Ken Banks

Banks was born in 1966 in Jersey, Channel Islands. Banks attended Hautlieu School and Highlands College. In 1995, he attended his undergraduate degree at the University of Sussex, studying social anthropology and development studies, graduating in 1999.{{cite web |year=2018 |title=Ken Banks, BA in Social Anthropology and International Development (1999) talks about his career |url=http://www.sussex.ac.uk/development/about/kenbanks |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218130948/http://www.sussex.ac.uk/development/about/kenbanks |archive-date=December 18, 2018 |access-date=December 18, 2018 |publisher=University of Sussex}}

In 2001, Banks became a project manager at CERCOPAN in Nigeria. His time there was cut short by a traffic accident in Calabar in 2002, after which he returned to Jersey to recover. During this period, Banks was approached by Fauna and Flora International (FFI), an international conservation organization, and his work there lead to the launch of the Wildlive! Mobile Portal in December 2003. The initiative provided images, animal sounds, conservation-themed games, and live news to Vodafone subscribers.{{Cite web |last=Sitas |first=Nadia |date=2008-04-16 |title=Mobile game to help save gorillas |url=https://www.edgeofexistence.org/blog/mobile-game-to-help-save-gorillas/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=EDGE of Existence |language=en-GB}}

In 2003, Banks founded kiwanja.net, an NGO dedicated to the use of mobile technology for social and environmental change, with a particularly focus on Africa.{{cite web |author=Imani M. Cheers |date=2013-02-25 |title=Changing the World, One SMS at a Time |url=https://internationalreportingproject.org/stories/view/changing-the-world-one-sms-at-a-time |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203182716/https://internationalreportingproject.org/stories/view/changing-the-world-one-sms-at-a-time |archivedate=2013-12-03 |accessdate=2017-12-03 |publisher=International Reporting Project}} In 2004, Banks was approached by Kruger National Park officials in South Africa, asking for a solution to update Bushbuckridge community members on changes in the park using their mobile phones. This inspired him to develop FrontlineSMS, a platform that sends and receives text messages (SMS) via mobile phones without requiring internet access, in 2005.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-13 |title=Ken Banks revels in extraordinary pursuit of life as a social innovator in new book |url=https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/ken-banks-revels-in-extraordinary-pursuit-of-life-as-a-socia-9254188/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Cambridge Independent |language=en}}

FrontlineSMS was used by a Nigerian organization called Humanitarian Emancipation Lead Project (HELP) to assist Nigerians in reporting on their 2007 national elections.{{cite web |author=Stuart Thornton |date=2011-01-21 |title=Spreading the Message |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.org/news/spreading-message/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207123905/https://www.nationalgeographic.org/news/spreading-message/ |archivedate=2017-12-07 |accessdate=2017-12-07 |publisher=National Geographic Society}} The BBC ran a story, Texts monitor Nigerian elections, mentioning FrontlineSMS. User downloads and global interest accelerated as a result.{{cite news |date=2007-04-20 |title=Texts monitor Nigerian elections |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6570919.stm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207140510/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6570919.stm |archivedate=2017-12-07 |accessdate=2017-12-07 |publisher=BBC}} In 2009, Banks started a two-year FrontlineSMS Ambassadors Programme with the Clinton Foundation.{{cite web |title=FrontlineSMS Ambassadors Programme |url=https://www.clintonfoundation.org/clinton-global-initiative/commitments/frontlinesms-ambassadors-programme |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110113809/https://www.clintonfoundation.org/clinton-global-initiative/commitments/frontlinesms-ambassadors-programme |archivedate=2016-11-10 |accessdate=2017-12-12 |publisher=Clinton Foundation}} FrontlineSMS received partnerships and supports from numerous international donors including the MacArthur Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Open Society Initiative, Rockefeller Foundation, and Omidyar Network, among others.{{cite book |title=Bits and Atoms: Information and Communication Technology in Areas of Limited Statehood |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-19-994159-9 |editor-last=Livingston |editor-first=Steven |pages=84–85 |chapter=FrontlineSMS:Grassroots M4D Innovation and the Challenges of Success |access-date=2017-12-07 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kMgVDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA84 |via=Google Books}}

