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Thrilled to be invited by the Youthmapper family to write a chapter on my gender, jobs and climate program for Springer’s Sustainable Development Goal Series. Open Mapping towards Sustainable Development Goals Read my chapter Sustainable Development in Asia Pacific and the Role of Mapping for Women. and download the whole ebook.
In September 2022, CGIAR funded our Open Knowledge Kit accelerated humanitarian and MSME regeneration program in Bali, Indonesia. We brought together selected technical and non-technical women and Indigenous youth to learn our accelerated program of SDG data collection, mapping, analytics and monitoring, drone operations, and Tourism and Creative Industries micro, small and medium enterprise support […]
Open Knowledge Kit is a global program that addresses long-standing barriers to addressing gender, jobs and climate security gaps. Non-technical and technical cross-sector local communities led by women are rapidly trained across 15 free and open source tools to create local data employment opportunities at 2-17 times higher daily wages, while agriculture, tourism and creative […]
This November, I became a Women, Peace and Security Fellow for the Pacific Forum. The Pacific Forum enables academics and professionals to conduct research and support WPS programming in fields such as inclusive health security, cybersecurity, climate security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, preventing and countering violent extremism, and maritime security, with a focus on […]
Bali Fab Fest is organized by the Fab Foundation, the Center for Bits and Atoms at MIT, the Fab City Foundation, and the Meaningful Design Group. It brings together two major annual events, the 17th edition of the Fab Lab Conference and 7th Fab City Summit 2022. Bali Fab Fest is a learning experience for […]
On June 21, I’ll be sharing how our Open Knowledge Kit regeneration program helps non-Youthmappers and non-technical youth learn mapping skills that create local data employment to earn 2-17 times higher daily wages through mostly remote training. These skills combine with climate change modeling and early warning flood systems at 70-1000 percent lower costs to […]
Thanks to the generous support of Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, Arizona State University Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, I’m able to present our Open Knowledge Kit program at special session at the Asian Venture Partner Network’s Global Conference, the Official Social Impact Event for the G20 on June 21-24, 2022. Here’s our […]
In 2022 I was one of six people awarded with a fellowship at Subak Australia. Subak’s Fellowship funds innovative climate data specialists. This funding partially supported outputs for my G20 presentations, to show that my OK Kit local data economy and MSME program can provide better data, local revenues and social impacts at significantly lower […]
On March 1st I joined the American Chamber of Commerce’s Creative Industries Committee panel on supporting the Philippine film industry. Per usual, I spoke about the practical aspects of developing the film and creative industry: lack of accurate data and prioritization in a largely informal sector. I shared our local Open Knowledge Kit methodology that […]
At the Creative Economy Council of the Philippines – CECP, we’ve partnered with Kumu, the Pinoy livestreaming app, to explore new ways for creatives to make a living. Kumu currently has 10 million users in 55 countries, with some regulars making P20,000 or $360 per week! Download the app and join our Kumu livestream @CreativeEconomyPH […]
We were invited to present at two sessions at the 2021 Understanding Risk Asia conference hosted by World Bank and National University of Singapore. I led a solo session talking about our Open Knowledge Kit program and four career tracks and also curated the panel presenting the developers behind our technology and implementing partners. Open […]
This past November I represented the Philippines at the ASEAN Creative Economy Business Forum and shared progress on the Creative Industries Bill and Tax-Free program to support micro to medium enterprise. I also shared our Open Knowledge Kit program that provides local employment through remote and in-person training using free and open source data collection, […]
I’ll be speaking at FOSS4G 2021, the world’s largest geospatial conference on free and open source software. Pandemic and Climate Recovery through FOSS4G Local Knowledge Stewardship and Employment Models September 30, 14:30–15:00, Puerto Madryn The Open Knowledge Kit Regeneration Program addresses key challenges in the pandemic and climate crisis: How to collect near real-time data, […]
This Saturday September 4th, I”ll be joining the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Wolrd Congress’ Supporting Indigenous peoples in Defending Nature and Traditions with Geospatial Technologies panel to discuss how our Open Knowledge Kit Regeneration Program provides life saving employment, strengthens local knowledge stewardship and provides better quality real-time data, and industry-leading mapping analytics, […]
