About Kanika Chhem

Kanika Chhem is a multilingual legal administration and legal research professional based in Basel, Switzerland, with an LLM in Legal Practice and ongoing doctoral research in Technology Governance. She is experienced in senior stakeholder support, confidential legal and policy documentation, compliance-related research, meeting coordination, and cross-functional communication across international organisations and private-sector environments. She is fluent in English, German, French, and Khmer.

Education

• PhD in Technology Governance (Mar 2024 – Expected Dec 2026)
  Cambodia University of Technology and Science, Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Online)
  Thesis: "Responsible AI Governance in Preclinical Drug Discovery: A Framework for Accountable Human and AI Decision-Making"
• Master of Laws in Legal Practice (LLM) (Mar 2024 – Apr 2026)
  The College of Legal Practice, Leeds, United Kingdom (Online)
  Thesis: "Inventorship, Ownership, and Entitlement in AI-assisted Pharmaceutical Innovation: A comparative legal analysis of the United Kingdom and Switzerland"
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Honours) — Upper Second-class Honours (2:1) (Oct 2020 – Oct 2023)
  The Open University UK, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom (Online)
  Thesis: "Unmarried Co-owners of Property in England and Wales: The new flexible approach after Stack v Dowden and Jones v Kernott"

Experience

• Research Associate, AI Forum (Mar 2024 – Present)
  Develops research proposals on AI and IP law and compliance frameworks. Prepares publications and presentations on technology regulation. Panelist at the Sustainable Horizons Seminar 2024.
• Research Fellow, Center for Advanced Research and Legal Studies (Oct 2022 – Aug 2024)
  Conducted comparative legal research on IP and technology governance. Drafted policy papers and coordinated with ministries and international partners.
• Volunteer Copywriter, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations in Geneva (Mar – Jul 2023)
  Drafted and edited high-level diplomatic communications, including press releases and official statements delivered by the Ambassador during the 52nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC52).
• Executive Assistant to Chairman / Marketing and Procurement, Worldbridge Group (2020 – Jan 2021)
  Attended contract negotiation meetings, copywrote and proofread all publications, coordinated events and travel arrangements.
• Marketing Communications Specialist, Smart Axiata, Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Jan 2016 – Jan 2017)
• Volunteer Personal Assistant, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Vienna, Austria (Mar – Jul 2013)

Professional Development

• Financial Analysis and Valuation for Lawyers — Harvard Law School & Harvard Business School Online (2026)
• AI: Law, Policy, and Governance — London School of Economics and Political Science (2026, Grade: 75%)
• LexisNexis Advanced and Foundation Certifications — LexisNexis, London (2021)
• German Private Classes (C1) — VOX Sprachschule, Zurich (2024 – Ongoing)

Publications

• The Taste of Angkor — Royal Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperations (Jun 2020)
• Cambodian Global Health Diplomacy: The Westerdam Cruise Ship Saga — AVI (Mar 2020)
• One Health Approach to Global Pandemics — AVI (Apr 2020)
• Fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic with AI — AVI (Mar 2020)
• Geopolitics of COVID-19 Vaccine — AVI (Aug 2020)

Languages & Skills

• Languages: English (native), German (C1), French (fluent spoken, B2+ written), Khmer
• Legal research, copywriting, policy drafting and compliance review
• Stakeholder engagement, public speaking, document management and confidentiality protocols

Contact

Location: Basel, Switzerland
Email: kachhem@gmail.com
Phone: +41 79 968 09 69
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kanikac
Nationality: France / Canada / Cambodia

"Bridging law, technology, and governance for a more accountable world." - Kanika Chhem