Unpacking Power in Decolonial Data Practice
Nabilah Said
In this talk, Nabilah Said calls data leaders to critically examine the power dynamics embedded in their work—and offers a framework for building more ethical, community-rooted data practices. Learn how her team at Kontinentalist redefined their mission, workflows, and storytelling approach to move beyond extractive data use and toward principles of equity, care, and accountability.
Nabilah Said is the editorial lead of award-winning data storytelling studio Kontinentalist, which advocates for a more equitable world through fostering connections between Asia’s sources of knowledge. She has 13 years of experience in editorial and communications, during which time she served as an arts correspondent for Singapore’s main broadsheet, The Straits Times, and editor of Southeast Asian regional publication ArtsEquator.
Key projects include: Singapore’s divisive ethnicity-based housing policy (Longlisted, Information Is Beautiful Awards 2024); Terraforming Singapore: Is the future made of sand? (Award of Excellence, Best of Digital Design, Society for News Design Awards 2023; Shortlisted, Excellence in Infographics, SOPA Awards 2024); Jakarta’s roadside food sellers: Finding a path in a future of convenience (Bronze, Single Story Design, Society for News Design 2023); and Alternate World of Copy Songs (Winner, WAN-IFRA Asia Digital Media Awards 2023).