Meeting:Board (2025-08-19)
See also the list of all meetings.
Introduction
Date and time: 19 Aug 2025 17:00 AEST/16:30 ACST/15:00 AWST
Meeting start time: 5:15 pm AEST
Meeting end time: 6:38 pm AEST
Meeting objectives
Meeting objectives: To make decisions in relation to and to discuss upcoming AGM, WikiCon Australia, various Sub Committees business
Record of attendance
Attendees: Peter Neish Shravan Rao Jeremy Ludlow Peter Neish
Apologies: Elliott Bledsoe Kassi Hays
Moved: Peter Neish; seconded: Shravan Rao; outcome:
Reports
Executive Officer’s report
Please find below a summary of key activities and updates:
Programs and engagements
- Everyone is back safely from an excellent Wikimania! Natasha has written a lovely Thank you to WMAU for the opportunity and is keen to be part of our local movement.
- AGM for 2025 process will commence soon. Next actions include approaching potential Board candidates and the Secretary sending an email notice to all members on 24 August.
- Edit-a-thons and workshops over the past month include successful events at AGSA, which led to Adelaide College of the Arts (ACART) workshop, and Alice supported an online international editathon in Sweden for the Biomechanists group.
- Our Partner Projects 2025–2026 have now opened and taking EOI submissions until close 5 September
- Craig Franklin Award now open for nominations (some received already) and closing 22 August.
- Wikimedia Peru is interested in our First Nations work and would like us to consider a joint grant through the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s COALAR fund. Carlo is drafting a proposal and will discuss with Belinda to see what is possible.
Operations and governance
- Please see Matters for Noting - Legislation update for details of some consultation meetings
- Our final Learning Report for Year 3 now submitted. Awaiting a response from Jacqueline and the ESEAP Regional Funds Committee for a conversation call.
- Belinda supporting the on-boarding of the new Senior ESEAP Hub Project Manager, Biyanto Rebin, working part time. Another full-time employee to start in the coming weeks.
- Received a reply email from The Hon Annika Wells MP, the Communications Minister declining our request for a meeting due to her very heavy schedule. We’re now attempting to engage with key stakeholders in the Comms Department.
- With the significant increase in government consultation and requests for submission or comment, focussing on relevant issues (such as AI, copyright reform, online safety of children, online platforms, digital rights, etc) it may be worth considering whether to join organisations such as Electronic Frontiers Australia, or DIGI to increase our potential to be part of joint submissions, advocacy or lobbying. Digi already have a relationship with WMF. We are looking at joining submissions or statements with Creative Commons where relevant and appropriate.
Opportunities
Meetings
Met with a range of organisations, including:
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
- Rachel Arini Judhistari (WMF)
- Adelaide College of the Arts (ACARTS)
- State Library NSW
- Art Gallery of SA
- Uni NSW
- Creative Commons (members meeting)
- Wikimedia Peru (re a potential partnership / First Nations)
- SA Museum
- Kerrie Burns, WiR at SLV
Grants
Australian Communities Foundation (ACF) grant: No update at this time.
Communications
Social media - July analytics
| Total network size by platform as of June 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Metric | This month | Last month | Monthly change | July 2024 | Annual change |
| X (formerly Twitter) | Followers | 4324 | 4248 | Up by 76 | 3834 | Up by 490 |
| Followers | 2066 | 2046 | Up by 26 | 1,947 | Up by 119 | |
| Followers | 765 | 759 | Up by 13 | 587 | Up by 178 | |
| Threads | Followers | 171 | 171 | Up by 0 | 141 | Up by 30 |
| Followers | 433 | 425 | Up by 8 | 301 | Up by 132 | |
| Mastodon | Followers | 270 | 270 | Up by 0 | 187 | Up by 78 |
| YouTube | Subscribers | 281 | 274 | Up by 7 | 172 | Up by 109 |
| Cumulative network size | 8310 | 8,108 | Up by 202 | 7071 | Up by 1136 | |
Website - Content July analytics
4 news stories were published on the website in July 2025
- From idea to article: how a Wikipedia article is born
- Craig Franklin Award 2025
- Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos 2025
- A Wiki minute
| Total network size by platform as of July 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | This month | Last month | Monthly change | July 2024 | Annual change |
| Visits | 1672 | 1625
[Add “All visits” this month] |
-21.5.9% | 1105 | +47.1% |
| New visitors | ? | 1705 ?
