2025 Annual General Meeting/Candidate Statements
Adrian Beidas (incumbent trustee)
It has been a privilege to serve on the board of Wikimedia UK since 2022, including over a year as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. During this time, I have seen the impact our organisation can have in supporting and amplifying the Wikimedia and wider open knowledge movement here in the UK, and the important role we play in collaboration with our country’s great cultural and educational institutions.
The Wikimedia projects remain among the most important public utilities of our age – collaboratively built, globally accessible, and largely free from commercial influence. Yet there is much more work to do – the brilliance of Wikimedia’s systems and the real value of open knowledge still remains poorly understood by many policymakers and educators.
The next few years will be crucial to the long-term success of Wikimedia and the open knowledge movement. Political forces in some parts of the world threaten our core principles of open and collaboratively-built knowledge, while the rapid rise of LLMs is reshaping the entire information ecosystem. In our own country, we continue to navigate unintended threats from bluntly drafted legislation. These forces create risks, but also a significant opportunity to strengthen the visibility and relevance of Wikimedia.
Wikimedia UK has a vital role to play in shaping this future. As Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, I have focused on ensuring robust financial oversight and risk management. More broadly, I want to continue to support the organisation’s strategy of deepening partnerships across culture and education, strengthening our volunteer community, and amplifying the voice of open knowledge in the UK and globally.
I would be honoured to continue serving as a trustee and to help Wikimedia UK further its mission in the years ahead.
Jonathan Healey Grant
I’m Jon Grant, and I am seeking a position on the Board of Trustees for Wikimedia UK. My professional journey has been defined by a deep belief in the power of open knowledge and a commitment to managing complex systems, and I believe that serving the Wikimedia mission of making knowledge accessible and free for everyone is more critical now than ever before.
I have a strong skillset in strategic leadership, risk management, and regulatory compliance - developed at international institutions like the Bank of England, HSBC, and Wise - and have a robust understanding of governance and financial oversight, which is expertise that is directly applicable to the responsibilities of a Wikimedia trustee.
My passion for this mission extends beyond the corporate world. For several years, I served as a Trustee for a large regional youth charity in the Midlands, a role that deepened my appreciation for community-led initiatives and the importance of fostering accessible resources for future generations.
This blend of commercial acumen and charitable commitment, supported by academic qualifications in Law and Development (LLM), Business (MBA), and as a Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) positions me to contribute effectively to the board and mission.
In an era marked by an unsettling rise of disinformation and a retreat from democratic principles, the integrity and neutrality of information are our most powerful defenses. Wikimedia is a beacon of truth and collaboration, and I am eager to apply my passion and experiences to protect and advance this vital mission. Together, we can ensure that this essential resource remains a bulwark against tyranny and a testament to our collective commitment to a more informed and just world.
Michael Jonathan Bayer
Why would I like to be appointed? I have been hugely enthusiastic about Wikipedia and the incredible gift of free, reliable, knowledge that it has given to the world, since its early days. I would very much like to support the organisation, by contributing to the UK chapter – it would be a privilege to be involved. I believe it would be important to continue with the path and objectives followed to date, whilst also considering the impact of the rapidly changing world, in particular, the rise of AI and what that might mean for being able to continue the mission most effectively in the UK (and internationally). It may be helpful to communicate and share learnings with some of the other European / international Wikimedia organisations in this regard. How I would be able to contribute? In 2004 I was a founder of the business that I am still an active partner of. I have experience of all of the successes and challenges that have come with this over the years. I would like to be able to share some of this experience in worthwhile ways. I have been a director of numerous companies and understand the requirements of good governance, and helping to shape and execute strategies. I have strong financial skills, which can help the Trust to assess its position and evaluate strategies. I firmly believe in the current mission and values, whilst also having experience of ‘thinking creatively’ / ‘thinking around corners’ to try to optimise the effectiveness of the mission, and try to avoid pitfalls. In working with others, including on boards, I am constructive, and try to work out how to achieve things (rather than whether we can achieve things). I believe I am a positive person to have on a team and easy to get along with.
