Annie Wilcox Boyajian

Annie Boyajian is Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Freedom House and serves as the Mark Palmer Distinguished Fellow. In these roles, she oversees Freedom House’s policy and advocacy work, leading engagement with the U.S. government and collaboration with American human rights groups. She contributes to Freedom House publications including Freedom in the World; Freedom on the Net; Freedom of the Press; Nations in Transit; The Battle for China’s Spirit; and Out of Sight, Out of Reach; and authored Democratic Crisis in Hong Kong: Recommendations for Policymakers.

Annie has testified before the U.S. Congress, the Canadian parliament, and Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan and regularly advises policymakers and staff. She has served as a guest lecturer and speaker at George Mason University, Georgetown University, and the Harvard Kennedy School and has provided interviews and commentary for outlets including BBC World, CSPAN’s Washington Journal, Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera, Radio Free Asia, Reuters, The Economist, Fox News, The Bulwark, The Globe and Mail, The Diplomat, International Policy Digest, Just Security, and The Hill.

Prior to joining Freedom House, she worked in both the Senate and the House, where she held numerous roles, including Legislative Director, and focused on foreign policy, human rights, and appropriations issues.

Annie holds a master’s degree in International Affairs: U.S. Foreign Policy from American University’s School of International Service. Her master’s research project focused on China’s influence on African media. She is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a former board member of the Hong Kong Democracy Council, and a former congressional fellow at the Partnership for a Secure America.