About Ed Dowding
Award-winning innovation leader leveraging
AI, data, and systems thinking
to drive organisational transformation
Building platforms at the intersection of AI, civic tech, and social impact. Specializing in cross-functional coordination, AI-native organisations, and lightweight operational infrastructure that enables speed without bureaucracy.
Background
I'm an award-winning innovation leader with deep expertise in cross-functional coordination, AI-native organisations, and creating lightweight operational infrastructure that enables speed without bureaucracy. My work focuses on implementing solutions that deliver measurable business growth while addressing critical global challenges through technological innovation.
Currently, I serve as Associate Director at South Pole, where I've delivered AI-augmented market intelligence platforms (live in 2 days, ROI in 5), refactored overlapping systems into enterprise e-commerce platforms that doubled turnover with 80% fewer resources, and created transition-risk engines cutting reporting time by 98%. I've built C-suite alignment for digital transformation while authoring five-year transformation roadmaps linking data, commerce, and compliance.
As Founder of RoundBear, I've created multiple applied-AI ventures including Mother's Almanac (AI-powered parenting encyclopedia), PocketPoppins (parenting intelligence), and OpenGroupMap (civic mapping platform). Previously, I was Head of Product Innovation at Ecosystem Marketplace, leading end-to-end delivery of a first-of-a-kind B2B real-time market intelligence system for the voluntary carbon market that cut reporting time by 90% and saved two FTEs.
Earlier in my career, I founded Represent.me, a digital democracy platform that attracted 20,000 members who cast over 1.2 million votes and represented 60% of top candidates in the London Mayoral elections ("Plotting a revolution in the way voters engage with politics" - The Times). I also created London's emergency response platform at CitySafe, setting a new paradigm for information sharing in civic emergency response across 33 local authorities and emergency services.
My work spans climate tech, financial inclusion, civic engagement, and AI-powered transformation. I believe the most interesting technical challenges exist at the boundary between cutting-edge technology and meaningful social impact—building systems that enable transparency, accountability, and collective action at scale.
Expertise
Technical skills and domain knowledge
Digital transformation, AI-native workflows, cross-functional coordination, operational infrastructure design, C-suite stakeholder management
TypeScript, React, Next.js, Node.js, Python, PostgreSQL, Supabase, AI/ML integration (OpenAI, Anthropic Claude), WhatsApp Business API, conversational AI, LLM orchestration
End-to-end product delivery, market intelligence systems, B2B platforms, data analytics, proof-of-concept development, transformation roadmaps
Climate tech (carbon markets, blue carbon, transition risk), financial inclusion, civic engagement, emergency response systems, market intelligence, e-commerce platforms
Philosophy
Technology should serve as infrastructure for trust. The platforms I build prioritize transparency, accountability, and enabling collective action. Whether it's connecting coastal communities to climate finance or building AI-powered tools for underserved populations, the goal is always to create systems that empower people and facilitate meaningful coordination.
Ready to collaborate?
Let's discuss how we can work together on your next innovation challenge.