Justin Arenstein is founder and CEO for Africa’s largest network of digital/data journalism labs, Code for Africa (CfA), in 21 countries. CfA builds open data infrastructure, and seed-funds or incubates the continent’s largest investigative journalism, fact-checking, drone journalism and remote sensing innovation teams. It also runs the continent’s largest digital journalism training initiative, with fellows and mentors in over 50 newsrooms and partnerships at over 20 universities.

Justin began his career as an investigative journalist in South Africa, producing reportage that sparked changes to local laws and that sent senators, parliamentarians and cabinet members to prison. His work has been recognised by major African and wider international journalism awards. He founded a string of successful independent media outlets, as well as helping co-found Africa’s leading regional/continental association for journalistic freelancers and two separate associations for investigative journalists, plus the OCCRP’s Investigative Dashboard initiative, and the WanaData women data science/storytelling network.

He currently serves on the governing council for the Code for All global network of civic technology/digital democracy organisations, and on the advisory council for the IFC/World Bank’s Data for Development initiative.