Call for Code AI
Eminent Judges
Global judging
panel
Where Global Leadership Meets Innovation
Call for Code has assembled one of the most consequential judging panels in technology — leaders who have governed nations, led the United Nations, created foundational technologies, and directed global humanitarian response.
They don't just evaluate ideas. They determine which solutions are ready to scale — and which technologies move forward.
Below is a list of our eminent judges from around the world.
Featured
eminent judges
Bill Clinton
42nd President of the United States; Founder and Board Chair, Clinton Foundation
Bill Clinton served two terms as President of the United States and built one of the most influential global institutions in modern philanthropy. Through the Clinton Foundation, he has mobilized governments, corporations, and NGOs across more than 180 countries — advancing public health, economic opportunity, and climate action at global scale.
Linus Torvalds
Architect of the Open Source Era | Creator of Linux and Git
Linus Torvalds created Linux, the operating system that powers the vast majority of the world's servers, cloud infrastructure, and Android devices. He also created Git, the version control system that underpins how modern software is built and shared across the globe. Together, his work forms the invisible foundation of the digital world — and redefined how humanity collaborates at scale.
Mark Cuban
Entrepreneur; Owner, Dallas Mavericks; Investor on Shark Tank
Mark Cuban is one of the most recognized entrepreneurs and technology investors in the world. From pioneering internet broadcasting to transforming pharmaceutical pricing through Cost Plus Drugs, he has consistently backed ideas that challenge entrenched industries. His investments span AI, healthcare, and enterprise technology — and his presence signals that innovation is being taken seriously.
David Miliband
Former UK Foreign Secretary; President and CEO, International Rescue Committee
David Miliband leads the International Rescue Committee, one of the world's largest humanitarian organizations, serving millions of people displaced by crisis and conflict across more than 40 countries. A former UK Foreign Secretary, he is one of the most authoritative global voices on refugee protection, humanitarian policy, and the intersection of technology and crisis response.
Mami Mizutori
Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction
Mami Mizutori leads the United Nations' global effort to reduce disaster risk and strengthen resilience against climate-driven crises. She works directly with heads of state and national governments worldwide to protect the most vulnerable communities on earth — the exact populations Call for Code exists to serve.
Mariya Gabriel
European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education & Youth
Mariya Gabriel oversees the European Union's research and innovation agenda, directing tens of billions of euros toward scientific collaboration, digital transformation, and the next generation of technology leadership. She is one of the most powerful policymakers shaping how AI, open source, and emerging technology are governed across 27 nations.
Kate Gilmore
Former United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
Kate Gilmore served as Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations — one of the most senior positions in the global human rights system. Her work has shaped international policy on justice, equality, and human dignity, and her presence on this panel ensures that every solution is measured against the rights of the people it is meant to serve.
Global panel of eminent judges
These leaders have served as core members of the Call for Code eminent judging panel, bringing expertise from technology, science, humanitarian response, and global development.
- Jim Zemlin, Executive Director, Linux Foundation
- Stuart Butterfield, Co-Founder & CEO, Slack
- Peter Bakker, President & CEO, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
- Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation
- Lori Garver, CEO, Earthrise Alliance; Former Deputy Administrator, NASA
- Deborah Dugan, President & CEO, Recording Academy (The GRAMMYs)
- Brian A. Gallagher, President & CEO, United Way Worldwide
- Michelle Nunn, President & CEO, CARE USA
- Janti Soeripto, President & CEO, Save the Children
- Dr. Irwin Redlener, Director, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Columbia University
- Marie Wieck, Partner, Ethos Capital; Former General Manager, IBM Blockchain
- Solomon Assefa, Founder & CEO, Viridian Partners
- David Katz, Founder & CEO, Plastic Bank
- Dr. Elizabeth Hausler, Founder & CEO, Build Change
