Re: WMF Board of Trustees: Board Selection Process Update

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Thanks so much Margo. The base requirements seem good.

The Categories of Governance or Community Experience seem to trend mostly
towards bureacratic experience, not related to experience with knowledge
work (like education or contribution), or outreach (like partnerships or
campaigns), or multilingualism (including translation and multinational
initiatives).  It also singles out incorporated affiliates with paid staff
over all other forms of community organizing and project work, as
demonstration of community experience; can you say more about that?

Have you analyzed which current and past trustees / candidates would have
fit these proposed criteria?  That might be a useful appendix for the
discussion.

Sam


On Fri, Jul 17, 2026 at 10:40=E2=80=AFPM Margo Lee via Wikimedia-l <
[email protected]> wrote:

> Hello everyone,
>
> Following the 2025 elections, the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees
> committed
> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticebo=
ard/October_2025_update#c-LLosa_(WMF)-20251015213400-Additional_perspective=
s_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/Debr=
ief>,
> 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 Boa=
rd
> needs and to create multiple pathways to the Board for Wikimedians. They
> are also presented as requirements for candidates, not desirable qualitie=
s.
>
> 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 pr=
obing
>    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/>
> _______________________________________________
> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], guidelines
> at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> Public archives at
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]=
rg/message/GS3S74YZFPGACVTOTR7DEL4OHTGCW2JP/
> To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave-RusutVdil2icGmH+5r0DM0B+6BGkLq7r@public.gmane.org



