[foundation-board] CEO Update for August 2016

Helen Turvey (King) helen.turvey at shuttleworthfoundation.org
Mon Aug 15 09:32:27 UTC 2016


Thanks Pavel,

Looking forward to hearing all about Texas.  Good luck!

HT

On 12 August 2016 at 20:42, Karin Christiansen <karin at karinchristiansen.org>
wrote:

> Thanks Pavel, much appreciated.
> Karin
>
> On 12 August 2016 at 17:17, Pavel Richter <pavel.richter at okfn.org> wrote:
>
>> Dear All,
>>
>> Please find below and attached an update on important developments here
>> at Open Knowledge International. You can find the text as a Google Document
>> here
>> <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E4WG87JgcWCAo-Hgcg8SCGFFssrI3QTxEE2LOd1jRng/edit#>
>>
>> Highlights from our Projects
>>
>>    -
>>
>>    In Frictionless Data, we have increased communications through
>>    publishing and promoting blog posts regularly as part of Frictionless data
>>    on http://okfnlabs.org/. This includes detailed walkthroughs and
>>    tutorials. We have also produced a series of case studies designed to
>>    highlight other groups and organisations who are using Frictionless Data
>>    specs in interesting or unusual ways. We have made huge progress in
>>    formalizing new formal working relationships with the following groups:
>>    -
>>
>>       University of Pittsburgh
>>       -
>>
>>       Pacific NorthWest National Laboratory
>>       -
>>
>>       University of Bath
>>       -
>>
>>       TEDDINET
>>       -
>>
>>       UK Data Service
>>       -
>>
>>       Government of Northern Ireland
>>       -
>>
>>       Open Data Institute
>>       -
>>
>>       CODATA
>>       -
>>
>>    A substantial amount of work has been committed to revising the
>>    budget of OpenTrials as we were underspent in year one (due to delays
>>    in hiring). The Arnold foundation agreed for the underspend in Year 1 to be
>>    carried over to Year 2 in full except for the events underspend (but we can
>>    apply on a case by case budget for this). Pavel gave a pitch for Phase II
>>    funding in Houston, Texas with the Arnold Foundation, pitch can be found
>>    here
>>    <https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1y-bUEFJiVrI-D2_QtdOeyJ91HdZaZQfTrRqHFb0Sy6M/edit#slide=id.p3>
>>    .
>>    The launch date for OpenTrials is set for 10th October, 2016 in
>>    Berlin at the World Health Summit. Also, sessions has been accepted
>>    for IODC, Madrid in October, and Cochrane Colloquium, Seoul also in
>>    October.
>>    We have started work on OpenTrialsFDA prototype for the Open Science
>>    Prize and have extracted the approval history for drugs from Drug at FDA
>>    website (initial part of OpenTrialsFDA project)
>>    Work on normalizing the trials locations’ names, so we can have a
>>    better view on where they have been conducted in have started. Also, we
>>    have set up a webapp (re:dash) where researchers can query our database
>>    directly. This has been used extensively by the team in Oxford and they’re
>>    starting to write a paper with what they’ve found. User testing has been
>>    set up to start in mid-August with doctors and researchers. We are also in
>>    conversation with AllTrials looking at ways we can work together.
>>    -
>>
>>    We have received comments from the EC for the first FutureTDM project
>>    review meeting, and we are happy to inform the board that the project thus
>>    far has fully achieved its objectives and milestones for the period. The
>>    project is in a very good shape and it already shows promising results of a
>>    high quality. Furthermore, it seems realistic that the project through its
>>    careful analysis and stakeholder engagement will contribute to the
>>    reduction of legal and technological barriers resulting in increased uptake
>>    of TDM in Europe.
>>    -
>>
>>    Technical development and design work have begun on the new platform
>>    for Global Open Data Index (GODI). We are in discussions with the Web
>>    Foundation (WF) regarding convergence of our methodologies. WF have begun
>>    data collection for 2016 and will therefore not use our data. The plan is
>>    to be better prepared to converge in 2017. Research on GODI’s methodology
>>    is complete and dataset research and partnership building is starting (with
>>    the National Democratic Institute and the Open Contracting Partnership on
>>    board). Internal research has also begun. Community planning is starting
>>    and will kick into high gear next week
>>    -
>>
>>    Regarding AODC & Direct Support, one project, HeHe Labs has been
>>    completed and submitted its outputs from the initial contract.
>>    -
>>
