Josine Overdevest is driven by insatiable curiosity and a passion for exploring human, societal, and technological potential. Her journey has spanned corporate boardrooms, rural classrooms, bustling inner cities, and serene mountaintops. With over 30 years of experience across industries such as telecommunications and education in both the global north and south, she’s gained a deep understanding of the human condition and developed a knack for seeing potential where others see obstacles. This diverse background allows her to transform dystopian views of our technological future into vibrant and sustainable visions that prioritise human agency and connection.
As the founder of Flying Cows of Jozi, Josine empowers organisations to maximise social returns on digital education investments, guiding school leaders and educators to support young people in their care in acquiring essential 21st-century and digital skills. Her consultancy goes beyond traditional approaches, embedding human potential, digital ethics and sustainability into organisational strategies to ensure that technology serves as a catalyst for positive, human-centric change.
With a rich leadership background, including roles as a non-executive director of the Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA) and chair of its Social & Ethics Committee, Josine is a trusted guide and agent of cohesion. She frequently writes columns and is invited as a speaker to share insights on the intersection of humanity and technology, digital sustainability, and ethical innovation. She works with organisations to explore the boundless possibilities at this crossroads, advocating for a future where technology enhances our natural resourcefulness and curiosity, leading to a more harmonious and sustainable world.
Key areas of expertise:
Strategic innovation
Digital education strategy
Digital ethics and sustainability
Network building & cross-sector collaboration
Human-centric coaching & change management
Public speaking and thought leadership
David O’Leary Award winner
The International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) IP3 has presented the 2023 David O’Leary Award to Josine Overdevest.
To promote and encourage professionalism in ICT, IFIP IP3 acknowledges and rewards an individual or organisation that has promoted and demonstrated Professionalism, has worked as an Ethics Evangelist, and/or has made strides in fostering diversity among ICT practitioners.
IFIP IP3 Global Industry Council
In December 2023 Josine Overdevest was appointed to the IFIP IP3 Global Industry Council.
The Global Industry Council is a think-tank, and provides guidance and thought leadership on important contemporary issues, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the strides that must be made to achieve the goals.
WALKS
Join Josine on a real or virtual walk in inner city Jozi to discover the secret sights, sounds and special encounters that have inspired her since her move to town in 2013.
TALKS
Listen how Josine together with various experts guides the audience through the exciting topics of digital education, digital sustainability and the role that digital ethics has to play.
WRITINGS
Read Josine’s columns on digital sustainability, education & ethics and her vignettes of inner city Johannesburg life.
