[foundation-board] CEO update for June 2016
Pavel Richter
pavel.richter at okfn.org
Mon Jul 4 18:35:54 UTC 2016
Hi Helen,
On 29 June 2016 at 14:01, Helen Turvey (King) <
helen.turvey at shuttleworthfoundation.org> wrote:
> Thanks so much for this update Pavel - I really enjoyed reading this and
> it helps to feel connected.
>
> One addition I would love to see is what you are thinking about/what is
> concerning you this month.
>
Very good question! My main concern is how to handle the situation with
Sander. His departure / absence will have a significant implication for the
coming months. We will need to organize our work very differently, and I
will need to jump more into the projects than I intended to do. So this
will be a challenge.
I am thinking most about the Omidyar proposal. I will update you all during
next week's board meeting, but this is something where I (and several other
people) are putting a lot of work and thought into.
My happiest moment so far was last week's summit in Berlin, where all staff
members came to Berlin to join in three and a half day of work, fun, and
laughter. The atmosphere was very relaxed, we had some great work done, and
I think we are on a very good way.
Hope that gives you an impression?
Pavel
>
> HT
>
> On 21 June 2016 at 09:57, 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/1xjzQt44SKsbJEnTHRv6eiTg3-SeMpCl6Q_HyKo33wv4/edit>
>> and the PDF attached includes the Finance documents referenced.
>>
>> Highlights from our Projects
>>
>> -
>>
>> Our first Portfolio Manager - Stephen Abbott Pugh - has joined us,
>> who will be focussing on our innovative Planting the Seeds portfolio;
>> -
>>
>> School of Data had a very successful Summer Camp in Brazil where 35
>> people from 22 countries took part. We now have 12 organisations in the
>> School of Data Network and discussed possible structures for setting up a
>> new entity to govern the network. No decision on structure has been made,
>> but a co-operative structure was one of the options that we will explore
>> further;
>> -
>>
>> In OpenSpending, we are finalising the contract for the next phase
>> with GIFT, where we will trial OpenSpending tooling with four national
>> governments. We also secured additional funding to cover the technical
>> development of the platform as part of the OpenBudgets.eu project;
>> -
>>
>> As part of the OD4D programme we have a very strong presence and
>> visibility around the IODC conference which is scheduled for October in
>> Madrid. OKI is organising the unconference during that week and we are
>> contributing to the structure of the main event, working together with the
>> conference organisers on the programme and helping choose 'action anchors'
>> - people who will lead sections of the conference.
>>
>>
>> Viderum
>>
>> -
>>
>> The team is finishing the project with Montrose, making extractives
>> data in developing countries visible and accessible;
>> -
>>
>> We are continuing to work with Sweden on their national data portal;
>> -
>>
>> While we have about £230K in the pipeline with potential clients,
>> we're experiencing unusually slow decision-making processes. To mitigate
>> the risk of delayed work, measures are being undertaken to reduce our
>> committed costs;
>>
>>
>> -
>>
>> A new budget will be prepared in time for the next OKI Board meeting.
>> Viderum’s financial situation remains very tight;
>> -
>>
>> Regarding transitions, we are finally moving the last (and biggest)
>> customer to the new infrastructure next week (week beginning 20th June),
>> with significant cost savings to be realized starting in July.
>>
>>
>> Operations
>>
>> -
>>
>> 2015-16 Year End Accounts are close to finalisation;
>> -
>>
>> The auditors (Buzzacott) are preparing the Year End Audit;
>> -
>>
>> New policies are being rolled-out including a whistle-blower policy;
>> -
>>
>> The new Financial Year has commenced (June to December 2016) and we
>> are aligning the Finance Team to be ready for, and undertake, reporting
>> according to the requirements of the Charity Commission;
>> -
>>
>> Charitable status is pending feedback from Charity Commission, with
>> confirmation expected in October;
>> -
>>
>> A new appraisals system has been introduced and rolled-out across the
>> organisation;
>> -
>>
>> The ongoing review of finance processes and procedures continues
>> through 2016;
>> -
>>
>> Grant management processes are being defined and more closely aligned
>> with other finance processes.
