Dear Wikimedia friends and colleagues,

It is bittersweet for me to share with all of you that I will be leaving the Wikimedia Foundation at the end of August to relocate to Australia for personal reasons.

It is difficult for me to leave Wikimedia and particularly leave the Global Development team, which I’ve had the pleasure of building and leading over the past two years. I am proud of what we have accomplished in raising the priority of much of the globe within the Wikimedia movement, strengthening our mobile strategy and education program, globalizing communications, and tackling the difficult movement roles issues that I hope can be put in the past. It hasn’t been easy or uncontroversial, but I truly believe that we are heading in the right direction.

One of the great joys of my work has been the opportunity to travel and meet many amazing Wikipedians and to share the Wikimedia story with the world. It is so inspiring to hear first hand how much people love our projects and the amazing things that so many people do in support of the movement. This is what helped me survive the many long flights and jetlag-filled nights. It was an honour representing the Wikimedia Foundation and often the Wikimedia movement in so many places.

I am confident that the Global Development work will thrive with the team in place and with all of the dedicated community members who see us as partners. I look forward to becoming a volunteer member of the movement and supporting the work in new ways. Sue will share plans for the transition shortly.

Many thanks to all who have supported me and our work.

Kind regards, Barry