USA for UNHCR Announces New Members to the Data Advisory Board

New York, NY (January 30, 2020) – USA for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is pleased to welcome six new members to the organization’s Data Advisory Board comprised of experts working in the fields of data science, machine learning and technology who share a commitment to protecting and empowering refugees.

New Data Advisory Board members include:

Drew Zachary  - Co-Director, U.S. Census Open Innovation Labs

Edlynne Larea  - Head of Industry/Consumer Packaged Goods, Facebook

Heather Krause - Chief Data Scientist, Orb Media

Irene Alvarado - Creative Technologist/UX Designer, Google Creative Labs

Molly Jackman - Data Science and Engineering Lead, Netflix

Muhammed Idris - Director Data Product & Technology, PLUS1

First assembled in 2017, the Data Advisory Board works in collaboration with The Hive, USA for UNHCR’s innovation lab, to advance USA for UNHCR’s data capabilities and capacity to engage new audiences and build support for refugees in the U.S.

“I am thrilled to welcome the new members who broaden an already diverse, multi-disciplined group, and very excited for the Data Advisory Board ability to continue to deliver data solutions to enable deeper support for refugees," said Lauren Moores, Data Advisory Board Chair.

Through its leadership, the Data Advisory Board will help formalize USA for UNHCR’s internal analytics practice including novel donor segmentation using machine learning and the pursuit of high-risk projects that employ emerging technologies.

New board members join a distinguished and dedicated group who have led efforts on numerous data-driven projects the last two years: 

• Lauren Moores, Data Advisory Board Chair & VP Data Innovation, Indigo
• Erin Coffman, Senior Data Scientist, Pete for America
• Friederike Schuur, Director of Machine Learning and Research, CityBlock Health
• Genevieve Hoffman, Data Visualization Designer
• Julia Kodysh, Computational Researcher, Icahn School of Medicine
• Khoa Ma, Associate Director, Endless Frontier Labs
• Katie Tsantes, Senior Consultant, Deloitte
• Liberty Vittert, USA for UNHCR Board Member, Visiting Scholar, Harvard Universit
• Renee Cassard, Chief Audience Office, Hearts and Science

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