A very fond farewell from Giselle
by Giselle Cory, CEO of DataKind UK
Giselle (right) at their first DataDive with Global Witness in 2016, talking to Gail, another volunteer. Photo @brionycampbell
I have bittersweet news. I’m going to be leaving DataKind UK in the new year. It’s been a difficult decision for me, but I know the time is right.
I came to know DataKind as a volunteer. I remember walking into my first Dive weekend in 2016, terrified and with my imposter syndrome at 100%. I was welcomed so warmly by the Data Ambassadors, charity reps, other Divers and staff, and it didn’t take long to feel like this place would be a new home. I fell in love with the community and its mission, and it’s been my privilege to be part of that ever since.
Exits are always hard, but I know the time is right for me to pass on this wonderful privilege to a new CEO. Nearly four years ago I stepped into my dream job. Since then the organisation has more than doubled in size, and has more grand ambitions for the sector. Our staff team, volunteer community, and number of supported charities have increased. But most crucially, our reach and impact have grown significantly. And we continued to build this during a pandemic — no easy feat. I’ve given it my all over the last four years. Now it’s time for someone new to bring new skills and fresh energy that can take DataKind into its next phase.
The DataKind UK team in early 2022 (clockwise from left): Chair Tariq Khokhar, CEO Giselle Cory, Team Coordinator Amanda Cave, Head of Data Science Dulcie Vousden, Data Collective Community Manager Nish Doshi, Comms Officer Nicole Holgate, Head of Operations Laura Kim, Head of Volunteer Programmes Suzy East
If you’ve been here — at a DataDive weekend, at office hours, on a committee, answering queries on Slack, working on a Corps, helping with a sandwich run, and generally supporting me, our charities and each other in myriad ways — thank you. These are your achievements and your impact.
I’ll be here until the end of January. If you’d like to talk during that time, please do get in touch or come find me at one of our events. Over the next few months, the board of trustees are leading the search for a new CEO with help from CharityPeople. We’ll be looking for a leader who is passionate about what we do, experienced in managing teams and organisations — and ambitious about what we can achieve next.
I’m so proud of who we are, and the belief we carry with us: that the most vulnerable people, places and communities in the UK deserve the most effective, transformative charity sector possible. I know the DataKind community will keep striving towards this goal until we’re done.
