Meeting:Board: (2025-11-18)
See also the list of all meetings.
Meeting details
Date and time
18 Nov 2025 17:30 GMT+10:30 AEDT/18:00 AEST/17:00 ACDT/17:30 AWST/15:00
Meeting start time 06:02 pm AEDT
Meeting end time 07:33 pm AEDT
Meeting objectives
Meeting objectives: To discuss and make decisions in relation to reviewing of WMAU Policies, various Subcommittees business and update on Australian Cth copyright reform.
Record of attendance
Attendees: Elliott Bledsoe, Jeremy Ludlow, Shravan Rao, Kerry Raymond, Mylee Joseph, Peter Neish, and Kassi Hays.
Apologies: Emily Mierisch
Moved: Elliott Bledsoe; seconded: Peter Neish; outcome: Passed
Reports
Executive Officer’s report
Please find below a summary of key activities and updates from the past month:
Programs and engagements
- Partner Projects 2025–2026 have now been announced. All projects have had meetings with WMAU staff to plan next steps and secure dates for training (if required).
- Plans continue for WikiCon Canberra 2026 with the securing of the Novotel hotel for accommodation and for the Board Strategic Planning Day on Monday 13 April 2026. Call for program submissions has been opened and a reminder call out for volunteers. We are also working on the pre-conference day Friday 10 April to be a mini GLAM-Wiki with ideas including “behind the scenes” tours and a workshop for the local GLAM and Wikimedian community by Terri Janke about the ICIP project for WMAU. The Monday will be our Strategic Planning Day for Board and staff.
- ICIP and IDSov project update: As mentioned in the Out of session decisions, the motion for Terri Janke and Company (TJC) to record a video was approved. We are waiting to hear back from TJC with the draft video recording. We are also looking to confirm Terri’s availability for a pre WikiCon GLAM day.
- Ista, our intern from UNSW has been enthusiastically working on Wikidata and assisting with Sydney editathons. We thank her for her commitment and great interest as the end of her internship draws near.
- Confirmation has been received from the APNIC Foundation on the funding of Phase 2 of the Ian Peter project. Once the Agreement is signed we will begin timelining and progressing the work.
- In very sad news, Franklin Women will shut down at the end of this year. Unfortunately, after 10 years of great initiatives for Women in STEMM, they have not had their Government funding (NSW Health) renewed and are now forced to close. Dr Melina Georgousakis and her team have been fantastic supporters of WMAU and Wiki projects, and we’ve held many editathons and wiki workshops with them. We also successfully partnered and co-developed the series of “More Than A Day” YouTube videos, some of which have had thousands of views. We will keep in touch with Melina, Sarah and the whole Franklin Women team through to the end of the year, and we aim to maintain the good connections we’ve made with them, their members and community.
Operations and governance
- Rachel Arinii Judhistari (WMF) has advised that WMF were able to engage with a representative from the e-Safety Commission and they clarified that Wikipedia is not categorised as social media. The eSafety Commissioner maintains that Wikipedia is unequivocally outside the scope of the regulatory requirements for the Social Media Minimum Age legislation.
- As per the motion by email, Elliott has been engaged to draft a submission from WMAU in response to the Attorney General’s invitation-only Copyright and Artificial Intelligence Consultation Paper, through our membership of the Copyright and AI Reference Group (CAIRG). We are able to share the Consultation Paper with WMF staff and also our WMAU members but it is not for wider distribution or sharing. The deadline is 11 December.
- Call for members and community interested in joining the Subcommittees has been included in a recent newsletter. However noone have indicated they will join the Rules Subcommittee so far. Will keep the call-out going for a few more weeks.Belinda has commenced communication with the Subcommittee Board members (Elliott, Jeremy, Kerry and Peter) and a meeting is proposed for Tuesday 9 Dec, with documentation prepared for comments and questions.
Opportunities & Meetings
Met with a range of people and organisations, including:
- Rachel Arini Judhistari (WMF)
- Copyright and AI Reference Group (CAIRG)
- Katie Russell AMaGA
- User:Pengo
- Dean Foley from Barayamal
- Terri Janke and Company
- The Hon. Michael Brown MP (South Australia - Assistant Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, Defence and Space Industries)
- Anbar Jayadi (WMF) Newcomer Growth research
- Prof Sandra Phillips - Uni of Melbourne
- Heather Ford, Sarah Gilbert and Richard Cooke (SXSW conference)
- Geoff Barker (SLNSW)
- Rani Haywood (SLNSW)
- Evelin Heidel WM Uruaguay
- Tamara Groenleer WM Netherlands
- Dianne and Sophie WM Aotearoa New Zealand
- Regular ESEAP and ECC calls and meetings
Grants
- Received approval for Phase 2 of the APNIC Foundation grant to continue digitising the Ian Peter archive
- Australian Communities Foundation (ACF) grant: Belinda checking back with ACF to see if the grant/donation is still available.
