DIANNE OLIVAN

I work at the nexus of digital rights, innovation, and community-building. Much of my work, values, and decisions are driven by inclusion and collective care. I believe in integrating creativity, play, and pleasure into systems, processes, and outcomes.

Since much of what I do is centered on relationships, I believe in the beauty of holding space for varying opinions and perspectives without losing sight of what TRULY matters. It's definitely not a linear process, but is something to which that I am committed.

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For a decade, I have done advocacy work, event facilitation and management, program and project management, grant coordination, system audits and implementation in several forms, but what is consistent is relationship and network-building.

I am currently the Community Engagement Manager at a New York-based non-profit called Localization Lab, where I lead strategy to manage and grow our volunteer contributor base. We work with open and civic tech projects and communities in ensuring the internet is accessible to communities worldwide.

I was previously the Gender Engagement and Policy Officer at the World Wide Web Foundation, where I coordinated the Foundation’s gender program and led strategy for the Women’s Rights Online Network. I was also a program officer at EngageMedia, where I served as the point person for the (now-defunct) Coconet community, a network of digital rights activists across Asia-Pacific. 

Based in Manila, I hold a master’s degree in Innovation and Business from the Asian Institute of Management and a bachelor’s degree in Communication Research from the University of the Philippines Diliman.

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I am fulfilled in all ways in the work that I do. I love connecting with people, sharing stories, and designing experiences for them. But if you ask me, my dream career? Not in front of a computer.

I am an aspiring ✨ soft girlie ✨, which means that I (am trying to) work against institutionalized societal expectations of doing and being... and have a soft, slow, calm life. More of that in  the As a Person page.