Dr Amen Ra Mashariki
Global director, World Resources Institute
Dr Amen Ra Mashariki is the Global Director for the Data Lab at the World Resources Institute – an international research organisation that combines data analysis and cutting-edge technology to tackle global challenges.
Prior to this role, Dr Mashariki was the Head of Machine Learning at Urbint, a data intelligence company that uses AI and urban data to solve complex issues and create more resilient communities.
Dr Mashariki served as Adjunct Associate Professor at NYU’s Centre for Urban Science and Progress for 3 years. From 2017 to 2019, he was the Head of Urban Analytics at Esri and was responsible for applying data science principles to urban challenges around the world, ensuring that data-driven decision makers realised impactful and positive outcomes in policy and operations.
Listen to Directions with Stan Grant to hear Dr Mashariki describe how urban data solves city-wide challenges: from 9/11 to disease outbreaks.
From 2014 to 2017, Dr Mashariki was the Chief Analytics Officer for the City of New York and the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics. He ran the Civic Intelligence Centre that allowed one of the largest cities in the world to aggregate and analyse data from across agencies.
In 2012, Dr Mashariki was appointed by the President of the United States to the 2012-2013 class of White House Fellows. Following this he was appointed the Chief Technology Officer for the Office of Personnel Management.
Dr Mashariki earned a Doctorate in Engineering from Morgan State University as well as a Master and Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.
He currently serves as Fellow at the Harvard Ash Centre for Democratic Governance and Innovation and at Georgetown University's Beeck Centre for Social Impact and Innovation.
