Joe Powell

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Joe Powell is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Open Government Partnership. He joined OGP shortly after its founding, and has played a leading role in its growth to 77 member countries and thousands of civil society organizations, representing a strong global coalition for open government and democracy, and against authoritarianism and corruption. Joe leads the organization’s strategy development, global advocacy, fundraising, and a wide range of partnerships with multilateral organizations, civil society organizations and governments. He leads engagement with OGP’s Steering Committee of ministers and civil society leaders, and is a regular spokesperson for the Partnership.

In 2020, Joe was named an inaugural Obama Europe Leader, as part of the Obama Foundation’s mission to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. Joe also serves on the advisory council for the OECD Observatory of Civic Space and on the Board of the Forum on Information and Democracy, an initiative of Reporters Without Borders.

Prior to OGP, Joe worked as a Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager at the ONE Campaign, where he was managing ONE’s global campaign for increased transparency in the extractive industries and worked on campaigns to increase the quality and level of UK aid. Joe also led global advocacy for the G20 and policy development for the G8.

Before working at ONE, Joe launched an online current affairs platform called ‘Uganda Talks’ for the Independent, a weekly East African news magazine, and worked for Action Aid Uganda. He studied at Makerere University. Joe holds a BA from the University of Cambridge.