At the Pacific Forum’s Advancing Women, Peace & Security in the Indo-Pacific conference on September 1st, I’ll be speaking about how our Open Knowledge Regeneration Program creates local women-led employment, improves local knowledge stewardship and creates better data and climate change modeling, all using free and open-source tools. Thursday, September 2, 2021 10:30 AM – […]
For registered non-profits in the Philippines, we need more grant applicants! The next Telus grant application deadline is June 11. A single organization can receive as much as P500,000 within 1-2 months. Telus funds youth, LGBTQ, Indigenous, health, agriculture, culture, sports, education, environment and technology projects. Apply online at https://bit.ly/3bw8j1Y Learn about the program at […]
On May 19 I’ll be sharing our women-led mapping and infrastructure work to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines and Indonesia at the APEC – Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation-Canada Growing Business Partnership. With majority of MSMEs led by women, economic and social investments should start and end with women. Join the Facebook […]
On Friday, April 23, 3pm Manila time, I will discuss our women-led open knowledge stewardship program using free and open source data collection, mapping and analytics tools and pioneering technologies. Effective humanitarian and development action should be led by the women who are at the center of the social and economic prosperity of their communities. […]
On Friday, February 26 at 2pm Manila time, 6am UTC, I’ll be moderating the first session on colonialism in open data and mapping with Filipino David Garcia, Tanzanian Imma Mwanja and Bangladeshi Tasauf A Baki Billah. View the program at https://bit.ly/3seXiYP Watch the Video There is 06:00 UTC session and a 16:00 UTC session. Select […]
With the loss of funding to many vulnerable communities, multinational organizations will continue to shape humanitarian and development funding. How can we shift to more local and regional models of cross-sector leadership? On Thursday, December 3rd 10am PST | 12pm COT | 1pm EST, we celebrate the Americas Geography Awareness Event with an opening keynote […]
On Wednesday, December 2 Jocelyn Kelly, Director of the Gender, Rights and Resilience Program at Harvard Humanitarian Initiative opens our Middle East & Africa Geography Awareness Event. She designs and implements projects to examine issues relating to gender, peace, and security in fragile states. Her international work has focused on understanding the health needs of […]
With the loss of funding to many vulnerable communities, multinational organizations will continue to shape humanitarian and development funding. How can we shift to more local and regional models of cross-sector leadership? Join our Asia-Pacific discussions for Geography Awareness Week Sessions will be live-streamed and recorded. Catch updates at https://bit.ly/2Ipe1aw This year’s Geography Awareness Week […]
This year’s Geography Awareness Week helps bring together regional communities to discuss shared histories in food, work and now, Covid. Hear the stories of nice people doing good work. Connect with friendly local and regional communities, learn about free training, resources and funding opportunities. Short talks and discussions will run throughout the day across regional […]
This year, two amazing global festivals, Ubud Food Festival and Ubud Writers & Readers Festival come together for Kembali 2020 from October 29 to November 8 to help rebuild Bali’s creative industry and artisan communities. Join me on November 4 as we screen The Fruit Hunters, a story of nature, obsession, commerce and adventure by […]
On Wednesday, October 21 at 10pm PHT | 14:00 UTC, join our free online mapping and data science workshop with the Asian Pathways Research Lab at the Asian Institute of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Policy, University of Toronto. Hear Ivan Gayton’s efforts leading Médecins Sans Frontières|Doctors Without Borders, co-founding the Missing Maps […]
My work in the Philippines was recently referenced in the United Nations World Data Forum Blog by Afeefah Khazi-Syed at the World Bank Global Practice Group for Sustainable Development: Resource-poor regions around the world have been suffering from inequitable health infrastructure for decades. As we look forward to the 2020 Virtual UN World Data Forum […]
Join the first Asia Pacific series on resilient Geographic Information Systems education on Monday Aug 17th 2am UTC. Asia – Pacific Panel 1: Pedagogies for Resilient GIScience Education. Monday August 17, 2020, from 2:00 – 3:30 pm New Zealand / 12 – 1:30 pm Sydney / 10 – 11:30 am Beijing Click here to watch […]
Hello, my name is Celina Agaton. I’ve been based in the Philippines since 2014, moving back to Manila after Super Typhoon Haiyan. I grew up in Manila, Jakarta and Toronto, and my experiences in food security, open data, civic technology and development have shaped my life’s work. I enjoy helping improve bringing together people to […]