[Add new visitors this month] |
[Add change in new visitors since last month] | [Add new visitors same month last year] | [Add change in new visitors since last year] |
| Returning visitors | 254 | [Add returning visitors this month] | [Add change in returning visitors since last month] | [Add Instagram returning visitors same month last year] | [Add change in returning visitors since last year] |
| Page views | 2814 | 2806 | +0.3% | 2048 | +32% |
| Average visit duration | 1 min 9 seconds | 1 min 20 seconds | -19 seconds | 1 min 43 seconds | -22.3% |
| Most visited page | 17 Inspiring Australian Women to Celebrate This Australia Day | 174
17 Inspiring Australian Women to Celebrate This Australia Day |
Up by 53 | 107
Post highlighting local projects on Wikimedia Commons |
Up by 67 |
Email - Announce newsletter July analytics
| Total subscribers and unsubscribes to the Announce monthly newsletter in July 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | This month | Last month | Monthly change | July 2024 | Annual change |
| Subscribers | 510 | 510 | 0 | 488
[Add subscribers same month last year] |
+22 |
Ticketing
| Total followers of Humanitix account in July 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | This month | Last month | Monthly change | July 2024 | Annual change |
| Followers | 77 | 77 | No change | 52 Eventbrite
0 Humanitix [Add Eventbrite & Humanitix followers same month last year] |
[Add change in followers since last year] |
President’s report
e-Safety Commissioner BOSE and the Wikipedia Test
Elliott received correspondence from a staff member of the eSafety Commissioner, with concerns about the “Wikipedia Test” recently released by WMF, which makes mention of the Australian Basic Online Safety Expectations (BOSE). They were concerned that The Test does not accurately capture the BOSE regulatory scheme and were seeking clarity around the ‘requirements’ on providers of online services. They advised they would like to arrange a call with WMAU and WMF.
As Elliott is on leave he passed the message to Belinda and Rachel (WMF Lead Public Policy Specialist, Asia) who are in communication with the eSafety Commissioners team and arranging a call to discuss. Rachel has drafted a response email.
Secretary’s report
July membership statistics
| Total members of WMAU in July 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | This month | Last month | Monthly change | July 2024 | Annual change |
| Financial members | 86 | 84 | 2 | 75 | 11 |
| Lapsed memberships | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A
[Add lapsed memberships same month last year] |
N/A
[Add change in lapsed memberships members since last year] |
| Member applications | 2 | 3 | -1 | 2 | 0 |
Membership renewal invoices
Three invoices remain outstanding for annual membership renewals.
Treasurer’s report
Financial statements
Financial statements tabled:
- Profit and Loss Statement July 2025
- Balance sheet July 2025
WMF Grant
The WMF grant for WMAU has been received and distributed to the Term Deposit and Cash Reserve accounts to ensure good access to our funds and maximum income from interest. Belinda is contacting Jacqueline to check on the grant funds for the separate First Nations Protocol project.
Scam transaction
We have had another scam transaction for a small amount, but feedback and solutions from Westpac has been very poor. Once the AGM is complete we’ll review the situation and look to open a specific donations only bank account.
Moved: Peter Neish; seconded: Jeremy Ludlow; outcome:
Out-of-session decisions
Documenting out-of-session decisions (sometimes called flying minutes).
None this month
Matters for discussion
Responding to the Triennial Grant outcome
Item on hold until Elliott is back around 1 September 2025
ICIP and IDSov Protocol
Elliott and Belinda met with Shevaun Wright and Matilda Langford from Terri Janke and Company to discuss options and ideas on the ICIP and IDSov Protocol. The WMF grant provides approximately a quarter of the funding required for the fully scoped 2-3 year project. We discussed ways to potentially raise the remaining funds ourselves through philanthropic donations, crowd sourced funding and other external grants.
Shevaun advised that we could consider working with TJC on creating a guide or ‘first step’ document (maybe an Issues Paper). This could be used to generate discussion and highlight and clearly outline the questions and challenges, but also include case studies demonstrating projects and processes that have worked on Wiki (Noongarpedia, Alice Springs Public Library image collections, etc). This would be a reduced scope, but it could stand in as a protocol for a while. It would also give us documentation and outcomes to base future grant applications on.
Terri also suggested engaging a key consultation group comprised of key stakeholders and representatives (paid out of the existing grant fund). Possibly attending conferences or leveraging existing organisations such as ATSIDA and AIATSIS as well as the Lowitja Institution to promote the work and receive feedback. TJC would work with us to identify the platforms and events that would most assist the project.
