Denise Zheng is Managing Director and Global Lead for Responsible Metaverse at Accenture where she leads a multidisciplinary team spanning technology, strategy, and policy to design, build, and operate in the metaverse responsibly. She also oversees various strategic initiatives for Accenture’s Chair and Global CEO.

She has a unique blend of expertise, including advanced technology R&D programs, policy development and strategy, and driving major cross-industry initiatives on artificial intelligence, data privacy, and cybersecurity working with CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.

Prior to joining Accenture, Denise was head of technology and innovation at Business Roundtable. She also led the Strategic Technologies Program at CSIS and served as lead systems engineering and technical advisor and chief of staff of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Plan X program in the Information Innovation Office. Earlier in her career, Denise director for cybersecurity at CA Technologies and was a principal subject matter expert for Senate Homeland Security Committee brought in to draft and negotiate comprehensive cybersecurity legislation.

Denise has testified multiple times before the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives as an expert on data privacy and internet governance issues. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, and she has been interviewed by CNN, BBC, CBS, and NPR on a range of technology issues.

Denise completed her bachelors and graduate studies at University of Michigan, London School of Economics, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and The Wharton School of Business.