Orkidea Xhaferaj

Orkidea Xhaferaj is Digital and Innovation Policy Expert at SCiDEV (Science and Innovation for Development). With 15 years of experience across public and private sectors, academia, and international development, Orkidea’s work focuses on research, advocacy, capacity building, and awareness of digital democracy, governance, digital rights, cybersecurity, AI, and emerging tech. She works with institutions, CSOs, media, and academia to enhance digital rights and build cyber resilience and foster strategic development. Orkidea is the founder of the Network of Albanian Women in STEM, aiming to contribute to the social and economic empowerment of women by increasing their representation in STEM, both in academia and industry. She hosts the STEMspresso podcast series, – an express introduction to an exceptional woman in STEM and her work. Orkidea is a Western Balkans Cybersecurity Fellow at the University of Cranfield in the UK.