ABOUT US
TPDi is an independent, non-partisan think tank dedicated to tech policy. We work with all actors across the tech ecosystem to shape technology for the benefit of humanity.
After 3 years of incubation, we spun-out of the Australian National University in January 2025.
We are a registered not-for-profit with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission.
Learn more about our work here.
Our Purpose and Values
Our Founders
Johanna Weaver is Co-Founder and Executive Director of TPDi. A reformed commercial litigator, a recovering diplomat, and an escaped professor, in 2021 Johanna founded TPDi’s predecessor, the Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University (ANU), after concluding her term as Australia’s independent expert and chief cyber negotiator at the United Nations. In 2022, she was appointed Professor in the Practice of Cyber and Tech Policy at ANU. She has been appointed to numerous boards, including the ICRC Global Advisory Board on Protecting Civilians from Digital Threats, the Minister for Government Services’ Independent Advisory Board, and the Data Standards Advisory Committee.
Zoe Jay Hawkins is Co-Founder and Deputy Executive Director of TPDi. Zoe brings extensive experience designing tech policy from government, big tech, academic and think tank perspectives. Zoe worked for the Australian government across communications, innovation, and foreign policy portfolios, as a ministerial adviser and in the public service. She is a Research Associate at the University of Oxford and an expert researcher for the OECD. Zoe’s work has been featured by The New York Times, TIME Magazine, BBC, The Economist, The Financial Times, Forbes, POLITICO, and Vogue.
Our Team
Meredith Hodgman
Head of Strategy and Engagement
Helen Portillo-Castro
Head of Operations and Coordination
Dorina Whitman
EA to the Co-Founders and Office Manager
Our Board
Geraldine Chin Moody
Independent Board Chair, Board and Governance Principal at Directors Australia
Kate Pounder
Independent Director TPDi, inaugural CEO of the Tech Council of Australia
David Masters
Independent Director TPDi, Chair Future Skills Organisation
Professor Elanor Huntington
Independent Director TPDi, Deputy Chief Executive of CSIRO
Dr Tobias Feakin
Independent Director TPDi, Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for Cyber Affairs
Johanna Weaver
Co-Founder & Executive Director, TPDi
Zoe Jay Hawkins
Co-Founder & Deputy Executive Director, TPDi
Our Special Advisers
Julie Inman Grant
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner
Frances Haugen
Facebook whistleblower and online safety advocate
Professor Rod Sims
Former Chair of the ACCC
Brett Solomon
Co-Founder of global digital rights not-for-profit Access Now
Tim Levy
Managing Director, Qoria Limited
Jess Wilson
CEO, Good Things Foundation
Distinguished Technical Fellows
Audrey Tang
Taiwan’s inaugural Digital Minister, now Cyber Ambassador
Sally-Ann Williams
Former CEO, Cicada Innovations
Brendan Hopper
Chief Information Officer for Technology and Distinguished Engineer, Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Our Funders
OUR INDEPENDENCE IS OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET: WE WOULD RATHER FAIL THAN COMPROMISE IT
TPDi’s activities are made possible with thanks to contributors the Tech Policy Design Fund, which operates on the basis of a blind trust. Contributors to the fund do not direct the outputs of the fund and TPDi does not represent the views of fund contributors. As a condition of joining the fund, all funders must commit to respect and promote TPDi’s independence, and agree to their sponsorship being publicly disclosed.
TPDi also has a number of participation programs that TPDi uses to support diverse participation in our activities, including by civil society, children and young people.
If there is strong mission alignment, TPDi also works with other partners to deliver specific research or education programs, or engagement activities – but only when partners agree that TPDi retains sole discretion over all outputs.