- K.C. Choi, Executive Partner & VP, Global CSO/CRO Advisory Practice, Gartner; Former Corporate EVP & GM, Samsung Electronics
- Teresa Dietrich, Chief Technology Officer, Invoca
- Ruohan Liu, Director, Climate & Positive Agriculture, PepsiCo
- Dr. Dawn Wright, Chief Scientist, Esri
- Dr. Anand Deshpande, Founder & Chairman, Persistent Systems
- Carlos Vives, GRAMMY & Latin GRAMMY–winning Singer, Songwriter & Actor
- Simon Mainwaring, Founder & CEO, We First
- Marcie Roth, Executive Director & CEO, World Institute on Disability
- Timothy Prewitt, President & CEO, The Hunger Project Global
- Kait Parker, Climate Journalist & Meteorologist, Yale Climate Connections
- John Cohn, IBM Fellow Emeritus
- Prashanth Chandrasekar, CEO & Board Member, Stack Overflow
- Bryan Knouse, Co-Founder & CEO, OWL Integrations
- Shreyaa Venkat, Founder & CEO, NEST4US
- Bill Soards, Former President, AT&T Indiana
Additional distinguished judges
Over the years, dozens of additional leaders from technology, academia, government, and global development have also served as judges, helping evaluate thousands of innovations submitted by developers worldwide. They include but are not limited to:
- Aamer Charania, Head of AI, Best Buy; Chief AI Officer, Dallas AI
- Astrid van Genderen Stort, Chief, External Engagement & Partnerships, UN Human Rights
- Brad Haczynski, Chief Commercial Officer, Cornelis Networks
- Daniel Krook, Senior Director, Developer Experience, Cloud Native Computing Foundation
- DeLisa Alexander, Former Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer, Red Hat
- Dr. David O’Hara, Director, Environmental Studies & Sustainability, Augustana University
- Dr. Esther Ngumbi, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Dr. Lydia Boyd Campbell, AVP, Clinical Operations, Royal Caribbean Group
- Dr. Mickey Chopra, Global Solutions Lead, Service Delivery, World Bank
- Edwina Fitzmaurice, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft
- Fabián Román, President, Fundación Plan21
- Firdaus Bhathena, Technology Executive, FIS; Former Chief Digital Officer, CVS Health
- Fiona Wilson, Former Senior Regional Manager, Clinton Climate Initiative
- Gil Yehuda, Open Source Leader; Former Red Hat
- Grace Kim, Architect & Co-Founding Principal, Schemata Workshop
- Hoda Alkhzaimi, Director, Center for Cyber Security, NYU Abu Dhabi
- Iain McCorquodale, Head of Core Solutions, NatWest Group
- Jacob Duer, President & CEO, Alliance to End Plastic Waste
- James McMahon, Co-Founder & Former CEO, The Climate Service
- Jenny Wang, Investor, Neo
- Joe Verrengia, Global Brand, CSR & Innovation Communications, Arrow Electronics
- Joyelle Harris, Executive Officer, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Institute, Georgia State University
- Julie Pullen, Founding Partner & Chief Scientist, Propeller
- Katie Todd, PCC, Change Management & Communications Leader, Pace University
- Laurent Sauveur, Senior Director, Movement, Engagement & Partnerships, Amnesty International
- Leah Ruppanner, Professor of Sociology, University of Melbourne
- Melissa Evers, Co-Founder & Board Chair, Technology Association of Oregon
- Michele Melchionda, Lead, Digital Transition, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italian Government
- Mrinalini Lakshminarayanan, CEO, Startup Founder & Board Chair; Former Executive Director, Ingram Micro
- Natalie Dawe, Founder, Starling Strategy; Former IBM Corporate Citizenship
- Rajeev Ronanki, Chief Executive Officer; Former Senior Vice President, Elevance Health
- Salomé Valero Cumplido, Co-Founder, Prometeo Platform
- Scott McCrory, Senior IT Architect, Huntington National Bank
- Steve Ewell, Executive Director, Consumer Technology Association Foundation
- Susan Conley Salice, Chief Executive Officer, Magis Philanthropy
- Tori Kaplan, Chief Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Officer, Truist
- Trevor Riggen, President, Humanitarian Services, American Red Cross
- Wes Turner, Professor of Practice & Director, Rensselaer Center for Open Source, RPI
- Bo Gebbie, President, Evolving Solutions; Venture Capitalist & Lecturer
- Corentin Thomasset, Technology Lead, Morgan Stanley
- Esther Braud, Public Health Communication Specialist, UNICEF
- Christopher Atkinson, Professor of Computer Science, University of Mannheim
- John Surdyk, Director, INSITE; Deputy Department Chair, Management & Human Resources, Wisconsin School of Business
- Marion Vincent, Executive Director, Firmwide Innovation, Morgan Stanley
- Oscar Romero, Chief Information Officer, New York City Civic Engagement Commission
- Tom Snyder, Executive Director, RIoT Accelerator Program
- Angela Busheska, UN Advisor; Software Engineer, Googleer
