Datta appointment completes Wikimedia Foundation board

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 06 April 2010 17:55

IT People - People

The appointment of Bishakha Datta has filled the one remaining vacancy on Wikimedia's board of trustees.

Indian journalist, filmmaker and non-profit leader Bishakha Datta has joined the Wikimedia board of trustees.

"India is projected to have 192 million Internet users by 2015, and we believe there is enormous potential for Wikipedia to serve all those people, whether in English or their native languages. Bishakha has tremendous experience supporting non-profit organisations around the world, particularly in India," said board chair Michael Snow.

"As a documentary-maker and writer, Bishakha also has a strong commitment to the values Wikipedia shares with quality journalism: the importance of neutrality, freedom from censorship, and editorial independence. I think she'll be a terrific addition to our board, and I'm delighted to have her join us," he added.

The other eight members of the board are Jan-Bart de Vreede, Stuart West, Kat Walsh, Ting Chen, Matt Halprin, Samuel Klein, Arne Klempert, and Jimmy Wales.

"Wikipedia is groundbreaking in so many ways. It's an encyclopedia collaboratively created by hundreds of thousands of volunteers around the world, and has become a primary point of reference. It's a free knowledge resource, not just in English, but in so many of the languages that we speak everyday, and it's a hybrid editing model where we both produce and consume reliable, authoritative and credible information," said Datta.

"By reversing many known wisdoms, Wikipedia has given us a new paradigm for the creation of knowledge. I am truly excited to be a part of it," she added.