WMF Board of Trustees: Board Selection Process Update

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Hello everyone,

Following the 2025 elections, the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees
committed
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/October_2025_update#c-LLosa_(WMF)-20251015213400-Additional_perspectives_on_current_and_future_board_selection_processes>
to reviewing the selection process of new Trustees, soliciting and
receiving feedback and suggestions and proposing changes. The Board
received extensive comments posted on Meta
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2025/Debrief>,
which helped inform this approach.

The Board has discussed the following goals for reforms:

   -

   Clarity and consistency of the electoral process
   -

   Clarity of roles and responsibilities
   -

   Transparent communications and timeline
   -

   A slate of candidates who strengthen the board through the experience
   they bring
   -

   Reduced need for shortlisting
   -

   Strong voter participation


The Board is now ready to publish its draft eligibility requirements for
feedback from the community. The requirements are more specific and
detailed than in years past, to both inform the community of what the Board
needs and to create multiple pathways to the Board for Wikimedians. They
are also presented as requirements for candidates, not desirable qualities.

The Board is also emphasising the need for previous governance experience,
including these key elements of experience:

   -

   Understanding the role of oversight vs. governance vs. management
   -

   Understanding Fiduciary Duties
   <https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Legal_and_Fiduciary_Duties_for_Wikimedia_Foundation_Trustees_Public_Version.pdf>


   -

   Understanding the "Group Dynamics" of a board or committee (and other
   collective decision-making bodies): working well with others to ask probing
   questions, voice different views and contribute to informed decisions for
   the good of the whole, not an individual agenda


The Board is now looking for specific feedback on the proposed eligibility
criteria
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2027/Proposed_eligibility_criteria>
.

