Anirban Sarma

Anirban Sarma is Director of the Digital Societies Initiative at Observer Research Foundation (ORF). He is presently a Lead Co-Chair of the Think20 Brazil Task Force on ‘Inclusive Digital Transformation’, and was previously a Chair of the T20 India Task Force on ‘Our Common Digital Future’. 

Anirban’s research explores the use of technology for development, with a focus on areas including the digital economy, digital public infrastructure, AI, data governance, platform governance, and the future of work. He has also written on issues around online safety, healthtech, cleantech, and women’s digital empowerment and inclusion. 

Anirban was the Chief International Outreach and Communications Officer at the National Digital Library of India, a project of the Ministry of Education. He earlier served at UNESCO for over eight years, designing and managing UNESCO’s initiatives on ICTs, access to information, and media development across South Asia. In 2007, Anirban was awarded the Inlaks Scholarship to pursue a second master’s degree in media and communications at the London School of Economics, from where he graduated with a Distinction. He was earlier a double gold medallist at Jadavpur University in Kolkata.