Michael j. Oghia

About me

I am a Belgrade-based consultant, editor, researcher, and ICT sustainability advocate working within the digital policy, internet governance, and media development ecosystems. My focus areas include access, capacity building, digital rights, infrastructure, and sustainability. I am a third-culture kid (TCK) and a connector at heart with more than a decade of professional experience in conflict resolution, journalism, media, policy, and development across five countries: the United States, Lebanon, India, Turkey and Serbia.

I am the advocacy and engagement manager for the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) – an international network of over 200 journalism support and media development organisations working across more than 70 countries. I am also currently serving as a steering committee member of the Internet Rights and Principles Coalition (IRPC) as well as a co-chair of the RightsCon Environmental Sustainability and Human Resilience Track. I have lectured on internet governance at the Media and Digital Literacy Academy of Beirut, and frequently write about development, digital rights, and the relationship between the internet and the environment.

My skills

For a full list, please see my CV: https://bit.ly/OghiaCV

Why you should work with me

My expertise includes: internet governance, ICT sustainability, privacy, security, future of the internet, digital rights, sustainability and the internet, media development, international relations, and development.

I am also involved with multiple communities, including FYEG, CDNEE, CAN Europe, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP), Forum for Sustainability through Life Cycle Innovation (FSLCI) and the IRPC.

My work experiences

I am an experienced trainer and facilitator who has previous co-organised activities with the Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Europe (CDNEE) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (prep. team, 2017) and the Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG) in Hungary (prep. team, 2018). I was invited as a trainer during programmes hosted by the CDNEE in Ukraine (2019) and online via a webinar (2020) as well as YEENet in Budapest (2019).

For more information, including a detailed list of publications and interviews, please head to my LinkedIn for a full breakdown: https://linkedin.com/in/mikeoghia

My education & training

M.A. in Sociology, American University of Beirut (Lebanon)

B.S. in Sociology, University of Louisville (USA)

My references

Weronika Koralewska

Katarina (Kaca) Pavlovic

Gergely (Greg) Csaszar

Masha Pashkova-Dzneladze