Ashley Fowler is the director of digital and information security at Open Briefing. She brings 15 years’ experience building and managing diverse teams, designing tailored interventions, and advancing social justice efforts. Before joining Open Briefing, she was senior manager of internet freedom and resilience programmes at Internews, where she led a portfolio of global projects working at the intersection of technology and human rights.
Ashley is an active member of the internet freedom community, leading initiatives on organisational security, journalist security, and threat information sharing. She co-founded the human rights centred design community and has collaborated with trainers, design experts, and tool developers to ensure open source privacy and security tools meet the needs of at-risk users.
Prior to joining Internews, Ashley worked extensively with global LGBTQIA+ communities, and she remains committed to ongoing advocacy and solidarity.
Hana Hobscheid is the digital and information security coordinator at Open Briefing. She brings seven years of experience managing international programming focused on areas such as digital security for human rights defenders and journalists, supporting independent media, empowering youth, education, and workforce development. Most recently, Hana worked for the Internet Freedom and Resilience team at Internews, managing digital security projects worldwide. She is also passionate about engaging in activism, advocacy, training, and teaching in her local community in the US. She holds a master’s degree in international development and a bachelor’s degree in international studies and Arabic studies.
Shakeeb Al-Jabri is a digital and information security consultant at Open Briefing, with over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology and human rights. During the Arab Spring, Shakeeb dedicated himself to supporting civil society organisations and media outlets, aiding their growth into professional, sustainable operations. In 2012, he founded Syria Newsdesk, where he implemented a training programme for over 200 citizen journalists on professional journalism and digital security. After relocating from Syria to Sweden in 2014, he shifted his focus to cybersecurity, specialising in equipping activists and organisations with the tools and knowledge needed to maintain effective digital security practices, including as a community manager and technologist at Internews. He has coordinated the Rapid Response Network MENA since he founded this community of tech practitioners in 2018. Shakeeb holds a degree in public administration and a diploma in media communication from the American University of Beirut.
Celso Bessa is a digital and information security consultant at Open Briefing, with a wealth of experience in technology and human rights. Since transitioning from an 18-year career in the private sector in 2018, he has focused on advising academics, activists, NGOs, and philanthropies worldwide, with a particular emphasis on Latin America. Celso specialises in digital security audits, training, and research – helping human rights defenders and organisations address complex security challenges. Celso is a member of the steering committee of the Public Interest Technologist Network and was previously a Tech Exchange Media Democracy Fund (MDF) fellow with Consumers International and Dejusticia. He is fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, and splits his time between Brazil and Colombia.
Myo Min Oo is a a digital and information security consultant at Open Briefing, with over a decade of experience operating in high-risk and complex environments. He has partnered with prominent international organisations, including UNICEF, Internews, and the World Bank, to strengthen digital resilience for civil society organisations, journalists, and professionals in sensitive sectors. In 2021, he founded an internet service provider in Rakhine State, Myanmar, which now serves a community of 3,000 users across five major cities. Myo specialises in conducting digital security audits, providing customised training, and implementing practical, innovative security solutions. His work is centred on helping organisations enhance their security infrastructure and effectively address digital threats, particularly in regions facing significant challenges to digital safety.