OpenStreetMap’s free mapping tools and open data are critical for development that reflects the central role of women in achieving community prosperity. Learn more at our free International Women’s Day webinar on March 10 (1pm UTC, 9pm PHT, 8am EST) Register at http://bit.ly/IWDHOSM #IWD2020
This year, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap invited me and my colleagues, Nathalie Sidibe of OpenStreetMap Mali and Jinal Foflia of Grab Asia to discuss the importance of mapping and open data to women during a webinar for International Women’s Day. I’m excited to connect with more female leaders and mapping groups and to learn about exciting projects […]
Para sa pagmamahal sa bayan! For the love of country! We’re celebrating Geography Week around the world with a free mapping party on Saturday, November 16 from 9am to 5pm at UP Ayala Technohub. Everyone is welcome, families with children aged 10 years old and up! Tickets are free with registration, Grab discount coupons are […]
Hello, my name is Celina Agaton. I’ve been based in the Philippines for the last five years, moving back to Manila after Super Typhoon Haiyan. I grew up in Manila, Jakarta and Toronto, and my experiences in food security, open data, civic technology and development have shaped my life’s work. I enjoy helping improve bringing […]
My Canadian consulting company is currently mapping the Mindanao region to support rural farming, gender, healthcare and artisan communities. The Mindanao region grows almost half the country’s food, yet remains the poorest population, with many communities at 30-70% poverty incidence. War and conflict have increased in the region in recent years, with security and safety […]
For International Women’s Day and Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT), Missing Maps, YouthMappers, American Red Cross, U.S. Department of State‘s MapGive program, and the USAID – US Agency for International Development GeoCenter hosting a mapathon in Washington, D.C. and are helping map our Mindanao tasks for gender gap mapping in agriculture, healthcare and artisan communities. Please […]
Para sa pagmamahal sa bayan! Alang sa paghigugma sa atong nasud! Thanks to your amazing efforts, in two days we were able to complete 120,500 map changes! Keep up the good work, we can do this! Many thanks to Youthmappers in Bangladesh, Washington and France for joining us remotely! This Valentine’s weekend, 40 participants joined […]
I recently curated Angat Negosyo: Growing Local and International Filipino MSMEs, a workshop to help micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises navigate the local and export market journey. In partnership with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, this event was funded by Global Affairs Canada in collaboration with the APEC Secretariat. The APEC-Canada Growing Business Partnership works […]
I’ve been invited again to join the 2018 Wayfinder meeting in Istanbul this year. The Wayfinder is organized by Social Innovation Exchange (SIX), the world’s primary network focusing on social innovation. I will join a select group of 150 innovators, experts, and entrepreneurs from around the world and across Turkey, who have played, and will […]
I’ve just joined the board for the Do No Digital Harm Initiative, the world’s first on-call, deployable team mandated to address the ethical, security, and design challenges faced by humanitarian actors supporting highly vulnerable civil society groups, crisis-affected populations and the humanitarian practitioners who serve them. Our mandate is to reduce harm resulting from information […]
Today is United Nations World Food Day and Indigenous Peoples Month. In the Philippines, most of our communities do not have access to safe, affordable and nearby nutrition, making food security our number one priority. This year’s theme is Change the Future of Migration: Invest in Food Security and Rural Development. This week, from Friday, […]
Let’s help each other to make our roads safer! Together with the Department of Transportation, World Bank and Grab, join the Road Safety Idea Hack 2017 Launch this Monday, March 13th from 8am to 5pm at Crowne Plaza Manila. Cash prizes: 1st Prize P90,000, 2nd Prize P60,000 and 3rd Prize P30,000. Come join us for […]
*Update* The photos are up! Come see them on Facebook. It’s time for another Jane’s Walk! On May 13 from 8:30 to noon we’ll explore the dynamic Ortigas neighborhood, learn about the exciting new Ortigas Greenways parks, bike hub and walkways, and finish off with homemade halo-halo at Purple Yam Estancia. Hear amazing stories from […]
I’ve been asked to work with World Bank’s Road Safety Hack in partnership with the Department of Transportation and Grab. The launch and orientation starts on March 13th at 8am, with participants learning about the role of open data, health, road safety and community groups in addressing the Philippines issues with road safety. Attendees are […]
London calling! Thrilled to be heading to SIX – Social Innovation Exchange Wayfinder: Mapping the Way Forward For The Next Decade of Social Innovation. I’ll be sharing our Map the Philippines story and delivering a talk on the future of development session with 160 leaders from 34 countries.
