Global Strategic Council

Lilian leads the Open Technology Institute, as well as leading and coordinating the work of the Technology and Democracy Cluster, New America’s core cluster encompassing programs and initiatives that focus on technology and other innovations as tools through which people advance democracy, sustain and strengthen human rights, reduce inequality, improve lives, and sustain the planet.

Lilian Coral is Senior Director of the Open Technology Institute and New America's Technology and Democracy Programs. She leads the Open Technology Institute, as well as leading and coordinating the work of the Technology and Democracy Cluster, New America’s core cluster encompassing programs and initiatives that focus on technology and other innovations as tools through which people advance democracy, sustain and strengthen human rights, reduce inequality, improve lives, and sustain the planet. Prior to joining New America, Coral was Knight Foundation’s director of national strategy + technology innovation, where she developed the foundation’s citizen-centered Smart Cities strategy and managed the national portfolio of investments. Totaling more than $55 million across more than 120 grantees, the portfolio centered around data accessibility and trust, urban mobility, and technology in public spaces.

Carlos Cruz-Casas, P.E. is the Chief Innovation Officer for Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works. His primary focus is to introduce mobility innovation and plan for a fully integrated transportation system.

Carlos Cruz-Casas, P.E. is the Chief Innovation Officer for Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works. His primary focus is to introduce mobility innovation and plan for a fully integrated transportation system. His career includes both public and private sector experience ranging from conceptual design to implementation of pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and traffic projects. As a professional engineer dedicated to the development of Livable Transportation, Carlos seeks to achieve the right balance between mobility and livability.

Jean-Baptiste Djebbari is a well-known figure with a track record of excellence in the mobility sector. He started his career as a pilot before gaining executive positions in air carriers. In 2017, he was elected member of the French Parliament.

Jean-Baptiste Djebbari is a well-known figure with a track record of excellence in the mobility sector. He started his career as a pilot before gaining executive positions in air carriers. In 2017, he was elected member of the French Parliament. In 2019, he was appointed to French government and was cabinet minister for Transport for nearly 3 years.

David Flaks has devoted the last decade of his professional career to building economic development leadership organizations that help forge and further regional economies that are more just and equitable, that serve and strengthen all communities, and that work for and uplift all residents.

David Flaks has devoted the last decade of his professional career to building economic development leadership organizations that help forge and further regional economies that are more just and equitable, that serve and strengthen all communities, and that work for and uplift all residents. Most recently, David was the President of Invest Vancouver, the Metro Vancouver region's economic development leadership entity, providing economic policy thought leadership, investment attraction strategies, and regional, cross-system collaboration on economic development priorities of strategic importance to the Metro Vancouver regional district, a political federation of 21 municipalities, one Electoral Area, and one Treaty First Nation. As Invest Vancouver's founding president, David led Invest Vancouver from ideation, to operationalization, to launch, and to aggressive program delivery and execution. David continues to serve as a Director on the Invest Vancouver Management Board.

Hassan is the Deputy President and Vice Chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel and oversees the domestic operations in the automotive, land and real estate, and machinery sectors in Saudi Arabia.

Hassan is the Deputy President and Vice Chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel and oversees the domestic operations in the automotive, land and real estate, and machinery sectors in Saudi Arabia. ALJ is a global operator and investor with a strong track-record of investments in energy and the future of mobility such as US electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian.

My entire career has focused on the transformation of the global transportation system, from early days as a design engineer at Ford to strategy consulting to academic research.

My entire career has focused on the transformation of the global transportation system, from early days as a design engineer at Ford to strategy consulting to academic research. As head of mobility at the World Economic Forum for over 15 years, I gained a global perspective across the entire mobility ecosystem working with CEOs and government leaders. I’m currently an advisor for several innovative mobility firms, an Operator Advisor for Assembly Ventures, and Executive Director of the MIT Mobility Initiative, where I co-designed and co-instruct Mobility Ventures, a new course launched in Fall 2020.

Hilary Norton is the Chairwoman of the California Transportation Commission (CTC). Hilary was appointed to the CTC by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2019.

Hilary Norton is the Chairwoman of the California Transportation Commission (CTC). Hilary was appointed to the CTC by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2019. She brings over 29 years of experience in transportation and community development to her Commission role. Her primary goals as CTC Chair include investing SB1 gas tax funds into California’s transportation infrastructure system in order to improve outcomes in equity, mobility across numerous modes, safety, environment/climate change resilience, and economic growth. As Fixing Angelenos Stuck in Traffic (FAST)’s founding Executive Director since 2008, Ms. Norton has mobilized a diverse coalition of business, labor, civic groups, educational institutions and transit organizations to support policy and infrastructure improvements to LA’s mobility, livability and economic prosperity.