Regards,

The Board Governance Committee

Margo Lee on behalf of the Governance Committee

*Margo Lee* (she/her)
Deputy Chief of Staff
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div><span id=3D"gmail-docs-internal-guid-54b4c7fa-7fff-29=
c9-6c21-132282ddba3b"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0=
pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb=
(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:bas=
eline;white-space:pre-wrap">Hello everyone,</span></p><br><p dir=3D"ltr" st=
yle=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style=3D"fo=
nt-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;fo=
nt-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Following t=
he 2025 elections, the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees </span><a hre=
f=3D"https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_notice=
board/October_2025_update#c-LLosa_(WMF)-20251015213400-Additional_perspecti=
ves_on_current_and_future_board_selection_processes" style=3D"text-decorati=
on:none"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:trans=
parent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baselin=
e;white-space:pre-wrap">committed</span></a><span style=3D"font-family:Aria=
l,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:nor=
mal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> to reviewing the selecti=
on process of new Trustees, soliciting and receiving feedback and suggestio=
ns and proposing changes. The Board received extensive comments </span><a h=
ref=3D"https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2025/=
Debrief" style=3D"text-decoration:none"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sa=
ns-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:u=
nderline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">posted on Meta</span=
></a><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);backgroun=
d-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space=
:pre-wrap">, which helped inform this approach.</span></p><br><p dir=3D"ltr=
" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style=
=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transpar=
ent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The B=
oard has discussed the following goals for reforms:=C2=A0</span></p><ul sty=
le=3D"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style=
-type:disc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:t=
ransparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p =
dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" rol=
e=3D"presentation"><span style=3D"background-color:transparent;font-variant=
:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Clarity and consisten=
cy of the electoral process</span></p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-st=
yle-type:disc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-colo=
r:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre">=
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" =
role=3D"presentation"><span style=3D"background-color:transparent;font-vari=
ant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Clarity of roles a=
nd responsibilities</span></p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type=
:disc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transp=
arent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir=
=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role=
=3D"presentation"><span style=3D"background-color:transparent;font-variant:=
normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Transparent communicat=
ions and timeline</span></p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:d=
isc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transpar=
ent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir=3D"=
ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role=3D"pr=
esentation"><span style=3D"background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal=
;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">A slate of candidates who st=
rengthen the board through the experience they bring</span></p></li><li dir=
=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:r=
gb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:b=
aseline;white-space:pre"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-to=
p:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role=3D"presentation"><span style=3D"background-co=
lor:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre=
-wrap">Reduced need for shortlisting</span></p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" style=
=3D"list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);back=
ground-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-=
space:pre"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-b=
ottom:0pt" role=3D"presentation"><span style=3D"background-color:transparen=
t;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Strong =
voter participation</span></p></li></ul><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-he=
ight:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style=3D"font-family:Aria=
l,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:nor=
mal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Board is now ready to=
 publish its draft eligibility requirements for feedback from the community=
. The requirements are more specific and detailed than in years past, to bo=
th inform the community of what the Board needs and to create multiple path=
ways to the Board for Wikimedians. They are also presented as requirements =
for candidates, not desirable qualities.</span></p><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=
=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style=3D"font-=
family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-=
variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Board is a=
lso emphasising the need for previous governance experience, including thes=
e key elements of experience:</span></p><ul style=3D"margin-top:0px;margin-=
bottom:0px"><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial=
,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:norm=
al;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-he=
ight:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role=3D"presentation"><span sty=
le=3D"background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:basel=
ine;white-space:pre-wrap">Understanding the role of oversight vs. governanc=
e vs. management</span></p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:di=
sc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transpare=
nt;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir=3D"l=
tr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role=3D"pre=
sentation"><span style=3D"background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;=
vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Understanding </span><a href=
=3D"https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Legal_and_Fiduciary_Duties_f=
or_Wikimedia_Foundation_Trustees_Public_Version.pdf" style=3D"text-decorati=
on:none"><span style=3D"background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;te=
xt-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Fiduc=
iary Duties</span></a></p></li></ul><ul style=3D"margin-top:0px;margin-bott=
om:0px"><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial,san=
s-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;v=
ertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height=
:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role=3D"presentation"><span style=
=3D"background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baselin=
e;white-space:pre-wrap">Understanding the &quot;Group Dynamics&quot; of a b=
oard or committee (and other collective decision-making bodies): working we=
ll with others to ask probing questions, voice different views and contribu=
te to informed decisions for the good of the whole, not an individual agend=
a</span></p></li></ul><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-t=
op:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color=
:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align=
:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Board is now looking for specific feedb=
ack on the </span><a href=3D"https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLang=
uage/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2027/Proposed_eligibility_criteria" sty=
le=3D"text-decoration:none"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;bac=
kground-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;ver=
tical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">proposed eligibility criteria</s=
pan></a><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);backgr=
ound-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-sp=
ace:pre-wrap">.</span></p><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;marg=
in-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;c=
olor:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-a=
lign:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Regards,</span></p><p dir=3D"ltr" style=
=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style=3D"font-=
family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-=
variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Board Gove=
rnance Committee=C2=A0</span></p><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.=
38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-=
serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-=
variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Margo Lee on b=
ehalf of the Governance Committee</span></p><br></span></div><div><div dir=
=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_signature" data-smartmail=3D"gmail_signature"><div =
dir=3D"ltr"><table style=3D"font-size:14px;color:rgb(32,33,34);font-family:=
sans-serif;border:none"><tbody><tr><td style=3D"padding:5pt"></td><td style=
=3D"vertical-align:top;padding:5pt;font-size:9pt;line-height:1.38;font-fami=
ly:Arial,sans-serif"><b>Margo Lee</b>=C2=A0(she/her)<br><span style=3D"font=
-size:8pt">Deputy Chief of Staff</span><br><a href=3D"https://wikimediafoun=
dation.org/" title=3D"foundationsite:" style=3D"text-decoration:none;color:=
rgb(102,51,102);background-image:none" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"col=
or:rgb(0,0,0);text-decoration:underline;font-size:8pt">Wikimedia Foundation=
</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div>

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