I’m thrilled to be co-hosting the 7th International Conference of Crisis Mappers in Manila from September 28 – 30 with field visits from October 1-5. To make the conference more accessible, tickets for Philippines’ based attendees are P2,500 including 3 days of conference + 2 field visits! Organized by the International Network of Crisis Mappers, The International Conference of Crisis Mappers (ICCM) is […]
Last year I was grateful to be invited to the First White House Mapathon and was able to thank the U.S. State Department for sharing satellite imagery and mapping support for Super Typhoon Haiyan. I’m thrilled to have been invited back to the White House for their Second White House Mapathonon July 7, 2016. #WHMapathon The Philippines […]
I’m thrilled to be co-organizing the 7th International Conference of Crisis Mappers in Manila on September 28-30, 2016. The week of October 1st sends our participants to field sites across the Philippines to connect with local communities and collaborate on mapping tasks. This year’s theme is Building Resiliency: Inclusive Innovations in Crisis Mapping. The Philippines is the […]
“A Resilient City is one that has developed capacities to help absorb future shocks and stresses to its social, economic, and technical systems and infrastructures so as to still be able to maintain essentially the same functions, structures, systems, and identity.” ResilientCity.org To become a resilient city, coordinating the efforts of the public and private […]
I’m speaking at MNL Urban Design Festival twice this year! The first event is on Saturday June 18th 3:30pm at the MNL Urban Design Festival x Escolta at HUB: Make Lab at First United Building, 413 Escolta Street, Manila. Next I’ll be speaking at A Space on Wednesday, June June 22, stay tuned for details!
MapPH was invited to present our national OpenStreetMap resilience mapping program during the Improving Mobility, Improving Resilience at the Asian Development Bank’s Innovation for Resilient and Smart Communities event on May 20, 2015.
On May 7, Manila joined 200 cities in celebrating the 10th anniversary of Jane’s Walk and what would have been Jane Jacob’s 100th birthday. Jane’s Walks began in 2006 to commemorate the life of one of the most influential figures in urban planning. Jane Jacobs championed a community-based approach to designing cities, including the seminal concepts […]
On May 1, 2016 I was invited by DZMM Radio and Project NOAH Executive Director Prof. Mahar Lagmay’s radio show, Red Alert. Dr. Lagmay was recently names one of Asia’s Top 100 Scientists by Asian Scientist Magazine and received the 2015 Plinius Medal by the European Geosciences Union for his work on hazard research and natural […]
In partnership with Far Eastern University, you’re invited to Map the Philippines at our Quiapo Walking Tour and Mapping Party on May 7th! #mapPHquiapo #mapPH Join one or both events, everyone is welcome and the event is free! 9:00 – 12:00 Quiapo Neighbourhood Walking Tour. Meet at San Sebastian Church steps. 12:00 – 5:00 Mapping […]
Come join me for Open Data Day Philippines at Mapua Institute of Technology Makati Campus on March 11th from 9am to 5pm. I’ll be speaking about Map the Philippines at 11:30am. Open Data Day is a gathering of citizens in cities around the world to write applications, liberate data, create visualizations and publish analyses using […]
Thrilled to be working on disaster resilient and sustainable livelihood and mapping programs with women, farmers, fishermen and rural poor communities in Davao, Mindanao. With support from the Gerry Roxas Foundation and USAID, we announced the first batches of grantees and launched the Tuason Development Foundation TDFI Campus for micro to medium enterprise.
