Joan O'Hara
Vice President of Public Policy
XRA
O’Hara joined XRA from Booz Allen Hamilton where she served as a Principal and Director of Government Relations Policy, creating strategies for engagement with the federal government and major trade associations. Prior to joining Booz Allen, O’Hara served at the White House as Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary of the National Security Council, and as Deputy National Security Advisor to the Vice President. Earlier in her career, O’Hara was General Counsel of the House Committee on Homeland Security, where she developed legislation around issues such as cybersecurity and data encryption.
With experience in all levels of federal government, from the halls of Congress to the West Wing, O’Hara is well-positioned to further the Association’s efforts to promote the responsible development of XR technology.
Recent Events and Presentations
AR/VR Policy Conference 2024
Watch now for the fourth annual AR/VR Policy Conference presented by Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and the XR Association.
AR/VR Policy Conference 2023
Join the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and the XR Association for the third annual AR/VR Policy Conference. The event will feature a series of expert talks and panels discussing critical policy questions covering:
AR/VR Policy Conference 2022
Join the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and the XR Association for the second annual AR/VR Policy Conference.
The Augmented and Virtual Reality Policy Conference
Through a series of expert talks and panels, this half-day conference organized by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and the XR Association explored the role of policy in AR/VR innovation and identified priority areas for policymakers to consider as these technologies continue to expand.
How to Balance Privacy and Innovation in Augmented and Virtual Reality
ITIF released a new report and hosted a conversation with experts and industry leaders in AR/VR to discuss what unique privacy risks these technologies raise, how AR/VR providers are mitigating these concerns, and how existing and proposed privacy laws and regulations will impact AR/VR technologies.
