Merici Vinton is a co-founder of Ada's List, a forum for women in technology in London and globally. She's a digital strategist meets government tech meets open data type. As an MBA grad with a passion for change, she sees technology as a means to solving problems -- not an end to itself.

After working on the Obama New Media team, Merici moved to DC because she wanted to help bridge the gap between government and people -- and figured websites and citizen-centric technology was a great place to start (nothing like picking an easy battle, eh?). Merici built the web team for the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and led the successful and praised launch of consumerfinance.gov.

Merici now works at IDEO's SaaS innovation platform, OI Engine. Prior to that, she was a freelance strategist in London and projects included prototyping a new BBC online experience, launching Gordon and Sarah Brown's global education campaign + leading digital for Malala Day.

Merici's an experienced and accomplished speaker - from SXSWi, to Strata, to countless unconferences and management teams - and occassionally writes, too.

She lives in London with her husband and two cats, Jeffrey and Jeffrey.