Dr. Pooja Gupta is a distinguished technology strategist and AI governance leader shaping the digital future of Africa. As the Chief Technology and AI Officer at Probase Group Zambia, she spearheads enterprise-wide AI adoption, digital transformation roadmaps, cybersecurity strengthening, and national-scale technology platforms supporting public service delivery, financial systems, and health informatics. With more than a decade of expertise across digital identity, data governance, automation, AI systems, FinTech infrastructure, and e-Government frameworks, Dr. Gupta is recognized for translating complex technologies into policy-aligned, secure, and citizen-centric solutions. She has provided strategic direction on national programmes—many executed in partnership with government ministries and donor agencies—accelerating Zambia’s digitalization agenda.
Her leadership extends globally. As an Executive Advisory Board Member of the IA Forum (USA), she contributes to international discourse on AI ethics, digital public goods, governance standards, and the responsible use of emerging technologies. As an Advisory Board Member at YouthUp Global (Nigeria), she supports continental youth empowerment through AI skilling, innovation leadership, and digital inclusion. Dr. Gupta has been pivotal in deploying AI-enhanced systems across Africa, including predictive analytics for public institutions, intelligent eKYC and compliance platforms, smart citizen services, and digital payment modernization solutions such as ZamPay and ZamConnect. Her work champions the ethical, inclusive, and sustainable use of AI, ensuring that technology remains a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion.
A judge and technical evaluator for ZICTA’s 2025 ICT Innovation Programme, she actively shapes Zambia’s innovation ecosystem by mentoring start-ups, guiding regulatory technology decisions, and advocating for stronger AI-readiness frameworks. A certified Project Management professional, published researcher, and participant in the elite CDAIO Programme at ISB, Dr. Gupta combines academic rigor with real-world execution. Her thought leadership focuses on AI governance, algorithmic accountability, women in tech leadership, and policy-driven innovation. She is deeply committed to building future-ready digital nations where AI, data, and technology policy converge to drive inclusive economic growth.
