Kenneth Lao

Kenneth Lao is a second-year MPA candidate at Columbia SIPA, concentrating in Technology, Policy, and Innovation. Originally from Hong Kong, Kenneth is passionate about using digital communications to connect people to resources, promoting equity, accessibility, and broader institutional transformation.

This summer, Kenneth interned with the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and the Department of Peace Operations in New York. His work supported the UN’s peacebuilding efforts through program management and communications. He designed strategic communication materials, coordinated knowledge-sharing efforts, and developed visual products that enabled staff to stay informed about AI and other technological innovations in peacebuilding. Continuing with the UN on an extended contract, Kenneth hopes to further support its goal of digital transformation and help make peacekeeping operations more transparent and accessible to the public.

Prior to SIPA, Kenneth built a strong foundation in strategic communications, project management, and social media across public and private sectors. At the US Consulate in Vancouver, he developed public-facing content and supported diplomatic outreach for US-Canada relations. At Global Affairs Canada, he contributed to public diplomacy campaigns advancing Canada’s foreign policy priorities in South Asia. He later worked as a DEI project coordinator at TELUS Communications in Montreal, creating onboarding materials for new hires and leading company-wide educational workshops.

Currently, Kenneth serves as the chair of communications for three student organizations at SIPA: Spectrum, the First-Gen Student Union, and the Public-Private Partnerships Club. In fall 2025, he will also take on the role of social media assistant with SIPA’s Communications and External Relations team.