data.org is delighted to announce the addition of two new Program Directors, leading our Epiverse and Capacity Accelerator Network initiatives.
Ibrahim Mahgoub joins data.org as Program Director of Epiverse, responsible for driving the development and delivery of open-source, privacy-preserving data analytics software for pandemic preparedness and response. In this role, Ibrahim will work with teams across the globe, delivering on the shared commitment to equitable and inclusive community co-creation of software and tools. By supporting subgrantees developing novel software tools and fostering partnership across government, academia, and local communities, Ibrahim will lead the deployment, scaling, and adoption of Epiverse’s novel methods.
Ibrahim most recently led UNICEF’s pathfinding initiative supporting ten low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in leveraging open software and open data to strengthen public services. During his tenure at UNICEF, Ibrahim piloted new approaches, leveraging entrepreneurial ecosystems to scale innovations in Vaccine Delivery and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). Ibrahim brings to his new role an extensive network of accelerators and innovation hubs in LMICs and an ability to source, support, and curate multiple innovations into toolkits of scalable, interoperable solutions.
“In creating open channels for epidemiologists, technologists, governments, and citizens around the world, Epiverse powers interdisciplinary collaboration. More critically, each individual’s progress, insight, and implementation benefit the collective, leveling the playing field and giving all a practical chance against this pandemic and the next public health crisis,” said Ibrahim Mahgoub. “I am delighted to join the data.org team and apply my experience building partnerships across sectors to advance equitable open data solutions.”
Ibrahim will earn an Executive Master’s degree in Digital Transformation & Innovation Leadership from IE University in the Spring of 2022.
data.org also welcomes Dr. Ronda Železný-Green as Program Director of the Capacity Accelerator Network (CAN). As Program Director, Ronda will lead the global CAN team and support network partners to deliver on data.org’s commitment to train one-million purpose-driven data professionals by 2032. In this role, Ronda will lead collaboration across sectors to build on the momentum of open-source curricula development, and engage and explore effective and scalable strategies to deliver on this ambitious goal.
Previously, Ronda served as the Global Head of Training and eLearning for the Internet Society and as the Policy and Regulation Training Delivery Director at the GSMA. As a mobile technologist, trainer, and researcher, Ronda’s professional experience spans five continents and the public, private, and civil society sectors. Hallmarks of her career include championing, coaching, and mentoring women in tech; learning with tech; and empowering people to use technology as transformative tools to live their best lives.
“I am delighted to join data.org and meet the challenge to transform the sector, not only building data science capacity for emerging talent but for organizations as well. In developing diverse data-driven leadership, infrastructure, strategy, and culture, I look forward to empowering social impact organizations to leverage 21st century skills to unlock the power of data to achieve their missions,” said Dr. Ronda Železný-Green. “CAN is a call to my passion for leveraging technologies for socio-economic development and builds on my experience creatively solving challenges through collaboration.”
Ronda earned a Ph.D in Human Geography and Master of Science in Practicing Sustainable Development with ICT4D specialism from Royal Holloway, University of London. She obtained a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics and a Graduate Certificate in Instructional and Technology Design from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Spanish (Honors) with a minor in Non-Profit Management from Salem College.
“New data.org initiatives, Epiverse and CAN, grew from ideas to fully-fledged programs over the past year, made possible by our dedicated and nimble team. Our organization enters this new year with exciting momentum, and the addition of Ibrahim Mahgoub and Dr. Ronda Železný-Green further strengthens our ranks,” said Dr. Danil Mikhailov, Executive Director, data.org. “These Program Directors are true leaders in their respective fields with deep domain knowledge, proven global track records, and passion for driving transformation in the field of data science for social impact. We are enormously excited to welcome them to the data.org team!”