Data plays a crucial role in designing effective development policies, yet its availability and use in low- and middle-income countries remain inconsistent. In some cases, data is simply unavailable, in others it exists but remains underutilised due to limited access or awareness.   

Our panel explores how these challenges can be addressed and examines the transformative role of data in shaping global development initiatives. They discuss the potential of leveraging both existing data and AI tools to generate insights and inform policies that drive sustainable growth. 

Meet our speakers and chair

Natalia Domagala is a global digital policy specialist who develops strategies for ethical innovation. She was recognised by Mozilla as one of the 25 visionaries who are making the Internet and the world a better place.  As the Head of Data and AI Ethics Policy at the UK government, she led the development of one of the first national standards for algorithmic transparency in the world and launched the first national-level public sector Data Ethicist role in the UK. In 2022, she received the Excellence in AI Award in the Ethical AI Category and was chosen as one of the top 10 most prominent female AI experts by the Perspektywy Foundation. 

Mulele Maketo Mulele is currently serving as Director of the Economic Management Department at Zambia's Ministry of Finance and National Planning. He has previously served in different positions within the Ministry of Finance, including as Acting Chief Economist under the Economic Forecasting and Modeling Section, and Principal Economist - Economic Forecasting and Modeling. He has served as Director (Development Planning) at the Ministry of National Development Planning, Assistant Director for Economic Affairs at Cabinet Office in the Office of the Secretary to Cabinet, and Planning Officer - Budgets and Projects in the Directorate of Planning and Information at the Ministry of Education. He is currently a Doctor of Business Administration candidate at Binary University, Malaysia. He holds a Master of Health Science from Osaka University, Japan and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Zambia. 

Claire Melamed (@clairemelamed) is the CEO of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data. This growing network brings together several hundred members — governments, private sector, and civil society — to harness and leverage data and data technology towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. She was previously Managing Director of the Overseas Development Institute, and in 2014, she worked in the office of the UN Secretary General, writing the report of the Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution, A World That Counts. Claire is based in London and heads up a global team based in ten countries. Claire is an Affiliated Researcher at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge and serves on a number of Boards and advisory groups for institutions including the UK Office of National Statistics Data Science Campus, Full Fact, and Mo Ibrahim Foundation Governance Index. 

Tim Dobermann is the Director of Research of the IGC. He has advised several governments in Asia and Africa on energy and public finance issues. His research focuses on whether those in poverty can adapt to climate change in time, understanding the effects of electrification on development, and how energy sectors in developing countries can be made more effective.  Prior to starting his PhD, he was an economist at the International Growth Centre (IGC) covering the work in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan & Jordan. He has ongoing research in Pakistan, Ghana, and South Korea. 

More about this event

This event is part of the LSE Festival: Visions for the Future running from Monday 16 to Saturday 21 June 2025, with a series of events exploring the threats and opportunities of the near and distant future, and what a better world could look like. Booking for all Festival events will open on Monday 19 May.  

The Data Science Institute (DSI) in an interdisciplinary institute fostering the study of data science and AI with a focus on the social sciences through research, education and engagement

The International Growth Centre (IGC) works with policymakers in developing countries to promote inclusive and sustainable growth through pathbreaking research.

Hashtag for this event: #LSEFestival