Communications
Social media - October analytics
| Total network size by platform as of October 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Metric | This month | Last month | Monthly change | October 2024 | Annual change |
| X (formerly Twitter) | Followers | 4371 | 4370 | Up by 1 | 3994 | Up by 377 |
| Followers | 2146 | 2106 | Up by 40 | 1972 | Up by 174 | |
| Followers | 825 | 801 | Up by 25 | 651 | Up by 174 | |
| Threads | Followers | 175 | 174 | Up by 1 | 149 | 26 |
| Followers | 491 | 470 | Up by 21 | 359 | Up by 132 | |
| Mastodon | Followers | 284 | 275 | Up by 9 | 205 | Up by 79 |
| YouTube | Subscribers | 294 | 291 | Up by 3 | 201 | Up by 93 |
| Cumulative network size | 8586 | 8487 | Up by 99 | 7253 | Up by 1333 | |
Website - October analytics
5 news stories were published on the website in October 2025
- Wikimedia Australia signs the Open Heritage Statement
- Wikidata turns 13
- Terri Janke and Company lead phase 1 of WMAU ICIP and IDSov project
- Wiki Science Competition
- South Australian Museum
| Total network size by platform as of October 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | This month | Last month | Monthly change | September 2024 | Annual change |
| Visits | 3147 | 2790 | -21.5.9% | 1844 | +30% |
| New visitors | 2216 | 3711 | 1364 | [Add change in new visitors since last year] | |
| Returning visitors | 574 | 129 | 480 | 97 | |
| Page views | 4666 | 5120 | -2411 | 3852 | 1,268 |
| Average visit duration | 57 seconds | 1 min 44 seconds | 19 seconds | 2 min 10 seconds | -22.3% |
| Most visited page | 286 | Up by 56 | 249 | 37 | |
Email - Announce newsletter
| Total subscribers and unsubscribes to the Announce monthly newsletter in October 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | This month | Last month | Monthly change | September 2024 | Annual change |
| Subscribers | 515 | 511 | 4 | 491
[Add subscribers same month last year] |
+24 |
Ticketing
| Total followers of Humanitix account in October 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | This month | Last month | Monthly change | September 2024 | Annual change |
| Followers | 83 | 82 | 1 | 65 Humanitix | 18 |
President’s report
Upcoming trip to Canberra
- I will be traveling to Canberra on 24 Nov 2025 and 25 Nov 2025 to attend the GLAM Peak meeting and Parliamentary Friends of GLAM event (TBC).
- While I am in Canberra I am also hoping to meet with representatives of the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) to discuss WikiCon Canberra and the Australian National Commission for UNESCO to discuss the Open Heritage Statement.
Strategic planning day
- WikiCon Canberra is not too far off and our Strategic Planning Day 2026 will take place on 13 Apr 2026, the day after WikiCon Canberra. Board members are encouraged to attend to the extent they reasonably can.
- Staff will also participate.
- The Strategic Planning Day will take place in-person at the Novotel Canberra, however online participation will be available to Board members who cannot participate in-person. In-person attendance is preferred.
- We will need to determine what we would like to include on the agenda for the Strategic planning day.
Copyright reform activities
Copyright and AI Consultation Paper submission
- As outlined in the Out of Session decisions (Motions by email) I have been engaged to develop and write WMAU’s submission on the Copyright and AI consultation paper. It is an extensive paper with quite a tight turnaround due 11 December 2025. WMAU Board decided that due to this being our first submission to the CAIRG and the significance of the content it required a detailed and well thought out response. Due to the complex interplay of AI and Copyright law (Australian and international) Elliott has the knowledge and expertise needed to understand the legal and social impacts. There has also been a community callout seeking WMAU members who are interested to join and contribute suggestions and case studies to the drafting process. Note that this is a closed-door Consultation process by invitation only, however we have permission to share with WMF and our members.
- Board were encouraged to provide any feedback on the Submission Outline that was distributed on 10 Nov 2025 by 14 Nov 2025. Drafting will continue but accommodate feedback given.
Copyright Amendment Bill 2025 inquiry
- A Copyright Amendment Bill 2025 was tabled in Parliament on 5 Nov 2025 proposing an ‘orphan works scheme’ and to support for online learning. Details about the Bill are in the Minister’s announcement.
