Elizabeth Donkervoort is a democracy and human rights expert with extensive experience countering digital authoritarianism and transnational repression. She analyzes security laws and digital privacy policy in Asia-Pacific while supporting organizations in strategic development. Her work bridges innovative program design with practical implementation to strengthen resilience against foreign malign influence.

Committed to strengthening democratic resilience worldwide, Elizabeth has a proven track record of launching and implementing impactful programs that address critical policy challenges. At the American Bar Association’s Center for Global Programs (ABA), she led the East Asia portfolio, tripling its size and introducing impactful resources like the Judicial Independence Monitor Toolkit, analyzing vulnerabilities to judicial independence and launched the Defending Digital Privacy (DDP) program in Southeast Asia, training legal professionals and privacy regulators in Asia. At the International Republican Institute (IRI), she developed civic engagement programs in restrictive environments and pioneered secure virtual training methods to overcome surveillance challenges. At Freedom House, she managed emergency grants for human rights defenders and organizations as well as coordinating global advocacy campaigns.

She holds a JD and a Master of Asia Pacific Policy Studies from the University of British Columbia and an Honours BA from the University of Toronto. Elizabeth is admitted to practice law in Canada and the U.S. serves on the fundraising committee of NüVoices, an editorial collective supporting underrepresented voices in China-focused work and is a Fellow with the Montreal Institute for Global Security.