Margaret van Wassenaer serves as the Project Manager and Researcher for the Portulans Democracy Project, where she contributes to research on democratic innovation, institutional resilience, and the role of emerging technologies in shaping governance worldwide. Formerly focused on global development and sustainability, she has managed large, multi-country initiatives with organizations including RTI International, CARE USA, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), and Cornell University, advancing evidence-based policy and systems-level change across sectors. She has also lectured at Cornell University, held consultancies at the World Bank and the United Nations, published case studies on international SMAEs, and has worked extensively in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Her work combines rigorous research with strategic collaboration to identify and scale innovative approaches. Margaret holds an M.P.A. from Cornell University and a B.S. in Molecular Genetics and International Studies from the State University of New York at Fredonia and is committed to applying research and technology to build more inclusive, transparent, and resilient democracies.