- On 11 Nov 2025 the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee announced it was accepting submissions in response to its inquiry into the Copyright Amendment Bill 2025.
- The Bill includes a proposed orphan works scheme and changes to the Copyright Act to better support remote learning. A few other minor provisions are also included.
- WMAU was not specifically invited by the Committee to make a submission but the inquiry is public. WMAU will need to make a decision whether it will make a submission.
- Highly recommend that WMAU provides a submission in support of the orphan works scheme as this will have significant impact on opening up collections to be used in Wiki projects. The online learning component is not as relevant.
- Submissions are due by 28 Nov 2025.
- CC Australia is also doing a submission to the Copyright and AI Consultation Paper and likely will do a submission in response to the Copyright Amendment Bill 2025 Committee inquiry. This could be a joint-submission with WMAU if both organisations are largely saying the same things.
Policy review
Some of our Policies are quite overdue for review. See full details at Matters for Discussion - Policy and Procedure.
- They include:
- HR Policy
- Finance Policy
- Travel policy
- Scholarship policy
- Communications Strategy. It’s in our Activity Plan to develop a comprehensive Marketing Communications Strategy in line with the Strategic Plan 2025-2035.
Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA)
- Rachel Arinii Judhistari from WMF has advised that the WMF team were able to engage with a representative from Julie Inman Grant’s eSafety team. They clarified that Wikipedia is not categorised as social media, given its function as an online encyclopedia.
- Furthermore they indicated that they are actively developing a list of social media platforms subject to compliance. Concurrently, they aim to avoid establishing an exclusion or exception list, preferring to concentrate their efforts on evaluating platforms on the compliance list. This approach is intended to prevent situations similar to when Google was initially exempted in a previous draft of the regulation - especially the strong public response on transparency. Information regarding exclusions on exceptions pertains to platforms operating in ambiguous areas (such as Google Classroom, etc) whereas the eSafety Commissioner maintains that Wikipedia is unequivocally outside the scope of these regulatory requirements.
- This is a position on which the WMF concur.
Secretary’s report
Membership
Three new membership applications received in the past week.
Moved: Mylee Joseph; seconded: Peter Neish; outcome: Passed
October membership statistics
| Total members of WMAU in October 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | This month | Last month | Monthly change | Sept 2024 | Annual change |
| Financial members | 90 | 87 | 3 | Not available | Not available |
| Lapsed memberships | 1 | 2 | -1 | Not available | Not available |
| Member applications | 7 | 2 | 5 | Not available | Not available |
NOTE: Some new applicants yet to pay their membership invoice
Treasurer’s report
Financial statements
Financial statements tabled:
- Profit and Loss Statement October 2025
- Balance Sheet October 2025
Moved: Peter Neish; seconded: Mylee Joseph; outcome: Passed
Out-of-session decisions
Documenting out-of-session decisions (sometimes called flying minutes).
Motion by Email 23 October: Approval to commission short video by Terri Janke & Company
Apologies that this comes so soon after the recent Board meeting, but I've only received these cost details in the past 24 hours.
I'm seeking approval to spend AUD $10,000 to commission a short educational video from Terri Janke & Company as a supporting resource to Wikimedia Australia’s Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) project.
This is a resource that ourselves and Terri did not anticipate. It has largely come about through the request from WikiCon Netherlands as part of their conference program (the session is at midnight due to timezones, despite our requests to be on earlier) along with many enquiries and significant interest from affiliates, groups and organisations. We can now see a clear need for such a resource, hence the quote from Terri.
The video will be developed and recorded by Terri Janke and will explain (amongst other information):
- why this project is needed,
- what ICIP and IDSov mean in the context of Wikimedia projects, and
- how this work will support respectful engagement with Indigenous knowledge systems.
This video will be a key resource to help educate both the Australian and global Wikimedia communities. It will support broader understanding of how to respectfully include Indigenous perspectives in open knowledge platforms and why cultural protocols matter.
Note: We will ensure Terri or her team will present in person at specific events, however this video will increase reach and impact when an in-person presentation isn't possible.
Funding
The WMAU ICIP and IDSov project has its own funding (AUD$149,000). There is approx 6% contingency we can access. Separately to that, Wikimedia Australia currently has AUD $20,000 in its own budget lines reserved for Indigenous projects. In previous years, these funds have supported the development of research, consultation and reports (Jumbunna report, Dist Prof Carlson's report, and scoping the TJC protocol for WMAU). Some of this allocation can be used for the cost of producing the video, as it is complementary to - and separate from - the direct costs of the ICIP and IDSov project itself.
