Local Content, Smartphones, and Digital Inclusion

Mark Surman, a community activist and technology executive for more than 20 years, is Executive Director of the Mozilla Foundation, makers of Firefox, and one of the largest social enterprises in the world. In his position at Mozilla, Mark is focused on using the open technology and ethos of the web to transform fields such as education, journalism, and filmmaking. He has overseen the development of Popcorn.js, which Wired magazine has called the future of online video; the Open Badges initiative, launched by the U.S. secretary of education; and the Knight Mozilla News Technology partnership, which seeks to reinvent the future of digital journalism.

Corina Gardner leads the Mobile for Development Impact initiative at the GSMA, a trade association that represents over 800 mobile network operators and industry players around the world. She has built and manages an open data platform and online community dedicated to anticipating what the next “big thing” will be in order to harness the benefits of mobile technology for the underserved. She previously worked in international development, managing HIV/AIDS programs throughout Africa and providing technical assistance to global health projects in Central Asia.

David Ascher is VP of Product for the Mozilla Foundation. Previously, he was CEO of Mozilla Messaging and Director of Mozilla Labs. In his current role, he oversees the software aspects of the Webmaker program, at the intersection of digital skills learning, economic opportunity, and the Web. David has a PhD in cognitive science from Brown University, and a long-term interest in using technology and market behaviors to drive public benefit outcomes.