Election 2021 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:

Adam Steer - Australian in Norway (OSGeo profile)

About me

At work I am a polar researcher based in Tromsø, northern Norway - the latest iteration of a 'mosaic career' spanning research, research support, independent consulting, guiding, fixing bicycles and more! My geospatial training was in surveying and geomatics, applied to the frozen ocean at both ends of our planet using airborne and on-ground measurements. I also have a BSc in psychology and a multidisciplinary bachelor of Antarctic Studies. I've used open geospatial tools across research, business, and just making maps for fun. As part of my open geospatial software life I have worked hard to generate a culture of giving back, for example if we build a business tool based on open software, improvments are shared with the community (rather than branched into 'business specific' tools).

At home I am an adventurer at heart and parent to two boys. In general I would like to spend a lot more time getting lost in the mountains!

My vision

I want to help maintain a community which goes out of its way to let people in, and try to help members of the community become and stay engaged. More or less ask 'how can we help?' - and more importantly, 'how can we help without becoming just another overhead in your life?'. We live in interesting times and face a lot of challenges which we can't really predict well or prepare for. So my vision is to help this community in uncertain times, maybe think more about sustainability than growth.

What you have done within the community in the past

• FOSS4G international attendee / speaker / workshop presenter in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• part of the team which restarted FOSS4G conferences in 2018 with FOSS4G SotM Oceania
• part of the team founding OSGeo Oceania, founding director and member
• elected director of OSGeo Oceania
• small contributions to PDAL, OpenDroneMap
• advocate for open source tools and open mindsets in research, business and government
• charter member of OSGeo since 2018

What your interests are in terms of the board

In line with my vision - work to maintain a community which goes out of their way to let people in, and work on ways to help the community stay sustainable in terms of volunteer effort, financial support, and its environmental and ethical viewpoints.

Any things that you would like to change or introduce

I want to get a better sense of OSGeo overall before suggesting changes. I would like to keep guiding OSGeo along paths toward inclusivity and environmental responsibility, but that isn't really new - there is plenty of precedent there.

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

I feel at this point being an ordinary board member is the best fit. I have a lot to learn!

Vicky Vergara, Mexico (OSGeo profile)

About me

I haven't changed much from the last times I wrote a manifesto (2019) (2017)

I remember the time in 5th grade that I was in Cleveland, Ohio. But around a month after me arriving we were asked to make an essay of were we lived, And here is what is what I remember of it.

I live at a house.
A house is on a road. I live in that road.
A house is on a road on a city, I live on that city.
A house is on a road on a city on a municipality, I live on that municipality.
A house is on a road on a city on a municipality on a state, I live on that state.
A house is on a road on a city on a municipality on a state on a country, I live on that country.
A house is on a road on a city on a municipality on a state on a country on a continent, I live on that continent.
A house is on a road on a city on a municipality on a state on a country on a continent on a world, I live on that world.
A house is on a road on a city on a municipality on a state on a country on a continent on a world on a solar system, I live on that solar system.
A house is on a road on a city on a municipality on a state on a country on a continent on a world on a solar system on a galaxy, I live on that galaxy.
A house is on a road on a city on a municipality on a state on a country on a continent on a world on a solar system on a galaxy on the universe, I live on that universe.

The only change from the 9 year old me and the now me is, I would only add at the end of each sentence "and I like to take care of it"

My vision

So this time I decided to transcribe a poem from Fernando Pessoa, "A Little Larger Than the Entire Universe: Selected Poems". I think it shows my vision.

"VII
From my village I see as much of the universe as can be seen
from the earth,
And so my village is as large as any town,
For I am the size of what I see
And not the size of my height . . .

In the cities life is smaller
Than here in my house on top of this hill.
The big buildings of cities lock up the view,
They hide the horizon, pulling our gaze far away from the
open sky.
They make us small, for they take away all the vastness our
eyes can see,
And they make us poor, for our only wealth is seeing."

What you have done within the community in the past

I am still on pgRouting and OSGeoLive, but now I am also on MobilityDB. I am still at the System administration committee (SAC) mainly taking care of mails and the website. I haven't stopped been a mentor on OSGeo-GSoc program but recently I also participated on the UN-challenge as a mentor. I started to attend the monthly UN-GIS meetings.

What your interests are in terms of the board

1. In general: promote the use and development of Free and Open Source Software
2. In particular: promote the use and development of the OSGeo projects, OSGeo incubation and OSGeo community Free Open Source Software.
3. In detail: Give people (GIS) tools for making a living.

Any things that you would like to change or introduce

As a member of the board, the first thing is not what I want to change or introduce, is what the community wants. I feel that our task is to listen to ideas, objectives, reasons and make things happen.

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

I would like to remain as the vice-president in the Latin America Area.