Moved: Emily Mierisch; seconded: Jeremy Ludlow; outcome:
DGR status
Belinda contacted Robin Wright at Creative Commons Australia and discussed an e-introduction to their legal advisor, Robert Gregory at Maddocks, Melbourne. Robin suggested to start with their Pro Bono partner, Peter Francis, explain our connection and look at possible pro bono opportunities as well as a financial contribution from WMAU. Belinda agreed and is waiting for correspondence to commence.
AGM 2025
Please review the 2025 AGM Planning document which outlines timeline, key stages and documentation.
At this stage we are seeking two new Board members. Belinda will approach anyone identified as potential candidates as Elliott is on leave. Some time ago we were recommended a potential Board member in Tenneil Murray. Tenneil spent a number of years as the Director of First Nations at the QLD State Library, but has just begun a 12-month secondment with the First Nations Justice Office.
Belinda will arrange a meeting with Shravan to go over the process of the email notification to members. If we update our Rules of Association and ask our members to vote on the changes, there is a process with CAV for that to happen as a Special Meeting, a few minutes before the AGM.
Draft of Slide deck for presenting the AGM is being prepared. Belinda has also reached out to Leanne Franklin to invite her to attend the Craig Franklin Award ceremony.
2025/26 Partner Projects
We have two community members (Kerry, Annie) who are ready to be involved in the Partner Projects Selection Committee with Emily and Kassi. Staff will also set up a Spreadsheet for each Committee to assist in reviewing and ranking applications before the Committee meets to make final selections.
Belinda ran an information session for interested grant applicants on Friday 15 August to assist and encourage applications
Craig Franklin Award and other recognition for our community
A community call out has gone out through newsletters, social media and on the Australian Wikipedians Noticeboard to nominate people or organisations to be considered for the Craig Franklin Award. Selection Committee members are Kerry, Shravan, Alice and Elliott.
WikiCon 2026
WikiCon recommendations: Canberra in Feb/Mar or Darwin in early April. Note that ESEAP Community conference is 15-17 May in Kaohsiung Taiwan, so need some time between these major events.
ESEAP Hackathon update: Belinda has been communicating with Robert (WM Singapore) and there is small chance of an ESEAP Hackathon in Bangkok, Thailand in March. Robert also advised that if groups want to apply for additional funds to run/host a Conference then proposals must be submitted by 1 Sept for consideration of funding by WMF.
Policy and procedure
Policies due for review:
- HR Policy (scheduled for annual review, last reviewed April-May 2024)
- Finance Policy (scheduled for biannual review, last reviewed March 2023)
- Communication Strategy (scheduled for biannual review, last reviewed December 2023)
Legislation update
Productivity Commission Text and Data Mining (TDM)
Harnessing data and digital technology report
Call for submissions by 15 September on potential copyright exceptions for AI, to increase innovation and productivity.
Belinda, Elliott, Rachel (WMF Lead Public Policy Specialist, Asia), Robin Wright (CC Aust), Brigitte Vezina (Director of Policy and Open Culture | Creative Commons) and Derek Slater ( Policy Strategist, CC international) are in discussions on whether to present a joint submission.
Rachel is seeking feedback from WMF Global Policy team, while Derek prepares a draft.
Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA)
- Elliott was able to attend an invitation only Round table for the e-Safety Commissioners consultation on the SMMA restrictions and provide input from WMAU’s perspective.
- The Australian Government has tabled and passed the Rules and Explanatory Statement, outlining the definition on the classes of services that are not social media, to carve out services from the Social Media Minimum Age obligation. The Rules have now commenced (the day after registered on the Federal Register of Legislation).
Access here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Tabled_Documents/11690
Belinda had a call with Rachel (WMF team) as it appears we fit in the exemption Section 5, Part 2, Clause 5 (1) (e) services that have the sole or primary purpose of supporting the education of end-users;
WMF will continue to seek a meeting with Annika Wells for clarification.
Australian Children Online Privacy Code
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s (OAIC) opened for consultation on their Phase 2, industry consultation approach for the Code. On 17 July Belinda was able to attend and provide comments at an invite only Round table Zoom call, with 15 other major stakeholders and platforms. This phase is not part of their compulsory consultation which instead will take place in early 2026.
WMF and WMAU will work together to provide a joint response when the compulsory consultation opens next year.
Belinda’s summary notes are available on request.