Open Tech Calendar

Pitch your project idea for how to use technology to advance international development in front of a panel of expert judges and a live audience.

If you don't have a project idea but you're interested in the subject, come along for a chance to hear from innovators and vote of which idea you think it most promising.

This event is intended to be a safe environment for Tech for Good founders who are considering or developing solutions to international development challenges to have their idea and concept constructively challenged by practitioners with real world experience. Our 4 judges will provide feedback and the audience will also be encouraged to participate, ask questions and interrogate the idea.

This event will also be an opportunity for people work in relevant fields to network and collaborate.

There is time for 4 projects to pitch. 5 minute pitches will each be followed by 10 minutes of questions, feedback and suggestions for further consideration. The winning idea will receive more in-depth support from our expert judges after the event.

If you would like to pitch your idea, please take the time to fill in his short questionnaire, and we will chose the most interesting 4 to pitch on the night.

chris2865.typeform.com

About the judges:

Andrew Parkes

After starting his professional career as an environmental scientist, Andrew has been an aid worker for the past 13 years, leading strategic initiatives at a global level, and delivering on the ground in conflict zones, natural disasters and development contexts in countries across Africa and South East Asia. Andrew also supports organisational and inter-agency initiatives on supply chain professionalisation, process improvements (reduced bureaucracy) and using technology and innovation where possible.

Abigail Handley

Abi has worked in digital development as a project and programme manager for 14 years, cutting her teeth in BBC Learning working on free to access and progressive elearning content before moving to help BBC World Service develop their social media strategy and train journalists on effective social media practice.

Since joining Outlandish (a worker owned tech co-operative that exists to make the world a fairer place) in 2011 Abi has steered project delivery and operations and been involved in shaping the working practices that make it what it is.

Henri Habershon

Henri has worked for ten years as an aid worker and development practitioner, delivering response projects in post-disaster countries and most recently in developing/emerging markets. In the last few years Henri has been focusing on strategy and business development for NGOs. She recently moved into the private sector where she works for Every1Mobile, a digital technology and services company, building digital solutions to support social change in sub-Saharan Africa. Every1Mobile focuses on finding ways to best leverage digital technology and mobile reach to engage people around social issues.

Tom Lord

Tom has been working in ICT4D with tech co-operative Aptivate since 2004, after searching for a way to use computer skills for equality and social justice. Tom has evaluated the UN Research4Life (R4L) academic journals access system in Ghana, and taught basic IT skills in Zambia. He continues to work on the R4L project, and has also recently managed a migrant support system in the US, a drought insurance project for farmers being piloted in several sub Saharan African countries, a refugee camp rumour tracking system in Bangladesh, and knowledge hubs for both Gender and Development and Climate and Development in the UK.

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This is a pilot event that we hope will turn into a long-term regular series. If you do not get the opportunity to pitch this time round, there may be later opportunities.

This event is being co-hosted by the London International Development Network www.facebook.com