Dr. Irina Mirkina served as Innovation Manager and AI Lead at the UNICEF Office of Innovation, where she guided the design and deployment of AI and data-driven solutions to support children’s welfare, education, health, and humanitarian outcomes globally. She has been instrumental in shaping ethical AI governance and standards, advising on responsible implementation of machine learning in social-impact contexts, and advocating for AI’s use to advance equity and children’s rights. Through her leadership, Irina helped position UNICEF at the forefront of AI for social good — combining technical insight, cross-sector collaboration, and a strong commitment to ethical, scalable innovation.