Motion:
That the WMAU Board approve the expenditure of up to AUD $10,000 to commission a short educational video from Terri Janke & Company for the ICIP and IDSov project, to be funded from the WMAU budget lines for First Nations projects and the contingency in the ICIP and IDSov Protocol for WMAU.
Intended use:
The video will be shared and used in multiple settings, including:
- Wikimedia Australia website, social media and YouTube channel
- Wikimedia Australia ICIP & IDSov project page and documentation
- Wikimedia Australia training and outreach sessions
- WikiCon Canberra 2026 (pre-event and conference program)
- Wikimedia Australia cultural partnerships presentations
- Wikimedia Australia newsletters and mailing lists
- ESEAP Hub Community calls and information sessions
- ESEAP Community Conference 2026 in Taiwan
- ESEAP regional mailing list and Telegram channel
- Other Wikimedia community affiliates and networks (interest registered with us so far from: Netherlands, New Zealand, Canada, Peru, Uruguay, Bolivia, UK, Norway, Finland, Germany and Malaysia)
- WikiConference India organisers and South Asia regional calls
- GLAM Peak, AIATSIS, and Australian museum networks
- Wikimedia Diff blog (WMF platform)
- Wikimedia Foundation Global Advocacy and Policy team
- WMF Human Rights and Knowledge Equity teams
- Wikimania Paris 2026 (education in the lead-up)
- WMF Board of Trustees
- Wikimedia Foundation staff cultural learning programs
- Wikimedia Enterprise and Partnerships teams (for education and awareness)
- Executive Officers Conference (São Paulo, Brazil December 2025)
The video will serve as a practical educational tool and a public statement of Wikimedia Australia’s leadership in developing best practice approaches to ICIP and IDSov within the Wikimedia movement.
Please indicate your support or otherwise for the motion by reply email before COB Monday 27 October. Discussion is welcome.
Apologies again for the short timeline, but we have a hard deadline with WikiCon Netherlands in just under a month when the video is required.
Moved: Peter Neish; seconded: Elliott Bledsoe; outcome: Passed
Motion by Email 30 October - Engagement of President to lead Copyright and AI Consultation Response
Response needed by Wednesday 5 November. Note that Elliott is recused.
Background
Since June 2025, WMAU has been a member of the Australian Attorney-General’s Copyright and AI Reference Group (CAIRG).
Today, the CAIRG provided us with a confidential Consultation Paper (invitation only) addressing three priority areas identified by the Government:
- Encouraging fair, legal avenues for using copyright material in AI through examination of licensing arrangements.
- Improving certainty on the application of copyright law to material generated through the use of AI.
- Exploring avenues for less costly enforcement in relation to AI output-related infringement, including through a potential small claims forum.
The consultation paper is extensive and contains 21 detailed questions to be addressed. I'll distribute this in a separate email.
However, I encourage you to see the Attorney-General's media release from Sunday 26 October 2025 which announced that the Albanese Government would not be introducing a text and data mining (TDM) exception, while providing a high-level summary of what the Consultation paper is looking at.
Elliott and I attended an invite only call on Tuesday giving an overview of the Consultation Paper, however it was not released until today.
Due to the high level of expertise required - particularly in Australian copyright law, AI technologies, and their complex interplay - preparing this substantial submission will demand significant time and specialist knowledge. Given the importance of this topic and the opportunity to shape national policy, it is proposed that the President be engaged to lead the drafting process, due to Elliott's extensive knowledge and experience in this area.
While previous Wikimedia Australia submissions have been prepared by staff and through volunteer Board input, this is our first submission to the CAIRG and the Attorney-General’s Department on the issue of copyright and AI. It is critical that our submission be of a high standard, with detailed understanding on the legalities of copyright and AI, to have meaningful impact.
Wikimedia Australia will also seek input from the Wikimedia Foundation Policy and Legal team; however the submission must be Australian in focus, terminology, and context.
The Attorney General's Department requires the Consultation Paper to only be shared strictly within our organisation (this does extend to members). It must not be distributed further.
Budget and funding
Wikimedia Australia has an existing budget line for Policy/Legal and Submission Development, to support this work. We have $3,500 in this budget line.
Additionally, there remains $5,000 unspent from the Partner Projects budget line (of $30,000, with $25,000 expended) that could be redirected.
We could provide (at a maximum) $8500 for 60 hours work (8 days).
