User:M.Oghia

Michael J. Oghia is a Belgrade-based independent consultant, researcher, and editor working within the Internet governance ecosystem. He specifically focuses on digital rights, media development, capacity building, access, and sustainability.

He served as the co-focal point for WS 1 at EuroDIG 2016, and served as the focal point and moderator for WS 11 during EuroDIG 2017. He is also a member of the 2018 YOUthDIG programme committee, acted as the youth focal point for cybersecurity during the 2017 YOUthDIG programme, and participated in the 2016 New Media Summer School as a fellow.

Bio

Michael is a third culture kid (TCK) with professional experience in conflict resolution, journalism & media, civil society, and academia across five countries: the United States, Lebanon, India, Turkey, and Serbia. He is currently working with the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), frequently collaborates with the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA), and also supports DiploFoundation as assistant curator for the GIP Digital Watch observatory. Michael was formerly the communications manager of iGmena, a program launched in 2012 by Hivos, worked closely with Jane Coffin, the director of development strategy at the Internet Society (ISOC), for nearly two years, and has been a two-time ISOC ambassador to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). He has lectured on Internet governance at the Media and Digital Literacy Academy of Beirut (MDLAB), and frequently writes about development, digital rights, and the relationship between the Internet, the environment, and sustainability. Michael holds a Master of Arts in sociology from the American University of Beirut (Lebanon), and a Bachelors of Science in sociology from the University of Louisville (USA). Additionally, He has completed various Internet governance and media policy-related training programs, including the 2017 European Summer School on Internet Governance (EuroSSIG) and the 2016 Annenberg-Oxford Media Policy Summer Institute, and has been a two-time ICANN fellow. Michael also loathes referring to himself in third person.

Country experience: USA, Lebanon, India, Turkey, & Serbia

Twitter: @mikeoghia

LinkedIn: /in/mikeoghia