Wikimedia CEE Hub/Staff

WIKIMEDIA CEE HUB

Regional hub covering Central and Eastern Europe

As of January 2026, the Wikimedia CEE Hub has four staff members:

Regional CEE Hub Coordinator: Barbara Klen (barbara.klen@wmceehub.org)
Community and Communication Specialist: Karolina Gruszczyk (karolina.gruszczyk@wmceehub.org)
Program Specialist: Mohammad Heidarzadeh (mohammad.heidarzadeh@wmceehub.org)
Grant Specialist: Toni Ristovski (toni.ristovski@wmceehub.org)

Regional CEE Hub Coordinator

The Regional CEE Hub Coordinator leads the development of a strong and sustainable support structure for Wikimedia affiliates and communities across the CEE region. This role focuses on designing and managing an entity that promotes equity, self-determination, and collaboration, in line with the goals of the Wikimedia 2030 Strategy. The coordinator ensures that the CEE Hub effectively implements its core programs, connecting and supporting affiliates, volunteers, and like-minded organizations. In addition to overseeing the team and reporting to the Steering Committee, this role plays a key part in shaping the future of the Hub by refining its programs and securing funding for long-term sustainability.

Key responsibilities

Implementing the CEE Hub programme: leading the Hub’s activities across administration, communication, and program support.
Managing the team: coordinating staff and freelancers to ensure effective program delivery.
Engaging with the Steering Committee: providing regular updates and ensuring alignment with community needs.
Connecting the movement: strengthening collaboration among affiliates, volunteers, and external organizations.
Communicating the Hub’s development: ensuring transparency and engagement both within the region and across the international Wikimedia movement.
Collaborating with other Hubs: exchanging knowledge and best practices with similar regional initiatives worldwide.
Shaping the future of the CEE Hub: refining programs and preparing future grant proposals to strengthen the Hub’s role in the Wikimedia ecosystem.

Community & Communications Specialist

The Community & Communications Specialist plays a key role in making communication within the Wikimedia CEE region accessible, inclusive, and up to date. This role involves managing the Hub’s communication channels, sharing important updates, and supporting communities in their outreach efforts, including strategies, campaigns, and social media. Through regular engagement with affiliates and volunteers, the specialist helps strengthen connections and ensure that information flows effectively across the region. Additionally, the position focuses on evaluating and improving communication strategies to better meet community needs.

Key responsibilities

Keeping the community informed: developing and implementing a communication strategy that reflects the affiliates’ needs and keep them updated on the CEE Hub’s work.
Showcasing the impact: creating and sharing presentations, reports, and materials that highlight the achievements of CEE communities at regional and global events.
Sharing news & updates: managing social media, blog posts, newsletters, and Meta page updates to keep the CEE communities connected and informed.
Supporting the communities’ communication efforts: helping affiliates and volunteers enhance their outreach and fulfill their potential.
Engaging with affiliates: holding regular meetings to listen, share updates, and collaborate on key initiatives.
Empowering CEE Youth Group: supporting the CEE Youth Group in their communication efforts.
Evaluating and improving communication within the CEE Hub: regularly assessing communication efforts to enhance effectiveness, adapt strategies, and better serve community needs.

Program Specialist

The Program Specialist supports communities and affiliates in developing impactful programs and connecting them to other communities. By guiding communities through program planning and program implementation, this position strengthens capacity across the CEE region. The Program Specialist also plays a crucial role in shaping effective approaches for supporting diverse communities with different cultural and operational backgrounds.

Key responsibilities

Guiding program implementation and encouraging new initiatives: providing advice and support for executing activities effectively and helping develop new programs and projects that align with community needs.
Facilitating regional and international cooperation: strengthening collaboration between affiliates and supporting inter-group partnerships across borders.
Monitoring program outcomes: tracking results of program-related activities and learning from their impact to improve future support.
Supporting regional campaigns: assisting CEE communities with initiatives such as CEE Spring, Gender Gap, and other regional and global campaigns.
Coordinating with communities and volunteers: informing communities about cooperation opportunities, guiding campaign organization, supporting program implementation, providing in-person support for events, and organising meetings with international volunteers as needed.
Mapping processes and improving tools: working on canvas for Gender Gap and minority languages, coordinating the CEE Hub’s Tech Advancement Working Group for improving the tools and features.
Supporting the CEE Youth Group: coordinating the Group's activities and aligning it's work with the Hub’s strategy.

Grants Specialist

The Grants Specialist supports communities across the CEE region in developing, submitting, and implementing community-driven projects through Rapid Grants and Microgrants. By working closely with communities from idea inception to evaluation, this role helps transform intentions into well-designed and effectively implemented projects. The Grants Specialist engages directly with community members, supports project planning and coordination, and ensures that grant-funded activities are aligned with community goals and available resources.

Key responsibilities

Engaging with communities and identifying project opportunities: actively reaching out to communities, building relationships, and supporting the early stages of idea development.
Supporting project development: guiding community groups through preparing project plans and budgets, and ensuring alignment with community needs and available resources.
Providing resources and connections: sharing templates, best practices, and examples from past projects, and connecting potential grantees with relevant stakeholders.
Supporting grant submission and approval: assisting applicants with submitting Rapid Grants and Microgrants proposals and preparing summaries and recommendations.
Monitoring project implementation: conducting regular check-ins with project teams, facilitating meetings, tracking milestones, and participating in site visits.
Evaluating projects and supporting reporting: overseeing final reports and ensuring projects are evaluated consistently and effectively.
Contributing to regional learning and planning: compiling regional reports summarizing annual project outcomes and identifying future needs to inform budget planning.