Founder, MERL Tech Initiative
Convener, NYC Technology Salon

Linda Raftree is the founder of the MERL Tech Initiative and a leading voice on responsible data, ethical technology, AI governance, and tech-enabled monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning. Through MERL Tech, she works with development, humanitarian, philanthropic, and civil-society organizations to explore how digital tools and emerging technologies can be used responsibly, realistically, and in ways that center people and communities.

Linda’s work builds on more than two decades of experience at the intersection of community development, gender, youth participatory media, rights-based approaches, safeguarding, and digital development. She convenes the New York City Technology Salon and supports sector-wide conversations on AI, data governance, digital safety, and adaptive learning. Her work helps organizations move beyond technology hype toward practical, ethical, and inclusive digital practice.