Nai Lee Kalema is a PhD candidate in Innovation and Public Policy at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (UCL IIPP), UCL (University College London). Her doctoral research looks at the global political economy of digital transformation, specifically examining how global digital and AI governance influences public-sector digital transformation in the Global South. Specifically, Nai’s empirical cases look at digital public infrastructure and digital-era government projects linked to digital identity in Kenya and Uganda. Nai’s doctoral research is funded by Vinnova (The Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems) and UCL IIPP Policy Studio.
Nai holds an ALM concentrating in International Relations and a Graduate Certificate in Social Justice, both degrees from Harvard (HES) and a BA from George Washington University. She also performed university coursework at Howard University and graduate coursework at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Nai is a member of the Tierra Común and ESRC Digital Good Network.