Today Web Summit, the world’s largest tech event, announces former Wikipedia boss Katherine Maher as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Katherine brings to Web Summit her ability to bridge the worlds of technology, humanity, and dialogue needed to shape the future. She has been appointed by the board to lead the company through this period of transition.
Her experience managing some of the world’s biggest organisations will support Web Summit through its flagship event, Web Summit in Lisbon and focus on its mission to connect people and ideas that change the world.
Katherine led Wikimedia Foundation, the global nonprofit behind Wikipedia, which has over 1 billion monthly users, as CEO for 5 years. During her tenure, she brought unprecedented success to the Wikimedia movement and solidifying Wikipedia’s reputation as a trusted source of free knowledge worldwide.
Additionally, Katherine is chair of messaging platform Signal Messenger, a non-resident Senior Fellow on Democracy and Technology at the Atlantic Council, and a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, and a security fellow at the Truman National Security Project.
Web Summit is also announcing today that it has appointed Damian Kimmelman as a non-executive board director. Damian is a renowned technology leader and innovator who has co-founded several successful companies and organisations both in the US and Europe, including edtech startup Batelle.com, non profit FoundersPledge.com, business bank Rho.co, and business data provider DueDil.com, now Fullcircl.
Katherine Maher said: “I am excited to join Web Summit, because I believe in Web Summit’s mission to connect people and ideas that change the world. In a present where technology is interwoven into every aspect of our lives, and in a future where it represents our greatest hope and our greatest disruptor, Web Summit’s role as a place for connection and conversation is more urgent than ever. Our immediate task is returning the focus to what we do best: delivering dialogue among all those connected with technological advancement.”
“I’m also delighted to be joined on the board of Web Summit by Damian Kimmelman. As well as his extraordinary track record as a founder, Damian will also bring the Web Summit board invaluable insights into the global tech community which will define our shared future” – continued Katherine.
Damian said: “I’ve been attending Web Summit for the past 10 years, and I keep coming back because it’s where I’ve forged so many of my most meaningful business relationships. I couldn’t be more excited to be joining an organisation that has had such an impact on my career.”
“I firmly believe in Web Summit’s mission to help make the meaningful connections that change the world, and I’m looking forward to working with Katherine and the board to achieve this and to support the dialogue which will ensure that Web Summit remains the world’s leading tech conference” – continued Damian.
In previous roles at UNICEF, the National Democratic Institute, Access Now and the World Bank, Katherine focussed on supporting the use of technology and data to help improve peoples’ lives and governance, especially in developing nations.
While at Wikimedia Foundation, she managed over 1 billion monthly users, led a global volunteer force of nearly 300,000 people across 75 countries, and managed an annual budget of $140 million. During her tenure she doubled annual fundraising, drove the first growth in readership and contributors in more than a decade, and significantly expanded the platform’s presence in emerging markets.
Under her leadership, Wikipedia attained the highest public trust in the institution’s history, defined an expansive strategic direction for the future, with a particular emphasis on platform innovation, machine learning, demographic diversity and new markets. During this time, both Katherine and Wikimedia were vocal and prominent public champions of the rights to freedom of expression, inquiry, and privacy.
Damian is a renowned technology leader and innovator who has co-founded numerous successful companies and organisations, including healthtech startup Batelle.com, FoundersPledge.com, Rho.co, and DueDil.com, a business focused on improving how companies access and use data. DueDil recently partnered with Artesian to become Fullcircl. He will assume the non-executive director role on the board vacated by Nathan Hubbard following the end of his period of service as director.
Web Summit 2023 will take place from November 13 15, with a full programme, including 25-plus stages, PITCH competitions, investors meetings, masterclasses and roundtables, and Mentor Hours. Night Summit events will also be happening across some of the most exciting neighbourhoods in Lisbon, giving our attendees the opportunity to network after-hours.
The event will reflect a rich, global tapestry of perspectives and experiences, with a record-breaking 2,600 startups – almost one third of which are founded by women – from more than 85 countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, Lichtenstein, Peru and Ghana. These startups will join more than 800 investors, 300 partners and 2,000 media from 160-plus countries. Our community initiatives are well underway, including women in tech, which – as always – will support our aim to reach gender parity.