We’re excited to announce our newest team member, Lorna Aine, who will lead Pollicy’s data programs. Much of Pollicy’s work is based on building the community of data enthusiasts here in Uganda as well as improving the data skills of government and civil society organizations. We are all very excited to have Lorna on our team and would love for you to get to know her as well!
Who is Lorna?
Lorna Maria Aine is a 22 year old passion-driven techie, data geek and a major contributor to building developer communities across Africa. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Busitema University.
“I am committed to contributing data science content for the next generation.”
-Lorna
What attracted you to this position?
It was the fact that I finally felt that it was one place I would learn and work at the same time, since it is really hard to have that balance, yet our work lives are our learning lives, too. When Iread through the job opportunity, the job description was evidently letting me exercise my creativity and community building. It was not something that I had to carry alone, the job is really engaging!
What are you looking forward to now that you have joined Pollicy?
There are very many things I am looking forward to but I shall specify on a few. The data curriculum development is something I am really passionate about and I just feel that it’s something that I really want to fulfill now that I have a platform.
Also, the community engagement! The Data Club, the data group for ladies and open data discussions, it’s something that I love doing and I am so grateful that I am finally doing it as part of my everyday work.
How do you intend to impact the Data Trek in Uganda now that you are Data Lead at Pollicy?
Well, I’d say first of all I intend to do a lot of documentation on what existing datasets, tools and projects are out there. I feel like things written down can actually come to life rather than things talked about and pushed under the carpet.
I intend to do a lot of meet-ups and open conversations about inclusion of data-driven decision making. People who know me will attest to the fact that I am all about meet-ups! Meet new people, talk and collaborate. If we can achieve this then we are putting our hands together to build a tall tower that can last for a long time.
Sometimes, I feel like we don’t need to dismiss what exists but simply have to understand it better and shape it.
What’s your take on the civic technology society in Uganda?
I totally believe that we have a future. Where there is a will, there’s a way.I must admit it’s not an easy one but we have to put in lots of work, we have to put in our all, we have to make much more awareness but yes, we totally have a future.
Who is your role model?
*Sighs! Laughs for a few seconds*
They are very many and there are really a couple of people doing amazing things but of the many I would totally still pick Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook. She is totally amazing. I have read her books, I follow her, I have literally dug into her life. I just love the way she balances life and work. Her way of life is something I definitely look up to.
My mother too! She’s tough, iron hard and yet the sweet, loving person at the end of the day. I wish I was all that in one.
Before Pollicy, what were you upto?
I have been a system developer with Planet Systems where we were working closely with developing an e-procurement system with Uganda Revenue Authority. My work was not really data-related but in one or two scenarios, I would have to do tasks that were data related because there always came a time when they need a data service and I always volunteered though I was initially hired to do system development.
What are some of the challenges that you have experienced working in data science?
It’s something that is so broad, has no definite definition and even when you go to Wikipedia and find a definition, with time you realize that Data Science is many things and you are looking at learning all those things in a short period of time and it doesn’t work that way. My biggest challenge was starting and finally giving myself the confidence to say that “Okay, I have learnt this and I can now go on and focus with this”.
To know more about Lorna, follow her on Twitter @lornamariak or follow her Medium posts for all things R Lorna Maria A
