Bio

I'm a digital policy, innovation and edtech specialist, with particular experience in mobile learning in Africa. A theme in my career is the innovative use of technology for social impact. Over 20 years I have worked in e-government, youth and digital media, mobile learning and literacy, as a practitioner, researcher and policy developer. I have on-the-ground implementation experience from a number of developing countries, as well as a global research and policy perspective. My projects and teams are driven by research and the outputs inform policy that I develop, which in turn guides further effective practice. Purposefully moving between local and global positions, as well as across a range of non-profit organisations, foundations, government, INGOs and the corporate sector, has been my way to develop a broad and rich skill set in technology for social impact. My core skills are programme management, policy and strategy development, and partnership management. I believe in people first, technology second. I practice user-centered design, support agile development and follow lean, innovation principles (and am a certified product life cycle coach). My mantra: “Use the ICTs in the hands of people to enable their participation.” What others say about me: ''Steve is one of those rare people who knows what it takes to bridge not just technological divides but social ones, consistently figuring out not just how to create new tools, but how to get people to use them in meaningful ways.'' -- Clay Shirky, author of Here Comes Everybody and Cognitive Surplus