Dessa Gypalo

Dessa Gypalo has spent almost two decades working at the intersection of data, technology, and policy. Her work centers on turning data and AI investment into measurable impact. She is the Head of Data, Analytics, and Automation at Save the Children, where she leads the strategy, roadmap, and implementation of enterprise data and AI readiness.

Previously, Dessa served as Chief Data Officer for the State of Illinois and as the inaugural Chief Data Officer for Cook County. Before her work in government, she held leadership roles in advocacy organizations, a civic tech software company, and community organizing institutions, always centering the people affected by the technology, with data privacy and ethics in mind.

Dessa is active in local and national data communities, focused on developing women in data leadership, and is an alum of the Obama Foundation's Leaders USA program and the UChicago Civic Leadership Academy.