<div dir="ltr">Hello everyone,<br><br>It is with some sadness that I write to let you know that I have moved on to pastures new, and finished working for Wikimedia UK in the middle of September. I am sorry that I didn't write sooner but have been away on a much needed holiday.<br><br>Over the last three and a half years I have had the pleasure and privilege to work with some incredible people, both staff and volunteers. Being able to support the free and open knowledge movement in a professional capacity has been exciting, tiring, empowering, stressful, and the most incredible experience of my professional life.<br><br>Being able to make a contribution to this movement, for which I care deeply, has been an honour. I will continue to be involved as a volunteer, in the realms of communications, policy and advocacy.<br><br>There are too many people who have made such a positive impact on me personally and professionally to be able to name and thank them all individually. However, I do want to say a special thanks to my outstanding colleagues at Wikimedia UK who are the most talented and hard working group of people I have ever worked with. I want to also thank the volunteers and staff I have worked with closely over the years as Head of External Relations, especially in the areas of movement communications, campaigning, educational & IP policy, and digital democracy.<br><br>I've been lucky enough to meet, and work with, many smart and thoughtful people outside our movement and I hope that I've made a strong enough case for free and open knowledge for them to remain involved in this mission.<br><br>I'd love to continue to hear from you all so do feel free to email me – <a href="mailto:stevie.d.benton@gmail.com">stevie.d.benton@gmail.com</a> – or find me on Twitter or LinkedIn and thank you all once again for an amazing three and a half years.<br><br>With thanks and regards,<br><br>Stevie<br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><pre cols="72">Stevie Benton
Head of External Relations
Wikimedia UK
+44 (0) 20 7065 0993 / +44 (0) 7803 505 173
@StevieBenton</pre><pre cols="72"><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><p style="line-height:19.2px;font-family:sans-serif;margin:0.4em 0px 0.5em"><font size="1">Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513. Registered Office 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT. United Kingdom. Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a global Wikimedia movement. The Wikimedia projects are run by the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate Wikipedia, amongst other projects).</font></p></div><p style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);line-height:19.2px;font-family:sans-serif;margin:0.4em 0px 0.5em"><b><font size="1">Wikimedia UK is an independent non-profit charity with no legal control over Wikipedia nor responsibility for its contents.</font></b></p></pre></div></div>
</div><div id="DDB4FAA8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><table style="border-top:1px solid #aaabb6;margin-top:10px">
<tr>
<td style="width:105px;padding-top:15px">
<a href="https://www.avast.com/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail" target="_blank"><img src="https://ipmcdn.avast.com/images/logo-avast-v1.png" style="width: 90px; height:33px;"></a>
</td>
<td style="width:470px;padding-top:20px;color:#41424e;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:18px">This email has been sent from a virus-free computer protected by Avast. <br><a href="https://www.avast.com/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail" target="_blank" style="color:#4453ea">www.avast.com</a>
</td>
</tr>
</table><a href="#DDB4FAA8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2" width="1" height="1"></a></div>