Peter Bihr is a senior advisor & leader at the intersections of tech, policy, public interest & philanthropy. Working with philanthropic foundations, non-profits and public sector, his focus is on how emerging technologies can benefit society. The through-line of his career has been to understand and shape how digital technology changes power dynamics, and to strengthen democracy and digital rights.
With an experience of 15+ years, his work focuses on areas including tech policy, platform accountability, strengthening civil society, the impact of social media on democracy, as well as technologies including the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cities, and artificial intelligence (AI).
In addition to working as a consultant, Peter served as Interim Director for the European AI & Society Fund. He served as special advisor to Stiftung Mercator’s Center for Digital Society. Peter co-founded ThingsCon e.V., a non-profit that advocates for responsible Internet of Things practices and was Executive Director of the independent consultancy The Waving Cat GmbH. Peter has co-founded several acclaimed emerging technology conferences including ThingsCon, UIKonf, and Cognitive Cities Conference, and chaired or curated leading conferences such as Interaction16, NEXT, and TEDxKreuzberg.
Peter was a Senior Mozilla Fellow (2018-19) investigating trustable technology, and an Edgeryders Fellow (2019) studying smart cities from a civil rights perspective. He co-wrote View Source: Shenzhen (2017) and Understanding the Connected Home (2015). Postscapes named him a Top 20 IoT Influencer (2019). Peter co-hosted the Getting Tech Right podcast, a series of interviews about how to think about the role of technology better.
His projects, ideas and antics have been featured in Forbes, the New York Times, SPIEGEL, The Guardian, ZDF, ZEIT and many other publications. His work has been shown at London Design Festival, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Fuori Salone. He blogs at thewavingcat.com.
Board and advisory roles
I am available for board and advisory roles in organizations that seek strategic insight at the intersection of technology, public interest, and governance, if and where my expertise can make an impact. With over 15 years of experience working with philanthropic foundations, non-profits, and public sector stakeholders, I specialize in:
- Emerging Technologies (AI, Internet of Things, Smart Cities)
- Tech Policy, Digital Rights, Platform Accountability, Social Media’s Impact on Democracy
- Strategic Advisory for Civil Society and Public Interest Organizations
- Organizational strategy and development for philanthropy and civil society
My track record includes leadership roles such as Interim Director at the European AI & Society Fund, co-founding ThingsCon, and serving as a Senior Mozilla Fellow focused on trustable technology. Let’s explore how I can contribute to your board’s success.
For inquiries, please contact me for a conversation.
Learn more about past and current clients, media coverage and appearances, and personal affiliations. A probably outdated version of this bio is available in German, too. Clients and conference organizers can find high-res headshots here.)