Vision
Technology for human sustainability.
Unite individuals, communities, businesses and governance to keep technological progress aligned with human interests.
Make equitable and sustainable innovation aspirational.
Mission
Promote safe and responsible navigation and innovation in the digital ecosystem.
We aim to equip societies to tackle issues of online safety, mis/disinformation, privacy and trust breaches, digital behaviour manipulation, and attention-harvesting, through digital & media literacy initiatives, and responsible innovation advocacy.
These initiatives would be central to promoting
- Critical Awareness
- Accountability
- Informed action
among students, educators, parents, entrepreneurs, creators, developers, journalists, bureaucrats and government officials to maximise the benefits, and limit the harmful effects of digital media.
Behind
The Vision
As users and as professionals, we have always loved the media and its potential to inform, influence, connect and entertain. As the world struggles with new-age challenges that require fresh ideas, collaboration, problem-solving skills and rigour, the unintentional fallouts and intentional misuse of tech-powered media have managed to delude and divide us, devour our focus, and keep us short-sighted, angry, dissatisfied and anxious, in pursuit of narrow problem-solving.
Citizen Digital Foundation is born of our shared passion for media, and a shared concern on the adverse impacts of extractive digital media business models on individuals, communities, and democracies. We believe economics, engineering, and technology when dissociated from the zero-sum games they serve, would work constructively for human and planet sustainability goals. And we want to be part of the solution. By collaboratively fostering an environment for regenerative solutions through healthy knowledge-sharing, intersectional solutions, responsible innovation, critical questioning, and informed participation in democratic processes. In the process, meet and learn from renegades along the way, and reimagine success with everyone who chooses to walk along.
Nidhi and Vijesh
Founders
Citizen Digital Foundation
Each one of us has to develop his or her own definition of success. And when we have these specific expectations of ourselves, we’re more likely to live up to them. Ultimately, it’s not what you get, or even what you give. It’s what you become.”
MARY GATES
Teacher, Activist, Businesswoman
Team
Nidhi Sudhan
Co-Founder | 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics™ 2024
Languages Spoken: English, Hindi, Malayalam
Education
- Graduate Certificate in Public Policy (Tech Policy), Takshashila Institution, India
- MBA (Digital Media), Nottingham Business School, UK
- Chartered Manager, Chartered Management Institute, UK
- Technological Disruption: Managing impact on Business, Society and Politics, LSE, UK
- PGCP in Broadcasting Management, MICA, India
Other qualifications
- Foundations of Humane Technology, Center for Humane Technology, US
- Tech Stewardship Practice Program, Engineering Change Lab, Canada
- Entrepreneurship Development Program, IIM Kozhikode
- Essentials of Generative AI, Microsoft
Nidhi is an advocate of responsible media & technology. She has nearly 20 years of experience in content, editorial, media strategy and analytics, and deep systems knowledge of media’s power and influence on social sense-making and opinion-shaping. She has studied, worked and volunteered across India, UAE, Greece, and the UK with organisations like UTV, ENIL Times of India, Channel 4 Radio Network, Dråpen i Havet, and Chelsea Football Club.
Nidhi has advanced education in intersections of emerging technologies with society, business, and information ecosystems, along with specialisations in tech stewardship and public policy, and she trains and advises private and public stakeholders on media & information literacy, data & AI governance, AI ethics, and inclusive tech. As co-founder of CDF, she aims to influence structural shifts in responsible and accountable tech design and practices, while fostering information literacy among end-users of digital technologies.
Nidhi has been listed among 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics™ 2024 by Women in AI Ethics, New York. She is also listed in the AI Kiran 2025 changemakers list acknowledging her work in AI Ethics & Governance.
Education
- MBA in Marketing Management
Other qualifications
- SAP Certified Application Associate
Vijesh Ram is a social entrepreneur with a genuine passion for the idea of technology for human sustainability, aiming to raise awareness among people by mobilising technologists, executives, educators, innovators, and political leaders towards humane technology. Over two decades as marketer and entrepreneur, Vijesh’s career has spanned media marketing, strategic planning, brand activations, IT, advertising, and oil & gas in various Asian markets. He has been responsible for creating, launching, and executing strategic multi-platform marketing projects with a focus on enabling meaningful values-based human connections.
Vijesh has been part of the Times of India Group, Malayala Manorama Co. Ltd, Southern Refineries Limited, Oryx Lubes & Greases FZC, and LubeBiz. He is also a Director at Media Box Office – an advertising, marketing, and technology company with presence in India and the UAE. Vijesh oversees Operations and Compliances at CDF.
Shana Shihab
Programmes Manager
Jack of all trades, Master of programmes
Languages Spoken: English, Malayalam
Akash S S
Project Officer
Warrior of facts, seeker of silver screens
Languages Spoken: English, Malayalam
Farzana Simran
Communications Officer
Linguist, wannabe altruist
Languages Spoken: English, Malayalam
Advisors
Initial Direction
Dr. Mojtaba Poorrezaei
Associate Professor
Marketing
University of Warwick, UK
Dr. Ishan Jalan
Associate Professor
Leadership and Organisational Dynamics
Nottingham Business School, UK
Dr. Mollie Painter
Professor; International Scholar
Business Ethics, Responsible Leadership
Nottingham Business School, UK
Advisors
G Vijayaraghavan
Entrepreneur, Mentor, Founder CEO
Technopark, India
Swarup B R
Vice Chairman & Co-founder
Stark Communications, India
Ullas Marar
Head,
ICC Centre for Entrepreneurship, India
Thomas George
Associate Director – Planning
Stark Communications, Trivandrum, India