In early 2023, thanks to support from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, we embarked on a journey to build an intersectional feminist data strategy and governance model that would embody our values and optimise our impact. This offered a unique opportunity to tap into the wealth of knowledge and expertise of the growing ecosystem at the intersection of data and feminism.
So, in October 2023, we opened a call for applications for individuals to join FAIR SHARE’s very first Data Advisory Committee with the mandate to support the development of our data work through an intersectional feminist lens. The nearly 30 applications we received for the Committee was a strong testament to our community’s interest in our work and we are grateful for all the time and effort feminist and data professionals from around the world committed to this process.
Now, we are excited and privileged to present the members of FAIR SHARE’s first Data Advisory Committee: ElsaMarie D’silva, Gloria Guerrero, Nana Afua Y. Brantuo, Oriana Castillo and Zinnya del Villar. We are thrilled to be working with such a dynamic and knowledgeable group of individuals who share our passion for data and feminism and can’t wait to share more about our work as we continue our feminist data journey together.
ElsaMarie D’Silva is the Founder of Red Dot Foundation (India) and President of Red Dot Foundation Global (USA). She created the technology platform Safecity, which crowdsources personal experiences of sexual violence and abuse in public and private spaces globally. Prior to creating Safecity, she worked in the aviation industry for 20 years, where her last portfolio was as Vice President Network Planning & Charters.
She is a co-founder of the Brave Movement, a coalition to end global childhood sexual abuse, as well as Beyond Black, a social enterprise that leverages art for good. She has been recognized by various organisations and governments for her work, including the United Nations Secretary General, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the Government of India’s Niti Aayog and MeiTY. ElsaMarie is also the co-founder of the Gender Alliance, a cross-network initiative bringing together feminists from various German networks. She is an alumnus of several prestigious programs including the Stanford Draper Hills Summer School, the US State Department’s Fortune Mentoring Program, Oxford Chevening Gurukul, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Leadership Program.
She has penned articles for CNN, Huffington Post, WIP, among others and spoken at various events such as the Rotary International Assembly, Aspen Ideas Festival, TEDx MidAtlantic, and UN Women. She is a co-editor and author of books such as “The Demographic Dividend and the Power of Youth” (Anthem Press), “Decolonising Development in South Asia” (Aspen Institute) and a series “She Is” which highlights the leadership of women in various fields – sustainability, STEAM and water.
Gloria works at the intersection of data, human rights, and technology. Her experience spans from leading digitalization and e-gov projects at local and national level, co-creating civil society initiatives to foster civic engagement, youth participation and open government, and managing international alliances and funds to support the development of innovative and inclusive technology for social mobilization and the protection of human rights. Over a decade, she has been an advocate for gender equality and diversity. As Executive Director of the Latin American Alliance for Open Data (ILDA), she works with governments, international organizations, development agencies and local communities to promote the ethic use of data and to leverage the value of data as a digital public good and the and development of trustworthy AI.
Nana Afua Y. Brantuo, Ph.D., is an accomplished mixed methods researcher and author based in the Washington D.C. Metro Area. Specializing in the social, cultural, and political dimensions of data creation and use, she has a robust background in developing research and policy communications products. As the founder of Diaspora Praxis, LLC, Nana manages several interdisciplinary research projects, emphasizing data-driven insights for academic, policymaker, and public audiences.
Nana has also authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, editorials, and policy briefs, including the forthcoming report, “Behind Closed Doors: Black Migrants and the Hidden Injustices of US Immigration Courts.” She has held prestigious fellowships at Howard University, Syracuse University, and the University of San Diego, investigating anti-Black bias in the US immigration system. With a wealth of experience in academia, government, philanthropy, and non-profit sectors, Nana’s expertise spans social policy, civil rights, immigration laws, and international affairs. Her commitment to social justice is further evidenced by her active involvement in various advisory committees and boards globally.
Oriana is a human rights defender and an intersectional feminist who’s deeply convinced that people are the key to driving systemic change. Her journey started with working with LGBTIQ refugee migrants and later with marginalized communities and minorities worldwide to advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusion.
She is currently the Community Building Officer at CIVICUS where she works to strengthen civil society by creating opportunities for social justice.
At CIVICUS, she has contributed to the implementation of innovative tools and models to facilitate community exchanges and prioritise human connection for cross-sectoral and trans-local learning. This intersectional approach has always been influenced by feminist leadership principles.
Oriana is also a proud Colombian, who enjoys dancing, a good sunset and having meaningful conversations with people.
Zinnya del Villar is an Actuary from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and holds a MSc. degree in Mathematical Sciences from the same university and a Masters degree in Applied Mathematics from the Université de Rennes in France. She obtained an MBA from the Rennes School of Business in 2019. Currently, she is a Data Director at Data-Pop Alliance, a non-profit organization where she applies her skills conducting research on the use of data and computational methods for economic and social impact.
Her work also involves the fair and sustainable creation of data-driven technologies with a focus on the ethical, decolonialising and inclusive use of data, mainly in the design and creation of artificial intelligence systems. Her research topics of interest mainly focus on the democratization of data-driven technologies, and the use of data with a decolonising and gender-focus perspective.
Zinnya was a co-founder of the Breizh-data research network in Brittany and fellow of the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT) in Mexico and of the French-Tech in France. Her work has been awarded by García Robles Foundation and the ESRC Impact Acceleration Accounts of the University of Surrey in the UK. She has worked with different UN agencies and international development agencies such as AECID, AFD, GIZ mainly in the LATAM, Sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East regions.