Data Foundation Welcomes New Senior Fellows

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 10, 2025 – The Data Foundation welcomes five new senior fellows who bring decades of combined experience in data science, policy development, financial services, and public sector innovation. The new senior fellows strengthen the organization's capacity to advance evidence-based decision-making and data governance across government.

The fellows will contribute to The Data Foundation's work through its Center for Data Policy, Center for Evidence Capacity, Special Projects, and Climate Data Collaborative, conducting research and developing solutions that strengthen government's ability to use data effectively, transparently, and in service of the public.

Center for Data Policy 

Ted Kaouk is a Senior Fellow at the Data Foundation and Founder of Generative Work, bringing extensive experience as a three-time Chief Data and AI Officer across federal agencies. As Founding Chair of the Federal Chief Data Officers Council, he united more than 80 agencies to establish the CDO profession in government. Dr. Kaouk is the author of the forthcoming book Generative Work and holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Maryland, focusing on human-centered strategies for AI adoption.

Chris Marcum is a Senior Fellow and an open science advocate with extensive experience in federal science policy, having served as Senior Statistician and Senior Scientist at the White House Office of Management and Budget and as Assistant Director for Open Science and Data Policy at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). He led the development of transformative data governance policies, including the 2022 OSTP Public Access Memo and the 2025 OMB Open Government Data Act Implementation Guidance. Chris holds a Ph.D. in sociology from UC Irvine and is an accomplished scholar with over 70 publications and a fellowship in the Gerontological Society of America.

Center for Evidence Capacity 

Katherine Dawes is a Senior Fellow at the Data Foundation and former Evaluation Officer at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, bringing expertise in federal evaluation policy and Lean Management in government. She is known for building cross-sector coalitions to develop environmental program evaluation methods and capacity for continuous improvement. Katherine is an Adjunct Professor at The George Washington University's Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration and holds dual master's degrees in public administration and geography from Syracuse University's Maxwell School.

Special Projects - Financial Data Transparency Hub

Tom Dunlap is a Senior Fellow and the Founder and Managing Partner of DIACSUS LLC, an international advisory firm specializing in financial services data ecosystem solutions. He brings over 35 years of financial services experience, including serving as Group Chief Data Officer at London Stock Exchange Group and 18 years at Goldman Sachs in various senior operations and data leadership roles, including Managing Director and global head of enterprise data strategy. Tom serves on advisory boards for DeepSee.ai and PredictIntel, while previously serving as a two-term member of the U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Research Advisory Committee.

Climate Data Collaborative 

Nigel Snoad is a Senior Fellow and a product and social impact leader with over 20 years of experience using data and technology to address global challenges in climate, public health, and humanitarian response. At the United Nations, he led major international humanitarian responses and developed open data frameworks for humanitarian organizations, while at Google he built products delivering trusted emergency and electoral information to billions of users. Nigel holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from the Australian National University and has served as an advisor to major international organizations including the World Bank Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), Red Cross Climate Institute, and the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). 

The Data Foundation welcomes these accomplished leaders as it continues its mission to build a more data-driven and evidence-based approach to government decision-making. 

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About the Data Foundation

The Data Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that champions the use of open data and evidence-informed public policy to make society better for everyone. As a nonpartisan think tank, we conduct research, collaborative thought leadership, and advocacy programs that advance practical policies for the creation and use of accessible, trustworthy data. Our activities proactively address emerging data-related needs in the country with the goal of devising realistic solutions, accelerating policy coordination, and advancing innovation. The Data Foundation is recognized by Candid Guidestar with the Platinum Seal of Transparency and received 4-Stars from Charity Navigator. To learn more, visit www.datafoundation.org. (LEI: 254900I43CTC59RFW495)