2019 Annual General Meeting/Candidate Statements
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AGM: Elections — Candidate Statements · Candidate Questions · Resolutions |
This page will contain the statements of the candidates for the board of Wikimedia UK, it does not yet have all the candidates' statements. Please submit questions for the candidates at 2019 Annual General Meeting/Candidate Questions.
Jason Evans
Proposed by Alice White, seconded by John Cummings
I put my name forward for the position of Trustee at Wikimedia UK as a passionate and energetic supporter of open access and a proactive, professional Wikimedian with nearly five years’ experience ranging from community outreach work to innovative Wikidata initiatives and project management.
I joined the Wikimedia movement in 2015 when I was appointed Wikipedian in Residence at the National Library of Wales. During a two year residency I lead many outreach events and shared open content with Wikimedia projects. I have worked closely with Welsh universities and examining bodies to develop and deliver Wiki initiatives in Welsh Education. Since my appointment as National Wikimedian at NLW I have focused on delivering a number of government funded projects to Improve the Welsh Wikipedia in areas such as pop culture and health and wellbeing as well as sharing collection metadata as Wikidata and exploring the possibilities for round tripping that data back into our core services.
My work is as much about advocating and communicating the value of open access as it is about delivering projects. I regularly blog, tweet, publish and broadcast in order to demonstrate the importance of Wikipedia and the value of sharing content. I regularly attend major Wikimedia conferences and GLAM sector conferences in order to network, share skills and knowledge and to build new partnerships, and have recently worked closely with Histropedia, Europeana, CILIP and CADW on Wikimedia related projects
I believe that this experience would allow me to contribute constructively and positively to the strategic direction of Wikimedia UK. The charity excels at partnership building, supporting minority communities and in communicating the value of its extensive outreach programs and as a trustee I would give my full attention and energy to help support develop and shape the great work of Wikimedia UK.
Rod Ward
Proposed by Martin Poulter, seconded by Andy Mabbett
(User:Rodw on Wikipedia and other projects)
Having put my first web page up in 1992, I discovered Wikipedia in 2004 and thought it was a great idea. During the 15 years since then I have made over 200,000 edits which have included being primary author and nominating over 50 pieces of featured content, 150 good articles etc. During this time I have been a member of various wikiprojects and other collaborative groups, taking the lead on setting up Wikiproject Somerset. I have volunteered for media interviews related to achievements and challenges. I have also participated in various activities organised by Wikimedia UK, including Wiki Loves Monuments, and I became a trainer for the charity in 2014. I have also contributed to wikicommons including uploading several thousand photographs I have taken. I still think the wiki is a great idea.
Outside my Wikipedia editing, I worked in NHS A&E departments as a charge nurse for several years before moving into higher education. My teaching and research has largely been around information literacy for evidence based practice in healthcare, including the importance of open knowledge. Project participation and leadership has included externally funded work on the quality of information on the web and a collaboration with industry for the use of electronic patient record systems in education. My current roles include being the admissions tutor for one of the largest courses in higher education and leading the European Union Nurse Adaptation programme.
I support the mission of the charity and would wish to support its activity in a range of areas. I would hope to enhance the relationship between the charity and the volunteers editing the various wiki projects and that my experience will also be useful in developing work in collaboration with the higher education sector.