“The chief data officer position plays a key role in our administration’s efforts to be more transparent, efficient and effective by facilitating information sharing between the city and its residents and between departments,” Nutter stated in a press release. “Tim has a technology and community building background, and he has been keenly focused on civic engagement, and that clearly makes him a standout choice. Tim’s appointment will strengthen the city’s commitment to open data and refocus the administration’s strategy. I am looking forward to the good work Tim will do with our open data policy.”
Wisniewski was the city’s director of civic technology, a role in which he oversaw the creation of civic engagement projects like the Philly311 mobile app, and myPhillyRising.com, a website that attempts to improve quality of life and reduce crime in troubled neighborhoods by creating partnerships to solve those problems.
Before joining the city in 2012, Wisniewski was the executive director of the Frankford Special Services District, and president of the 24th Police District Advisory Council.
“I am excited to take on this tremendous opportunity, and honored to help implement the mayor’s vision around open data,” Wisniewski said in a press release. “I’m looking forward to renewing the focus on the general public as the ultimate customer of open data, and on departments as the leaders in government transparency and civic engagement. My role will be to help facilitate communication between them and to help departments implement their open data decisions.”
