Jakob Hammarbäck is Wikimedia Swedens new secretary. He started his position on Friday and is going to manage the association's daily operations. The hiring is another step towards professionalization by reducing the load of the board, but also a step to increase the support to the Wikimedia community and the association's partners.
-To find new associate partners is an important work to extend the activities. Another important task for me will be the support for ongoing and future projects, says Jakob Hammarbäck.
During the last years Jacob Hammarbäck worked with organizational development, both as a self-employed and as an employee of nonprofit organizations. He also worked with usability and IT development, and one thing he is looking forward to the new job is to work for the continue development of Wikimedia in the future. He is placed in Stockholm and a helping hand in the daily work operations to support the community. Jakob will, among other things, organize the technology pool of Wikimedia Sweden where volunteers borrow camera and video equipment to create photos and films.
-The recruiting committee had the pleasant problem with a lot of strong applications to consider, where Jakob finally was the best candidate with a mixture of competence, record of results and ideals that coincide with the association, says Jan Ainali, chairman of Wikimedia Sweden.
Something that will be easier for the association is to work with, for example, museums and schools that have their operations in the daytime. Volunteers who themselves are working or attending school during the day find it difficult to attend the meetings when the partners have their working hours. Jakob will also involve the community and be cohesive in the projects to be implemented this year.
-I am especially looking forward to editathons where people in a particular area of interest meet together to update Wikipedia. Together, it becomes an opportunity to deepen knowledge and pass it on, says Jakob Hammarbäck.
Articles about cycling and kayaking will not get an instant facelift although they are some of Jakob's hobbies. The secretary will not be editing articles during working hours but make it easier for volunteers to create articles, correct errors, take photos and create new partnerships.
-We now take a major step in making it easier for our volunteers to do what they are passionate about by relieving them from the administrative burden, says Jan, and continues, Jakob has an extensive experience in organizational development and working with volunteers, which is exactly what Wikimedia Sweden needs at this point.
=== Contact ===
'''Jakob Hammarbäck''', Secretary Wikimedia Sweden * telephone: 0739-237193 * e-mail: jakob.hammarback@wikimedia.se
'''Jan Ainali''', Chairman Wikimedia Sweden * telephone: 076-2122776 * e-mail: jan.ainali@wikimedia.se
'''Axel Pettersson''', press contact Wikimedia Sweden * telephone: 0730-59581 * e-mail: press@wikimedia.se
Holger Motzkau