Alex Nawar leads social impact partnerships on the Global Affairs team at OpenAI, where he helps nonprofits and governments leverage AI to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Before joining OpenAI, Alex spent a decade at leading nonprofits focused on financial inclusion, international development, and humanitarian response. At GiveDirectly, he led global programs and disaster response, including AI-enabled initiatives in Togo, Nigeria, and Bangladesh, and managed the organization’s expansion into five countries and its digital transformation during COVID-19. Earlier in his career, Alex held research roles at OpenResearch and Innovations for Poverty Action, overseeing social program evaluations in the U.S. and East Africa. He holds a BA and MA in Political Science from Boston University.

Topic: AI and Social Impact

Alex Nawar, from OpenAI's Global Affairs team, will discuss how AI can drive progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on the potential of AI to address challenges in financial inclusion, humanitarian aid, and global health. Drawing from his experience at OpenAI and GiveDirectly, where he led AI-enabled programs in Togo, Nigeria, and Bangladesh, Alex will explore AI's role in transforming global development efforts, highlighting both opportunities and risks.