Archive:Press releases/Ana Toni Announced as New Wikimedia Foundation Board Member

Ana Toni Announced as New Wikimedia Foundation Board Member

San Francisco -- July 8, 2013 -- The Wikimedia Foundation today announced its newest Board of Trustees member, Ana Toni. Ana is currently the CEO for GIP (Public Interest Management), a consultancy firm based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which works for foundations, non-profit organizations and businesses on social and environmental issues.

According to Ana, "It is an honor to be part of the Wikimedia Foundation’s Board and to participate with this amazing Wikipedia community. I especially look forward to supporting the Foundation’s efforts to strengthen the Wikipedia community in the Global South and to advance the organization's mission to empower and engage people in building the common good."

Since 2011, Ana has served as the Board Chair of Greenpeace International. From 2003 until 2011, Ana was the Ford Foundation’s representative in Brazil, during which time she oversaw the Foundation’s work in the areas of human rights, sustainable development, racial and ethical discrimination, sexuality and reproductive health, media democratization and land rights. She was also responsible for coordinating a regional Latin America Initiative on Economics and Globalization, an IBSA initiative (joint work between Brazil, South Africa and India) and the International Initiative on Intellectual Property Rights.

From 1998 to 2002, Ana was ActionAid’s Executive Director in Brazil, working to contribute in the eradication of poverty and inequality through community development projects, as well as public policy advocacy and campaigning at both the national and international levels. Ana also worked for ActionAid UK as Policy Advisor (1990 – 1993), representing the organization at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

Ana worked for Greenpeace from 1993 to 1997, first as the International Head of the Political Unit based at Greenpeace International in Amsterdam, and subsequently as Senior Advisor for Greenpeace Germany. She was responsible for, among other things, the work of Greenpeace on the World Trade Organization (in particular the Committee on Trade and Environment) and she also contributed in the development of Greenpeace’s work in the Amazon region in its early stage.

Ana holds a masters degree in Politics of the World Economy from the London School of Economics and is a candidate for a PhD on Social Politics at the Rio de Janeiro State University. In addition, Ana is a member of the Editorial Board of Le Monde Diplomatique Brazil, and a Board member of the Baobá Fund for Racial Equity and the Forum of Women’s Leaders on Sustainability. Ana is Brazilian and lives in Rio de Janeiro.

There are 10 seats on the Wikimedia Foundation Board and according to the Foundation's bylaws, three members are elected by the Wikimedia community, two are selected by the Wikimedia chapters, the Founder seat is held by Jimmy Wales, and four members are appointed by the Board itself to provide additional, specific expertise.

About the Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is the non-profit organization that operates Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. According to comScore Media Metrix, Wikipedia and the other projects operated by the Wikimedia Foundation receive more than 517 million unique visitors per month, making them the fifth-most popular web property worldwide (comScore, April 2013). Available in 285 languages, Wikipedia contains more than 25 million articles contributed by a global volunteer community of roughly 80,000 people. Based in San Francisco, California, the Wikimedia Foundation is an audited, 501(c)(3) charity that is funded primarily through donations and grants.

Wikimedia Foundation media contact: Jay Walsh; Communications; +1 415-839-6885 ext. 6609 (San Francisco); jwalshwikimedia.org