Joy Gimena is a technology and data strategy executive with over a decade of experience leading digital transformation, data systems architecture, and business analytics across international NGOs, consulting firms, and academic institutions. Her expertise spans enterprise IT management, data pipeline development, technology change management, and cross-functional systems integration.

She currently serves as the Head of Information Technology at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), where she oversees the institute’s global digital and data strategy, including knowledge management and global IT operations. In this capacity, she leads the modernization of research and operational systems, aligning technology infrastructure with the institute’s scientific and development goals across multiple geographies.

Prior to IRRI, Gimena held several senior leadership roles at International Care Ministries (ICM), a global poverty-alleviation NGO, including Director of Technology and Data Privacy Officer. Over her tenure, she created and scaled the technology and data department to automate dashboards for global monitoring and learning. She introduced data best practices and led the transformation of operational and research data systems across 40+ branches in three countries. Her leadership enabled near real-time data visibility, automated analytics pipelines, and supported the successful execution of five randomized control trials (RCTs).

Gimena also brings consulting experience from Jabian Consulting in Atlanta, where she supported clients from Fortune 500 firms and government agencies on projects involving IT strategy, cybersecurity metrics, product development, and business intelligence. Her technical acumen is complemented by practical experience managing offshore development teams, implementing enterprise systems, and advising C-level stakeholders on digital strategy and performance optimization.

She holds a Master of Science in Computational Science and Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Gordon College. She also completed advanced studies in Mandarin and China Studies at Peking University. Her professional credentials include certifications in Agile software development and Six Sigma Green Belt, along with technical fluency in platforms such as AWS, SQL, R, and Python.

Joy Gimena combines a global perspective with a results-driven approach. Her work reflects a commitment to leveraging data and technology for social impact, operational excellence, and scalable development outcomes.