Catalpa International
Raphaël Merx is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in product and technical leadership, currently serving as Product & Technical Lead at Catalpa International since June 2016. Merx has a strong focus on managing engineering and design teams to create functional and aesthetically pleasing products. Previous roles include Head of Governance & Transparency, overseeing technology projects in Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste, and Team Leader for the Myanmar Project Bank, where successful outcomes were achieved while managing a team of five. Merx's technical expertise extends to developing collaborative platforms for organizations addressing malnutrition in Timor-Leste and contributions as a software engineer at Vidado and UC Berkeley, highlighting a robust background in software engineering and machine learning. Educational credentials include a forthcoming Doctor of Philosophy in Machine Learning from the University of Melbourne and advanced degrees in Operations Research and Applied Mathematics from prestigious institutions.
Catalpa International
We're a human-centred design and technology organisation committed to better aid and development. We integrate technology and behavioural insights with locally-driven solutions to create lasting change. Our projects span education, health, nutrition, agriculture, environment, disability, labour market development and aid coordination. They’re designed to connect people, make information accessible, and nudge behaviours for social good. Most importantly, they help people make more informed decisions—whether that's when to visit a medical clinic or where to direct aid funding. Catalpa’s team is interdisciplinary, with designers, engineers, researchers and sector specialists working across the entire life cycle of global development projects. We currently partner with governments, NGOs, the private sector and donor organisations across the Asia-Pacific region.