Dr. Stefaan G. Verhulst is an expert in using data and technology for social impact. He is the Co-Founder of several research organizations including the Governance Laboratory (GovLab) at New York University, which focuses on using advances in science and technology to improve decision-making and problem-solving. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the open-access journal Data & Policy and has served as a member of several expert groups on data and technology, including the High-Level Expert Group to the European Commission on Business-to-Government Data Sharing and the Expert Group to Eurostat on using Private Sector data for Official Statistics. 

Stefaan has been recognized as one of the 10 Most Influential Academics in Digital Government globally. He has published extensively on these topics, including several books, and has been invited to speak at international conferences, including TED and the UN World Data Forum. He is asked regularly to provide counsel on data stewardship to a variety of public and private organizations.

Marta is Senior Research Lead at the Data Tank and Adjunct Professor at RMIT University. Prior to that, she was a Professor at RMIT University’s Graduate School of Business and Law. She is one of the co-founders of the Institute of Law and Technology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and past researcher at ICREA (Catalonia). She holds a JSD in law (Stanford University 2002) and a Master in International Legal Studies (Stanford University 2000). Her research interests cover different areas at the intersection of law, political sciences, and technology, with a focus on  data, AI, distributed technologies, human-computer interaction, and the different theories of democracy and citizenship. She has been the PI of a number of national and international research projects and has published over 80 scientific articles and book chapters on these topics.

Anna is a political and social scientist working at the intersections of democratic processes, data and AI, climate, and public health. As The Data Tank’s Senior Policy Lead, Anna is based between London and Barcelona and visits Brussels regularly.

Anna formerly led the public participation research at the Ada Lovelace Institute. Prior to that, Anna managed the research on democratic innovations at Democratic Society, including the evaluation of deliberative mini-publics across the European Union and the UK. She was Director of Innovations and Learning at Africa’s Voices Foundation and also worked as a Senior Research Manager at BBC Media Action, leading teams across South Asia, and East and West Africa. Anna holds a PhD from The Open University, where she applied an intersectional lens to understanding how instant messaging mediates citizenship capabilities. The thesis was awarded by the Development Studies Association in 2024. She completed her MSc in Development Studies at SOAS, University of London. Anna was formerly a journalist, documentary filmmaker and participatory video facilitator.

Vasty is a communications expert and manager with extensive experience working in both national and international organizations, most recently at the Belgian Federal Parliament. She has a strong interest in digital issues, digital ethics, and emerging technologies, bringing a forward-thinking approach to communication strategies. Holding degrees in Political Science and Marketing & Political Communication, she combines strategic insight with a deep understanding of public affairs and digital transformation.

An experienced professional in the areas of data governance and change management, Moiz Shaikh has led large scale systems transformation projects, enabling operational excellence in partnership with government departments, philanthropic institutions and civil society organizations. Prior to joining The Data Tank, Moiz worked for Aam Digital, a technology-for-good startup in Berlin, as their Head of Partnership and supported NGOs in the global south to adopt digital technology and be data driven.Moiz holds a Master of Public Administration from Hertie School, Berlin, a management degree from Symbiosis University and an engineering degree from University of Pune, India. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Natalia Mejia Pardo is a political scientist with a keen interest in data-driven policies. She holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany, and a BA in Political Science and Government from Rosario University, Colombia. Natalia has previous experience in public finances, formulation, and evaluation of investment projects, gained through her work in the Colombian National Planning Department. 

In Berlin, Natalia has worked as a researcher and project leader with different NGOs on projects related to the health sector, blockchain, social innovation, and the SDGs. In 2022, she was a cohort member of the Vision Health Pioneers Incubator, working as a data analyst in a digital health startup. Natalia is interested in the intersection between innovation, technology, and social impact, especially in the health and education sectors.

Paulina Behluli

Paulina Behuli is a digital governance specialist, specifically, public sector innovation & transformation. She had led several open data projects in Kosovo and across the Western Balkans, varying from measuring the institutional openness of key public administration bodies, increasing civil servants data capacities, and empowering youth with the necessary tech skills to bridge the market skills gap.

Prior to joining the Data Tank, Paulina worked for the Berlin Innovation Agency supporting their B2B programs as well as the pre-seed tech accelerator program, which got her closer to the tech and data startup ecosystem in Berlin. Paulina holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the Hertie School in Berlin with a concentration in Management & Organizations and research focus in Digital Governance. She is a Bachelor of Applied Arts & Sciences from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Kosovo with concentrations in Public Policy & Management.

Elena Murray has an interest in how data can be harnessed as a powerful tool for addressing complex challenges and driving positive change. Her background reaches across both public and private organizations within the higher education sector across Australia and Colombia, gaining valuable insights into the transformative potential of data.

Elena holds a Bachelor of International Studies from the University of Queensland, Australia, and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the Hertie School in Berlin. She is eager to continue her experiences in the field of public policy, where her focus is on expanding her knowledge and technical capabilities to leverage data effectively in this domain.

Hana Jemli is the Operations Manager at The Data Tank, where She collaborated closely with the leadership team to ensure efficiency, inclusivity, and a thriving workplace culture. With the focus of improving organizational structures, supporting funding searches and grant applications.Before joining The Data Tank, Hana spent over five years in civil society across North Africa, working closely with marginalized communities across the region, addressing key human rights concerns, including LGBTQI+ inclusion and the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.

In Europe, she worked on the implementation of EU-funded programmes with an emphasis on social impact. Hana is also a certified trainer in peer-to-peer facilitation, focusing on SRHR, gender equality, and youth empowerment.