Who We Are

Working Group Members  

Leah Salerno (Position No. 1)

Leah represents one of the equity-focused member positions through multiple organizational affiliations. Leah is a board member for Got Green, a non-profit organization that organizes working class Black and Brown communities in south Seattle and fights for racial, economic, and environmental justice, protecting the rights of communities. Professionally, Leah is an attorney who has worked extensively within the fields of disability advocacy, civil rights, and health related data privacy. Leah’s professional experience has also taught the importance of carefully evaluating and considering the pros and cons of adopting all new technology and innovations, especially when it comes to surveillance and privacy implications and how best to balance the risks and benefits of new innovations. Leah brings a myriad of legal experiences and community connections to the Working Group. 

Term: 01/01/24 to 12/31/26 | Appointed by: Mayor

Amy Xiao (Position No. 2)

Amy is currently a PhD student at the University of Washington, part of the UW Sociotechnical Safety Lab, and long-time community advocate on issues related to sociotechnical systems, bias, and surveillance. Across both Amy’s academic and advocacy work, Amy has worked closely with immigrants and communities of color to understand the impacts of street-level surveillance, particularly as it relates to accessing resources for trafficking, exploitative labor conditions, and sexual violence. This work has been done in conjunction with migrant-worker led groups like Red Canary Song, as well as direct service organizations like API Chaya. In joining the Working Group, Amy brings experience with community engagement, digital safety, security, privacy, and will thoughtfully evaluate new public safety technology and minimize tech-enabled harm for all Seattleites. 

Term: 01/01/25 to 12/31/27 | Appointed by: Mayor 

Wendy Novotne (Position No. 3) 

Wendy is a member of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and as part of her professional activities at her law firm, is a chair of the Seattle Diversity and Inclusion Committee and member of the Leadership Alliance for Women. The law has been her calling since age five and Wendy’s Chinese immigrant parents were thrilled to learn she wanted to be a lawyer. Wendy has always found that lawyers can help people. Seattle is Wendy’s hometown and wants to apply her skills, talents, and cultural background to serve the community around issues regarding data protection, privacy, data security, and cybersecurity. 

Term 1: 01/01/24 to 12/31/26 | Appointed by: Mayor

Meira Gilbert (Position No. 4)

Meira is currently a PhD Candidate at the University of Washington Information School studying how emerging technology poses privacy risks and fosters surveillance between people, corporations, and governments. Her research lies at the intersection of human-computer interaction, usable privacy & security, and digital safety to critically evaluate and mitigate emerging privacy, cybersecurity, and surveillance concerns. Meira’s previous work experience includes serving as a Privacy Program Manager at Meta, reviewing privacy and cybersecurity incidents across a wide range of technical infrastructure, including internal databases, user-facing features, and mobile applications. Meira’s background sits squarely at the intersection of the Working Group, first in industry and now in research, examining how surveillance technologies create privacy and civil liberties risks, with a particular interest in who bears the greatest impact when those risks go unaddressed. Meira brings both industry and research experience to the Working Group.

Term: 01/01/25 to 12/31/27 | Appointed by: Mayor

Carolyn Riley-Payne (Position No. 5) 

As part of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and other community groups that are concerned about the impact of technology and surveillance in the community, Carolyn is interested in serving to ensure that the community has awareness and understand what is going on to protect the rights of the community.

Experienced advocate and leader adept at change and innovation across diverse domains.. Known for counseling and guiding others with empathy and wisdom. Balances role as a supportive sister, nurturing mother, and trusted friend, brining compassion and understanding to every relationship.

Carolyn has served as President Seattle King County NAACP and chair of the NAACP Academic Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO). Served as Human Services Commissioner for City of Lake Forest Park, founding member of Bellevue Alumnae Chapter Delata Sigma Thera as well as Vice President of the South East Asan Compassion Network and other community groups that are concerned about the impact of technology and surveillance in the community.

Term 1: 01/01/24 to 12/31/26 | Appointed by: City Council   

Name (Position No. 6)

We are in the process of appointing a new member to positon six. 

Term: 01/01/25 to 12/31/27 | Appointed by: City Council

Alex Maestretti (Position No. 7)

Alex's 20 year career spans the public and private sectors, building and operating security and privacy programs. He is passionate about using technology to improve people's lives, but also wary of the negative impacts technology can have. Alex is excited at the opportunity to learn from his peers on the working group, as well as contribute to the effective delivery of government services while supporting citizen engagement here in his hometown.

Term 1: 01/01/24 to 12/31/26 | Appointed by: City Council

Join the Working Group

If you are interested in serving on the Surveillance Working Group, please submit your application online. Under "Which Boards would you like to apply for?" select Community Surveillance Working Group.