Over 50 participants completed over 28,000 edits at the U.S. Embassy’s Leyte Mapathon on January 23, in partnership with Map the Philippines and OpenStreetMap Philippines. The U.S. State Department’s MapGive program generously provided satellite imagery to improve maps for the Red Cross Typhoon Haiyan Recovery Program in Leyte. They are currently working in 23 barangays or villages […]
The U.S. Embassy, in partnership with Map the Philippines and OpenStreetMap Philippinesinvites you to a mapathon to support the American Red Cross’ Typhoon Haiyan Recovery Program in Leyte. They are currently working in 23 barangays or villages on integrated recovery programs including house construction, house repair, community infrastructure, disaster risk reduction, livelihoods and water and […]
The week of November 15-21 is Geography Awareness Week and to help celebrate, Map the Philippines and Mozilla Community Space Manila are hosting an OpenStreetMap GeoWeek mapping party on November 17 from 1-6pm. We believe maps and community driven mapping projects can help visualize the needs and opportunities in our neighbourhoods. Maps can serve as the connecting […]
In honor of UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s World Food Day on Friday, October 16 Map the Philippines, Amy Besa’s Ang Sariling Atin and Purple Yam Malate and De La Salle Saint Benilde invite food community members to an informal gathering to discuss and share ideas to create more sustainable and inclusive food infrastructure in […]
Map the Philippines is an international initiative to help provide free, comprehensive and accessible maps of the Philippines. We teach local government, business, NGOs, students and citizens how to map their community assets and visualize needed infrastructure and investment for economic and tourist development, and disaster and community resilience. We collect and share data to help meet […]
OpenAerialMap is an open service to provide access to a commons of openly licensed imagery and map layer services from around the world. Rather than spending time and resources on expensive imagery, you can search teh repository and download or contribute imagery to the growing commons of openly licensed, non-commercial imagery. This helps governments, NGOs, […]
The World Bank’s Open Roads program requested my consulting company to lead mapping training with local government units, business, NGOs, academe and citizens in partnership with the Philippine Department of Budget and Management’s initiative to fast track much need road infrastructure in the country. By using OpenStreetMap’s free online mapping tools, this would enable the […]
I’ve had the pleasure of hosting five USAID AidData Fellows from June to August 2015 here in Manila to work on several of my Map the Philippines initiatives. This is the first time fellows have been hosted in the Philippines, and we hope to host more fellows in the future. The AidData program helps […]
Data Journalism PH 2015 is a training programme for journalists and citizen media aimed at growing the practice of data-driven journalism in the Philippines. It is coordinated by Open Knowledge and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ). The programme is a joint World Bank funded initiative. On July 13, I was invited to speak about Map […]
The Making All Voices Count team will be in Manila for the #Tech4Resilience Pitching Competition on July 8 at Far Eastern University’s Institute of Technology. If you have a disaster or community resilient program or technology, apply to join the Innovation Showcase and meet the Making All Voices Count team. Full details are below. Apply now >> […]
I’m partnered with Making All Voices Count on this Philippines #Tech4Resilience Challenge. Anyone can apply! Finalists will be presenting their pitches at my Map the Philippines event June 24, please save the date. The deadline is on June 17. Good luck! #Tech4Resilience Competition OPEN in the Philippines Making All Voices Count is calling for innovative projects and […]
I’m thrilled to have been invited to the first White House Mapathon on June 21 where they featured mapping projects like the Nepal earthquake and included my resiliency mapping project in the Philippines. The Philippines mention below links to my 2014 International Conference of Crisis Mapping talk. The White House Office of Digital Strategy and the […]
It’s been a while since I’ve done an update to the crisismappers network since my talk post Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan at the International Conference on Crisis Mapping, but there are lots of good things happening here in the Philippines. The White House Office of Digital Strategy and the Office of Science and Technology Policy invited me to […]
Under the OpenRoads initiative, the World Bank is supporting the government of the Philippines in advancing a set of policies and tools to improve strategic local road infrastructure for inclusive growth. The starting point for financing and implementation of better local road networks is a strategic map. OpenStreetMap Philippines conducted a 2-day OpenStreetMap workshop, with […]
I was lucky enough to be Jane Jacob’s neighbour in Toronto and am happy to now be helping organize Jane’s Walk in Manila, and hopefully other cities for the now annual Jane’s Walk on May 1-3. It’ s a terrific way to spend the day exploring the city and learning about the rich stories from […]