Douglas Scott
I am a long time Wikipedia editor (since 2006) and have been very involved in both online and offline community events in a volunteer capacity since 2011. In that role I have been a director of Wikimedia South Africa for 12 years and was the chapter’s president for 5 of those years. A period that saw the hiring of the chapter's first employee and the establishment of long term partnerships with national entities in higher education to support the growth of multiple African language Wikipedias.
In my role as a volunteer organiser I was lead organiser of Wikimania 2018 and a contributing organiser of multiple regional Wiki conferences (Wiki Indaba). I have been the volunteer project lead for over 20 events ranging from multiple Wiki Loves Monuments (and other photographic events), to edit-a-thons and other outreach initiatives. I have also led the chapter's initiative to advocate for Wikipedia friendly copyright legal reform in South Africa since 2014. I now organise a regular Wiki meetup in Edinburgh.
In my professional life I am the research manager at Campaign Lab. Before that I was a criminologist at the Safety Lab, a South African non-profit organisation focused on innovation to reduce crime and social violence, where I was the Chief research and technology officer. To me it is deeply important that my professional life does not cross over into my volunteering activities within the free knowledge community so as to avoid conflict of interests; for this reason (as an example) I no longer edit any Wikipedia articles on contemporary British politics.
Abhik Sen (incumbent trustee)
Wikimedia UK’s mission to make knowledge and trustworthy information accessible to all has never been more vital or necessary. It is also an organisation that embodies the values I cherish deeply. Therefore, it is my great honour to submit for your consideration my credentials to serve as its trustee on behalf of all those who admire its work and care about its future.
In my capacity as a policy adviser to governments and as a senior official with the United Nations and the Commonwealth Secretariat over the last many years, I have been championing the development of community-centred, open and inclusive digital ecosystems that empower and enlighten one and all with credible data, information and knowledge. To ensure the development of healthy digital and knowledge societies, I have also advocated for the inclusion of civil society and grassroot movements as equal partners in all the policymaking processes that I have been privileged to facilitate or participate in.
As a former journalist and editor I know all too well the importance of widespread access to facts and accurate information as a bulwark against those who feed on disinformation and misinformation. That is why, should I have the honour to continue to serve as a trustee, I will do everything possible to support and guide Wikimedia UK in order to ensure it is able to continue building on its many impressive achievements, and is also able to weather the many storms that will no doubt come its way, with clarity of purpose and the collective wisdom of its well wishers.
To fulfil my responsibilities effectively, I will also be able to draw upon the insights gained and lessons learned from my previous experience as a long-serving trustee of two other outstanding UK charities.
Ian Watt
I am standing for election to the Board of Wikimedia UK because I believe passionately in the power of open knowledge to enrich lives and strengthen communities. As a long-time advocate for free access to information and data, I want to contribute my skills and experience to help shape the charity’s future.
I have almost 30 years of experience in technology and data, with a background in public service and charity governance. I have been active on Wikipedia and associated platforms since 2008, with a global edit count of over 143,000. For the past six years, I have been an active trainer for Wikimedia UK, working with community groups across Scotland and beyond to build confidence in editing and ensure that local history and culture are represented online. I have also delivered workshops on Wikidata for open data professionals and universities, helping to demonstrate the value of structured, linked knowledge within the wider ecosystem. In addition, I run our local Wiki Meetup.
My connection to Wikimedia UK has developed through collaborations on training programmes, GLAM partnerships, and open knowledge advocacy. Beyond Wikimedia, I am involved in the Open Data Scotland network and have worked with government, cultural, and educational institutions to support digital access and inclusion.
If elected to the Board, I would bring:
* Governance experience as a trustee of charitable organisations, with expertise in strategy, education, and financial oversight.
* Community understanding from direct engagement with editors, volunteers, and learners of all levels.
* Partnership networks across cultural heritage, academia, government, and civic technology.
* Commitment to equity and inclusion, ensuring diverse voices and perspectives are reflected in our shared knowledge.
Wikimedia UK plays a vital role in supporting communities, shaping policy, and embedding open knowledge within cultural and educational sectors. I would be honoured to serve as a trustee, working collaboratively to ensure that Wikimedia UK continues to thrive and make a lasting impact.