London, 9 September 2010

The London Digital Advisory Board contains a number of experienced technology oriented people, to help move several digital projects for Greater London forward, amongst them the London Datastore.

Mike Butcher, on of the new members of the London Digital Advisory Board on the role of the board in his blog: "As the announcement says, the Board will support and advise on the Mayor’s digital projects including the London Datastore, WIFI London, The London Card and the proposed single non-emergency number for London. But while doing that I’m sure we’ll have conversations around the wider creation of economic, social and civil capital in London, using technology."

Economic advisor to the Mayor of London, Anthony Browne will chair the board, and commented on the technological expertise of the board members "The technical expertise of the digital advisory board will be a huge asset in helping us build on the work we have done and to achieve a data movement in London that rivals that of any other big city in the world." (source) It seems from this quote that the Digital Advisory Board is meant to be able to tap into the required knowledge to do open PSI/data and other digital projects 'right'. In discussions elsewhere, for instance in the Netherlands, this has been a recurring issue as well: how to bring the available knowledge and experience to those places in government where it should be available but isn't, while decisions on how 'to do' open PSI are made.

On the value of PSI re-use Browne was equally clear: "We have begun the process of transforming the way in which information is shared between the government and the public and it has already paid huge dividends with some incredibly exciting new applications being developed at no cost to the public purse."

Members of the Digital Advisory Board are

• Jonathan Raper, professor of geographic information science at City University London;
• Emma Mulqueeny, founding director of Rewired State;
• Paul Clarke, a technology and organisational strategist;
• Chris Thorpe, a former research scientist;
• Mike Butcher, editor of technology blog TechCrunch Europe;
• Toby Barnes, managing director of the Mudlark Production Company;
• Chris Taggart, developer behind OpenlyLocal.com;
• Christopher Osbourne, business development director for ITO World

Related Links:

London's Mayor announces London Datastore