GOOD23
Growing open panel

James Cohen

Executive Director
Transparency International Canada

James is an anti-corruption expert with a background in international development and security. James joined Transparency International Canada in 2016 and became Executive Director in 2018. Prior to TI Canada, James’ work included program management and design, training, research, and fundraising for organizations including the United States Institute of Peace, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, and Transparency International’s Defence and Security Programme. James has testified before federal and provincial bodies, provided commentary in media, and has taken part in numerous bodies including acting as the civil society co-chair Canada’s Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Open Government in 2022. He has published in journals, edited volumes, and in media outlets across the country. James holds a Masters from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva and a Bachelor of Social Science in Political Science from the University of Ottawa.

Sidra Mahmood

(They/Them) Open Data Lead, Chief Data Office
Employment and Social Development Canada

Sidra Mahmood leads the Open Data program for the Government of Canada's fourth largest department, Employment and Social Development Canada. In collaboration with a diverse range of program areas, Sidra coordinates the release of ESDC data to open.canada.ca. A data-driven designer at heart, Sidra uses elements of service design, interdisciplinary data analysis, and empathy-driven design to improve the usability of critical government processes supporting transparency and public accountability. A 2020 Code for Canada Fellow, Sidra served as Design Lead for the City of Toronto’s Open Data program from 2017-2020. They are a University of Toronto graduate, participate in harm reduction and anti-poverty activism in their local community, and in their spare time, enjoy DJing and hiking with their two retired racing greyhounds.

Derek Alton

(He/Him) Community Insights Lead
Apolitical

Derek has spent the last 15 years studying and exploring how to build better governments that can build better societies. He worked at the centre of the Government of Canada’s work on digital transformation for 5 years. While there, Derek fell in love with open society and culture. He turned this passion into action by helping found CivicTech Ottawa and the Canadian Open Data Society. He has since jumped across the pond to the UK, to join Apolitical as their Community Insights Lead. In this role Derek helps weave together global communities of public servants, connecting them with leading thinkers and ideas to help them build 21st-century governments that work for people and the planet.

Keith McDonald
Moderator

Keith McDonald’s degree is in Communications with a long career converting complex issues into understandable and actionable information bytes. A mentored Presentation Specialist & Speaker Coach, Keith’s early background in teaching revealed a delightful talent for entertaining while encouraging critical thinking and inspiring others to adapt to change. He’s worked with TVOntario, Centennial College, the City of Toronto, the GO Open Data Association (as our past Director of Communications), Green Peace, UNICEF, the Toronto Public Library and many other private businesses. He founded "the literacy AI project" in 2018 to curate, unpack, ponder and teach about Artificial Intelligence issues for non-practitioner audiences including parents, teachers, students and seniors. You can reach out to collaborate or book an AI workshop with Keith at: keithmcdonald@literacyai.com