Jamie Zimmerman

Jamie M. Zimmerman is Principal Officer for Digital & AI Readiness at the Gates Foundation. She leads the foundation’s efforts to harness artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and strategic partnerships to improve outcomes for women, children, and underserved populations across low- and middle-income countries. Jamie works across sectors to build partnerships with technology companies, mobile network operators, device manufacturers, AI innovators, governments, and philanthropies to accelerate equitable access to digital tools and services. Her work focuses on advancing AI-enabled solutions, expanding digital inclusion, and ensuring that emerging technologies are designed and deployed in ways that benefit the world's most vulnerable communities. Jamie joined the Gates Foundation in 2017 and has held leadership roles spanning inclusive financial systems, women’s economic empowerment, digital connectivity, and technology adoption. She previously led the foundation’s work to expand meaningful digital connectivity and digital opportunity for women and girls across Africa and South Asia. Earlier, she served as Gender Equality Lead and Global Partnerships Lead for the Inclusive Financial Systems, where she advanced efforts to increase women’s empowerment through access to and use of digital financial services. Jamie is a recognized thought leader, board member, and advisor on digital inclusion, women's empowerment, AI adoption, and technology-enabled development. She frequently speaks on the opportunities and risks of emerging technologies, with a particular focus on ensuring that women and marginalized populations are not left behind in the digital and AI transitions. She holds a B.A. in Foreign Languages and International Economics and a Master’s degree in International Political Economy and Development from the University of Kentucky.