Madigan Johnson is Head of Communications at Data Friendly Space (DFS), where she helps make AI and data innovations accessible and impactful for the humanitarian sector. She is a co-author of the Humanitarian AI Survey 2025, the first global study mapping how aid organizations are adopting artificial intelligence, and has highlighted both the opportunities emerging from the Global South and the governance challenges that remain.

With over a decade of experience in digital strategy, user engagement, and humanitarian communications, Madigan is passionate about bridging the gap between technologists, humanitarians, and affected communities to ensure AI is ethical, inclusive, and practical. At DFS, she plays a key role in advancing GANNET (Guided Assistance and Navigation for Needs and Emergency Tasks), a generative AI platform designed to support emergency response and anticipatory action.

Topic: Strategic AI Implementation Workshop

Social impact organizations are under increasing pressure to adopt AI to drive faster decisions and better outcomes. Yet most initiatives falter—not because of technology itself, but due to gaps in strategic readiness. This workshop helps participants move from aspiration to action by uncovering opportunities, addressing barriers, and mastering the critical questions that shape successful AI adoption. Participants will leave with a tailored 90-day roadmap, practical strategies to balance headquarters–field dynamics, and sustainable planning tools to ensure AI initiatives create lasting impact.