Sian Basker
Co-Chief Executive
Sian has spent over 30 years exploring new frontiers in data and digital technology and bringing the benefits to the nonprofit sector. She divides her time between leading Data Orchard, consulting for major clients, and promoting the importance and value of data through public speaking, training and writing.
Sian became a data champion and social entrepreneur following a (2nd) career epiphany in 2010. Since 2015, she’s led our pioneering work on organisational data maturity, including the design of assessment and benchmarking tools. Her specialisms are data strategy, impact measurement, and research design.
Sian has held senior roles in digital strategy and management with local, national, and international nonprofits. Her roots are in digital access and inclusion. She helped create the UK’s first public internet access programmes in the early 1990s and worked internationally to build online skills and connectivity. In the 2000s she led national ICT/digital support programmes enabling nonprofits to maximise use of the web, digital tools and data systems and worked cross-sector with public sector, academic and commercial partners on early data-sharing projects.
Sian has an MSc in Data Science and Analytics and a BSc Hons in Mathematics and Science & Technology Policy. She is married with a family, sings in a community choir, and is a fiendish scrabble player.
Sian can help with…
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• Customised organisation and cohort data maturity assessments
• Support with staff engagement
• Delivery of workshops
• Capturing and synthesising staff perspectives
• Identifying key issues and shaping priorities for action -
• Key stakeholder consultation
• Digital tools and systems mapping
• Data assets mapping and evaluation
• Analysis of skills and training needs
• Data strategy and roadmap design -
• Qualitative and quantitative research
• Survey and questionnaire design
• Sampling
• Interview techniques
• Good practice in data collection
• Research ethics -
• Theory of change
• Performance indicators and impact measures
• Data collection processes and methods
• Evaluation of programmes and services -
• Leadership training
• Workshop design and delivery
• Public speaking