In 2012, Banks launched Means of Exchange, a project aimed at rebuilding local communities through technology.{{cite web |author=Kathryn Cave |date=2015-01-15 |title=Ken Banks interview: Technology for social good |url=http://www.idgconnect.com/abstract/9306/ken-banks-interview-technology-social |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806004106/http://www.idgconnect.com/abstract/9306/ken-banks-interview-technology-social |archivedate=2015-08-06 |accessdate=2017-12-10 |publisher=IDG Connect}} One of the first initiatives was a "cash mob" during the London Olympics.{{cite news |author=Monty Munford |date=2012-08-15 |title=Cash Mobs: how the internet can revive local shops |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9476691/Cash-Mobs-how-the-internet-can-revive-local-shops.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210113218/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9476691/Cash-Mobs-how-the-internet-can-revive-local-shops.html |archivedate=2017-12-10 |accessdate=2017-12-10 |publisher=The Daily Telegraph}}

In 2012, Banks stepped down from the day-to-day running of FrontlineSMS, handing leadership to Laura Walker Hudson and Sean McDonald, respectively.{{cite news |author=Monty Munford |date=2012-08-15 |title=Cash Mobs: how the internet can revive local shops |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9476691/Cash-Mobs-how-the-internet-can-revive-local-shops.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210113218/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9476691/Cash-Mobs-how-the-internet-can-revive-local-shops.html |archivedate=2017-12-10 |accessdate=2017-12-10 |publisher=The Daily Telegraph}} He transitioned to the role of Chair of the Board, and in 2015, he took on new positions, including Entrepreneur in Residence at CARE International and Visiting Fellow at RMIT University in Melbourne.{{cite web |author=Rob Goodier |date=2016-05-12 |title=Five Questions with Ken Banks: ICT4D Writer, Editor and FrontlineSMS Founder |url=https://www.engineeringforchange.org/five-questions-with-ken-banks-ict4d-writer-editor-and-frontlinesms-founder/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811153733/http://www.engineeringforchange.org/five-questions-with-ken-banks-ict4d-writer-editor-and-frontlinesms-founder/ |archivedate=2016-08-11 |accessdate=2017-12-10 |publisher=Engineering for Change}}

In 2011, Banks was invited to join the UK Prime Minister’s delegation to the Africa.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-17 |title=In the Spotlight with Ken, Head of Social Impact at Yoti |url=https://www.yoti.com/blog/in-the-spotlight-with-ken-head-of-social-impact-at-yoti/ |access-date=2019-03-10 |website=Yoti Blog |language=en}}

Banks has authored three books:

• The Rise of the Reluctant Innovator (2013).{{Cite web |title=The Rise of the Reluctant Innovator |url=https://londonpublishingpartnership.co.uk/books/the-rise-of-the-reluctant-innovator/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=LPP - The London Publishing Partnership |language=en-GB}}
• Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation (2016).{{Cite book |last=Banks |first=Ken |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=32kmjgEACAAJ |title=Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation: International Case Studies and Practice |date=2016 |publisher=Kogan Page |isbn=978-0-7494-7591-8 |language=en}}
• The Pursuit of Purpose (2022).{{Cite book |last=Banks |first=Ken |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=krruzgEACAAJ |title=The Pursuit of Purpose: Part Memoir, Part Study - A Book About Finding Your Way in the World |date=2022-02-21 |publisher=Ken Banks |isbn=978-1-7397717-0-6 |language=en}}

Banks's work with FrontlineSMS and kiwanja.net, has impact on the use of technology for development and social change, particularly in under-resourced regions.

• 2011: The Antonio Pizzigati Prize for Software in the Public Interest Award by Tides Foundation.{{Cite web |last=Tides |title=Tides Awards the 2011 Pizzigati Prize to Ken Banks |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tides-awards-the-2011-pizzigati-prize-to-ken-banks-118156129.html |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}
• 2011: Frontline SMS awarded Curry Stone Design Prize by Curry Stone Foundation.{{Cite web |last=Zeichner |first=Baruch |date=2015-11-01 |title=Curry-Stone Design Prize Winner 2011: Frontline SMS - Ken Banks, Sean McDonald & Laura Walker McDonald |url=https://paradigms.life/2015/curry-stone-design-prize-winner-2011-frontline-sms-ken-banks-sean-mcdonald-laura-walker-mcdonald/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Paradigms Podcast |language=en-US}}

• 2016: The ACM Eugene L. Lawler Award by Association for Computing Machinery.{{Cite web |title=The Association for Computing Machinery Awards Ken {{!}} Ashoka |url=https://www.ashoka.org/en-ke/story/association-computing-machinery-awards-ken-banks-developing-frontlinesms |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=www.ashoka.org |language=en-ke}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1966 births

Category:Jersey people

Category:British social entrepreneurs

Category:Alumni of the University of Sussex