Election 2023 Candidate Manifestos

A space for the candidates for election to the Board to share some information about themselves, their aspirations for OSGeo, what they would like to change, improve or introduce and what role they would like to play on the board.

You are welcome to follow the template, and add further relevant info as you need:

Jeroen Ticheler - The Netherlands (OSGeo profile)

About me

Wageningen (The Netherlands), Ivory Coast and Mali were the places I grew up as a child. It brought me to study Tropical Forestry with a focus on GIS and Remote Sensing. Following graduation in 1997, I started working to support the Early Warning System for Food Security and the Desert Locust Early Warning System at the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Rome for nine years.

With the support of the FAO, I managed to start the development of GeoNetwork opensource, a catalog that allowed us to organise and release large quantities of geospatial data to the public.

In 2007, GeoCat was established and I moved back to The Netherlands. Besides everything geospatial, I love traveling, carpentry, slowly build an overland truck, study Analytical Psychology, and walk, work and live outside.

My vision

My vision is that geospatial knowledge can improve the way we live on our planet. That science requires the open software we jointly develop and that sustainable Free and Open Source Software projects require healthy businesses that commit themselves to contribute back responsibly.

We, as a community, can accomplish so much through local and global collaborations. Our projects and communities provide (the best) tools and knowledge accessible for all to benefit.

What you have done within the community in the past

Besides my involvement as PSC chair in the GeoNetwork opensource project, I have been involved as Charter member from 2006 onwards, served on the OSGeo Marketing and Conference Committees, as well as on the OSGeo Board. In the last 10+ years my involvement has mainly been in the form of a sponsor to OSGeo and FOSS4G (both global, regional and local) and by organising a yearly Code Sprint in Bolsena since 2007.

What your interests are in terms of the board

My mission is to connect people by connecting communities and information. I strongly promote the use of international standards and Free and Open Source Software for geographic data and information. I'll commit myself to help OSGeo to bring people together that collaborate, innovate and give back.

Any things that you would like to change or introduce

Responsible entrepreneurship will definitely be one of the things that has my attention. OSGeo needs to be a well balanced community of people from all parts of society, including volunteers, students and scientists, public servants and businesses.

What role you would wish to fulfil on the board (if any)

No preference at this stage, I'm willing to take up any role needed.