DATAREADY - Key Persons

Al Kags

Job Titles:
  • Founder and Director, the Open Institute
Al is a serial entrepreneur who has started and grown several successful businesses. Al's interests lie in working with governments and civil society organisations to use data to promote open government and citizen participation.

Melissa Stock

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Specialists & Experts Team
  • Consultant Legal Advisor
Melissa is a privacy and information law barrister with experience advising companies, international organisations and individuals on a range of legal data governance issues, including regulatory compliance and litigation. Melissa's breadth of experience in information law - from the protection of individual privacy to the commercial aspects of data sharing - gives her unique experience and insight in this field and the multifaceted issues that arise in the use of data. Melissa has a BA in Economics from Manchester University and an MA in International Conflict Studies from King's College London. Melissa was Called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2012 and has been certified as a privacy specialist by the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

Shaida Badiee

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director, Open Data Watch
Shaida brings over 36 years of experience in managing statistics; including at the World Bank, where as Director of the Development Data Group she launched the publication of flagship products including the World Development Indicators.

Tom Orrell - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director
  • Member of the Specialists & Experts Team
Tom is an advocate and unregulated barrister. He founded DataReady in 2018 having identified a need for less technical and more governance-oriented services in the sustainable development and humanitarian sectors. Tom's expertise lies in the links between digital and data policy, sustainable development and human rights. Tom has over fourteen years of experience working for UN agencies in Ethiopia and Togo, tech-oriented civil society and social purposes companies, and London-based law firms specialising in human rights law. Tom has a BA in International Relations from Keele University and was Called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2011.