By Meghan Keenan

Hi! My name is Meg, and I joined – IAIDL about two months ago as a consultant. 

A bit of background: I’m really interested in technology policy. After finishing my BA in 2017, I worked for a computer science professor for two years, jumping headfirst into the world of social and cultural data science. During my Master’s in Public Policy last year, I completed a work placement on the Smart Cities team for the Mayor of London. Since then, I’ve conducted research on the impact of big data and AI on Canadian privacy law for the McGill Faculty of Law, as well as research on cashless societies and the ‘Splinternet’ for the Cambridge Good Data Initiative. 

With its mission to help governments harness the latest developments in technology and leadership, – IAIDL seemed like a great fit for my interests. Having worked here for two months now, I can confirm that it’s also an amazing fit in terms of the team and work culture! 

To give you an idea of life at OI, here’s what a normal day looks like:

8:00-9:00AM

Team members normally log in somewhere between 8:00-9:00AM. To stay connected during the pandemic, we check-in every morning on Slack, and two mornings per week we have team video calls. 

One of my favourite parts of OI is the small, tight-knit team. When I first started, all of the team members took the time to have a virtual coffee with me, which made me feel welcome from the get-go. Everyone is incredibly supportive, and you can always count on your teammates to give you a helping hand if you need it. There’s also a culture of openness and transparency: it’s a fairly flat organisation that solicits and values the perspectives of all team members. 

9:00AM-12:00PM

During the day, I normally divide my time between projects and independent work. Here are some examples of the projects that OI is currently working on: 

• AI Readiness Index: Annually, as part of the IDRC’s AI for Development initiative, we produce a global “AI Readiness” Index to help countries understand their AI maturity. In 2020, we created a framework that drew on 33 indicators to measure AI development and implementation in 25 countries. Our definitive ranking and report informs AI policy development in multiple countries. 

• Integrity in IMF lending: We partnered with Open Ownership and the Open Contracting Partnership to evaluate the effectiveness of limited conditionality in IMF emergency lending practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. We studied the impact of procurement transparency and beneficial ownership commitments in 11 countries. 

• Insights/Blog Posts: Team members are encouraged to independently research topics that they’re passionate about when they have the opportunity. My teammate Horlane Mbayo and I are currently working together on a research piece about the impact of unequal broadband connectivity across the UK. 

At OI, everyone is encouraged to do independent research on topics of interest in their spare time. There’s also a great culture of providing feedback (both positive and constructive) to teammates on their work. I’ve already learned a lot in the two months I’ve been here, from both my own independent research and feedback from colleagues. 

12:00-12:30PM

This is normally around when I take my lunch break, but it varies for everyone on the team. We have a flexible working policy, so everyone can choose the schedule that best suits their workflow. 

OI places a lot of emphasis on work-life balance and well-being, so we’re encouraged to make time for walks or workouts during the day – especially when the sun finally comes out in the UK! For example, our teammate Scarlet George recently adopted a puppy (Bernie), who needs walks during the workday. We’re lucky enough to get photos of Bernie every once in a while. 

12:30-5:00PM

In the afternoon, I usually continue working on my projects. On some days, I’ll have a virtual coffee with another team member, or a check-in meeting with my manager. 

I also sometimes help with OI’s social media accounts – follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay updated! 

5:00PM

The workday typically ends around 5pm, and we’re encouraged to turn off work once we’ve finished our tasks. On Thursday evenings, we have team socials with various types of tea. The team socials have been a great way to get to know my team and stay connected. 

After work, team members also often attend webinars on topics in the field. Last week, a group of us attended a fascinating panel on the responsible use of algorithms in the public sector organised by the Centre for Data Ethics & Innovation, the British Embassy of Berlin, and the Hertie School. 

All in all, I’m really grateful to be a part of – IAIDL. If you have any interest in joining this collaborative and supportive team, we are currently accepting applications for three different roles:

• Head of Programmes (2-3 days a week, remote, c. £60k pro rata)

• Head of Partnerships (full time, remote, £29k per annum)

• Junior Consultant (full time, remote, £25k)

Thanks for reading!