Annika Small

Annika Elisabeth Small[1] OBE is a social entrepreneur focused on using digital technologies to address big social challenges. As Founder of CAST (www.wearecast.org.uk) and former Chief Executive of Nominet Trust (www.nominettrust.org.uk), Small has worked with a range of charities and social enterprises to develop digital solutions to issues such as healthcare, social isolation, homelessness, domestic abuse and persistent poverty. Online peer mentoring for those experiencing bullying, the first online clinical research trial, the iDEA programme for young digital entrepreneurs and new forms of micro-volunteering to help those experiencing loneliness are just some examples of how Small has worked with partners to drive social change with digital technology.

Prior to Nominet Trust, Small founded and led the Tony Blair Institute's global education programme - Generation Global - where she used digital technologies to bring together young people of different cultures around the world to learn directly with, from and about each other. This programme is active in more than 25 countries and has been proven to enhance inter-cultural relationships, particularly in areas of conflict from Pakistan to Syria. Prior to this, Small was Chief Executive of Futurelab, a leading educational R&D organisation chaired by Lord Puttnam,which develops radically new approaches to teaching and learning. Winner of multiple awards including the prestigious BETT award for special achievement in education and technology, Small works to bring together policy, industry and academia to create imaginative digital resources and practices that mobilize positive social change.

As a member of BAFTA and a Fellow of the RSA, Small is particularly interested in supporting young people to be active, informed participants in our digital society. To this end, she is a Trustee of Founders4Schools and the Design Council. She is also a Non-Exec Director of Lightful and a Trustee of the Access Foundation.