Philippe (WMF)

Philippe Beaudette

Director, Community Advocacy, Wikimedia Foundation

"Where else in the world can you have a job that lets you support the people who change the way that the world uses information? It's an amazing job."

About me

I first joined the Wikimedia Foundation staff as Facilitator of the Strategic Planning project in July 2009. At the completion of the strategic planning project, I became Head of Reader Relations, and led the 2010 Annual Giving campaign. In February 2012, I was promoted to Director of Community Advocacy and assigned to the Legal and Community Advocacy team.

Prior to becoming a staff member I was a three-year member of the Board of Trustees Election Committee, a two-year administrator for the English Wikipedia, and volunteered for the Volunteer response team.

Outside Wikimedia, I have a background in American electoral politics, where I have worked as Deputy Campaign Manager, Operations Manager and Technology Director on a number of state and federal campaigns, as well as for the non-profit Progressive Alliance Foundation. I have also worked as a technology consultant in the for-profit sector in the United States, Italy and the United Kingdom.

My username on the projects is "Philippe (WMF)" - so, for instance, on the English Wikipedia, I'm found here, in my professional capacity. My personal username is found here.

My work

My role is to serve as an advocate for and to the Wikimedia community. The natural question is "from whom", and I joke that the answer is "yes". Seriously, I like to engage myself in areas where I think selective and targeted staff interaction can make a difference. I manage the community liaison "team" (just one person at the moment!) and the supporting staff for that.

Disclaimer: Although I work for the Wikimedia Foundation, contributions under this account do not necessarily represent the actions or views of the Foundation unless expressly stated otherwise. For example, edits to articles or uploads of other media are done in my individual, personal capacity unless otherwise stated. Although I am a member of the Legal and Community Advocacy team, I am not a lawyer. The legal team can only represent the Wikimedia Foundation on legal matters, so our team is unable to give legal advice to others, including community members, editors, or contributors. Communications with members of the legal team are not consultations and do not create any confidential relationship.

Contact me

E-mail: philippe---at---wikimedia.org
On Meta-Wiki as Philippe (WMF) in my staff role
On the English Wikipedia as Philippe as a volunteer
LinkedIn profile
Philippewiki on Twitter