About us
Our vision
We want communities to have a powerful say in decisions about data so that it is used to create a just, equitable and sustainable world
Our mission
We campaign to put community at the centre of data narratives, practices and policies by advocating for collective and open data governance
What we've done
What we're planning
Here is our strategic roadmap for 2023-24. We’ve made it public so you can see what we’re planning. We’d welcome comments and suggestions, but in particular love to hear of any opportunities you see to collaborate or complement your own work.
This document sets out our Theory of Change (ToC). This embodies our current working assumptions about how our activities will lead to the change we want to see in the world.
To put this ToC into practice we will develop various strategies, tactics and programmes to act on it, and test its assumptions.
How we work
We focus on impact
We work in the open
We collaborate and learn with others
We take care of each other and ourselves
Who we are
Jeni is an expert in all things data, from technology, to governance, strategy, and public policy.
She is the founder and Executive Director of Connected by Data. She undertakes this work as a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, Shuttleworth Foundation Fellow, Adjunct Professor at Southampton’s Web Science Institute, and an Associated Researcher at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy.
Tim has spent the last 20 years working at the intersection of technology, participation and governance as both a researcher and practitioner. From piloting digital tools bringing youth voice into local decisions, to developing data standards that enable community scrutiny of billions of dollars of public spending, or writing about the political dynamics of open data initiatives, his work has explored how shared social challenges need participatory, collaborative and collective responses.
With a background in human rights law, youth work and community organising Adam co-founded The Bristol Cable; an internationally recognised 100% community-owned magazine redefining local media. He was the recipient of a British Journalism Award in 2019 and has worked on policy and practical solutions for the broken market of quality journalism in the UK and beyond.
Emily joined CONNECTED BY DATA from a service delivery and operations background, for the last nine years working for the charity that runs all public libraries across Devon and Torbay. Before that, after completing her Criminology degrees, she worked in the criminal justice system across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for nine years.
Helena is a social researcher with a strong participatory focus, committed to building participatory approaches through her work at CONNECTED BY DATA as Field Building Lead.
Associates
Freelancers we work with
Alumni
Previous team members
How we are funded
Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust
The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust is supporting our work influencing UK data policy with a grant of £50k.
The Mohn Westlake Foundation
The Mohn Westlake Foundation is funding us with a year-long £125k grant to explore the use of data and AI in the public sector.
Omidyar Network
The Omidyar Network is supporting our work convening communities with a grant of $250k over 18 months.
Shuttleworth Funded
Jeni was a Shuttleworth Foundation Fellow, this funded her time and contributed $275k to Connected by Data from set-up to February 2024.
With thanks...