>>
>>
>> Finance
>>
>> -
>>
>> Please see attached the accurate Month End figures;
>> -
>>
>> The year end allocations will change. This is because we are looking
>> at moving costs booked against unrestricted grants over to our operating
>> expenses, thus reducing the income from unrestricted grants (basically
>> freeing up unrestricted grant monies). This in turn will reduce income,
>> operating profit and therefore our Corporation Tax liabilities. This will
>> hopefully end up in a win/win situation; however, it does gives us a bit
>> more work yet to be done;
>> -
>>
>> We are also making a full review on all active projects to ensure all
>> accounts are correct, and checking all prepayments and accruals for figures
>> either side of the Year End. Due to a number of constraints the auditors
>> will start work as of the 1st July 16;
>> -
>>
>> Please see attached the Balance Sheet for May 2016.
>>
>>
>> FundingOmidyar Network
>>
>> We have submitted the proposal for renewal funding and Omidyar have come
>> back to us for clarification. We are responding to their questions and
>> expect a smooth decision-making process with confirmation from the Panel in
>> mid July.
>> Hewlett Foundation
>>
>> Again, we have submitted the proposal for renewal funding and Hewlett
>> have come back to us with a few points for clarification. We are responding
>> to their questions and expect a smooth decision-making process with
>> confirmation from the Panel in mid July.
>> Ford Foundation
>>
>> We have identified Ford as a potential source of support for Open Data
>> for Tax Justice and will follow this up next month.
>> GIFT
>>
>> We submitted a proposal for a $100K in early May. This has been verbally
>> confirmed, and we are awaiting finalization next week (week beginning 20th
>> June).
>>
>> Other proposals we are waiting to hear from include HENCE and NextGEOSS.
>>
>> StaffCurrent live vacancies
>>
>> The following may be found at okfn.org/about/jobs/:
>>
>> -
>>
>> None
>>
>> New staff
>>
>> -
>>
>> Franka Vaughan started today (15th June) as the Acting Executive
>> Assistant, covering Naomi’s role during her maternity leave. Naomi’s leave
>> starts on the 18th July and Franka is already undertaking the handover;
>> -
>>
>> Stephen Abbott Pugh signed today (15th June) as Portfolio Manager for
>> Planting the Seeds and is expected to start on the 21st June;
>> -
>>
>> Oscar Montiel joined as International Community Coordinator on the
>> 7th June, working with Mor to strengthen our network and social media
>> presence;
>> -
>>
>> Ben Meghreblian joined as OpenTrials Community Manager on the 29th
>> April;
>> -
>>
>> Sam Moore joined the Pasteur4OA project team on the 4th April.
>>
>> Departures
>>
>> None in the last two months.
>> Changes
>>
>> -
>>
>> Paul Walsh is joining the Leadership Team fortnightly meetings to
>> ensure the technical elements of projects are being included in planning,
>> and to offer input around the future of this crucial area of the
>> organisation. His status on the Leadership Team - either permanently
>> invited or a formal member - is being discussed by the current membership
>> for agreement by the Summit;
>> -
>>
>> Lieke Ploeger is moving from OpenGLAM Community Manager and Project
>> Manager to being Social Media and Communications for projects more
>> generally. She has started to undertake these duties although the change
>> has not been communicated to the wider team as yet.
>>
>>
>> Network
>>
>> Monthly calls with Chapter leads continue to go well. Oscar’s input is
>> helpful in encouraging and facilitating communication between OKI and Local
>> Groups, with Mor ensuring that the current status of the Network will be
>> reflected on our website as part of the general update.
>>
>> AOB
>>
>> The next in person meeting is on 13th July 2016 in London at Canonical.
>>
>> Summer Summit is taking place in the last week of June in Berlin.
>>
>> I will send the next CEO Update in the middle of August. Please do give
>> feedback on these reports, so that I can provide you with the information
>> that you require.
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Kind regards
>>
>> Pavel Richter
>> CEO
>> Open Knowledge International
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> foundation-board mailing list
>> foundation-board at lists.okfn.org
>> https://lists.okfn.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-board
>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.okfn.org/mailman/options/foundation-board
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Helen Turvey (King)
>
> CEO
> Shuttleworth Foundation
>
> website: www.shuttleworthfoundation.org
> twitter: @helenturvey
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> foundation-board mailing list
> foundation-board at lists.okfn.org
> https://lists.okfn.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-board
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.okfn.org/mailman/options/foundation-board
>
>
--
Kind regards
Pavel Richter
CEO
Open Knowledge International
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.okfn.org/mailman/private/foundation-board/attachments/20160704/d75cd6a6/attachment-0001.html>
More information about the foundation-board
mailing list