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Winston Mariku

Winston Mariku

AI governance, strategy and policy advisor | Multilateral engagement | Global South perspective

AI Governance and Strategy Advisor | Founder and Chief Executive Director, WINAR Institute for AI Policy and Governance in Africa

Nairobi, Kenya · Middle East & Africa · English, Swahili

About

I help organisations and institutions turn AI governance from principle into practice: policy, strategy, procurement and assurance.

I work across AI governance, strategy, institutional design and multilateral engagement. I'm the founder of WINAR Institute for AI Policy and Governance in Africa and Africa Ambassador and Regional Lead for AIGN. I also run an AI strategy consultancy, Easework Digital, where I help businesses adopt AI tools in a governed, practical way.

I'm known for bringing an African and Global South perspective to questions the global AI conversation often overlooks, especially how public procurement can act as a checkpoint for AI. My Lightning Talk on this was accepted for IGF 2026 in Nairobi.

I'm based in Nairobi and open to work with organisations worldwide: advisory, consulting, research collaboration, speaking and training. My background is in International Relations and Diplomacy.

What I do

  • AI governance operating model design
  • AI policy development and advisory
  • AI strategy and governed adoption roadmaps
  • AI procurement and third-party risk review
  • AI risk and impact assessment
  • AI governance, IT audit and GRC support
  • Institutional design for AI oversight bodies
  • AI literacy and executive training
  • AI policy research and briefing papers
  • Multilateral and stakeholder engagement on AI governance
  • Speaking and panel contributions on AI governance

Practice areas

AI strategy & transformationGoverned AI adoption & process redesignProcurement & third-party riskAI literacy & trainingChange managementGovernance operating models & AI policyLegal, regulatory & standards complianceAI risk & impact assessmentAssurance, audit & conformity assessmentAI safety, security & incident responseData governance, privacy & documentationHuman oversight, transparency & accountabilityEthics, human rights & fairnessAI research & public policyEvaluation & testingRed teaming

Industries

Financial servicesPublic sectorTechnology & softwareEducationAny industry

Open to

Consulting, Advisory & board work, Research collaboration, Speaking, Employment, Media commentary, Training

Contacts

LinkedIn →Website →

Identity and links confirmed by AI Business. This is not a rating, an endorsement or a recommendation.