I’m thrilled to have been invited by RightsCon to design and lead a disaster simulation at their 2015 conference in Manila. RightsCon is a premier event on internet freedom and the future of the internet. I’ll be presenting how our tools and programs begin with disaster response but are designed to help build community resiliency year […]
Back in 2009, I co-organized Netsquared Toronto, the beginnings of a new life working in the tech for good sector and creating global programs and technology tools and events that enhance cross sector civic and community engagement. More than five years later and half way across the world, I’m back in Manila and excited to […]
Coming soon…Netsquared Manila! We’re bringing all kinds of tech tool goodness to support the wonderful NGO community in Manila, and to connect us with over 80 Netsquared cities worldwide. Stay tuned for more updates! Netsquared is the face to face social purpose tech community meetup of Techsoup Global – a program providing free and discounted […]
I consult as the Community Engagement Director for Don Tapscott’s Open Cities initiative. Open Cities is an international think tank that works to transform municipalites into smart, connected cities for the 21st century. In 2012, the Bogota Chamber of Commerce engaged us to identify key priorities and engagement strategies during a tumultuous time. Their beloved mayor […]
Asia Society Philippines, in cooperation with AIM ASEAN 2015 Project, are hosting Part 3 of their Understanding ASEAN series on Disaster Management on Tuesday, January 13, 4-6PM at the Asian Institute of Management. ASEAN countries are one of the most vulnerable to the growing impacts of climate change, such as storms, typhoons, and coastal flooding. Super-typhoon […]
My talk begins at 29:49 after Nigel Snoad’s introduction. In November I was a speaker at the 2014 International Conference of Crisis Mappers in New York. It was almost a year after Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, where at the time I was en route to the 2013 conference in Nairobi. So much has happened in […]
I’m grateful to have been chosen as the winner for the Making All Voices Count and Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and Pacific (ANSA-EAP) #EdTech competition for innovation in technology for resilience. I submitted our cross sector crisis and resiliency program using OpenStreetMap. Look forward to receiving fellowship support in the year […]
The UN has activated Micromappers to help tag tweets for Typhoon Ruby. In just one click, you can help classify tweets about typhoon damage, provided humanitarian aid, and requests for help. Micromappers helps the UN and other humanitarian aid groups assess typhoon damage and prioritize help more quickly. Learn more about Micromappers >>
Many thanks to World Food Program and Bonifacio Global City for generously sponsoring our OpenStreetMap 10th anniversary celebration. Special thanks to co.lab, SkyEye and Mind Museum for helping host the event. Inspired by the Wikipedia model, OpenStreetMap was created by Steve Coast in the UK in 2004. 10 years, and 1.7 million users later, OpenStreetMap […]
Micromappers is a great initiative where citizens can help classify disaster damage with just two clicks on your computer. With the deluge of data, social media posts, images and video that arise during natural disasters, humanitarian organizations, governments and business need your help to more quickly assess damaged infrastructure like flooded roadways, unsafe school buildings, […]
Come Join Our Celebrations for OpenStreetMap’s 10th Anniversary! * Learn about mapping * Enjoy our drone showcase * Eat cupcakes! * Everyone is welcome! Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Hashtag #mapPHL Mind Museum Outdoor Canopy J. Y. Campos Park, 3rd Ave, Taguig Thursday December 4th 11am to 2pm Enjoy snacks and drinks FREE Learn more >> Help […]
We’re partnering with local community leaders, colleges, government, business and NGOs to host OpenStreetMap workshops to help empower Filipinos from across the sectors to work together to help map the Philippines. OpenStreetMap is a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world and is supported and updated by 1.7 million registered users worldwide. […]
The Ateneo Institute of Sustainability invites everyone to a forum entitled “FROM CRISIS TO COMMUNITY: INNOVATIONS FROM THE TYPHOON YOLANDA DISASTER RESPONSE AND BEYOND” Celina Agaton 19 Nov 2014, 4:30 – 6:00, Venue: Sec B 201 Abstract: Google USAID ICCM Fellow Celina Agaton shares her community and technology driven approach to rebuilding communities post Typhoon […]
Happy World Food Day from the Surigao State College of Technology’s agriculture and fisheries program! Spent the day with Mayor Coro touring sustainable food programs and drafting up mapping and livelihood projects. Fortuitous timing for this trip to happen on this day.
I joined the tech for good panel and presented my mapping for disaster and community resiliency projects in the Philippines at the Digital Strategies for Development Summit hosted by the Asian Institute of Management, Asian NGO, Assist, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Local Government Academy and others.
