Event:WAH Episode 40 - Wiki Conferences behind the scenes

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WikiAfrica Hour is a monthly live discussion that support the activities of the WikiAfrica movement and Wikimedians across Africa.

WikiAfrica Hour 's intention is to: Share current updates, and highlights of Africa Wikimedians activities Interact with guest(s) (if any), and take questions from community members Promote synergy within the Wiki community by discussing topics, projects, constraints, collaborations, and opportunities.

Description

This episode will shed light on conferences in the wikimedia community behind the scenes. We will discuss with guests, the different teams who are in charge of the approval of conferences and preparation of the resources and settings.

Every year, Wikimedians have at least one must-attend Wikimedia conference on their wishlist, sometimes 2 or 5! There are now many thematic, regional and global conferences that are scheduled for every single month of the year. But how are these conferences organised, and by who? Who decides which in-person conferences are held and when? Who makes critical decisions relating to location, themes, scholarships and finances? What role do they have in the movement, and what is their value to community members?

Guest Host

• Lodewijk: founder of Wiki Loves Monuments, and was an administrator on various Wikimedia projects (2005-2015), the board member of Wikimedia Nederland (2006-2011), steward (2006-2010) and member of the Affiliations Committee (2009-2014).

Guests

• Reda Kerbouche: organized several Wiki-events such as WikiArabia 2022 in Dubai (UAE) and 2024 in Muscat (Oman) and several non wiki related conferences like "Rêvons l'Algérie".
• Geoffrey Kateregga: Member of Communications Committee of WikiIndaba 2024
• Cornelius Kibelka: For several years, he has worked at Wikimedia Deutschland, where he was responsible for organizing the Wikimedia Conference/Wikimedia Summit. 2020-2022 Cornelius worked at the Wikimedia Foundation, as part of the Movement Strategy team, mainly organizing virtual events and processes, before he joined WMF again in 2024 as a Conference Fund Program Officer.
• Vanj Padilla: Member of Conference Support Committee, Wikimania 2021, Core Organizing Team Member, Wikimania 2023, Co-Organizer, Wikiwomen Summit @Wikimania 2023.
• Dumisani Ndubane: Organised the 1st Wiki Indaba in 2014. He is currently board chair of WhoseKnowledge, as well as advisor to WMZA and WISCOM.
• Rachit Sharma: Senior Movement Communications Specialist at The Wikimedia Foundation, he provides strategic support to various convening and conferences like WikiConference India, ESEAP Conference, WikiWomen’s Camp, Wikimedia Technology, part of the core team from WMF that supports Wikimania, and has been involved in delivering Wikimania since 2022.

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