2017 AGM/Elections/Statements
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AGM: Elections (Candidate statements ·
Candidate questions — Resolutions |
This page contains the statements of the candidates for the board of Wikimedia UK. Please submit questions for the candidates at 2017 AGM/Elections/Questions.
Michael Maggs
- Proposed by Carol Campbell (Vice Chair), seconded by Josie Fraser (Chair Elect)
Since becoming Chair in 2013, I have spent much time helping the charity become a more professional organisation, with governance, stability, staff, and procedures that demonstrate leadership to the worldwide Wikimedia movement. Although such issues are not always visible, they are incredibly important since they underpin our ability to use resources effectively, our public reputation, and the influence we have with cultural, educational and government organisations. This is critical in enabling us to achieve our ambitions.
I would like to see us further strengthen our volunteer relationships, and to provide opportunities for volunteers with diversity of knowledge, experience, interests, capabilities, languages and commitments. We should continue to seek funding diversity to protect our legal independence as a UK registered charity. Following our partnership successes in the cultural sector, we are now in a position where we can make real inroads into the challenging educational sector.
At this point in the charity's development I believe it would be advantageous for us to have a Chair with a high profile in the Open movement and with expertise in volunteer and public outreach. To that end, I indicated to the board some months ago that I would like to stand down as Chair, and I am pleased that Josie Fraser, our Open Education specialist, will shortly be stepping into the role.
If re-elected, I have only two more years before reaching the maximum six-year period allowed by the company's articles. I will provide mentorship and support to the new Chair, while continuing to work in the areas of copyright, advocacy, governance and strategy. I also want to do more non-board volunteering, including leading the Wiki Loves Monuments 2017 contest, contributing more photographs to Commons, focusing on my Commons bureaucrat role, and finding ways to improve the lot of OTRS volunteers.
Nick Poole
- Proposed by Carol Campbell (Vice Chair), seconded by Josie Fraser (Chair Elect)
I have been proud to serve on the Wikimedia UK Board of Trustees since my election in 2015. During this time, I have worked to bring my experience as a Charity Chief Executive and longstanding champion of Open Knowledge to the development of Wikimedia UK – helping it to move out of a period of instability and supporting the current programme of successful delivery. I was pleased to play an active role in the creation of the new Strategic Plan, helping to establish Wikimedia UK as a proactive agency for change with a particular emphasis on social justice and inclusion. I have over 20 years leadership experience in the Charity and Public sector, having been CEO or Chair of 7 national organisations. I bring an in-depth and practical knowledge of Charity governance, fundraising and programme development alongside sector expertise in libraries, museums and the digital agenda. I am regularly called on to advise Government departments and agencies on matters relating to cultural policy, copyright and related legislation and funding.
I also have a strong personal commitment to the mission of Open Knowledge. In my view, the more widely and openly knowledge and information are shared, the greater the potential for positive change, creative reuse and the development of new ideas. I am proud to have been able to play a part in the global Wiki movement in furtherance of this ideal.
Looking ahead, I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for the Charity – to strengthen the relationship with the volunteer community, to continue to build on the programme of GLAM and Educational engagement and to develop national strategic partnerships to promote the interests of our community. I very much hope that members will elect me to continue with this important work.
Doug Taylor
- Proposed by Carol Campbell (Vice Chair), seconded by Josie Fraser (Chair Elect)
I've edited Wikipedia for over nine years. I've written featured content (both article and list) and have an interest in accessibility where I've collaborated in improving the English Wikipedia particularly for visually-impaired visitors.
I'm the principal author of the Wikidata modules used to import information from Wikidata into Wikipedia. I'm also involved in WikiProject Medicine and serve on the Board of WikiProject Medicine Foundation, a Thematic User Group, affiliated to WMF.
I taught in 11-18 schools for 25 years, before starting an IT career 20 years ago, where I taught FE and HE as well as adults. I was a member of examining boards for 30 years, including 6 years as Chair of The West Midlands Examination Board, a registered charity, and Vice-Chair of the OCR committee that deals with malpractice. For over ten years I was Chair of the board of Job Change, a registered charity dedicated to helping the unemployed back into work. My hobby is scuba diving, and I've been a National Instructor for over 25 years. I've served on many committees in different roles, from Secretary of a local teacher's trades union to Chair of Governors of both primary and secondary schools. I was a Trustee of Wikimedia UK from 2012-13 and was heavily involved in the setting up of Board sub-committees. I am currently a director of Cultural Outreach Limited, the subsidiary of WMUK that looks after QRpedia. I am now retired, and am devoting time and my skills to helping WMUK. I am a Lead Trainer for Wikimedia UK and over the last few years, I've organised and participated in many outreach events across the country, and I estimate I've trained around 1,000 new editors from around the world either in person or by video. Most recently, I delivered initial training for the BBC in Reading, and for Newnham College.