Shelley McKinley

Microsoft & GitHub

Vice President of Microsoft and the Chief Legal Officer of GitHub

Biography

Shelley is the Chief Legal Officer of GitHub and VP, Microsoft, where she leads global teams across legal, policy, platform trust and safety, social impact, and accessibility. Since joining GitHub in 2021, she has played a central role in introducing generative AI to the world through GitHub Copilot and has been instrumental in shaping the company’s approach to AI governance, open source policy, and developer trust. A champion of responsible innovation, Shelley previously served as the Vice President of Microsoft’s Technology and Corporate Responsibility organization, where she drove the development of world-leading corporate sustainability commitments and oversaw company efforts accessibility, justice reform, human rights and responsible AI. Shelley has led legal, corporate, and external affairs teams across Europe and worked on products in Microsoft’s gaming division, including Xbox and HoloLens. Before joining Microsoft, she was legal counsel at Wizards of the Coast, supporting the iconic “Dungeons & Dragons” and “Magic: The Gathering” brands. Outside of work, Shelley is passionate about mentoring young professionals, advocating for mental health awareness, and supporting wildlife conservation efforts at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo. She enjoys learning new languages and putting them to use while traveling, staying active outdoors, and finding live music wherever she goes. Shelley brings a thoughtful, global perspective to conversations about technology, policy, and leadership.