We have an exciting line up of panelists from over 46 organisations from across Africa and beyond! See who they are, where they are from and what they do. Be sure to connect with them too and join the conversation on #InternetFreedom in Africa using the #FIFAfrica16 hashtag. Follow @cipesaug for updates.
Forum Panelists
Ebele Okobi
Head of Public Policy
Ebele Okobi is the Head of Public Policy, Africa at Facebook, where she leads on engaging with government, civil society and other policy influencers and shaping Facebook’s Ebele was the founding Global
Day 1, Session 1: Transparency and Accountability of Intermediaries
Panelist
Ife Osaga-Ondondo
Head of Legal, Sub-Saharan Africa at Google
As the Head of Legal, Sub-Saharan Africa at Google, Ife oversees the entire spectrum of Google’s legal work in Sub Saharan Africa. Her work includes advising the regional
Day 1, Session 1: Transparency and Accountability of Intermediaries
PanelistAnriette Esterhuysen
Executive director of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
Anriette Esterhuysen is the executive director of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), an international network of ...
Day 1, Session 1: Transparency and Accountability of Intermediaries
PanelistArsene Tungali
Online activist
Arsene Tungali has been working and collaborating for the past 5 years on projects related to Internet governance, child online protection, and women’s participation in ICT. He has been involved with CIPESA’s OpenNet Africa initiative
Day 1, Session 2: Internet Shutdowns and Internet Rights- Where do we draw the line?
PanelistEphraim Percy Kenyanito
Sub-Saharan Africa Policy Analyst at Access Now
As the Sub-Saharan Africa Policy Analyst at Access Now and as an affiliate at the Internet Policy Observatory (IPO) (at the Center for Global Communication Studies, University Pennsylvania),
Day 1, Session 2: Internet Shutdowns and Internet Rights- Where do we draw the line?
PanelistArthur Gwagwa
Advocate
Arthur is a dually qualified lawyer in Zimbabwe where he is registered as an advocate of the Supreme Court, and as a solicitor in England and Wales.
He is currently an “Information Controls” fellow with the Open Technology Fund,
Day 1, Session 2: Internet Shutdowns and Internet Rights- Where do we draw the line?
PanelistWisdom Donkor
IT Manager at Ghana National Information Technology Agency
Wisdom works with the Ghana National Information Technology Agency (NITA), and specializes in E-government and infrastructure, Internet Governance and Open
Day 1, Session 2: Internet Shutdowns and Internet Rights- Where do we draw the line?
PanelistAkua Gyekye
Facebook’s Public Policy Manager for Africa
Akua Gyekye is Facebook’s Public Policy Manager for Africa, where she focuses on issues relating privacy, safety and security, freedom of expression, the impact of the Internet on economic growth, and new
Recap of Day 1 and defining the objectives of Day 2
PanelistNashilongo Gervasius
Senior Broadcast Journalist
Nashilongo is a senior broadcast Journalist in Namibia with the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation where she is currently serves in an Assistant Executive Producer/Assistant Editor of the Television Current Affairs
Recap of Day 1 and defining the objectives of Day 2
PanelistMartha Chilongoshi
Journalist
Martha Chilongoshi is a Zambian Freelance Journalist with special interest in issues of governance, development, human rights and gender equality. Following her professional training, she has worked for two organizations
Recap of Day 1 and defining the objectives of Day 2
PanelistZawadi Nyong'o
Digital Media Strategist
Zawadi is currently the Director of 7th Sense Communications. As a digital media strategist and a feminist passionate about harnessing the power of social media for social change, Zawadi designs, implements
Recap of Day 1 and defining the objectives of Day 2
PanelistNeil Blazevic
Manager of the Technology Program at DefendDefenders
Neil Blazevic is Manager of the Technology Program at DefendDefenders (formerly East and Horn of African Human Rights Defender’s Project), a Uganda-based sub-regional organisation
Day 1, Session 3b. Using tech to defend the defenders
PanelistNatasha Msonza
Digital security trainer
Natasha (Stash) Msonza is a Zimbabwean digital security trainer. She is co-founder of the Digital Society of Zimbabwe, a voluntary network of technologists that specialises in building the digital resilience of human rights defenders
Day 1, Session 3b. Using tech to defend the defenders
PanelistKelly Daniel Mukwano
Executive Director for i freedom Uganda Network
Kelly is the Executive Director for i freedom Uganda Network and the Secretary for Gender and disability at the ISOC-UG Executive Committee. He contributed towards the development
Day 1, Session 3b. Using tech to defend the defenders
PanelistMary Kiio
Director Roshani Consultancy Services
Mary Kiio is the founder and lead consultant of Roshani Consultancy Services. She has worked with various media development organizations as a facilitator, moderator, and mentor
Day 1, Session 3b. Using tech to defend the defenders
PanelistKoliwe Nyoni Majama
Journalist
Koliwe is a trained journalist with over 15 years of experience as both print and broadcast journalism and has contributed significantly to media rights lobbying and advocacy in Zimbabwe – particularly within the community radio and citizen
Day 1, Session 4a: Clickbait Journalism: Experiences in African media?
