Founded in 2000 by Teresa Peters, bridges.org has worked hard to become one of the leading organizations in the field of information and communications technology (ICT) and development. At the end of March, Ms. Peters will step aside to make room for new leaders with fresh ideas and energy.

Bridges.org has appointed Vincent Waiswa Bagiire, previously the Director of Africa Programs, to the position of Chief Executive Officer. In this new role, he will drive the organization's strategic direction and provide overall leadership from his base in Kampala, Uganda. The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) program will continue to be among his main priorities. Looking to the future, Vincent said, "I plan to build on the bridges.org foundation with ground-level projects to demonstrate the effectiveness of our philosophy and methodologies for using ICT as a tool for development. And I believe it is essential that we continue to collaborate with like-minded initiatives to maximize the value we bring to the field. Making a real impact is our ultimate goal."

Vincent will work in collaboration Cynthia Godes who joins bridges.org in the role of Chief Operating Officer, based in Washington DC. Cynthia will provide financial and project oversight to bridges.org's efforts in the US and internationally. She will also formalize processes to enable our highly-collaborative but geographically-dispersed international team to work together effectively. Cynthia noted that "bridges.org is changing the way that development work is done. We are helping Africa with ideas and information that will help Africans improve what they are already doing to help themselves. We aren't interested in sending high-paid consultants to Africa to solve development problems; we want to use technology tools to share information and extend collaboration."

Ewan McPhie, who previously served as bridges.org's policy director and has now moved to the private sector, has taken on a role as Chair of the board of directors. He will provide continuity and shepherd the organization through this period of transition. Ewan will lead the board to shape a vision going forward, and ensure that the organization's independent, objective and people-centered approach is instilled in all that bridges.org does. Ewan explained that, "this ends a year of significant change for bridges.org. We scaled back and cut costs in order to restructure, and made a strategic decision to develop a virtual work style to accommodate a more diverse team that spans three continents. Now we are ready to gear up again."

The leading architect behind bridges.org from its origins in 1999, Teresa Peters will continue to play an advisory role. Reflecting on the change in leadership, Teresa said, "We have a great team at bridges.org, and a solid body of work to build on. I'm thrilled that Vincent, Cynthia and Ewan have taken on the challenge of leading bridges.org into the next era. I am confident they will take the organization to places I hadn't dreamed of. Watch this space."

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MORE ON VINCENT BAGIIRE

Based in Uganda, Vincent Waiswa Bagiire is a well-respected thought leader in the ICT-for-development field in East Africa, in particular as an active voice and champion for the use of ICT in rural development, healthcare, and youth initiatives. Vincent has strong relationships with donors, the private sector, civil society and government, and he has convened meetings with stakeholders from all sectors to look at how ICT contributes to development. Notably, Vincent is responsible for establishing iNetwork Uganda, the highly successful knowledge-sharing entity serving East Africa. He has the mind and skills of an entrepreneur along with the heart and vision of a practical philanthropist. He brings local perspectives and a unique skill set to bridges.org, which combine international experience with ground-level credibility. Prior to joining bridges.org, Vincent founded African IT Exhibitions and Conferences (AITEC) Uganda in 1997, as part of an international consortium of six international partner companies, and acted as its General Manager for seven years. Under his leadership, AITEC diversified from a focus on exhibitions to a wider approach in ICT-based development work. Previously, Vincent was one of the founding members of Pearl Communications, a marketing and social research company in Uganda.

Vincent has been active in a number of key ICT-based development initiatives in Uganda and beyond, including:

• Member of the Bellanet International Steering Committee.
• Working with the Uganda Communications Commission’s Rural Communications Development Fund, to develop programs for rural farming communities.
• Actively involved in developing the national ICT policy in Uganda, representing the private sector.
• Founder of the Busoga Rural Open Source and Development Initiative (BROSDI), to create and support a habitable environment in the Busoga region of Uganda through sustainable information sharing, knowledge management and effective use of ICT.
• Founder and strategic advisor to the CELAC project, which seeks to collect and exchange local agricultural content that works for farmers in rural Uganda.
• Board Member of Kalangala Information Centre. This is the only ICT facility on the islands of Kalangala (on the shores of Lake Victoria in the Buganda region of Uganda).
• Involved in implementing activities of the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS with the Uganda Ministry of Health.
• Chairperson of Hallmark, a program that offers health communications in rural areas with practical, innovative solutions, raising awareness and communicating messages through appropriate technology and entertainment.
• Founding member of the Information Society Forum of Uganda, initiated by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology.

Vincent holds a B.A. from Makerere University and an M.B.A. (with honors) from Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland.

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MORE ON CYNTHIA GODES

Cynthia Godes has recently joined bridges.org as the COO, based in Washington DC. A skilled manager and comptroller with over 23 years experience in business management and administration, Cynthia provides financial and project oversight to bridges.org's efforts in the US and internationally. Cynthia brings deep experience in the design and set up of financial software and operational systems to improve efficiencies in small business settings. Prior to joining bridges.org, she was responsible for all financial aspects of $5 million non-profit association. Cynthia is an entrepreneur who started and ran her own successful financial services consultancy. She has also provided general management, operational and financial services for a wide variety of small companies and associations, including seeing several new businesses through their start-up phase. Cynthia has worked extensively within the non-profit sector and with social entrepreneurs in the development field, bringing a deep commitment to social issues and personal interest in international affairs. Her connection with Africa dates back to her teenage years, when she lived with her family in rural Ethiopia, which deeply affected her world view. She has also experience living and studying in Japan and Europe.

A native of Ohio, Cynthia holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Ohio State University, with a focus on International Business and Marketing and emphasis on Japanese language.

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MORE ON EWAN MCPHIE

Ewan McPhie is the Senior Managing Director for Dilligence USA, LLC, an intelligence gathering and risk management firm that helps its clients confront difficult business challenges, particularly in emerging markets. Ewan leads the Washington DC office and the organization's business intelligence and risk management practices. He is an experienced liaison officer who has led dialogue among government, business, and civil society stakeholders to help balance the (often conflicting) needs of broad constituencies. During 2000-2005, Ewan served as bridges.org's Policy Director based in South Africa, where he led all aspects of research, commentary, and legislative submissions on national, regional and international ICT policy. He was an active voice on digital divide issues through participation in a variety international and regional initiatives, including the World Economic Forum Global Digital Divide Initiative and the G8 DOT Force. Key areas of focus included e-government, e-strategy, healthcare technologies, and corporate social responsibility. Previously, Ewan was a senior civil servant in the United Kingdom Cabinet Office with responsibility for the development of Internet and ICT related policy. Ewan also has private sector experience in the UK, Middle East and Far East.

A native of Scotland, Ewan holds a B.Sc. (with Honors) in Transportation.