. Known for translating advanced technology into responsible, real-world application.
Chris Herring, Senior Advisor, Governance & Legal Affairs
Offers experienced perspective on governance structures and legal considerations, informed by years of work around regulatory environments and organizational oversight.
Katrina Wilson, Senior Advisor, Strategic Relations & Partnerships
Experienced in building durable partnerships across industry and professional organizations, with a focus on mission-aligned collaboration.
Jessica Dovey, Senior Advisor, Administrative Affairs
Brings experience supporting educational and organizational functions in mission-driven environments. Contributes a steady, detail-oriented approach to coordination, continuity, and execution.
Kat Michels, Senior Advisor, Strategic Communications & Public Trust
Writer and longtime theater critic whose work centers on evaluation, interpretation, and public judgment. Brings a trained eye for nuance, narrative, and credibility—skills essential to how complex ideas are understood, questioned, and trusted.
Laura Carey, Senior Advisor, Public Education
Advisor with a longstanding commitment to professional education and public-facing engagement, focused on clarity, accessibility, and responsible dissemination of complex ideas.
Joseph Turner, Senior Advisor, Business Integrity & Compliance
Senior leader with a career spanning administrative leadership, compliance, and business integrity across public-sector environments. Brings seasoned judgment shaped by experience in operational management, regulatory oversight, and organizational accountability.
The Academy’s positions, guidance, and public-facing work are informed by its Founding Advisory Board.
Contact the AAAI-D Team: info@aaai.org