Tech Initiative Discussion: Board Chair Jennie Baird on Maintaining Privacy in Modern Technology
The Ethical Tech Project, a non-profit organization founded by serial entrepreneur Tom Chavez, is making waves in the tech industry with its focus on promoting ethical AI and technology practices. At the helm of the organization is Jennie Baird, a retired Chief Product Officer of BBC Studios who now chairs the Board of The Ethical Tech Project.
Baird, with a background in digital media, has spent over 30 years working on the intersection of content, technology, and product. She retired in January 2025 as Chief Product Officer of BBC Studios and now dedicates her time to tech-for-good initiatives, including her role as the Chair of The Ethical Tech Project’s board.
The Ethical Tech Project initially focused on data privacy but has since expanded its remit to include safety, misinformation, accessibility, and sustainability in AI. The organization faces challenges in demonstrating that doing the right thing when it comes to tech and AI ethics will be good for the bottom line due to a shift in regulatory climate.
However, The Ethical Tech Project differentiates itself by synthesizing and amplifying the research and best practices developed by other organizations, and using those to develop practical tools and education for tech builders. The organization aims to make privacy engineering easy and to educate, convene, and equip tech and AI builders to make decisions that support human flourishing.
Some of The Ethical Tech Project’s key programs and projects include The Privacy Stack, a consumer survey on GenAI, The Ethical Tech Curriculum, and the Ethical Tech Fellows pilot cohort. The organization has received over 150 applications for the pilot Ethical Tech Fellowship in less than 10 days, demonstrating a strong interest in its mission.
The Ethical Tech Project also adapts its curriculum to bring Ethical Tech and AI training to corporations, industry events, and more. One of Baird’s favorite memories working for the non-profit was the conclusion of the Ethical Tech Fellowship, where early- to midcareer Fellows pitched their ideas for ethically-minded businesses.
The Ethical Tech Project envisions a future where humans have insight into how their data is controlled and used by big tech companies, with the fundamental right to privacy universally protected. The organization conducts interviews, like the one with Jennie Baird, to gain a deeper understanding of its work.
Currently, The Ethical Tech Project is grant-funded and is seeking to develop relationships with additional grantmakers. The organization also aims to scale its programs quickly, launching corporate trainings and exploring pathways to connect capital with ethical tech ideas.
As the tech industry continues to grow and evolve, The Ethical Tech Project stands as a beacon of hope for those who believe in a future where technology serves humanity rather than harms it. With its focus on education, research, and practical application, The Ethical Tech Project is working tirelessly to create a more ethical and sustainable tech landscape.
[1] For more information about The Ethical Tech Project and its work, visit their website at www.ethicaltechproject.org.
Jennie Baird, with her background in digital media and experience in tech-for-good initiatives, chairs the board of The Ethical Tech Project, an organization emphasizing ethical AI and technology practices. The Ethical Tech Project, apart from data privacy, now focuses on safety, misinformation, accessibility, and sustainability in AI, using research and best practices to develop practical tools and education for tech builders.
