Future of Wikimania
08-10, 10:30–11:10 (Poland), Istanbul (10)
Language: English

Wikimania, the flagship event of the Wikimedia movement, has been a beacon of open collaboration since 2005. This forum will delve into the milestones achieved and the challenges faced, reflecting on the lessons learned from past conferences, highlight the significant contributions of volunteers, the impact of community partnerships and volunteer relationships that have been integral to Wikimania’s success.

The session aims to engage participants in a dialogue on shaping the future of Wikimania, inviting ideas and perspectives on how the conference can continue to serve as a dynamic platform for the free knowledge ecosystem.


Join us for an in-depth forum discussion on “The Future of Wikimania”. This session will provide a look at the journey of Wikimania, tracing its past conferences to the present day, and projecting its trajectory into the future.

Session Highlights:

Retrospective Analysis: We’ll start with a retrospective analysis of Wikimania’s milestones, examining how the conference has grown and adapted over the years. We’ll discuss the key developments, challenges, and successes that have marked its journey.

Community and Collaboration: The forum will analyze the role of the global Wikimedia community in shaping Wikimania. We’ll delve into stories of open collaboration, showcasing how volunteers from different backgrounds come together to share knowledge and experiences.

Future Directions: Looking ahead, we’ll engage in a forward-thinking discussion on the future of Wikimania. We’ll discuss Wikimania's role in making Wikimedia as the essential infrastructure of the ecosystem of free knowledge and how upcoming editions of Wikimania can address emerging priorities and challenges.

This session is designed to be interactive, with opportunities for attendees to share their experiences, ask questions, and contribute to the vision for Wikimania’s future.

Session recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/e1PcBYNAWAo?feature=shared&t=4497


How does your session relate to the event themes: Collaboration of the Open?*

This session is intrinsically linked to the conference spirit of “Collaboration of the Open” through its exploration of the past, present, and anticipated future of the Wikimania conferences. Here’s how it relates:

Reflecting on Collaborative Milestones: The session will recount the collaborative efforts that have been the cornerstone of Wikimania’s growth. It will highlight how open collaboration has led to the success of past conferences and how these collective experiences have shaped the movement.

Fostering Open Dialogue: As a forum, the session will embody the spirit of open collaboration by inviting participants from diverse backgrounds to share their perspectives. This open dialogue is essential for understanding different viewpoints and fostering a community that thrives on inclusivity.

Shaping the Future Together: The future of Wikimania will be discussed not as a predetermined path but as a vision crafted through the collective input of the community. The session will emphasize the importance of open collaboration in shaping a future that aligns with the shared values and goals of the Wikimedia movement.

Embracing Open Innovations: The session will also explore how Wikimania can further integrate open-source technologies and collaborative tools to enhance the conference experience, ensuring that Wikimania remains at the forefront of the open knowledge movement.

What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?*

Everyone can participate in this session

How do you plan to deliver this session?*

Onsite in Katowice

What other themes or topics does your session fit into? Please choose from the list of tags below.

Collaboration, Conferences, Capacity building, Events, Product development

See also: Future of Wikimania slides (final)

COT member for the abandoned 2020 Wikimania in Bangkok, then a COT member for first online only Wikimania in 2021. The part of ESEAP's renewed hosting of Wikimania 2023 in Singapore. Was part of the community that formed Wikimedia Australia in 2009, I would continue to support WMAU activities before join the committee as Vice President, and later becoming President. I have been with the development of ESEAP since Washington in 2012, been part of organising ESEAP activities. I currently sit on the Wikimania Steering committee and have focused my energies back to photographic contributions on Wikimedia Commons.

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Butch Bustria is an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) and a dedicated Wikimedian based in Singapore. His journey with Wikipedia began in December 2005 and has since been an active contributor to Wikimedia projects, utilizing his spare time to enhance and share knowledge on the platform.

In addition to his on-wiki contributions, Butch has been involved in the Wikimedia movement’s leadership and organizing space. He has played a significant role in events such as Wikimania 2023, where he served as the Event Lead and Program Subcommittee Chair. His commitment to the Wikimedia community is evident through his efforts in fostering collaboration and knowledge dissemination.

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Username:Anthere (She/her). French. Languages : FR N; EN-4.

  • Co-Executive Director of Wiki in Africa
  • Wikipedian-in-Residence at World Intellectual Property Rights (WIPO)
  • Former Chair of Wikimedia Foundation
  • Co-founder, former Vice-Chair and currently member of Wikimédia France

Key words : Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Africa, IP rights, Open Movement, Community Building, Open Source, Creative Commons, Life-long learning, accountability, Gender Gap, Equity

More info and contacts
* fdevouard//@//anthere.org
* https://www.linkedin.com/in/devouard/

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Effeietsanders is a Dutch Wikipedian since 2005. He was one of the initiators of Wiki Loves Monuments (2010) and has helped organize the competition for many years. He was named the 2021 Wikimedia Laureate. He was a member of the Wikimania core organizing team in 2021 and is a member of the Wikimania committee.

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Wikimania 2024 Lead Organizer
Affiliations Committee Secretary – since 2024
Wikimedia Europe Board Member – since 2022
Wikimedia Poland Governance Board – 2020–2022

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An avid WIkimedian with 18 years of editing experience, supplemented by afiiliate governance, hub governance, AffCom term. Translator and interpreter. Concert photographer.

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Communications Specialist & Wikimedian who is passionate about advancing Media & Information Literacy. Co-Founder Wikimedia Kenya UserGroup and Afrika Baraza Working Group Member.

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