Maria José (Maia) Ravalli is an affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Currently she is the Global Chief of Youth Engagement in UNICEF.
She can look back at over 20 years of professional experience in international development, finance and humanitarian organizations. Throughout her career, Maia have promoted and strengthened solid partnerships with the private sector, governments, civil society and academic institutions. She implemented advocacy, communication and resource mobilization strategies and contributed to the achievement of major results for the organizations she worked for, taking on complex and challenging projects and leading multicultural teams.
Before joining UNICEF, she worked for the World Bank as a Public Information Coordinator and the Pan-American Health Organization as Social Communications Advisor for Latin America & Caribbean.
Maia combines practitioner and research experience on the digital agenda. Since 2014, Maia has been part of the Steering Committee of Conectados al Sur at Berkman Klein Center, a multisectoral network focused on the opportunities and challenges that arise to children and young people, in their relationship with the Internet and emerging technologies in the global south. She led the Global Kids Online study in Argentina, a research initiative promoted by London School of Economics and UNICEF. She has integrated governmental and international boards and advocated for legislative reforms around Grooming, telecommunications and Audiovisual communication services.
Maia has extensive experience in research around young people and digital literacy, skills and learning, safety and privacy, spaces for participation, climate action, vulnerable populations, civic engagement, and innovation.