The Online News Association (ONA), one of the largest nonprofit membership organizations advancing journalism leadership and technology innovation, is pleased to announce the Board of Directors has appointed Hanaa Rifaey as Interim CEO/Executive Director, and Kelsey Proud has joined the leadership team as the Interim Head of Programs. ONA’s interim executive team also includes Liz Leith, CPA, who continues in her role as Head of Finance and Administration.
Hanaa has significantly contributed to partnerships and new business development at ONA since 2016, and most recently served on the executive team as the Head of Strategic Partnerships. For nearly a decade, she has leveraged deep skills in nonprofit strategy, fundraising and communications to champion ONA’s unique position as a bridge between the media and technology industries. Her work has helped solidify ONA as the go-to resource for industry leaders to understand emerging trends and connect with each other for meaningful collaborations. Previously, she held leadership and advisory roles with organizations like the Association for Alternative Newsmedia and Media Matters for America. As ONA’s Interim CEO/Executive Director, Hanaa will lead the day-to-day operations and oversee the organization’s strategy, finances, and staff, as well as continue to manage the organization’s relationships with funders, partners, and sponsors.
Kelsey was most recently the Learning Director at ONA, responsible for a program portfolio that includes the Women’s Leadership Accelerator and the mentorship initiative Digital Women Leaders. She has also led programming for ONA’s annual conference, the premier event for innovators in journalism and tech, and has been a key architect in evolving and refreshing ONA’s approach to large community gatherings in the years since the pandemic-related lockdowns. Prior to ONA, Kelsey was Managing Editor of Audience at WAMU in Washington, D.C., and before that held management and digital content roles at St. Louis Public Radio. In her new role as Interim Head of Programs, Kelsey will oversee ONA’s Program Team, leading the strategic vision and operations of all ONA programs and community engagement, including its signature annual conference, year-round training on emerging technology and leadership development, networking and community resources.
The staff announcements are part of a transition plan to find a new leader for the organization after LaSharah S. Bunting’s departure to help lead the nonprofit newsroom The 19th.
To inform and assist with the executive search, the ONA board has brought in media industry leader and former ONA Board President Shazna Nessa as transition consultant. Shazna brings organizational leadership experience in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors and has contributed to ONA for nearly 15 years, including as a program volunteer, funder and board member.
“Transitions are opportunities for renewal and innovation, and ONA is a community built and shaped by people who thrive in moments of change, as our first 25 years has repeatedly shown us,” shared ONA Board President Charo Henríquez. “I am very proud of the strategic work this leadership and transition team, along with the ONA Board of Directors, are doing to ensure that ONA remains in a strong position and continues serving the needs of the journalism community.”
ONA will open the search for a new CEO/Executive Director in late November. For regular updates from ONA, subscribe to the ONA Weekly newsletter.