Natalie Evans Harris is the State Chief Data Officer (CDO) for the State of Maryland, leading the Office of Enterprise Data (OED). Harris brings over 20 years of experience leading data initiatives and organizations; she is a trusted leader with experience designing, developing, and delivering solutions that have advanced responsible data usage across the public sector.
As the State CDO, Harris leads the creation and implementation of a strategic data architecture and oversees data services for Maryland's Executive Branch agencies. Harris joins DoIT after serving as the Founding Executive Director at the Black Wealth Data Center, where she led data and product teams to create and implement a comprehensive data platform that helps the public and policymakers better understand and address racial wealth disparities in America.
As a leading voice in the responsible use of data for social impact, she has spent her career working with a broad network of academic institutions, data science organizations, application developers, and foundations to advance the responsible use of data. She has served in the Obama Administration as a Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Chief Technology Officer and the Biden Administration as a Senior Advisor to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
Ms. Evans Harris is a world-class speaker and has been invited to speak on stages, for institutions, conferences and platforms around the globe on her passion, skills and impact on advancing the power of data for social good. She holds degrees from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and George Washington University.
At Ecoheart, Natalie guides our approach to data governance and public sector transformation, helping us build systems that are not only technically robust but also advance social justice and community empowerment.