Kristen Robinson leads Open Contracting Partnership’s advocacy, building on her 17 years’ experience in policy advocacy, strategic communications and campaigning. She is passionate about all things open government, open tech and open data. As Communications and Campaigns Director at the Web Foundation, she drove global multi-stakeholder coalition building, policy advocacy campaigns and media relations work with a focus on normative and narrative change. She managed external communications for web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee in his capacity as founding executive director.
She has consulted and advised a number of NGOs, multilateral organizations, governments and businesses on their public reputation and external affairs, including during high stakes crises in the areas of peace and security, financial crime, and corruption. Her consultancy clients have included: Kofi Annan Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Africa Progress Panel, Google, Orange, The Elders, Omidyar Network, UN Women, UN Population Fund and a number of governments in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Central Asia. Kristen began her career with roles for the US and German governments in investment and trade policy, with stints in Mexico City and Shanghai. She graduated from the London School of Economics with an MSc in International Political Economy, and speaks Spanish, French and German proficiently.