First Five with Joe Tansey
A series where we get to know people within ODC’s network: new staff, volunteers and affiliates in the open data community.
We asked our new Implementation Working Group co-chair, Joe Tansey, Senior Product Manager, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities these first five:
- Where are you on your open data journey?
I’ve always wanted a role that enabled me to positively impact individuals and communities and I’ve had some fantastic roles that have enabled me to do so both in the public and private sector. However, in my previous roles I was finding more and more that a lack of access to data was one of the key barriers to organisations being able to make better-informed decisions. It’s one of the core reasons why I’m so passionate about my current role at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities within the UK Government where I’m working with a team of brilliant people to unlock planning and housing data that will be the foundation of modernising England’s planning system. In doing so, we’re aiming to create data flows through the planning and housing ecosystem that will increase productivity and create more efficient processes.
2. What do you hope to bring to the current wave of open data discussions?
First and foremost I want to ensure we continue to provide a safe space for people to continue to have conversations around open data and a platform for them to highlight their successes and challenges. There is no shortage of people passionate about unlocking data — half the job is finding them, and then taking action that makes it easier for them, not accidently making it harder. That’s why initiatives such as the ODC are so important to enable collaboration so that we collectively learn and evolve how we do so. Within that, I’d love to work with others and learn how best we tell the story and highlight the value of open data — too often we hear a lack of financial or human resource as a blocker to unlocking data. As we’re often reminded, the world’s most valuable resource is no longer oil, but data… we need to prioritise it accordingly.
3. Share your vision: What does the world’s future look like with open data fully implemented and integrated?
A world where open data is easy to find, understand, use and trust and most importantly is a tool that benefits everyones whether that be businesses, governments or individuals. Importantly, I’d love us to get to a position where open data is the norm and seen as a key enabler for innovation and technology to continue to bring positive change on a global scale.
4. Do you have a favourite open data project or initiative or one that you encountered recently that left an impression on you?
I’ve got numerous friends who work for the National Health Service in England and I’m constantly in awe of the amazing work they do and how they are using data to drive research and improve care services. There are some great blogs on here that highlight some of the amazing work being done in the space.
5. One last one — a fun one: If you were to write a movie or book with open data at its centre, what would it be called? Data Force: The Open Connection
Joe Tansey is the Open Data Charter’s newly appointed Implementation Group co-chair. He is a Product Manager, on the Digital Planning Team, at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for the UK Government where he works to unlock planning and housing data that will be the foundation of modernising England’s planning system.
