Speaker - Steven De Costa

Steven De Costa is a long-time advocate for open source as a foundation for public good and digital transparency. As the founder of Link Digital, he has been a key steward of the CKAN project for over a decade, helping grow the open-source data platform used by governments worldwide. His work is driven by the belief that open technology is crucial for accountability and innovation.

His latest venture, the Objective Observer Initiative, extends this mission by developing FOSS tools for verifiable, independent observation of digital public infrastructures that support open knowledge operations. At the 026 Everything Open conference, Steven is excited to connect with peers to discuss the future of open data, building sustainable community-driven projects, and the technical challenges of ensuring digital sovereignty. When not wrangling data platforms, he's usually exploring the intersection of technology, governance, and societal change. Don't hesitate to say hello, or to ping him via the handle @starl3n.