PanelistDaniel Kalinaki
Journalist
Daniel is a Ugandan journalist, editor, trainer and author. He is currently Managing Editor in charge of regional projects and editorial convergence at the Nation Media Group in Nairobi, Kenya. He previously edited the Daily Monitor in
Day 1, Session 4a: Clickbait Journalism: Experiences in African media?
PanelistEric Chinje
Chief Executive Officer of the Nairobi-based African Media Initiative
Eric is the Chief Executive Officer of the Nairobi-based African Media Initiative (AMI). Prior to moving to Kenya in 2014, he was (and still is) a Visiting Scholar at
Day1, Session 3a: Human rights in connectivity
PanelistPa Louis Thomasi
Programmes Officer
Pa Louis is a Gambian journalist residing in Senegal. He holds an MSc in Mass Communication and has been working with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) as Programmes Officer for the Africa Region for the past decade.
Day1, Session 4a: Clickbait Journalism: Experiences in African media?
PanelistTusi Fokane
Policy analyst
Tusi is a policy analyst with experience in communications regulation. She holds a Masters in Management of Public Policy from the University of the Witwatersrand. She has previously conducted research
Day 1, Session 4b: African frameworks on Internet Freedom – What are the provisions? What are the conflicts?
PanelistHenry Maina
Regional Director, ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa
Henry Omusundi Maina, Regional Director, ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa since August 2009. He is a Chevening Scholar. He recently worked on African Declaration on Internet Rights and
Day 1, Session 4b: African frameworks on Internet Freedom – What are the provisions? What are the conflicts?
PanelistMaiyln Fidler
Advocate
Mailyn Fidler is a scholar and advocate studying the exercise of power in the Internet society. She focuses on Internet legislation in developing countries, grassroots protests against government surveillance, and international
Day 1, Session 4b: African frameworks on Internet Freedom – What are the provisions? What are the conflicts?
PanelistAdeboye Adegoke
Program Manager, ICT Policy
Adeboye is the Paradigm Iniative Nigeria (PIN)’s Program Manager, ICT Policy. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. In addition, he has
Day 1, Session 4b: African frameworks on Internet Freedom – What are the provisions? What are the conflicts?
PanelistEnrico Colandro
Senior researcher at Research ICT Africa
Enrico Calandro (PhD) is a senior researcher at Research ICT Africa. Prior to joining Research ICT Africa, he worked as a technical advisor for the ICT programme of the SADC Parliamentary
Day1, Session 3a: Human rights in connectivity
PanelistMoses Karanja
Political scientist
Moses is a political scientist working on policy processes around information communication technologies. He is currently a research fellow at the Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT) based at the
Day 1, Session 3a: Human rights in connectivity
PanelistNanjira Sambuli
Policy analyst
Nanjira is a researcher, policy analyst and advocacy strategist interested in and working on understanding the unfolding impacts of ICT adoption and how those impact governance, innovation, entrepreneurship and societal culture,
Day 1, Session 3a: Human rights in connectivity
PanelistTefo Mohapi
Founder & CEO of iAfrikan
Tefo is the founder & CEO of iAfrikan, a Pan-African technology company
that produces content, podcasts, events, publications and other services
about Afrika's burgeoning innovation and technology sector and other services about Afrika’s burgeoning innovation and technology sector and how it affects
Slyvia Musalangani
Activist
Sylvia is a programme officer for the Freedom of Expression programme at Hivos where she works with change makers in East Africa to promote freedom of expression and access to
Day 1, Session 3a: Human rights in connectivity
PanelistEdetaen Ojo
Exec. Dir. Media Rights Agenda- Lagos
Edetaen is the Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda in Lagos, which works to promote and defend freedom of expression in Nigeria.
