MONTREAL, May 10, 2022 — Two new board members will be joining Open North’s Board of Directors: Feno Rakotondrazaka Maret and Lahcen Fatah.
Open North’s Board of Directors supports our mission of advancing the responsible and effective use of data and technology with values-based leadership and strategic oversight and by ensuring good governance.
Building from our expertise in data advocacy, and after conducting a gap analysis, Open North further aligned its mission, impact, and values with the needs of partners to place a renewed focus on how (or if) data and technology can help better address concrete and complex local challenges.
Through an open recruitment process, Open North sought board members who could help us continue to grow and increase our impact locally and around the world. We are incredibly excited to have recruited two new members who will help us do just that.
We received expressions of interest from a diverse pool of accomplished individuals and are pleased to confirm the appointment of two new members. Everyone we spoke to highlighted Open North’s strong reputation and unique programs as motivating factors.
Feno Rakotondrazaka Maret (she/her) is an international development professional. She has been an economist at the Office of the President of Madagascar, has held roles at the UNDP, the World Bank, Irish Aid, the Urban Institute, and the Brookings Institution, and has taught at Georgetown University. She received a Ph.D. in Economics from George Washington University. She speaks Malagasy, French, and English.
Lahcen Fatah (he/him) is a PhD candidate at the Université du Québec à Montréal and a member of the Centre interuniversitaire de recherche sur la science et la technologie (CIRST). His research focuses on open data policies, with a particular emphasis on techno-scientific promises and innovation. He is also interested in the ethical dimension of technology and artificial intelligence (AI). He also holds a degree in Political Sciences and Public Management.
A complete list of Open North’s Board members can be found on its website.
Quotes
“We are excited to welcome Feno and Lahcen to the board of Open North. Their unique experiences and perspectives will complement the existing board members and support our organizational impact. Feno’s experience will help guide our staff focused on expanding our domain expertise to global contexts. Lahcen’s experience will help strengthen our critical approach to data collection and use in decision-making. Open North has a rich history of exceptional board members, and the addition of Feno and Lahcen ensures that we will continue to benefit from the guidance and support of the board for the next phase of our organizational journey.”
Merlin Chatwin, Executive Director, Open North
“On behalf of the Board and the entire organization, I’d like to express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who applied. In an increasingly fractured world, Open North Board members have the great fortune of supporting the vital community-building efforts of Open North and our network of partners. Our capacity to do this work has just increased with the addition of Feno and Lahcen. We welcome them enthusiastically and at the same time we thank outgoing Board members Richard Sterling and Gabe Sawhney for their years of service.”
Chad Lubelsky, Chair of the Board of Directors, Open North
“I came to know and follow Open North’s high level quality of work when I worked on Resilient Cities for the City of Montreal and in Tanzania. I am passionate about the power of data, bridging the digital divide and bringing resilient solutions for a country, a city or an organization through digital transformation. Open North’s expertise on data governance and smart cities should be expanded globally and I am interested in contributing to take its strategy to the next level.”
Feno Rakotondrazaka Maret, Board Member, Open North
“I adopt a critical point of view regarding topics around technology and data in my research, and it is clear that I can share my expertise with Open North which is very involved in these subjects and whose mission is in line with my fields of expertise.”
Lahcen Fatah, Board Member, Open North
About Open North
Open North is Canada’s leading not-for-profit organization specializing in open smart cities, public consultation, open data and open government, and data governance. Our mission is to drive research, capacity-building, and network collaboration to advance the responsible and effective use of data and technology. With a multidisciplinary and bilingual team, we work with the most innovative and connected governments and civil society organizations in Canada and internationally.