Wikimedia CEE Hub/Steering Committee 2025/2026

Steering Committee (SC) is the governing body of CEE Hub. It decides on matters outlined in the Internal Governance document and is appointed at the annual Wikimedia CEE Meeting.

Selection process for the Steering Committee 2025/2026

1. In June 2025 individual SC members declared whether they were available to serve the SC after the CEEM 2025.
2. There was an open Call for Interest for new SC members in July 2025.
3. 11 candidates applied by 30 July 2025
4. Based on criteria defined by the current SC, the CEE Hub coordinator supported a Selection Committee composed of 1 SC member who was leaving, one who was staying and one SC Hub Special Advisor.
5. The Selection Committee conducted interviews with shortlisted candidates and selected 6 (six) new members for the CEE Hub SC.

Steering Committee 2025/2026

• Toni Sant - Chair (Wikimedia Community User Group Malta)
• Başak Tosun - Vice-chair (Türkiye)
• Klára Joklová (Wikimedia Czech Republic)
• Strainu (Wikimedians of Romania and Moldova User Group)
• Iglika Ivanova (Bulgaria)
• Gorana Gomirac (Wikimedia Serbia)
• Shahen Araboghlian (Armenia)
• Vera Pelhan (Wikipedians of Slovenia User Group)
• Armen Mirzoyan (Armenia)
• Mārtiņš Bruņenieks (Wikimedians of Latvia User Group)

Governance for the Steering Committee 2025/26 elections

Lacking a formal governance structure that would enable elections or other selection methods of the Steering Committee, the process in 2025 is as follows, guided by the internal governance of the CEE Hub:

• We created a page outlining the requirements and skills that committee members should bring into the steering committee
• We are publishing a call for new SC members via CEE regional mailing list and on social media channels in July 2025
• Everyone who feels that they can contribute to the SC was invited to apply by sending their formal application via email to info@wmceehub.org by July 30th 2025. In the email, a candidates presented themselves by answering the following questions:

1. What is your motivation to join the SC?
2. Can you confirm your availability for approximately 3 hours a week from September 2025 till September 2026?

In early August 2025, the CEE hub established SC Selection Committee that consists of: one SC advisor, one SC member whose term ends in September 2025 and one continuing SC member

Starting in August 2025 and continuing through September 10th, the SC Selection Committee will, if needed, conduct interviews with candidates to evaluate their suitability and motivation. In the event that the number of applicants exceeds the available positions, additional candidates will be invited to join the wider CEE Hub group rather than the SC itself. Conversely, if the number of applicants is fewer than the available seats, the SC will determine whether to extend invitations to additional qualified candidates or to proceed with a smaller committee, consisting of fewer than ten members.

Based on the outcomes of the application process, by September 9th 2025 the SC Selection Committee will propose the composition of the new Steering Committee to the current SC for endorsement, ahead of the general acclamation at the CEEM 2025.

On September 10th the current Steering Committee will approve/endorse the new Steering Committee, formalising the new setup. The new Steering Committee will be announced online and it will also be presented at the CEE Meeting 2025 in September 2025. The new Steering Committee will commence its work on the 29th of September 2025 and the term of all members will last till CEE Meeting 2026.