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Allen is the Chief Technology Officer and the Director of Information Technologies at InterAction. He is responsible for the complete oversight and management of InterAction’s network-based operations and communications systems. This includes all facets of InterAction’s information systems, networking hardware, software, servers, clients, and communication technologies (video, audio, digital, analog). Prior to his current position, he was the CEO between 1999 and 2007 of Orbital Technology Solutions Inc., an IT company based in Virginia, and from 1995-1999 worked for BDM Technologies and subsequently for TRW. A member of IEEE, Allen is a systems engineer with backgrounds in mechanical and electrical engineering.
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Working Groups are a central part of the way InterAction supports and aids its members. Working Groups are first and foremost a place for member agencies to share information that is important to them in several ways:
- by providing a way for member organizations to share information about field-based issues, concerns, and topics;
- by serving as a place for members to receive training and to share best practices with each other; and
- by offering a space for members to develop new products and materials on a given topic.
Working Groups are member driven and supported by InterAction staff (with the exception of a few non-staffed working groups). Members identify an interest, issue area, or need around which they feel their collective voices will clarify or strengthen responses. Depending on the number of member organizations interested, a meeting or consultation is planned to explore the topic and allow members to share their issues and concerns. Such consultations or exploratory meetings may lead to the formation of an on-going Working Group.
InterAction's current working groups are described below. For more information on a specific working group, contact the group's staff contact.
| Group | Description | Staff Contact |
|---|---|---|
| ICCC |
InterAction CTO, CIO Council |
Allen Abtahi |
| Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Sub-Working Group |
Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) Sub-Working Group |
Heather Powell |
| Task Force on Foreign Assistance Reform (TF) |
A forum for discussing and planning advocacy strategies on foreign aid reform |
Filmona Hailemichael |
| Outreach and Communications Working Group |
A skills-building and information sharing forum for member staff with grassroots advocacy, communications, and outreach responsibilities. |
Filmona Hailemichael |
| Security Advisory Group |
The Security Advisory Group advances the strategic development of InterAction member organization's safety and security management |
John Schafer |
| Iraq Working Group |
Forum for discusing and advocating on internal and external issues related to Iraq, refugees/IDPs, security & other areas impacting the NGO community |
Heather Powell |
| Humanitarian Partnerships Working Group |
A Forum for discussion and collaborative action around changing dynamics within the humanitarian community |
Elizabeth Bellardo |
| Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) |
The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Working Group meets monthly to discuss and plan advocacy strategies for issues pertaining to the MCC |
Sarah Farnsworth |
| Public Policy Committee |
InterAction's General Public Policy Working Group |
Ken Forsberg |
| Pandemic Preparedness Working Group |
The Pandemic Preparedness Working Group meets to address national and international planning for NGOs to respond to a pandemic influenza |
Elizabeth Bellardo |
| West Bank/Gaza Working Group |
The West Bank/Gaza Working Group meets monthly to discuss humanitarian access issues, coordinate Hill visits, and share operational issues |
Elizabeth Bellardo |
| Somalia Working Group |
The Somalia Working Group meets monthly to discuss humanitarian disaster response issues effecting NGOs working in Somalia and with Somali refugees |
Elizabeth Bellardo |
