Wikimedia CEE Hub Steering Committee Election 2026/Candidates/ToniSant
ToniSant (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA • AE)
| Candidate information |
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| Required questions | ||
| Why are you running for the Wikimedia CEE Hub Steering Committee, and how would you like to contribute? | I have served as Chair of the CEE Hub Steering Committee since March 2025, a position created by the committee at that time. As the first person elected to this role by my fellow committee members, I have helped lead the development of the CEE Hub’s electoral and governance systems.
I am running for the Wikimedia CEE Hub Steering Committee to help ensure continuity as the Hub transitions to what is effectively its first committee elected directly by the communities it serves. Drawing on my experience as Chair, I hope to contribute to the further development of transparent, representative, and effective governance structures, while supporting the committee’s ongoing work to strengthen collaboration and engagement across the CEE region. | |
| Who are you in the context of Wikimedia? Please describe your experience, roles, and relevant expertise. | I have been a Wikimedian since 2010 and have spent much of that time promoting Wikimedia projects in higher education. After several years of working with Wikipedia in university classrooms, including serving as a chapter employee in the UK focused on educational outreach, I helped establish the Wikimedia Community Malta user group, which became formally affiliated in 2016. Meanwhile, I have also conducted academic research on and with Wikidata.
Throughout my Wikimedia journey, I have been a strong advocate for open knowledge, educational partnerships, and the growth and sustainability of smaller language Wikipedia communities. These experiences led to my invitation to join the CEE Hub Steering Committee, first as a committee member and later as its first Chair. As CEE Hub SC Chair, I have drawn on my leadership, governance, and facilitation experience to support the effective operation of the committee and foster constructive collaboration between committee members and CEE Hub staff. This role has strengthened my understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the CEE region and has given me valuable experience in building consensus, supporting community-led governance, and helping guide the strategic development of the Hub. | |
| What should be the main priorities and direction of the CEE Hub, and how would you work towards them? | The CEE Hub needs to continue focusing on strengthening cooperation across the region, supporting capacity building among communities and affiliates, and ensuring that smaller and emerging communities have access to the resources, networks, and opportunities they need to thrive. As the CEE Hub continues to mature, it is also important to continue develop transparent, accountable, and community-driven governance structures that enable meaningful participation from across the region.
Drawing on my experience as a Wikimedian, affiliate founder, and Chair of the Steering Committee, I would work to ensure that the CEE Hub remains responsive to the needs of the communities it serves while maintaining a clear strategic direction. I would continue to support collaboration between the Steering Committee, Hub staff, regional communities, and the Wikimedia Foundation, helping build consensus around shared priorities, and advocate for initiatives that strengthen community resilience, knowledge sharing, and long-term sustainability across the CEE region. | |
| Verification | Verification performed | |
Eligibility:  VerifiedVerified by: Bencemac (talk) 18:41, 22 June 2026 (UTC) |
Affiliate nomination: Verified Verified by: Bencemac (talk) 18:41, 22 June 2026 (UTC) | |
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Questions selected by the Electoral Commission
- Question 1
- What ideas do you have to improve the decision-making process of the CEE Hub Steering Committee?
The CEE Hub Steering Committee can strengthen its decision-making by introducing a more structured and disciplined process centered on two key improvements: ensuring every proposal is decision-ready through a standardized business case and pre-read process, and evaluating all decisions against a consistent set of strategic criteria (such as impact, risk, resource requirements, and alignment with organizational priorities). Combined with clear documentation of decisions and their rationale in a centralized decision log, these changes would enable faster, more transparent, and better-informed decisions while improving accountability and reducing the need to revisit previously agreed outcomes.
- Question 2
- Should the CEE Hub staff have the right to autonomously make certain decisions regarding the hub? If so, which ones?
This is already the case, but perhaps not as fully or as clearly as necessary. The CEE Hub staff should continue to be empowered to make autonomous decisions on day-to-day operational matters to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary reliance on the Steering Committee. In particular, staff should continue to have delegated authority over routine operational management, project implementation, and budget decisions within agreed financial thresholds, while the Steering Committee retains responsibility for strategic priorities, major investments, governance, and high-impact risks. Clearly defining these decision rights through a formal delegation of authority would enable faster execution while preserving appropriate strategic oversight.
- Question 3
- Have you ever been a party to a conflict as a Wikimedia movement volunteer? If so, what steps did you take to resolve it?
Yes, I was directly threatened by the human subject of a Wikipedia article who erroneously thought I was responsible for elements he was unhappy about regarding his BLP as it appeared on en.wp. After months of attempting to resolve this conflict by referring politely and formally to Wikipedia history logs, policies, and guidelines (with the support of experienced Wikipedia editors and administrators) the situation escalated to threats of a personal legal lawsuit, and I therefore requested, and received, assistance from the Wikimedia Foundation legal team. At this point I also received substantial moral support from CEE Hub staff members and even SC members, particularly in the gaps of my interactions with the WMF legal team. Eventually, the lawsuit did not materialize and the threats stopped completely.
I should probably also mention that after this particular conflict was resolved, a similar but different situation arose for someone else within the movement and I offered my support by sharing the process that I was involved in, in the hope that this would be useful for a speedy resolution of the conflict.