John Penn

John Penn is the Executive Director of the George Washington University’s Institute for Data, Democracy & Politics (IDDP). A nonprofit media leader with more than two decades of global experience, he has designed and led initiatives to strengthen independent media, expand access to trusted information, and counter disinformation in transitional democracies and fragile states.

Before joining IDDP, John served as Senior Director of Strategic Communications at the Population Reference Bureau, where he led global communications for USAID’s $800 million MOMENTUM initiative, promoting thought leadership and engaging partners across 40 countries. Prior roles include leading a $9M+ annual grant portfolio at the U.S. Department of State to support independent media in Syria, where he launched one of the country’s most trusted news networks and established mechanisms to combat extremism and false narratives. He also served as Country Director for BBC Media Action in Nepal, leading groundbreaking programming to support the peace process and democratic reforms, and advised governments, international organizations and NGOs on communication strategies for good governance, conflict mitigation and public health in regions such as Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

A George Washington University alumnus with a BA in International Affairs, John also holds an MSc in Media and Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is committed to advancing the role of data, media, and evidence-based research in democracy.