Eleanor Stewart

Eleanor Stewart has been the Head of Transparency at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since November 2012. Having worked in communications for much of her career, Eleanor has extensive experience of both internal and external communications and Transparency and Open Data. Currently, as the Head of Transparency for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, she is responsible for driving the necessary institutional change within the department and the release of its information; supporting the UK Government’s international programmes and objectives in Transparency and Open Data through the Open Government Partnership and other initiatives; as well as working to embed digital methodologies and processes in the day to day work of a foreign affairs ministry. Some of her achievements in introducing new technologies and policies into government include ensuring that digital media are included in the production, reporting and evaluation of Government policy and initiatives; launching data.gov.uk with Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Sir Nigel Shadbolt and Andrew Stott to facilitate the release and reuse of government data; pioneering the use of hack days or collaborative events to inform/develop foreign policy; defining security and propriety rules for civil servants working with and using social media; developing and promoting the use of web 2.0 and social media technology within the secure network of the civil service to improve knowledge sharing and efficiency.   Her specialties are: data release, integrating social media into communications activities, product development, cross government working and liaison, stakeholder engagement, communications delivery and event management.