I've briefly talked with Elliott and he is open to the idea, and would adjust the quantity of work inline with what the Board approves.
This would utilise a considerable proportion of the funds allocated for this type of work, early in the financial year. However, given the strategic importance of this consultation and its relevance to Wikimedia Australia’s advocacy in open knowledge, copyright, and AI, this investment can be justified.
Note that this provides the exact situation we anticipated in needing a dedicated WMAU Policy role, but have been unable to fund with our current grant allocation.
Expected Deliverables and Timeline:
- By mid-November 2025: Connect with WMF Policy and Legal teams. Conduct a short online WMAU members only consultation session to gather questions, examples and perspectives.
- By late November 2025: Prepare and circulate a draft submission to the Board for feedback.
- By 10 December 2025: Finalise and submit Wikimedia Australia’s response to the Attorney-General’s Department.
Recommendation
That the Board approve engaging the President, Elliott Bledsoe, to lead preparation of the CAIRG consultation response and coordinate a short WMAU member consultation to gather input and illustrative examples for inclusion, with a budget allocation of up to $8,500, noting the funds be drawn from a combination of the Policy, and Partner Projects budget lines.
Motion:
That Wikimedia Australia engage the President, Elliott Bledsoe, to review and draft Wikimedia Australia’s submission to the Attorney-General’s Copyright and AI Reference Group (CAIRG) consultation paper, with a budget allocation of up to $8,500.
Elliott will also conduct a brief consultation session with Wikimedia Australia members (strictly members only - inline with Government requirements) to gather input to inform the submission.
Elliott will be recused from the discussion and voting on this motion.
If you could please discuss and indicate your support or otherwise.
Moved: Kerry Raymond; seconded: Jeremy Ludlow; outcome: Passed
Matters for discussion
Community recognition and opportunities
Alice has drafted some ideas around a Jarrahtree scholarship or opportunity. Please access the draft here. Please make suggestions and add other ideas.
The WMF also maintain this page to celebrate editors and contributors: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation/Communications/WikiCelebrate
Strategic planning day agenda
ACTION: Discuss what do we want to undertake at the Strategic planning day.
Suggestions:
- Closer look at membership engagement and building stronger relationship between WMAU.
- Communication Strategy and Content Strategy. Thinking about how to engage members and community in email conversations on topics using the members mailing list. Create genuine two-way communication.
- Presentation during WikiCon Canberra to engage with members, providing opportunities for them to give feedback, input and ideas (eg, similar to WikiCon Adelaide with WhiteBoards, sticky notes, direct discussions with Board members, feedback forms).
- How is implementation of the 3 and 10 year WMAU plan going? Discuss with members to prioritise key areas and actions.
Policy and procedure
Listed below are the Policies due for review.
Functioning well and don’t need major changes:
- HR Policy (scheduled for annual review, last reviewed April-May 2024)
- Finance Policy (scheduled for biannual review, last reviewed March 2023)
- Travel Policy (scheduled for biannual review, last reviewed 2021, but upgraded to 2023 ATO Per Diem) Now needs to be updated to the 2025 ATO Per Diem rates.
- Scholarships Policy is good, but hasn’t been reviewed since 2016, and works in conjunction with Travel Policy.
Requires detailed review:
- Communication Strategy (scheduled for biannual review, last reviewed December 2023) NOTE from our Strategic Plan: Update our existing Communications Strategy to a comprehensive Marketing Communications Strategy in line with the Strategic Plan 2025-2035
How will we handle these policy and procedure reviews?
Legislation update
Copyright Amendment Bill 2025 inquiry
As reported in the President’s report (Matters for Noting) WMAU will need to make a decision whether to make a submission. Note that Submissions are due on Friday 28 November 2025. Details here.
Moved: Elliott Bledsoe; seconded: Kerry Raymond; outcome: Passed
Open Heritage Statement Advocacy Circle
Would WMAU like to set up an Advocacy Circle to support the Open Heritage Statement? It could be co-convened with Creative Commons Australia if CC AU comes on as a signatory.
This is what is listed in the OHS FAQs:
Within the Coalition, Advocacy Circles, small groups of Coalition members and supporters, are championing the Statement within their own countries. These local conversations are critical to advancing this work in all countries. Circles have access to advocacy toolkits and more.
Discussion that this is a very worthy idea and we support this group being formed, however it is not something that WMAU should set-up. We would be an active participant, but other institutions and organisations would be better placed to lead on this. Particularly GLAM institutions. Possibly the National and State Libraries of Australasia (NSLA) could be the best option.
Meeting end