>>    The network voted during the 2016 Summer Camp to explore several
>>    options for School of Data (ScoDa) to become independent from Open
>>    Knowledge International. We’re working with the Steering Committee and Open
>>    Knowledge to explore in detail the process which will lead ScoDa to become
>>    its own organisation, and the relationship with Open Knowledge
>>    International going forward. More will be shared on this topic when
>>    information becomes available.
>>    We are working on a new branding and  revamping ScoDa’s website with
>>    the aim of professionalising ScoDa’s visual identity ahead of IODC. We have
>>    been invited to take part in the Data Literacy Conference that will take
>>    place in Aix, France, on September 23-24. Meg and Dirk will run a keynote,
>>    while Cédric will run a workshop.
>>    -
>>
>>    There is no update on OpenSpending at the moment. The main activity
>>    is a handover process between Cecile LeGuen and Diana Krebs who is
>>    taking over the management of OpenSpending.
>>
>> Viderum
>>
>>    -
>>
>>    Business has picked up again with about £100k of work signed for the
>>    next three months. This should allow us to accumulate some profits to
>>    balance previous month's poor performance. We've reduced our fixed costs by
>>    reducing team size. Also, we've created a 30 day free trial CKAN program
>>    with 17 signups so far. We will work further to automate CKAN deployment
>>    and provisioning to get to a fully self-serve offering. There has been
>>    increasing interest in CKAN as tool for internal data management and
>>    sharing inside organizations. The WWF will be one of the first customers
>>    testing out that use case.
>>    -
>>
>>    Viderum's financial situation remains tight due to the last few slow
>>    months. I will prepare a financial report before the September
>>    in-person meeting.
>>    -
>>
>>    Regarding transition, all former OKI customers except for two have
>>    now had their contracts novated to Viderum.
>>
>> Operations
>>
>>    -
>>
>>    The reversal of unrestricted Grant allocations has given us a year
>>    end saving of £150,000;
>>    -
>>
>>    There is reduced profit level from £430,000 down to £40,000 giving a corporation
>>    Tax exposure of £8,000 as opposed to £86,000 (this is part of the
>>    unrestricted grant reversal);
>>    -
>>
>>    We are working with a new travel partner (agency) who is helping us
>>    to identify better rates for NGO’s which will in effect, reduce our travel
>>    costs;
>>    -
>>
>>    We have developed and released an accurate Timekeeping and Staff
>>    Forecasting Tool;
>>    -
>>
>>    We delivered the Forecasting and Budgeting Tool and it is now been
>>    utilised by project and line managers;
>>    -
>>
>>    A new onboarding and offboarding process was also delivered;
>>    -
>>
>>    We conducted an appraisal revenue and are also ready for next phase
>>    in November;
>>    -
>>
>>    The End of Year Accounts in progress;
>>    -
>>
>>    The Month end accounts is delayed due to team illness. We should be
>>    back on track next week.
>>
>> Funding Omidyar Network
>>
>> We have submitted a revised proposal for a renewal funding. We are
>> seeking £570K  for 2017 which we think is a realistic number after
>> conversations with Andrew and Martin. Pavel will go before Investment
>> Committee of Omidyar and defend the proposal on 28th September, 2016.
>> Hewlett Foundation
>>
>> The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has authorized a grant in the
>> amount of $500,000 for the Global Open Data Index ( GODI), Community
>> support and Organisational capacity building.
>> Arnold Foundation
>>
>> We currently have funding from the Arnold Foundation for OpenTrials
>> project until March 2017. We are seeking for long term funding for
>> OpenTrials and possibly other projects. Pavel visited Houston to build a
>> relationship with the foundation.
>> Ford foundation
>>
>> We have identified Ford as a key perspective funder for OKI. We are set
>> to approach them about funding the Tax Justice project as they are very
>> interested in such programs.
>> StaffCurrent live vacancies
>>
>> The following may be found at https://okfn.org/about/jobs/:
>>
>>    -
>>
>>    Developer Advocate - Portfolios Team
>>    -
>>
>>    Junior Designer - Technical Team
>>    -
>>
>>    Project manager - Portfolio Team
>>
>> New Staff
>>
>>    -
>>
>>    Anastasia Kalashnikova joined OKI on 1st July as Operations
>>    Assistant. She is a versatile member of the Operations Team, working part
>>    time as Personal Assistant for Mark Gibbs while dividing her remaining
>>    hours between supporting the Finance and HR teams.
