[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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