Human Rights | Social Justice | Equity

Michael L. Bąk

Ensuring People from the Margins Influence Public Policy
⬍
Inspiring Policymaking that Shapes the Tech Future We Want

Empowering Changemakers | Inspiring Policymaking

Empowering people to build the lives they choose.
Inspiring the policymaking that makes that possible.

My mission is simple, yet audacious.Empower people with the tools and courage to build their best lives, on their own terms.Influence leaders to steward informed policies that enable all people, everywhere to live their best lives in peace, health, security and opportunity.Making the world better than I found it.

My Short Story

Having spent the better of my life in the global south, I carry with me a nuanced understanding and experience of power, progress, and accountability. This frames how I advocate for structural change and support changemakers shaping a world that’s more just, inclusive, and grounded in human dignity. From informing international policy to designing public opinion research, my work is rooted in the belief that good decisions start with deep understanding — of people, systems, colonial history and the forces that shape all of us.Over the years, I’ve worked across government, multilateral institutions, big tech, grassroots movements, and advocacy organizations. This blend of perspectives has fueled my understanding of my own purpose of working for a just and equitable society — aligning evidence, strategy, and vision to drive the social and policy change that will allow all of us to flourish.I serve on boards and advisory bodies that support the arts, human rights, and ethical technology — and I bring that same spirit of public interest to every project I take on. Whether advising on tech policy, leading research initiatives, or helping organizations set strategy, I blend analytical rigor with cultural fluency and an unwavering commitment to equity.At the core of it all is a belief that policy change and democratic governance isn’t just about rules and codes — it’s about agency. It’s about making visible the voices too often overlooked, and using deep insight as a tool for impact.

Current Affiliations

National AI Office (NAIO), Kementerian Digital
AI Governance and Ethics WG and Core Drafting Team
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  | Since 2025Centre for AI Leadership
Advisor
Singapore
  | Since 2024Sprint Public Interest (a division of Sprint Research)
Co-Founder and Director of Policy Research
Bangkok, Thailand
  | Since 2023NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs
Senior Non-Resident Visiting Fellow (Cyber Policy)
New York, United States
  | Since 2023

Past Affiliations

2023 - 2024 | Forum sur l'information et la démocratie (Forum on Information and Democracy) | Paris, France
Executive Director2018 - 2023 | Facebook (Meta) | Bangkok, Thailand
Head of Public Policy, for Thailand and Regional Institutions2015 - 2018 | United Nations | Bangkok, Thailand
Peace and Development Advisor to the UN Country Team2014 - 2015 | B-Change Social Enterprise Group | Southeast Asia
Partnerships Lead2012 - 2015 | Strategic Asia Global | Bangkok, Jakarta, Hong Kong
Principle Shareholder and Director (Creative & Collaboration)2008 - 2012 | USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia | Bangkok, Thailand and throughout Asia Pacific
Senior Regional Governance Advisor2000 - 2007 | USAID Mission to Indonesia | Jakarta, Indonesia
Director (a.i.), Office of Democratic and Decentralised Governance (among other roles)1999 - 2000 | US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants | Washington DC, United States
Consultant1999 | Catholic Relief Services | Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Central Java Interfaith Emergency Project
Consultant1996 - 1998 | Bivings Woodell, Inc. | Washington DC, United States
Controversy Management and Risk Communications
Associate

sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta
(may all beings have happy minds)

It takes time to practice generosity, but being generous is the best use of our time.
  - Thich Nhat Hanh

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Boards of Directors

Eisenhower Dance Detroit | Detroit, United States
Member of the Board of Directors.
Board representative to the Development Committee and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
2023 - Present


(Past)
B-Change Insights, Inc. | New York City, United States
Member of the inaugural board of directors of this 501c(3) not-for-profit organisation, part of the B-Change Social Enterprise Groups (with hubs in Singapore and Manila, Philippines).
2016 - 2020

Volunteer Activities

(Past)
PRIDE@ APAC Co-Lead | Facebook (Meta)
PRIDE@ Bangkok Lead
Leadership of internal LGBTQ+ employee resource group, leading internal and external activations to support the LGBTQ+ community in Asia-Pacific.
2020 - 2023Pride@Work Thailand Steering Group
2019 - 2023


GLIFAA Post Lead | USAID
Led the Asia chapter for USAID of Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies from 2008 - 20212 and for Indonesia from 2000 - 2007.
2000 - 2012

Advisory boards

APCOM | Asia-Pacific
Private Sector Ambassador.
2018 - PresentEqual Asia Foundation / Stichting EqualA Foundation | Bangkok, Thailand and Amsterdam, Netherlands
Global Advisory Board Member
2021 - Present

(Past)
American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand, Creative Economy Council | Bangkok, Thailand
Founding Co-Lead of the chamber's newest council.
2021 - 2022Rapid Asia Co. Ltd. | Bangkok, Thailand
Internaitonal Advisory Board Member, Social Development and Human Rights
2015 - 2022Mahidol University, Institute for Human Rights and Peace Studies | Bangkok, Thailand
MA Program in Human Rights Curriculum Review Board member
2017

Education

The Johns Hopkins University
School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
MA, International Affairs & Development Economics
Concentration: Southeast Asia Studies
Washington DC, United StatesKalamazoo College
BA, French Literature, Japanese and International & Area Studies
Kalamazoo, United StatesNagoya Gakuin University | 名古屋学院大学
Certificate in Japanese Studies
Seto-shi, JapanAmerican University
Summer Peacebuilding Institute
Washington DC, United StatesNational University of Singapore
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
Executive Education

Language & Cross-Cultural Fluencies

🇨🇦 English
🇫🇷 French
🇮🇩 Bahasa Indonesia
🇲🇾 Malay
🇯🇵 Japanese (previously fluent)
🇹🇭 Thai (limited)
🇪🇸 Spanish (limited)
🇵🇹 Portuguese (learning)
💻 Python (learning)

My North Star

The world we want -- where every person thrives and has the power and ability to create the life they want, on their terms, in peace, health and prosperity -- does not happen on its own.It requires persistence, dedication and a relentless focus on impact and cooperation with others. And a North Star, to help us see the path ahead with clarity and move toward the world we want. This is mine:EQUITY:
Create equitable outcomes for our communities.AUTHENTICITY:
Remain true to our personalities, values and spirit, regardless of pressure to act otherwise.INCLUSION:
Embrace all people irrespective of their characteristics, endeavour to create equal access to opportunities and remove barriers to people’s participation in all aspects of public life.

Aceh, Indonesia

Aceh, Indonesia

Bangkok, Thailand

Kyoto, Japan

Check out my Substack!

(margin*notes)^squared

is sharp & values-driven, unpacking power, policy, and possibility—from the margins of the global majority and marginalised communities to the frontiers of tech and democracy. Because our margin notes are exponentially powerful.

I'm always keen to collaborate with people who share my values and commitment to a better world.

Feel free to connect with me on "Linkedin" or send me an email using the form below.

KINDNESS - for all people, everywhere