Shawn A. Covell is a government relations executive with over 20 years of experience in telecommunications and entertainment. She has an excellent track record of building international government relations and strategic communications programs from the ground up and uses her experience in public speaking, written communications, corporate strategy, company positioning and thought leadership.

Covell currently serves as the senior vice president of Government Affairs for Paramount Pictures. Prior to that, she was former vice president of Government Affairs for Qualcomm Incorporated. In this capacity, Covell helped manage global operations and strategic planning of a government affairs team of more than 60. In addition, Covell oversaw two key government affairs teams responsible for elevating Qualcomm’s profile among policy makers, opinion leaders and governments. Qualcomm’s public affairs is responsible for strategic communications, public policy initiatives and legal communications. Qualcomm Wireless Reach is a strategic program that demonstrates the positive social and economic impact of wireless technologies.

Covell was also senior director of Southeast Asia Government Affairs, based in Hong Kong. In that role, Covell directed Qualcomm's public policy agenda and its relationship with government entities in Southeast Asia. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a degree in political science and has a master’s degree in international affairs from the University of California San Diego's School of International Relations and Pacific Studies.

Information Technology, STEM Education, Women in Leadership, Women in Business, International Entrepreneurship, Technology,