Avril Ussery Sisk, NACD.DC served on the board of a privately held information technology company, overseeing B2G and B2B commerce through the development of private and public partnerships, initiating government relationship strategies to drive significant revenue and a successful acquisition exit. A strategic governance leader, she is currently Chair, NACD Capital Area Chapter Advisory Board and is a member of the Athena Alliance Advisory Board. Avril served on the Advisory Committee to develop NACD’s 2025 Master Class: Technology & Innovation and participated as a panelist on the topics of AI governance and technology regulatory issues, particularly those relating to AI. As a thought leader and published author on these topics, Avril frequently is invited to speak from a director’s perspective about her experience regarding these subjects, exploring the implications of AI governance and regulations on business, particularly regarding directors’ oversight and strategic responsibilities. An independent director, Avril consults to boards of directors and is an advisor to a variety of clients on AI governance and adoption. During her recent tenure as Chair of the Arlington County (VA) Economic Development Commission, the National Landing area of Arlington County became the first 5G Smart City in the United States. A former North Carolina state court judge and federal government ethics counsel, she is a certified Leadership Professional in Ethics and Compliance (LPEC) through the Ethics and Compliance Certification Institute (ECCI).