Hi folks,
I want to thank Barry for everything he’s done for the Wikimedia movement, and express my regret that he’s leaving the Foundation.
Barry’s done a lot for the movement. He's been involved for three years: first, as the Bridgespan lead for our strategy project, and afterwards as Chief Global Development Officer for the Foundation. He was a major contributor to the five-year strategic plan, and as CGDO he’s set up and launched a number of key projects that arose as a direct result of that plan, including the catalyst initiatives and Wikipedia Zero. He’s also done some tough and useful work helping Wikimedia grapple with issues related to movement roles and funds dissemination -- the fact that we're now in a position to launch the Funds Dissemination Committee is very much a credit to Barry. I want to thank him for everything he’s accomplished for the movement, and wish him all the best in the future. I know he plans to stay involved as a volunteer, and I'm happy about that.
Here’s a quick summary of what will happen next:
Barry’s last day with the Wikimedia Foundation will be August 31. It will likely take 4-6 months for us to complete the recruitment process for his successor.
Beginning August 31 therefore, Global Development will be co-managed by Frank Schulenburg and Anasuya Sengupta. Anasuya will be responsible for grantmaking and the catalyst projects: Asaf Bartov, Jessie Wild, and Winifred Olliff will report to her, and she will manage our relationships with CIS for India, with Oona Castro for Brazil, and with the Arabic Language Initiative. Frank will continue, of course, to hold responsibility for the Global Education Program, and will also now newly take on responsibility for fellowships and Wikipedia Zero, with Siko Bouterse and Kul Wadhwa reporting to Frank.
I want to thank Frank and Anasuya for agreeing to take on, on an interim basis, these extra responsibilities.
Also, we’re moving Communications to Legal and Community Advocacy from Global Development: Jay Walsh will now report to Geoff Brigham. This is independent of Barry’s departure. Why? There’s lots of natural synchronicity between Community Advocacy and Communications -- both groups need to understand and support the Wikimedia communities and ensure good communications between them and the Wikimedia Foundation, including coordinating translations with and for the non-English-speaking communities. And, unlike the rest of Global Development but like Legal, Communications is a service department that supports the entire organization/movement. So it makes sense to me that Communications should move over to become a part of LCA.
I also want to note, because I'm not sure if it's been announced outside the staff, that beginning August 5 Winifred will move into a new position. She has been the Program Assistant for Global Development: as of August 5, she will be Grants Administrator for that team, responsible for administering Wikimedia Foundation grants, funds awarded by the Funds Dissemination Committee and other Wikimedia Foundation volunteer support programs, and for supporting the Wikimedia Foundation grants program in the areas of program development, communications, relationship-building, compliance, and community engagement.
Again: I want to thank Barry for everything he's done for the movement, and I look forward to his continued involvement from Australia :-)
Thanks, Sue
-- Sue Gardner Executive Director Wikimedia Foundation
415 839 6885 office 415 816 9967 cell
Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. Help us make it a reality!