Juliet Nanfuka – Journalist

juliet-nanfuka-communications-strategyistJuliet 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 work has involved the exploration of avenues for African development through the intersection of heritage, rights and digital technologies. She has utilised these skills in the advocacy of rights including for access to medication and for online rights. More recently she explores connections between online rights and social innovation in Africa.

She holds a Bjourn with specialisation in Digital Media (Rhodes University, South Africa) and is currently in the Kenya cohort of the 2016 Post Graduate Certificate in Social Innovation Management with the Amani Institute.

Wairagala Wakabi – Executive Director at CIPESA

wairagala-wakabi-coordinator-ict-policy-researchWakabi has led and coordinated ICT policy research across various countries in east and southern Africa. As Executive Director at CIPESA, he continues leading policy research and driving efforts for cohesive approaches in advocating for online rights and for the use of ICT in democratic processes and civic participation, and in promoting the right to information. He holds an MSc in Informatics (Örebro University, Sweden) and an M.A in Journalism & Media Studies (Rhodes University, South Africa) and a PhD in informatics with a specialisation in e-Government at Örebro University.Wakabi has also been involved in various collaborative researches with African, Asian and North American think tanks and NGOs.

Ashnah Kalemera – Programmes Officer at CIPESA

ashnah-kalemera-programmes-officer-at-cipesaAshnah 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 Management Sciences (University of Warwick, United Kingdom). Ashnah’s work experience is from a wide range of industries (in the UK, Spain and Uganda), from mobile telecommunications and engineering, to public relations and corporate relations, research, learning management, and information systems management.

Ahmed Hamed – Multimedia journalist

ahmed-hamed-multimedia-journalistAhmed 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 University in Cairo, Egypt.

Lindsay Beck – Senior Programme Manager, Open Technology Fund (OTF)

lindsay-beck-senior-programme-manager-open-technology-fund-otfLindsay has been the Senior Programme Manager, Open Technology Fund (OTF) since 2014. She previously worked for the National Democratic Institute (NDI), focusing on how NDI and its partners can safeguard their data and communications in their projects to ensure government accountability as well as monitor elections and other political processes.

In addition, Lindsay also worked for Freedom House’s Internet Freedom program, where she worked with human rights activists on efforts to counteract censorship and surveillance as well as strengthen Internet governance and policy. Lindsay received her Master’s degree, focusing on Technology in International Affairs, from the George Washington University.