Dirk Slater is the founder and CEO of FabRiders. He brings nearly thirty years of experience harnessing collective power and building capacity with activists, advocates, and systemic change agents across more than forty countries. Throughout his career, Dirk has specialised in designing participatory learning experiences, developing network-centric resources, and strengthening facilitation skills within the charity and social justice sectors.
Dirk’s journey began in the late 1990s as the architect of the Low-Income Networking and Communication (LINC) Project for the Welfare Law Center, one of the first circuit rider initiatives in the United States. This innovative model embedded technology consultants within social justice movements. LINC supported over 50 organisations in their efforts to mobilise low-income communities and challenge regressive welfare reforms.
In 2005, Dirk expanded his impact globally by joining Tactical Technology Collective, where he focused on equipping advocates in marginalised communities, including sex workers and people living with HIV/AIDS, with the skills to leverage technology and data for justice and rights. He contributed to seminal resources such as “10 Tactics for Turning Information into Action” and “Security in a Box,” and large-scale trainings like the 2009 Info-Activism Camp in Bangalore.
Since founding FabRiders in 2012, Dirk has led over a hundred projects addressing diverse social change issues, including government transparency, digital rights, and the empowerment of marginalised groups. He has coached more than a thousand trainers and facilitators, helping them integrate adult learning methodologies and foster solidarity through effective session design at major convenings such as RightsCon and MozFest.
Dirk’s recent work includes co-editing the IFRC’s Data Playbook, developing The Collective Power Playbook, and co-convening networks like The Capacity Builders Convergence and The Event Design Strategy Network. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a key role in transitioning major events- including RightsCon, MozFest, and Climate:Red Summit- from in-person to virtual formats, ensuring continued collaboration and learning in challenging times.
Dirk is recognised for his commitment to participatory methodologies, adult learning, and catalysing collective action. This makes him a sought-after facilitator, coach, and resource developer in the global digital rights and social justice community.