Title Open Data Expert Company Bio Kat Townsend is an open data evangelists and expert in civic engagement. She convenes communities of established and curious technologists to improve communities through collaboration, communication, and transparency. In times of disaster response she directs volunteers toward tangible application of their time and skills, expanding the response beyond sending financial relief. In her working life she has served for the past six years in the U.S. State Department under Secretary Clinton and USAID under Administrator Shah, driving technology and collaboration in U.S. foreign policy.