Seleta Reynolds is General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), the second largest municipal transportation agency in the country. Reynolds is responsible for 1,300 employees and 52 different business lines – from parking meters to traffic signals to buses.

Seleta Reynolds is General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), the second largest municipal transportation agency in the country. Reynolds is responsible for 1,300 employees and 52 different business lines – from parking meters to traffic signals to buses. Reynolds was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2014 to implement the Mayor’s vision of safe and sustainable transportation choices for all. Under Reynolds’ leadership, LADOT has installed hundreds of data-driven safety improvements in high needs locations, launched the largest scooter program in the world, launched the largest electric vehicle car-share program in the country, and created a first-of-its-kind digital platform to manage for-profit mobility companies.

Karina Ricks is a leader in the transportation innovation space. She recently joined as a partner at change management and catalyst firm Cityfi after serving as Associate Administrator for Innovation and Research for the Federal Transit Administration.

Karina Ricks is a leader in the transportation innovation space. She recently joined as a partner at change management and catalyst firm Cityfi after serving as Associate Administrator for Innovation and Research for the Federal Transit Administration. While there, Karina was an influential force challenging FTA to develop a "big, hairy, audacious goal" for transit in today's new normal of work, life and travel. She initiated new initiatives to understand and address transportation insecurity, advanced work in bus transit automation and zero emission fleet transitions, and promote adoption of open data standards for interoperability of transit's stack of operating systems. Karina came to the Biden-Harris Administration after nearly five years establishing, then leading the first ever Department of Mobility and Infrastructure for the City of Pittsburgh. She currently resides in, and can often be found e-biking around, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Alex is the founder of the Human Driving Association, Editor-at-Large at The Drive, host of new mobility podcast The Autonocast, co-host of /DRIVE on NBC Sports and author of The Driver.

Alex is the founder of the Human Driving Association, Editor-at-Large at The Drive, host of new mobility podcast The Autonocast, co-host of /DRIVE on NBC Sports and author of The Driver. He is a well-known racing car driver and has set numerous endurance driving records, including the famous Cannonball Run record — in which Alex drove from New York to Los Angeles in 31 hours and 4 minutes. Last December, Alex and co-driver Dan Zorrilla set a record for a coast-to-coast sprint in an electric car, when they drove a Tesla Model 3 from New York to Los Angeles in 50 hours and 16 minutes.

Olaf is an investor & advisor to numerous technology companies changing the transportation and mobility sectors. Most recently, Olaf co-founded RedBlue Capital to back teams in these sectors.

Olaf is an investor & advisor to numerous technology companies changing the transportation and mobility sectors. Most recently, Olaf co-founded RedBlue Capital to back teams in these sectors. Born in South Africa, Olaf holds a degree in anthropology from Princeton University, where his focus was on global health policy. He resides today in Israel, where he began his work in the automotive industry while building venture firm Maniv Mobility with Michael Granoff. Their funds have been backed by companies such as Hyundai, BMW, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, LG Electronics, Shell, Aptiv and Valeo. Olaf is an active commentator on the auto industry and appears in publications like the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and Bloomberg.

Matthew currently serves as Transportation Technology Chair at the City University of New York’s Transportation Research Center of The City College of New York, where he conducts research, and continues to be extensively published as an expert on ground transportation regulation and technology.

Matthew currently serves as Transportation Technology Chair at the City University of New York’s (CUNY) Transportation Research Center of The City College of New York, where he conducts research, and continues to be extensively published as an expert on ground transportation regulation and technology. As a CUNY Distinguished Lecturer from 2010-2018, he taught courses on transportation history, policy, sustainability, for-hire regulation and technology. Mr. Daus also continues to serve, since 2009, as President of the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR), a non-profit educational peer group of government transportation regulators from around the world promoting best regulatory and innovative practices. Mr. Daus is the longest serving Commissioner/Chair/CEO of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), where he served from 2001-2010. Prior to his tenure as Commissioner, Mr. Daus served in many other executive and counsel positions in NYC government for almost 20 years, including: General Counsel to the TLC and the NYC Community Development Agency; Special Counsel to the TLC and NYC Trade Waste Commission; NYC Human Rights Prosecutor; and Commissioner of the NYC Civil Service Commission. Mr. Daus is a partner at Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP, where he founded and chairs the Transportation Practice Group since 2010.