Team

Diane Powell

Diane Powell serves as NASA’s lead for LAUNCH and was one of the creators of this successful program. She and team were recently selected as finalists for the 2011 Service to America Medal which is awarded to public servants whose achievements have improved the lives of Americans and others around the world. Diane has worked with the National Aeronautics Space Administration for the past twenty years where she has developed programs to increase public awareness around NASA’s missions and to create new ways to allow the American public to actively participate in their space program. Today she works for NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC in the Office of the Chief Technologist. Diane sees Launch as the perfect opportunity to carry on NASA’s spirit of discovery and to collaborate with experienced partners to find solutions to challenges in space and here on earth. She and her husband also own a Bed and Breakfast on Capital Hill in DC.

NIKE

Santiago Gowland

Santiago is General Manager for Sustainable Business & Innovation (SB&I) at NIKE INC. He leads the Systems Innovation Function, which seeks to accelerate and scale innovation by catalyzing external resources and new ways of collaboration. Within Systems Innovation Santiago is driving Nike’s innovation external engagement agenda and developing network mobilization capabilities to catalyze knowledge, capital, creativity, and connectivity. As one example in this capacity, Santiago leads the partnership with LAUNCH for NIKE INC. LAUNCH’s mission is to maximize human potential by transforming our existing human systems into new ones that are more sustainable, accessible, and empowering.

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Alan Hurd

Alan Hurd is a Franklin Fellow, at US Department of State, in the Office of the S&T Adviser to the Secretary (STAS). Alan joined STAS in June 2012, where his portfolio includes energy and critical elements, LAUNCH, Science of Science Policy and national laboratory interactions. Alan is on leave from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. As a materials physicist, Alan is personally interested in complex and high performance materials. He is associated with the Santa Fe Institute (SFI), the American Physical Society, and the Materials Research Society with which he helped develop “Strange Matter”, a traveling museum exhibit on materials.

USAID

David Ferguson

David Ferguson is a member of USAID’s Office of Science and Technology focused on applied research and challenge models for development. Before joining USAID in September, 2009, he worked on international development over the previous 5 years as an independent consultant at the nexus of development, technology, and the private sector. His first career was 27 years at AT&T where he created and ran AT&T’s Professional Services Division, developing it into a US$200M profitable entity. He was based in Hong Kong for seven years and focused on the developing markets of China, India and Indonesia, for telecommunications services investment opportunities. He built seven joint ventures during this period. His technical expertise includes Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for development, economic growth through private sector engagement, and government technology and telecommunications policy and regulation. Mr. Ferguson holds a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts. He is married, has three daughters, and resides in Oakton, VA.

Will Schmitt

Will Schmitt is an international development professional and is Open Innovation Advisor in USAID’s Office of Science and Technology. Will is USAID’s LAUNCH Program Manager. In this role he focuses both on applying USAID’s technical expertise in LAUNCH and on integrating aspects of LAUNCH’s open innovation experience into USAID’s development practice. His areas of focus in international development practice include information and communication technology for development, economic growth, and democracy and governance, with a special emphasis on promoting innovation and new, non-traditional partnerships. His primary regional focus is on sub-Saharan Africa and he has served USAID on assignments abroad in Nigeria and Southern Sudan, with previous experience in Kenya. He also has significant experience as a Democracy and Governance Officer. Will holds the Master of Science in Foreign Service with Honors from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a BA in Government and French with Distinction in All Subjects from Cornell University.

BOLSTER

Ben Slavin

A technologist and a strategist, Ben Slavin is an expert in the application of design and technology solutions. Ben is co-founder and CEO of Bolster, an interactive strategy, design and technology firm. In collaboration with NASA, Ben has worked to bring the Mind Mapr technology to LAUNCH, allowing greater exploration of the insights of the Collective Genius Network. Ben has a B.S.E. in Computer Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA with focus in strategy, technology and entrepreneurship from the Robert H. Smith School at the University of Maryland.

FURTHER

Jeff Hamaoui

Jeff Hamaoui is an expert in sustainability and public-private partnerships with 15 years’ experience exploring business models for social entrepreneurship. Jeff co-founded Origo in 1999, and has made a name as a cross-sector broker, facilitator and strategist. Origo was purchased by the Cazneau Group in 2010. Jeff spent several years working alongside the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and its 150 Fortune 500 companies looking at strategies for ‘inclusive’ business in emerging markets. This allowed him to consult across industry sectors, including healthcare (Pfizer), telecommunications (Vodafone, Nokia), oil and gas (BP and Chevron), utilities (Eskom, Suez, GE),and finance (Rabobank, Deutschebank, Wells Fargo, GE Financial). Jeff received his M.A. in Education from London University and B.A. in Philosophy and Literature from Swansea University. He is fluent in Spanish and French.

