Googler Ory Okolloh joins Omidyar Network in support of government tech

Omidyar Network today announced that Ory Okolloh has joined as a director, investments within the philanthropic investment firm’s government transparency initiative. Okolloh will help drive the organisation’s work that supports innovative tech organisations focused on providing information and tools to citizens, so they can participate in the governing process. Okolloh was formerly a policy manager for sub-Saharan Africa with Google and co-founder and executive director of Ushahidi, the open source project which allows users to crowdsource crisis information.

“Ory is a well-established leader in the technology and transparency communities,” said Omidyar Network Partner Stephen King. “She will help spur Omidyar Network’s growth and impact by lending her voice and considerable experience in Africa.”

Okolloh will join a growing team in Omidyar Network’s Johannesburg office.

“We are delighted to have Ory lend her insights and expertise to our efforts in Africa,” said Malik Fal, managing director, Africa for Omidyar Network. “She will bring a unique blend of experience, and her collaboration will be of tremendous value to all of our work on the continent.”

Okolloh was also a co-founder of Mzalendo and a Chayes Fellow at the World Bank’s Department of Institutional Integrity. She is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, and sits on the board of the Africa Media Initiative. Okolloh is a frequent speaker at leading conferences such as TED, the World Economic Forum, Poptech, the Clinton Global Initiative, Techonomy, Mobile Web Africa and the Monaco Media. She graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh and with a law degree from Harvard Law School.

Omidyar Network was established in 2004 by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife. To date, the organisation has committed more than US$611 million to for-profit companies and non-profit organizations that foster economic advancement in areas such as entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, government transparency, property rights, and consumer internet and mobile.