Kelly Daniel Mukwano – Executive Director, i freedom Uganda Network

kelly-daniel-mukwano-executive-director-for-i-freedom-uganda-networkKelly 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 of the feminist principals on the Net with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC). He has Ied digital security trainings for over 700 sexual and gender minorities in Uganda since the year 2013.
His past experience includes working as a program assistant for the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law. He currently on several Boards including for the Environmental Protection Trust Uganda where he is the current Chairperson.
He was part of the panel that launched the Keep it on Campaign at the RightsCon 2016. The campaign is an initiative driven by Access Now to push back on internet shutdowns across the globe. A highlight in 2015 was the winning of the Digital Security Tools Testing Challenge hosted by CIPESA under the OpenNet Africa initiative in partnership with Outbox.

Natasha Msonza – Co-founder, Digital Society of Zimbabwe

natasha-msonza-digital-security-trainerNatasha (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 at risk. Natasha is currently an Open Technology Fund fellow, implementing a digital security elections roadmap supporting selected human rights defender organisations in the face of increasing digital threats.

Neil Blazevic – Technology Manager, DefendDefenders

neil-blazevic-manager-of-the-technology-program-at-defenddefendersNeil 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 working to protect and support human rights defenders and journalists. He organises and implements efforts to improve digital safety practices of human rights defenders and their organisations, aids activists to have a voice online, and supports electronic documentation of human rights data. He has contributed material to Security In A Box and Level-Up, two leading digital security education resources. Neil holds a CompTIA Security+ Certification and a MA in International Development Studies. He is an honourary Muganda since 2011.

Zawadi Nyong'o – Digital Media Strategist

zawadi-nyongo-director-of-7th-sense-communicationsZawadi 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 and supports social media strategies that drive conversations, build movements, mobilize citizen action, and galvanize voices for change and development in Africa and around the world. She has used her skills to spearhead and support several successful feminist online campaigns including #WaremboNiYes, #NereasVoice, #TakeBackTheTech, #BustTheMyths and #1BillionRising. She designed and led Kenya’s landmark #1MilliForJadudi crowdfunding campaign, for which she won a social media award.
She has served as an advisor to a number of women focused initiatives including Akili Dada & Mother Health International.  She has contributed to Africa’s dynamic sexual rights movements through research, publications, training, movement building, and resource mobilization and is a regular speaker on these topics. She is the author of “When I Dare To Be Powerful” a first-of-it’s-kind collection of short stories of women engaged in sex work in East Africa.   She also runs her blog Digital Ubuntu Africa which is a platform to help cultivate responsible digital citizenship in Africa.

Martha Chilongoshi – Founder, Revolt Media Africa

martha-chilongoshi-journalistMartha 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 in Zambia; first as a Publicity and Training Consultant and as a Program Officer for Governance and Development.
Recognizing the advent of the Internet and related high technology that enables community advocates to visualize greater opportunities for Africa’s increasingly tech-savvy youths, Martha uses the internet and social media platforms to drive conversation and enhance access to information.
Her most recent project was that of being the Online Media Team Lead for the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) funded project, called the Zambia Elections Information Centre (ZEIC) a multi-stakeholder election monitoring and observation platform whose main objective was to connect citizens of Zambia to governance institutions and processes through sharing information in real time so that corrective measures would be implemented in order to enhance credibility and transparency.
Driven by a passion to help her community develop through information sharing, Martha has recently established a Website called Revolt Media, a creative Multi Media and ICTs for development and proactive advocacy Initiative focused on influencing the functioning of society through dissemination of information on leadership, governance, development, human rights, entrepreneurship, business and lifestyle with a special focus on women and young girls in Zambia and across the African Continent.