OTI Announces New Staff Hires and Staff Transitions

New America’s Open Technology Institute announced today that it recently added three new members to its team. Christine Bannan joined this week as policy counsel, Koustubh “K.J.” Bagchi joined in March as senior policy counsel, and Lauren Sarkesian joined in January as senior policy counsel. In addition, OTI promoted Chhaya Kapadia to chief of staff and Claire Park to program associate.

Christine Bannan, former consumer protection counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, joined OTI as policy counsel, where she will focus on platform accountability and privacy issues. At the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Bannan advocated for stronger privacy regulations before federal agencies and Congress. Bannan is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross (B.A.) and Notre Dame Law School (J.D.).

Koustubh “K.J.” Bagchi, former senior counsel for telecommunications, technology and media at Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, joined OTI as senior policy counsel, where he will focus on platform accountability and privacy issues. Bagchi has over ten years of experience in public policy and legislative strategy at the local, state, and federal levels. Bagchi is a graduate of the University of California Davis (B.S.) and Seattle University School of Law (J.D.).

Lauren Sarkesian, former legislative counsel for Representative Don Beyer (D-Va.), joined OTI as a senior policy counsel, where she will focus on electronic surveillance and privacy issues. Sarkesian comes to OTI with over six years of experience in legislative roles within the White House, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives. Sarkesian graduated from the University of Michigan (B.A.) and Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D.).

Chhaya Kapadia, in her new role as OTI’s Chief of Staff, will continue to guide overall OTI management, staffing, funding, and strategic direction as part of OTI’s senior leadership team. Kapadia joined New America after a lengthy history as a non-profit professional, particularly as COO and events director at Future of Music Coalition. A native of Boston, Kapadia is a graduate of Emerson College (B.A.).

Claire Park, in her new role as a program associate and permanent member of the OTI team, will focus on a number of technology policy issues including broadband access and competition, as well as privacy. Park was previously an OTI research assistant and intern, a fellow of the German Academic Exchange Service, and an associate at financial research company Third Bridge. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College (B.A.) and Universität Hamburg (M.Sc.).

The following statement can be attributed to Sarah Morris, director of the Open Technology Institute:

“I’m delighted to welcome Christine, K.J., Lauren, and Claire to the OTI team. Our work to ensure that technology supports, rather than undermines, equitable outcomes is especially critical as we confront an ongoing global pandemic. These additions add critical capacity to promote robust and affordable internet access that includes critical privacy and surveillance safeguards, and fosters an online ecosystem with users’ rights at its center.

“I’m also thrilled to announce Chhaya’s promotion to OTI’s chief of staff. Over the last seven years that I’ve worked with her, Chhaya has played an invaluable role in helping to shape OTI into the organization it is today. Chhaya’s promotion to chief of staff is well-earned, and we’re grateful for her continued leadership.”