Hi, I'm Tom

Tom Walker

I’m an independent researcher and investigative journalist specialising in the environment, corporate accountability, human rights and technology.

I help non-profits, media and policy organisations analyse complex or opaque systems, and how they affect people and the environment.

Deep-dive research for policy and practice

I lead research that helps organisations shape policy and improve the way they work. I’ve managed projects for organisations including Oxfam, the Open Society Foundations, the ICRC, the Ada Lovelace Institute and Rainforest Foundation Norway.

My experience includes qualitative research, scoping studies, evidence synthesis, and practical guides. Here are some highlights:

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Investigative research

I investigate corporate wrongdoing, environmental harm and financial secrecy. I’m experienced at tracing global supply chains and corporate ownership patterns, as well as building datasets to support the findings.

I’ve worked on investigations that have been published in collaboration with media including the BBC, ICIJ, Bloomberg, El País and Follow The Money. Stories I’ve reported on have won awards, led major brands to drop suppliers, and fed into policy debates on corporate transparency.

Chasing Shadows

Chasing Shadows

A series of investigations exposing how major conglomerates allegedly used anonymously owned “shadow companies” to clear rainforest while claiming to have removed deforestation from their operations. Continue reading Chasing Shadows

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Design and technology for civil society

I’ve also spent the last 13 years helping civil society organisations use technology and data effectively. My skillset includes user research, programme design, participatory workshops and responsible data governance. I’ve completed user research for multiple human rights documentation initiatives and Weblate, the open source localisation platform powering much of the world’s free software. I’m a member of Draftlab, a design and technology studio that works with civil society organisations, humanitarians, open tech projects, and multi-stakeholder initiatives, meaning that I can bring in others to design, build or improve tools and systems.

Contact

Get in touch if you’d like to talk about working together.