Day 1, Session 4b: African frameworks on Internet Freedom – What are the provisions? What are the conflicts?
PanelistBernard Sabiti
Senior Programme Officer- Development Research & Training
Bernard is a Senior Programme Officer at Development Research and Training and also works part time at
Day 1, Session 4c: Using data to track rights
PanelistViolet Nantume
Artist and Curator
Nantume is an artist and curator based in Uganda. She creates art works that trigger controversy and curate exhibitions based on themes and concepts that are meant to disrupt existing paradigms about a wide range of subjects, but which
David Kaiza
Screenwriter, Freelance Online Writer & Founder of the Rock 'n' Roll Film Festival, Kenya (ROFFEKE)
David Kaiza is a Ugandan writer and journalist, who joined the media in
Day 1, (Re) Connecting online and Offline – navigating the gap between creative social commentary and tech
PanelistLydia Namubiru
Digital/ Data Journalist
Lydia is a digital/data journalist who currently writes for Quartz, an international business news site, is the programme officer for data journalism & research at the African
Day 1, Session 4a: Clickbait Journalism: Experiences in African media?
PanelistYosr Jouni
Activist
Yosr is a young Tunisian activist and digital rights consultant who comes from a software engineering background.
Day 1, Session 2: Internet Shutdowns and Internet Rights- Where do we draw the line?
PanelistHenry Muguzi
Founder of ACFIM
Henry is the founding National Coordinator of Alliance for Campaign Finance Monitoring (ACFIM) – a consortium of CSOs that banded
Day 1, Session 4c: Using data to track rights
PanelistKoliwe Nyoni
Journalist
Richard Ngamita
Senior Technical Lead at Medic
Richard is a member of the core Outbox Hub data team and also a Senior Technical Lead at Medic. Prior to that, he worked for Google in Dublin, Ireland as a data engineer on the spam team, as well as at Google
Day 1, Session 4c: Using data to track rights
PanelistLindsay Beck
Senior Programme Manager, Open Technology Fund (OTF)
Lindsay has been the Senior Programme Manager, Open Technology Fund (OTF) since 2014. She previously worked for the National Democratic Institute (NDI),
Day 1, Session 3b. Using tech to defend the defenders
PanelistAhmed Hamed
journalist
Ahmed has worked as a multimedia journalist since 2012 with a focus on reports about Egyptian social and current affairs for online media. He has won international awards in the field of photography from UNESCO and UNAOC.
He studied mass media and journalism at Ain Shams
Ashnah Kalemera
Programmes Officer at CIPESA
Ashnah is the Programmes Officer at CIPESA. She holds an MSc in Informatics with a major in Electronic Government (Örebro University, Sweden) and a BSc in Computer and
Wairagala Wakabi
Executive Director at CIPESA
Wakabi has led and coordinated ICT policy research across various countries in east and southern
Day 1, Session 3a: Human rights in connectivity
PanelistJuliet Nanfuka
Journalist
Juliet has a background in journalism and has worked in the fields of communications strategy, publicity, branding and market research across East and Southern Africa. A lot of her
James Wire
Chairman of the Free Software Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA)
James is an African Entrepreneur and ICT professional with vast experience garnered over the last 18 years. He is a blogger at wirejames.com as well as a small business consultant and mentor for upcoming entrepreneurs.
Day 2, Session 7: Counting the cost of shutdowns
PanelistRay Mwareya
Journalist
Ray is an Africa Correspondent for the Global South Development Magazine. He was also the first journalist in the world to win the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) Global Migration Fair Reporting Prize in addition to being a nominee
Day 2, Session 5: Working against the normalisation of online violence against women
Panelist
