[foundation-board] CEO update for June 2016

Wed Jun 29 12:01:42 UTC 2016

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.

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
>
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>

-- 
Helen Turvey (King)

CEO
Shuttleworth Foundation

website: www.shuttleworthfoundation.org
twitter: @helenturvey
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