--=20
Samuel Klein          @metasj           w:user:sj          +1 617 529 4266

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<div dir=3D"ltr">Thanks so much Margo. The base requirements seem good.=C2=
=A0=C2=A0<div><br></div><div>The=C2=A0Categories of Governance or Community=
 Experience seem to trend mostly towards bureacratic experience, not relate=
d to experience with knowledge work (like education or contribution), or ou=
treach (like partnerships or campaigns), or multilingualism (including tran=
slation and multinational initiatives).=C2=A0 It also singles out incorpora=
ted affiliates with paid staff over all other forms of community organizing=
 and project work, as demonstration of community experience;=C2=A0can you s=
ay more about that?=C2=A0=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Have you analyzed =
which current and past trustees / candidates would have fit these proposed =
criteria?=C2=A0 That might be a useful appendix for the discussion.</div><d=
iv><br></div><div><div>Sam</div><div><br></div></div></div><br><div class=
=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr=
">On Fri, Jul 17, 2026 at 10:40=E2=80=AFPM Margo Lee via Wikimedia-l &lt;<a=
 href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]=
a.org</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"ma=
rgin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:=
1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><span id=3D"m_-8153248039563220981gmail-docs-int=
ernal-guid-54b4c7fa-7fff-29c9-6c21-132282ddba3b"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"li=
ne-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-varian=
t:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Hello everyone,</spa=
n></p><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bo=
ttom:0pt"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);back=
ground-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-=
space:pre-wrap">Following the 2025 elections, the Wikimedia Foundation Boar=
d of Trustees </span><a href=3D"https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikime=
dia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/October_2025_update#c-LLosa_(WMF)-20251015=
213400-Additional_perspectives_on_current_and_future_board_selection_proces=
ses" style=3D"text-decoration:none" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-f=
amily:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;tex=
t-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">commit=
ted</span></a><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);=
background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;wh=
ite-space:pre-wrap"> to reviewing the selection process of new Trustees, so=
liciting and receiving feedback and suggestions and proposing changes. The =
Board received extensive comments </span><a href=3D"https://meta.wikimedia.=
org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_elections/2025/Debrief" style=3D"text-decorat=
ion:none" target=3D"_blank"><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">posted on Meta</span></a><span s=
tyle=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:tran=
sparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">,=
 which helped inform this approach.</span></p><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"l=
ine-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style=3D"font-famil=
y:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-varia=
nt:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Board has discu=
ssed the following goals for reforms:=C2=A0</span></p><ul style=3D"margin-t=
op:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:disc;fon=
t-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;fon=
t-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir=3D"lt=
r" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role=3D"pres=
entation"><span style=3D"background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;v=
ertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Clarity and consistency of the=
 electoral process</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:transpa=
rent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p d=
ir=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">Clarity of roles and r=
esponsibilities</span></p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:dis=
c;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparen=
t;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><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-wrap"><p di=
r=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">A slate of candidates =
who strengthen 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;c=
olor:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-a=
lign:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.3=
8;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role=3D"presentation"><span style=3D"ba=
ckground-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;whit=
e-space:pre-wrap">Reduced need for shortlisting</span></p></li><li dir=3D"l=
tr" style=3D"list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,=
0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseli=
ne;white-space:pre-wrap"><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">Strong voter participation</span></p></li></ul><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">The Board i=
s now ready to publish its draft eligibility requirements for feedback from=
 the community. The requirements are more specific and detailed than in yea=
rs 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.</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:tra=
nsparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">=
The Board is also emphasising the need for previous governance experience, =
including these key elements of experience:</span></p><ul style=3D"margin-t=
op:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"list-style-type:disc;fon=
t-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;fon=
t-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir=3D"lt=
r" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role=3D"pres=
entation"><span style=3D"background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;v=
ertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Understanding the role of over=
sight vs. governance vs. management</span></p></li><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D=
"list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);backgro=
und-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-spa=
ce:pre-wrap"><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin=
-bottom:0pt" role=3D"presentation"><span style=3D"background-color:transpar=
ent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Under=
standing </span><a href=3D"https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Legal=
_and_Fiduciary_Duties_for_Wikimedia_Foundation_Trustees_Public_Version.pdf"=
 style=3D"text-decoration:none" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"background=
-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-a=
lign:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Fiduciary Duties</span></a></p></li></u=
l><ul style=3D"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"l=
ist-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);backgroun=
d-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space=
:pre-wrap"><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">Underst=
anding the &quot;Group Dynamics&quot; of a board or committee (and other co=
llective decision-making bodies): working well with others to ask probing q=
uestions, voice different views and contribute to informed decisions for th=
e good of the whole, not an individual agenda</span></p></li></ul><br><p di=
r=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:tr=
ansparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"=
>The Board is now looking for specific feedback on the </span><a href=3D"ht=
tps://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Wikimedia_Foundation_elect=
ions/2027/Proposed_eligibility_criteria" style=3D"text-decoration:none" tar=
get=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color=
:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:b=
aseline;white-space:pre-wrap">proposed eligibility criteria</span></a><span=
 style=3D"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:tr=
ansparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"=
>.</span></p><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;ma=
rgin-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">Regards,</span></p><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"line-heig=
ht: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:norma=
l;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Board Governance Commit=
tee=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:r=
gb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant:norma=
l;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Margo Lee on behalf of the =
Governance Committee</span></p><br></span></div><div><div dir=3D"ltr" class=
=3D"gmail_signature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><table style=3D"font-size:14px;color:=
rgb(32,33,34);font-family:sans-serif;border-width:medium;border-style:none;=
border-color:currentcolor"><tbody><tr><td style=3D"padding:5pt"></td><td st=
yle=3D"vertical-align:top;padding:5pt;font-size:9pt;line-height:1.38;font-f=
amily:Arial,sans-serif"><b>Margo Lee</b>=C2=A0(she/her)<br><span style=3D"f=
ont-size:8pt">Deputy Chief of Staff</span><br><a href=3D"https://wikimediaf=
oundation.org/" title=3D"foundationsite:" style=3D"text-decoration:none;col=
or:rgb(102,51,102);background-image:none" target=3D"_blank"><span style=3D"=
color:rgb(0,0,0);text-decoration:underline;font-size:8pt">Wikimedia Foundat=
ion</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div>
_______________________________________________<br>
Wikimedia-l mailing list -- <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]=
rg" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>, guidelines at: <=
a href=3D"https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines" rel=3D"=
noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists=
/Guidelines</a> and <a href=3D"https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l"=
 rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikim=
edia-l</a><br>
Public archives at <a href=3D"https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/w=
[email protected]/message/GS3S74YZFPGACVTOTR7DEL4OHTGCW2JP/" r=
el=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/=
list/[email protected]/message/GS3S74YZFPGACVTOTR7DEL4OHTGCW2=
JP/</a><br>
To unsubscribe send an email to <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]=
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blockquote></div><div><br clear=3D"all"></div><div><br></div><span class=3D=
"gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_sign=
ature">Samuel Klein =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0@metasj =C2=A0=C2=A0 =
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0=C2=A0 w:user:sj =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0+1 6=
17 529 4266<br></div>

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