Michał Buczyński - 2025 WMF Board of Trustees candidate statement

Michał Buczyński presents himself as a seasoned volunteer dedicated to the Wikimedia movement for over two decades, having contributed through editing, administration, arbitration, policy development, and building real-life associations of Wikipedians. He acknowledges his previous roles in shaping funds dissemination strategies and drafting the Movement Charter, noting that while he may be known from these specific contributions, his commitment extends far beyond any single title or screen presence. His candidacy is driven by a deep sense of care for the community's future and a belief that his accumulated skills are essential as the world continues to evolve rapidly around them. The core challenge Buczyński identifies is the increasing threat posed by large language models funded with billions, which often hallucinate and spread misinformation, making high-quality, democratic information more critical than ever before. He argues that the movement must not only improve its tools but also stay connected with people across diverse cultures to innovate effectively against these technological risks. Managing a global ecosystem involving hundreds of staff members, thousands of volunteers, millions of readers, and a budget exceeding two hundred million dollars requires navigating complex legal, financial, and technical issues where reaching consensus on major changes is inherently difficult yet necessary for progress. Buczyński emphasizes his unique ability to bridge the gap between grassroots volunteer struggles and professional expertise by combining his experience as an editor who works late nights with a background in quantitative banking risk management. In this dual role, he has learned firsthand how often projects fail or require persistence while also gaining skills in managing people, law, finance, IT platforms, and legal complexities from his corporate career. He highlights that having drafted the Movement Charter himself gives him insight into both the difficulties of internal agreement-making and the importance of trying to move forward despite those hurdles. Ultimately, he positions himself as a listener who is ready to serve others on the Board of Trustees by leveraging his extensive knowledge of affiliate operations and professional risk management. His goal is to ensure that the board remains useful in supporting a vast network where everyone faces different cultural contexts and operational challenges without losing sight of shared values. By bringing together the empathy needed for community building with the analytical rigor required for financial and legal oversight, he aims to help guide the movement through its next phase of growth while remaining accountable to the volunteers who make it all possible.