Staff

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Paola is a cyber-feminist Latina activist and creative thinker. Before joining The Engine Room, she worked as Lead of Poderomedia Foundation’s training program for Latin American journalists and developers; as facilitator of a global community of activists mapping power networks; and as a consultant to nonprofits. She works closely with feminist and social […]

SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH Gillian is passionate about locally-owned change. She helps organizations and people achieve results that matter to them. Her work with nonprofits, educational institutions, philanthropy, and government agencies weaves together organizational leadership and development during inflection points. She has started and led nonprofits that support the people who spark change and […]

DEPUTY DIRECTOR Lesedi has a background in computer science and a history of collaborating and working with non-profit organizations. He is passionate about understanding and exploring the links between data, technology, and social change and is always curious about how these intersect across different sectors in civil society. Prior to joining the team, Lesedi co-founded […]

ASSOCIATE, RESILIENT IT INFRASTRUCTURES Brian is a technologist with a background in Mathematics and Computer Science. Prior to joining The Engine Room, he was part of the inaugural cohort of the Tech and Society Fellowship at Mozilla Foundation where he focused on disinformation, advancing cybersecurity capacity building and bringing his expertise in safeguarding digital assets […]

ASSOCIATE, RESEARCH AND LANGUAGE SUPPORT Cloe is passionate about strengthening social justice organizations through resource development support, research, and coordinating multilingual spaces to build cross-cultural knowledge. Her previous work includes coordinating a network of favela-based socio-environmental justice organizations and conducting community-led and participatory action research projects. Passionate about language justice and the power of creating […]

Associate, Research Denisse is a researcher interested in the societal impact of technology, particularly on marginalized communities. Using justice and community-centred methodologies, she has co-designed programs with diverse groups, including scientists, artists, and activists, to mitigate online harms and advance the safe and equitable use of technology.  Before joining The Engine Room, she led and […]

ASSOCIATE, PROJECT MANAGEMENT Jen is a keen organizer who prides herself on smooth processes and supporting team collaboration. Prior to joining The Engine Room, Jen worked in project and production management across creative and media organizations. She focuses her efforts at The Engine Room on connecting internal processes for project implementation, assuring financial responsibility at […]

ASSOCIATE, TEAM MEMBER EXPERIENCE Marwa is a Human Resources enthusiast coming from a multidisciplinary background that ranges from cultural studies, to peacebuilding and gender studies. Prior to joining The Engine Room, she worked with the United States Institute of Peace designing HR policies and leading their MENA personnel portfolio. Marwa cares deeply about social justice, […]

ASSOCIATE, ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT Nathaly enjoys building regional networks with an intersectional approach, connecting journalists, tech professionals, digital rights defenders, and artists. She also co-created one of the first communication and resource projects centered on digital security for indigenous and Black communities in Colombia. As a co-founder of Nois Radio she is deeply interested in […]

ASSOCIATE, RESEARCH Olivia is passionate about issues related to technology, surveillance, and the impact of AI on marginalized communities. Prior to joining The Engine Room, she was a research consultant with the Immigrant Defense Project, working on their Surveillance, Technology, and Immigration Policing Project. She holds a masters degree in Migration Studies and has supported […]

ASSOCIATE, ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT Patricia is passionate about empowering at-risk communities to enhance their digital resilience through capacity building and tailored support. Prior to joining The Engine Room, she was the Africa Education & Communities Regional Coordinator at Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline, where she coordinated digital security interventions for at-risk communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. […]

ASSOCIATE, COMMUNICATIONS Sisanda is a storyteller and media practitioner with experience across journalism and digital media. She has worked in print, broadcast, and online spaces, using storytelling as a tool to inform, inspire and drive change. Prior to joining The Engine Room, she was a program manager at Code for Africa, supporting digital democracy and […]