Open Cities Lab is proud to mark the beginning of a new chapter. One defined by focused leadership, ambitious goals, and deepening impact across African cities.

After a successful period of co-leadership, Megan Wadge continues as Chief Executive Officer, now guiding the organisation’s next phase of growth. Together with a strong Strategic Management and Implementation Team, Megan will lead the implementation of OCL’s 2030 Scale Strategy, deepen our city partnerships, and drive forward a portfolio of scalable, impact-centred tools for public service delivery.

“Meg has shown exceptional leadership through some of OCL’s most formative years,” said Richard Gevers, OCL’s founder and outgoing Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). “She’s a builder of teams, a shaper of systems, and deeply committed to the values that anchor our work. It’s been a privilege to lead alongside her and as I step away, I do so with full confidence in Megan’s leadership and the team’s ability to scale OCL’s work across the continent.”

Advancing a Bold Mission for Africa’s Cities

Open Cities Lab is a civic technology non-profit working to make African cities more livable, inclusive, and responsive - especially for the most marginalised. From city dashboards to SMS voter tools, we transform complex datasets into practical products that help governments plan better, residents participate more meaningfully, and institutions operate with greater transparency. 

Founded as Open Data Durban 10 years ago and now operating continent-wide, OCL has grown from a grassroots initiative into a trusted partner for cities, national ministries, and civic actors. Our work is anchored in four pillars: strengthening local government, empowering residents, enabling civic storytellers, and supporting shared digital infrastructure.

In July, we’ll launch our 2030 Scale Strategy: a bold plan to reach 100 cities and improve the lives of 200 million people by the end of the decade. This is not just a growth target, it’s a commitment to systemising what works, embedding it deeply, and co-creating tools that serve varying contextual needs.

Leadership in Transition, Impact in Motion

As part of this evolution, Richard Gevers has resigned as Executive Director and CSO of OCL. He recently joined the South African Presidency as Head of Service Design within the Digital Services Unit (DSU), where he is helping lead national-level digital reforms through the Operation Vulindlela - Digital Innovation in the Public Sector programme.

Richard’s transition reflects both the calibre of leadership that OCL has nurtured and the broader influence of civic technology in shaping South Africa’s governance. His legacy - particularly in external partnerships, strategic advocacy, and product innovation - continues to shape our systems and our culture.

“What began as a local open data initiative has become a continental mission,” Richard said. “It’s been a privilege to build Open Cities Lab with such a committed team. I’m transitioning out knowing the organisation is in excellent hands and poised to deliver the kind of impact African cities urgently need.”

Carrying the Mission Forward

“It’s an honour to lead an organisation that sits at the critical crossroads of data, design, and democracy - fields whose convergence holds immense potential for impact,” says Megan Wadge, Chief Executive Officer. “We started with a simple but urgent insight: governments can’t deliver effective services without the data they need. From the beginning, we’ve believed that responsible, secure data sharing isn’t just a technical fix… it’s a matter of trust, dignity, and justice. This next chapter is about scale, yes - but also depth. We’re focused on ensuring every partnership, every product, and every process reflects the change we want to see: African cities that centre the needs of their residents.”

Meet the Leadership Team Powering This Next Chapter

As OCL enters this next phase, leadership continues to be a shared effort - rooted in expertise, trust, and deep collaboration. Our Strategic Management Team (SMT), together with CEO Megan Wadge, leads the organisation with a focus on impact, sustainability, and systems thinking. Each member brings years of experience in product innovation, operational excellence, and technology for the public good.

• Joanne Parker, Chief Product Officer
• Megan Hallet, Chief Operating Officer
• Wasim Moosa, Chief Technology Officer

We’re also excited to welcome three new leaders who will help drive our continental partnerships and data work:

• Amollo Ambole, Strategic Partnerships Lead (Africa)
• Nhlanhla Mncwango, Strategic Partnerships Lead (South Africa)
• Dr. Heiko Heilgendorff, Data Lead

Together, the team will carry forward OCL’s mission to scale digital and data-driven governance, while keeping people and purpose at the centre of everything we do.