Jeremy Kamo

Jeremy Kamo is a collaboration and innovation professional, focused on cleantech and the environment. At Cazneau, Jeremy works on Colab-inspired projects for U.S. and foreign government agencies, multinational companies and philanthropic foundations. Jeremy joined Cazneau from the British Consulate General in San Francisco where he focused on energy issues for the Science and Innovation Network, and on the electronics and communications industries at UK Trade and Investment. Jeremy has also worked in Beijing, China, managing projects in Asia and Europe, and with NGOs addressing migration, health care and renewable energy issues. Jeremy received his B.A. from the University of Puget Sound's Business Leadership Program with a Minor in Economics. He completed language studies in Japan and China and serves on the US Board of Directors for Compassion for Migrant Children.

Jon Davies

Jon Davies is an entrepreneurial, collaborative and charismatic sustainability consultant, with experience across a diverse range of industries from adventure travel, outdoor education, consumer products, health and fitness, non-profits, information technology and emergency medicine. He is particularly focused on the growing market for social and sustainable collaborative ventures utilizing technology. Jon has a BSc in Marine Ecology and Zoology from Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand.

Rachel Lawley

Rachel Lawley is an innovation facilitator focused on convening systems of stakeholders around complex challenges. She works with Cazneau Group, an innovation company interested in creating innovation through collaboration. Previously, Rachel served as Vice Consul for the British Government, building connections between healthcare and biotechnology companies, researchers, funders, regulators, and government agencies in the U.S. and U.K. She started her career as a research analyst in the social enterprise space, and has spent a decade supporting companies with business development and new market strategies. Rachel received her B.S. in Psychology from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom.

IMAGINALS

James Parr

James is a product designer who’s spent 18 years thinking, drawing and inventing new businesses and communications ideas for global brands. A passionate environmentalist, James has been dedicated to sustainability and social entrepreneurship for over a decade. Based in London, James serves clients around the world, doing sustainability work for Nike, Shell, Barclays and BP and is considered an eco-business strategy pioneer. Before founding Imaginals he worked as a Project Lead at Innovation Consultancy IDEO.

SECONDMUSE

Carrie Freeman

Carrie is a partner with SecondMuse focused on applying the art & science of collaboration to solve perplexing problems and create positive impact. Previously, Carrie worked for Intel Corporation as the Director of Sustainable Business Innovation, responsible for developing the vision and business opportunities for Intel’s technology solutions in the areas of the environment and natural resource management. Carrie regularly speaks around the world on the role of technology and sustainability, innovation and corporate responsibility. She has collaborated with corporations, multilateral and development organizations, industry consortia, non-profits and academia on sustainability initiatives. Passionate about expanding human potential, Carrie is a certified performance coach and has trained hundreds of individuals. Carrie holds an MBA in environmental policy and planning from the University of New Mexico.

Chad Badiyan

Chad is a partner with SecondMuse, applying the art and science of collaboration to translate ideas worth doing into action. Previously, Chad was CEO of an e-learning company, responsible for designing and developing IBM's online university. Motivated by a belief that the fundamental purpose of business is to contribute to the advancement of civilization, Chad strives to apply collaborative frameworks towards some of the world's most pressing issues, to align organizational structures and systems with a shared strategic mission, and to foster holistic, intrinsic models of motivation.

Lena Delchad

Lena Delchad is an international development professional with ten years of experience in community development and democratic governance. Prior to joining SecondMuse, Lena worked as a contractor for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on Middle East programming. She started her career in urban planning and subsequently defined a national municipal equity agenda and served immigrant communities. Lena received her Master in Public Policy from the George Washington University and a B.S. in Environmental Development from UC Berkeley.

Todd Khozein

Todd Khozein is a partner with SecondMuse, a consultancy specializing in the use of collaborative processes to conceive and incubate innovative initiatives. He personally focuses on studying and applying the emerging science of collaboration. His interests lie in the incubation of collaborative frameworks where the incentive structure, technological platform and human resource development initiatives align to create a culture of innovation. Todd holds a B.A. in Economics and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of New Mexico.

VALADOR

Dennis Bonilla

Dennis Bonilla is the Senior Digital Strategist at Valador, Inc. in Washington, DC and the LAUNCH Community Manager. As a data visualization professional Dennis has created community-driven federal websites, developed immersive environment software for NASA and commercial clients, and contributed to a variety of materials including documents presented to the U.S. President. As the LAUNCH Community Manager Dennis communicates the LAUNCH initiative and innovator stories across LAUNCH's social media platforms. Dennis is versed in the nuances of online conversation and shares content to provide insight about a program whose goals include changing the world. Follow our story here and on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Vimeo.