Maria Alexandra Velez is a recognized strategist and foreign policy expert with a proven record leading communications strategies and directing global government and regulatory affairs. She has influenced trade, education and telecommunications policy by leveraging a keen understanding of how public policy and regulations form and how companies can support them. A former member of the diplomatic service with vast international experience, she has worked across industries—energy, hospitality, education, consumer goods, and telecommunications—and advocated at the highest levels of U.S. and foreign governments for The Coca-Cola Company, Grupo Endesa, The World Bank Group and Pearson, among others. Her geographical expertise includes Africa, Europe, South East Asia, theMiddle East and Latin America. She joined SBA Communications Corporation in 2018 with a mandate to structure the government and regulatory affairs function for international markets. She holds a J.D. from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia and a M.A. in International Relations from the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University in Washington D.C.

Speaking at the following session:

Regulatory Roundtable - Ensuring participatory regulation for an equitable and safe digital future