As the Chief Innovation and Performance Officer for the City of Pittsburgh Debra Lam designed the framework that successfully transformed the city from one of socio-economic decline to thriving innovation hub. In this talk, Debra unpacks community-centered partnerships and their impact on solving wicked problems like inequality, hunger and poverty in cities, regardless of size.
Debra Lam believes that technology can be a force for good and inclusion.
She is passionate about creating more equitable, resilient and sustainable communities through innovation. Debra has worked with cities nationwide and those in the United Kingdom, Taiwan and Hong Kong on addressing climate change, urbanization and social inequality.
Debra is the founding director of the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation in Georgia and previously served as the city of Pittsburgh’s first Chief Innovation Officer.
Apolitical named Debra a top 100 most influential people in digital government. She is an Atlanta Business Chronicle and Georgia Trend 40under40 honoree and serves on the U.S. Department of Commerce Internet of Things Advisory Board. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at
https://www.ted.com/tedx