Read about Pooja Munshi

What brought you to a career in technology at the United Nations?

After working for the private sector and start up world for almost a decade, I knew I wanted to apply learnings into a sector that needed it most. Being passionate about the environment was a huge driver.

What has been your favorite technology project or initiative at the United Nations and why? What was your contribution?

UNEP IMEO's Methane Alert & Response System. Enabled by an AI model that pulls in data from a dozen satellites and ground data, our geospatial analysts team detects and attributes methane plumes in oil and gas, coal and waste, and hands over to programme managers who notify governments and companies for immediate action. I lead the Eye on Methane data platform, where the MARS data is published and made transparent. This work is funded in part by Google.org, and I manage the donor-related work.

What advice would you give women interested in pursuing a field in technology?

Data and technology are now almost ubiquitous. The percentage of women and girls in data and technology has been historically low, but there is absolutely no reason why that should be the case in a world where data and technology are everywhere. We need to change the trend and be a leading voice in shaping the narrative.