>>    -
>>
>>    Yotam Manor joined OKI on 27th July as Web Developer for Frictionless
>>    Data project on a contractual basis.
>>    -
>>
>>    Sierra Williams started formally at OKI on 8th August as
>>    Communications Manager. Sierra will help shape OKI’s strategy around
>>    community relations and facilitate an ongoing exchange of ideas between
>>    volunteers, Network partners, and the Open Knowledge International staff
>>    and management.
>>    -
>>
>>    Diana Krebs will formally start on 22nd August as Project Manager
>>    (General). She will take over the management of OpenSpending project with
>>    Cecile’s resignation.
>>
>> Departures
>>
>>    -
>>
>>    Cecile LeGuen has resigned from OKI. Cecile's last working day at
>>    Open Knowledge was on 8th August, 2016.
>>
>> Changes in Staff role
>>
>>    -
>>
>>    Paul Walsh has joined the Leadership team permanently as Head of
>>    Technical Product. Paul’s addition was expedited due to Sander’s temporary
>>    departure. His presence completes the Leadership Team and will ensure that
>>    the technical elements of projects are included in planning. He will also
>>    offer input around the future of this crucial area of the organisation.
>>    -
>>
>>    Mor Rubinstein will be supporting Pavel in running the newly named
>>    “Capacity Team” (formerly known as “Office of the CEO) by taking over line
>>    management responsibilities for all current employees  (Oscar, Lieke,
>>    Danny, Sierra), as well as anyone who will hired in the future. She will
>>    not only help with the more formal parts of line management (such as
>>    granting holiday requests or signing off on sick leave), but also support
>>    the Capacity Team in terms of reporting, budgeting and planning. In
>>    addition, Mor will be managing the Community & Network work within the
>>    Capacity Team.
>>
>> Network
>>
>> Sweden and Japan has signed OKI’s  Chapter MOU and are own their way to
>> becoming OKI’s 10th & 11th chapter! Mor, Katelyn and Oscar are also working
>> on the Unconference for IODC in Madrid in October.
>> AOB
>>
>> The next in person meeting of the Board is on 14th September, 2016; venue
>> is yet to be confirmed.
>> Autumn  Summit is taking place on 21-23 November, 2016 in Thessaloniki.
>>
>> I will send the next CEO Update in the middle of October. Please do give
>> feedback on these reports, so that I can provide you with the information
>> that you require.
>> What I have been thinking about / what’s concerning me this month
>>
>> (I add this section to the CEO update based on a recommendation by Helen)
>>
>>    -
>>
>>    The negotiations with Omidyar were very central for me this month;
>>    not only because Omidyar is an important funder, but also because it is the
>>    second time I used our overall strategy and project approach with a funder
>>    (the other one was Hewlett, of course). So it's been a very important
>>    learning for me, and I will use them to tweak my presentation / delivery.
>>    -
>>
>>    The handling of Cecile leaving the organisation was a useful
>>    experience; I think every organisation needs to be able to let staff go in
>>    a regular and constructive way, and I am happy that we have Mark on board
>>    to help with this.
>>    -
>>
>>    My major concern this month was the ongoing struggle to get the
>>    project managers to a point where they are able to take over full planning
>>    and execution responsibilities for their projects. That is something that
>>    will be ongoing for a while, but currently, the resistance to change is
>>    bigger than the willingness to learn new ways. So this is something we
>>    (Mark, Paul and I) will need to work on a lot.
>>    -
>>
>>    And I was planning for and looking forward to my trip to the Arnold
>>    Foundation (I am in Texas while I write this - and it is HOT out there),
>>    because they are the only of our funders I have not really been able to
>>    build a relationship with. So this trip is not only about the future
>>    funding for OpenTrials, but also to build a long-term relationship with the
>>    Arnold Foundation.
>>    - And I am looking forward to my upcoming holidays!!
>>
>>
>> --
>> Kind regards
>>
>> Pavel Richter
>> CEO
>> Open Knowledge International
>>
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>>
>
>
> --
>
> *--------*
>
> Karin Christiansen
>
> karin at karinchristiansen.org
>
>  07816839533
>
> @_karin_c
>
> Karin16b
>
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>


-- 
Helen Turvey (King)

CEO
Shuttleworth Foundation

website: www.shuttleworthfoundation.org
twitter: @helenturvey
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