Invest in Open Infrastructure (IOI) is at an exciting inflection point, and we’re looking for new perspectives at the table. Our programmes are expanding, our funding model is evolving, and we're exploring new organizational structures to support the next phase of our work. To guide this next phase of development and growth, we're opening nominations for new members of our Steering Committee.
This is a working board. Members don't just advise: they engage actively with strategy, finances, governance, and fundraising. If you're someone who wants to roll up your sleeves and help shape an organization at a pivotal moment, this could be a great fit.
IOI’s work sits at the intersection of mission and strategy. We combine deep ecosystem understanding with business strategy to help open infrastructure organizations build sustainable models, help funders make smarter investment decisions, and help institutions make the case for adopting open tools. Through strategic consulting, cross-sector collaborative programmes, and the IOI Fund for Network Adoption, we bridge the gap between mission-driven values and the business thinking needed to thrive.
Research and innovation run on open infrastructure: the shared tools, standards, and platforms that make research accessible, data interoperable, and knowledge free to use. But the teams that build and maintain this infrastructure often operate without the strategic support or sustainable funding they need to thrive. Here’s what we’re looking for in new Steering Committee members.
What we’re looking for
We're looking for people with meaningful expertise in two or more of these areas:
- Financial sustainability and revenue diversification: particularly for mission-driven organizations navigating the shift beyond grant dependence
- Legal structures and international expansion: especially UK entity formation, cross-border governance, or social enterprise models
- Blended finance and alternative funding: recoverable grants, programme-related investments, or innovative funding vehicles
- Building consulting or professional services practices within research, strategy, or mission-driven contexts
- Funder and institutional relationships, with the ability and willingness to open doors in philanthropy, institutional investment, or the commercial research sector
- Global networks, particularly active connections in Africa, Latin America, and other regions where open research infrastructure is growing
- Open research and scholarly communication, deep familiarity with the ecosystem and credibility within it
- Adjacent fields, policy, technology, journalism, public health, civic tech, law, or other domains where open infrastructure matters but isn't yet centred
We also value strong financial literacy, strategic thinking, comfort with distributed decision-making, and a genuine willingness to engage between meetings — not just show up quarterly.
Beyond skills, we're intentional about building a committee that reflects the global scope of our work. We actively seek nominees whose backgrounds, geographies, and perspectives broaden the range of experience at the table.
Who you'll be joining
Our current Steering Committee brings together people working across open research, philanthropy, technology, finance, and global development:
Amy Buckland (Concordia University), Joe Deville (Open Book Collective, Co-Chair), Robert Karanja (Independent), Tracy Hinds (Fastly), Louise Marston (Resolution Foundation), Eunice Mercado-Lara (Open Research Community Accelerator, Co-Chair), Danil Mikhailov (data.org), Omo Oaiya (WACREN), Lorrayne Porciuncula (Datasphere), Amy Sample Ward (NTEN), and Jeff Ubois (Stichting Internet Archive).
The opportunity
This is a chance to shape an organization that sits at the intersection of open knowledge, institutional strategy, and global development. As a Steering Committee member, you'll help IOI navigate questions like: How do we grow sustainably? What structure best supports our mission internationally? Where should we focus — and what should we say no to?
It's a voluntary commitment of approximately 15–20 hours per year, including quarterly full committee meetings and participation in at least one subcommittee focused on areas like governance, finance, or strategic priorities. The standard term is three years, with the option to renew.
How to nominate
We welcome both self-nominations and nominations of others. Nominations close on 10 April 2026.
For full details on what we're looking for, the selection process, and what to expect, read our Steering Committee Nomination Brief (PDF).
Questions? Reach out to us at operations@investinopen.org.