Pia Andrews

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Pia Andrews (born 1979, also known as Pia Smith and Pia Waugh) is an open government leader and a senior public sector adviser. She currently serves as Special Advisor, Digital & Client Data Workstream Lead for Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). She helped grow Australia’s open government community by organizing events like GovHack and GovCamp that bring people together to share government data.

Earlier in her career, Pia was a prominent free software advocate. She served as President of Software Freedom International and as President and Vice-President of Linux Australia. She co-founded Waugh Partners with Jeff Waugh, and their work earned the 2007 NSW Pearcey Award for Young Achievers. She also led the One Laptop Per Child Australia program in 2008.

Pia is self-taught in computing and has studied politics. She has worked to promote ICT careers for children and women. In 2009 she became a policy adviser to Kate Lundy, stepping back from some community leadership roles. In 2012 she joined the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) as Director of Coordination and Gov 2.0, overseeing data.gov.au. In 2014 she was named one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence, and in 2018 she was listed among the world’s 100 most influential people in digital government by Apolitical. That same year she became Executive Director of Digital Government in New South Wales. In 2020 she joined Canada’s public service as Special Advisor, Digital & Client Data Workstream Lead for ESDC.