Update: Event postponed due to the current situation in Hong Kong. Thankful to have been invited to the 4th Nobel Laureates Symposium on Global Sustainability next week in Hong Kong. I’ll be joining Nobel Laureates, scientists, policy makers, global and business leaders and sharing our exciting mapping, climate and community resiliency projects here in the […]
Piers Handling, CEO and Director of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) invited Don Tapscott and myself to lead a consultancy to help TIFF with its strategic planning during its transition into its new home at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. As a premier cultural institution, TIFF offers screenings, lectures, discussions, festivals, workshops, industry […]
I was invited to speak in San Francisco on August 9 at the ABS-CBN Foundation and The Philippine Channel’s (TFC) Speaker Salon. Curated by NextDayBetter, the TFC Speaker Salon took place at the San Francisco Children’s Creativity Museum and featured ideas and inspirations from the Philippines on how technology and creativity can solve today’s most pressing societal challenges. […]
People may argue about climate change, but few can ignore the fact that extreme weather events have become increasingly prevalent in recent years. From hurricanes Isaac and Sandy — which wreaked havoc on the United States’ east coast — to the devastating Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, it’s clear that urban hubs across the globe […]
This March, I was invited by the Urban Land Institute and the Rockefellers’ Asia Society to speak at their 2nd Annual Pacific Cities Sustainability Initiative (PCSI) Forum: Creating Resilient and Livable Cities. The PCSI is a collaborative dialogue which aims to foster long-term sharing of urban sustainability strategies between communities across the Pacific Rim. Launched in […]
Here’s an excerpt from my podcast for Slate’s Future Tense series. Listen to the podcast on Slate: This week, Drone U features a podcast from Celina Agaton, the Google-USAID fellow for the International Conference on Crisis Mapping. Agaton looks at ways that drones can supplement traditional geographic information systems to help save lives in humanitarian crises. […]
I’ve enjoyed a long partnership with Lyreco Canada and admire their commitment to the environment. During my time at Volunteer Toronto, I wanted to help Toronto non-profits access more affordable school, art and office supplies with a company committed to the environment. So in 2008 I announced a 70% discount with Lyreco for Volunteer Toronto’s non-profit […]
My recent interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) World News: Tech savvy population, willingness to try new ideas help country prepare for next disaster Celina Agaton recently returned to the Philippines, hoping to help out her homeland with her unique set of skills. “I’m really excited because it’s been about five years since I’ve […]
I co-organized Netsquared Toronto, one of 80 Netsquared city chapters in cities around the world. I was also a global advisor to Netsquared headquarters which is based in San Francisco. Netsquared makes it easy, meaningful, and fun for people and organizations to get the information, visibility and support they need to maximize technology for social good. […]
I was a contributor to Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams’ Macrowikinomics: New Solutions for a Connected Planet, the follow up to their international bestseller, Wikinomics. I led the creative direction for this promotional video and wrote the script, visualizing the book concepts from energy and the environment, government, science and finance to healthcare technology […]
Just a quick update on the fly: We’re up to 10 drones now and are looking at getting live streaming capabilities. The drones are currently being using for disaster mapping but will soon also verify aid delay reports. Current mapping plans include these areas. We’re looking for volunteer pilots and mappers. Please PM me if […]
Update: Here’s Interaksyon’s coverage of our press conference. This morning, I joined the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation to help announce a new initiative for the private sector and NGO sectors to collaborate together to share relief data, map initiatives and outline capabilities for Typhoon Yolanda, and to lay the groundwork for a national disaster preparedness plan. The […]
I’m grateful to be one of ten fellows selected to attend the 5th International Conference of Crisis Mappers (ICCM) in Nairobi, Kenya from November 18-22. The ICCM brings together the most engaged practitioners, scholars, software developers and policymakers at the cutting edge of crisis mapping and humanitarian technology. I’ve been volunteering as a crisis mapper since […]
A Heart to Art Chat was an unconference-style event I developed to co-create ideas for the Art Gallery of Ontario. 70 community leaders and participants from the arts, culture and events communities came together in the beautiful new 35,000 square foot Weston Family Learning Centre. Over a six month process, I led the strategic planning, digital […]
