Narmeen Makhani Appointed Chief Product Engineering & AI Officer at NCBE

MADISON, WISCONSIN, April 22, 2026—The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Narmeen Makhani as its Chief Product Engineering & AI Officer. In this role, Makhani will lead the continued advancement of the technology platforms supporting the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam (NextGen UBE) as the organization moves from initial launch of the new exam to administration in nearly all US jurisdictions over the next two years. She will also guide efforts to expand platform capabilities; enhance digital experiences for jurisdictions, candidates, and partners; and modernize engineering practices to enable efficient, scalable delivery.

In parallel, she will advance the responsible integration of artificial intelligence across the organization to enhance internal efficiency and support high-quality content development and scoring, while maintaining the rigor, transparency, and defensibility required in a high-stakes licensure testing environment.

“I am excited to join NCBE in this capacity at such an important moment for the legal profession,” said Makhani. “The transition to the NextGen UBE is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize how licensure testing is delivered across jurisdictions. I look forward to working with NCBE’s exceptional teams to build resilient platforms, strengthen innovation, and apply AI responsibly in service of jurisdictions, candidates, and the public.”

Makhani has worked with NCBE in a consulting role since April 2025, partnering with NCBE teams and working closely with jurisdictions to develop platforms and systems supporting the NextGen UBE. Her appointment as Chief Product Engineering & AI Officer reflects the organization’s continued investment in technology leadership during a pivotal period of transformation.

Previously, Makhani spent more than 15 years at Educational Testing Service (ETS), where she held a series of leadership roles, most recently as Associate Vice President, Product Innovation and AI. During her tenure, she led the development of assessment products and services, launched AI-enabled solutions, scaled large content development operations, and oversaw technology strategy, cost discipline, and risk management initiatives. She is also the founder of AIxecute, a strategic consulting firm focused on product innovation and responsible AI adoption.

Makhani holds an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business and an MS in Computer Engineering from Rutgers University.

###

About the National Conference of Bar Examiners 

The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1931. NCBE promotes fairness, integrity, and best practices in bar admissions for the benefit and protection of the public, in pursuit of its vision of a competent, ethical, and diverse legal profession. Best known for developing bar exam content used by 54 US jurisdictions, NCBE serves admission authorities, courts, the legal education community, and candidates by providing high-quality assessment products, services, and research; character investigations; and informational and educational resources and programs. In 2026, NCBE will launch the next generation of the bar examination, ensuring that the exam continues to test the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for competent entry-level legal practice in a changing profession. For more information, visit the NCBE website at https://www.ncbex.org. 

About the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam 

Set to debut in July 2026, the NextGen UBE will test a broad range of foundational legal doctrine and lawyering skills in the context of the current practice of law. The skills and concepts to be tested were developed through a nationwide legal practice analysis and reflect the most important knowledge and skills for newly licensed lawyers in both litigation and transactional practice. NCBE is committed to ensuring a systematic, transparent, and collaborative implementation process, informed by input from and participation by stakeholders, and guided by best practices and the professional standards for high-stakes testing. For more information, visit https://www.ncbex.org/exams/nextgen.