Pillar 01 / Platform

Why We Exist.

Our name reflects a simple truth. AI systems do not emerge from nowhere. They are built on our data, shaped by our experiences, and influence our lives every day. Yet the communities most affected by these technologies are often excluded from the decisions that govern them.

We Are The Algorithm is a call for communities to move from being subjects of AI to becoming its shapers, watchdogs, and beneficiaries. Because if our lives help build these systems, we deserve a voice in how they work, who profits from them, and who they serve.

WATA is building community power across the AI lifecycle, from data collection and surveillance to algorithmic accountability, policy influence, and economic participation.

The WATA Network

Leadership & Governance

Perrykent Nkole

Community Intelligence Lead

Perrykent Nkole is a Zambian community strategist with more than a decade of experience building civil society movements and strengthening community leadership across Africa. Trained in diplomacy, protocol, and public relations at the Zambia Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies, his work sits at the intersection of advocacy, governance, and movement building.

He began his advocacy journey as a UNICEF and Save the Children youth ambassador, championing children's rights and meaningful youth participation in public decision-making. Since then, he has worked with civil society organisations across the continent to strengthen community organising and accountability.

At WATA, Perrykent leads work on community networks, partnerships, and movement development, helping connect organisations across Africa to build collective power around artificial intelligence, data governance, and digital justice. He also serves on the Regional Board of Directors of SRHR Africa Trust (SAT), where he contributes to regional governance and social justice initiatives.

Katy Hindle

Policy & Advocacy

Katy Hindle is a lawyer, policy specialist, and human rights advocate whose work focuses on the intersection of law, gender, public policy, and social justice.

Following degrees in social science and law from the University of Cape Town, she completed an LLM at the University of California, Los Angeles as a UCLA/Sonke Fellow, specialising in health, gender, human rights, and empirical legal studies. Her work has combined legal research with practical advocacy to influence public policy across Southern Africa.

Throughout her career, Katy has worked on judicial transformation, sex work law reform, prison justice, women's rights, and constitutional and human rights law. She has held positions with the Centre for Human Rights and the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law, and currently works in knowledge management.

At WATA, Katy provides strategic policy and advocacy support, helping translate emerging AI and data governance challenges into practical policy recommendations grounded in human rights.

Dale Mukwena

Research & Evidence

Dale Mukwena is a researcher and monitoring, evaluation, and learning specialist with more than 15 years of experience generating evidence to strengthen policy, advocacy, and community-led programmes across Southern Africa.

His expertise spans research design, programme evaluation, data analysis, and knowledge translation across HIV, sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, nutrition, and community development. Dale specialises in turning complex evidence into practical insights that support better decision-making and stronger public policy.

DHe has supported national and regional initiatives funded by governments, multilateral agencies, and international donors, and has held senior research and MEL positions with organisations including the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, NACOSA, and HIV South Africa

At WATA, Dale supports research, learning, and evidence generation, helping ensure the network's advocacy on AI, data governance, and community accountability is grounded in rigorous research. He is currently completing a PhD in Psychology (Evaluation and Applied Research) at Claremont Graduate University.

Tian Johnson

Strategist

Tian Johnson is a Pan-African strategist and Founder of the African Alliance, working at the intersection of community power, governance, technology, and social justice. For more than two decades, Tian has helped shape regional and global responses to health, human rights, accountability, and public policy while championing African leadership in international decision-making.

Tian serves as a Commissioner on The Lancet Global Health Commission on AI and HIV, a Board Member of the Robert Carr Fund, the world's largest fund supporting global and regional networks serving inadequately served populations, and has advised institutions across Africa, including the African Union, Africa CDC, UNAIDS, and the South African government on community engagement, governance, and public accountability.

Tian conceived WATA as a continent-wide movement to ensure African communities are not simply governed by artificial intelligence, but actively shape how AI, data, and digital technologies are designed, governed, and held accountable. Thier work focuses on building community power to influence AI governance, strengthening democratic accountability, and ensuring African voices help define the future of technology rather than simply respond to it.

Anna Matendawafa

Council Member

Anna Matendawafa is a Zimbabwean programme specialist with extensive experience strengthening community-led health, governance, and development initiatives across Africa. Her work combines programme management, partnership development, organisational leadership, and movement building to support locally led responses to complex social challenges.

Throughout her career, Anna has worked alongside civil society organisations, governments, donors, and regional partners to design and deliver programmes that strengthen community participation, accountability, and sustainable development. She has particular expertise in translating strategy into practical implementation, ensuring that ambitious ideas are grounded in effective systems and strong partnerships.

As a Council Member of WATA, Anna contributes to the strategic direction and governance of the network, helping ensure that African communities remain at the centre of conversations on artificial intelligence, data governance, and digital justice. She is committed to building inclusive, community-led approaches that strengthen accountability, amplify African voices, and ensure technology serves the public interest.

Ilana Gasa

Council Member

Ilana Gasa is a Zimbabwean social worker, public health advocate, and digital resilience practitioner working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, public health, and digital rights.

She is the founder of the Digital Defense Blueprint, a youth-centred initiative promoting AI literacy, Safety, and responsible digital citizenship. Her work explores how AI influences mental wellbeing, access to information, and community resilience, with a focus on ensuring emerging technologies are governed ethically and inclusively.

Ilana is passionate about advancing African-led AI governance that empowers communities, protects human rights, and ensures technology serves the public good.

Ann Kazhinga Holland

Council Member

Ann Kazhinga Holland is the Founder and Director of Sistah Sistah Foundation and Rogue Women, with over a decade of experience working across feminist movements in Africa.

She is a grassroots movement organiser and fund development practitioner whose work focuses on strengthening feminist organisations, mobilising communities, and building sustainable movements. Her experience spans sexual and gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, climate justice, and digital justice.

She has also contributed to feminist approaches to artificial intelligence, including developing ethics toolkits and co-creating spaces that examine how emerging technologies affect women, children, and historically marginalised communities.

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Why We Exist.

The WATA Network

Perrykent Nkole

Katy Hindle

Dale Mukwena

Tian Johnson

Anna Matendawafa

Ilana Gasa

Ann Kazhinga Holland

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