Nagla Rizk

Nagla Rizk is a Professor of Economics and Founding Director of the Access to Knowledge for Development Center (A2K4D) at the American University in Cairo’s School of Business. She specializes in the economics of knowledge, technology, and development, with a focus on governance of AI and data, gender inclusion, and the gig economy in the Middle East and Africa. Rizk holds a PhD in Economics from McMaster University and has held visiting professorships at Columbia University, Yale Law School, and the University of Toronto.

Research & Leadership: Leads initiatives such as Egypt’s National AI Strategy, the MENA Feminist AI Hub, and the Open Data for Development Node. She chairs Egypt’s Technical Secretariat for the National Council on Artificial Intelligence and advises global bodies like GPAI and the Paris Peace Forum. Her work bridges academia, policy, and civil society to promote equitable tech governance.

Awards & Affiliations: Recipient of multiple AUC awards for teaching, research, and service. Affiliated with Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center, Yale’s Information Society Project, and the University of Ottawa’s Centre for Law, Technology, and Society. Recognized for policy contributions on open-source software, ride-sharing regulation, and the right to information.

Education & Teaching: Taught courses on digital economies, intellectual property, and econometrics. Authored influential books and reports, including Access to Knowledge in Egypt (2010) and Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Egypt (2016).