Katherine (Kat) Townsend serves multiple roles, Director at Measurement Lab, Advisor at Web Foundation, and Executive Director for Open Data Collaboratives, all supporting an open, trusted, empowering online space that serves civic engagement and human rights. She currently serves on the boards of Open Data Charter to open up data for policy change, and Connect Humanity investing in community-driven internet connectivity. Katherine has worked to advise FCDO on data-driven delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, World Bank’s Global Partnership for Social Accountability on civic tech, and with governments of Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and UAE on open government and open data. She previously served as COO of data.org and at the U.S. Department of State and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) working for global Internet Freedom and standing up USAID’s first and sustained open data policy. Kat can often be found riding a bicycle around the world or tweeting at @DiploKat.
Executive Director, Open Data Collaboratives