Hillary Bakrie

What brought you to a career in technology at the United Nations?

I began my career in the sector of digital technology in South East Asia, where I worked on developing digital start-ups to help empower SMEs. Having this experience has helped me to leverage my knowledge of innovation and youth-led enterprises and implement them in other sectors, including my work in the United Nations. As I began my career in the Office of the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, I brought this knowledge to help develop the Office's work in supporting and empowering young innovators and solutions makers that contribute to the acceleration of SDGs, as well as ensuring that their rights, needs, and voices are included in the United Nations' work on innovation, technology, and digital development and the work of the UN's multistakeholder partners.

What has been your favorite technology project or initiative at the United Nations and why? What was your contribution?

Together with OICT, our office launched the Reboot the Earth challenge in 2019 to allow over 1,000 youth across the world to build solutions to fight climate change. The winners presented their solutions at the UN Youth Climate Summit. Additionally, in 2020, I led the partnership with Twitter to create a digital safety resource for youth activists that highlights young people's rights in the digital space. The resource "Staying safe with Twitter - Youth Activist Checklist: Guidance on Digital Safety and Online Protection of Young People" is included as Twitter's official knowledge resource for youth.

What advice would you give women interested in pursuing a field in technology?

In a sector that often excludes women and girls, we understand first-hand the need for a strong support system. Don't hesitate to reach out to other women and supporters that can root and advocate for you in navigating the technology space!