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Wed Aug 29 10:23:01 UTC 2012

finalising our comms messages this week - if OKFN are happy, it would be
great to include a message about me joining the OKFN board at the same
time. If we need to discuss, of course this can wait.

Best wishes
Gavin

-- 
Co-Founder, Open Knowledge Foundation
Promoting Open Knowledge in a Digital Age
http://www.okfn.org/ - http://blog.okfn.org/

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<div>Hi All,</div><div><br></div><div><i>Note: all discussion on this board=
 list is by default confidential but I would emphasize that this is especia=
lly so!</i></div><div><br></div><div>As you all know Gavin has just joined =
the board. He talked with me Wednesday with some great news, namely that he=
 has been selected to be the <b>CEO of the newly formed Open Data Institute=
</b>. However, as Gavin discusses in his email below, this also some <b>rai=
ses some questions vis-a-vis his role as a board member with the Open Knowl=
edge Foundation</b>=C2=A0(Gavin has requested I forward this email to this =
list by the way!).</div>
<div><br></div><div>Having reflected on Gavin&#39;s email and discussed bri=
efly with a couple of board members (Martin and Becky) <b>I incline strongl=
y towards Gavin&#39;s proposal for a way forward</b> (set of points after &=
quot;assume positive benefits and efficiencies ...&quot;).</div>
<div><br></div><div>I am=C2=A0<span style=3D"background-color:rgb(255,255,2=
55);color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">hopefu=
l that any issues can be dealt with and the initial 6-month period gives us=
 an assessment period to evaluate.</span></div>
<div><span style=3D"background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(34,34,34);f=
ont-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></span></div><div><span sty=
le=3D"background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:ari=
al,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Modulo any further discussion on the issue he=
re, Gavin will be attending (I believe) the board=C2=A0</span><span style=
=3D"background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial=
,sans-serif;font-size:13px">meeting on Tuesday and we can discuss this furt=
her then. However, <b>prior reflection, and possibly discussion here, would=
 help expedite discussion on Tuesday</b> (when we may be time-constrained).=
</span></div>
<div><br style=3D"color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-siz=
e:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"></div><div>Regards,</div><div><br=
></div><div>Rufus</div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded =
message ----------<br>
From: <b class=3D"gmail_sendername">Gavin Starks</b> <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;=
<a href=3D"mailto:gavin at dgen.net">gavin at dgen.net</a>&gt;</span><br>Date: 6 =
September 2012 00:34<br>Subject: Update<br>To: Rufus Pollock &lt;<a href=3D=
"mailto:rufus.pollock at okfn.org">rufus.pollock at okfn.org</a>&gt;<br>
<br><br>Hi Rufus<br><br><b>Strictly confidential</b><br><br>I have been app=
ointed CEO of the ODI. We aim to announce next week, and I will start Oct.<=
br><br>Given the emerging relationship between OKFN and ODI, this raises na=
tural questions about my role on both boards.<br>

Even if there are no material issues, there may be perception issues that w=
e need to address. There are several potential courses of action. <b=
r>You will need to discuss with OKFN board members about any material or pe=
rceived conflicts - I am also very happy to speak with everyone and suggest=
 we put this into AOB for Tuesday&#39;s board meeting to address?

<br>From my perspective, I would like to assume positive benefits and effic=
iencies, and propose the following;<br>- we continue as planned and add a f=
ormal review at 3 and/or 6 month intervals to assess if there are any issue=
s<br>

- that we co-create a public statement for the website(s) to ensure full tr=
ansparency (including stating the above review point) <br>- that we create =
a mechanism for me to abstain from any voting issues, or discussions, that =
may be seen as conflicted<br>

- that any significant stakeholders (beyond the board) be canvassed for the=
ir opinions so we can address any questions up-front<br>- that transparency=
 and communication are key to building and maintaining trust: I encourage e=
veryone to be open with their feedback<br>

If there are issues we feel are too sensitive, we could simply defer th=
e appointment and review the situation in 6 months. My objective is to =
ensure that both organisations maximise their potential to collaborate, and=
 achieve our common causes.

Right now I see potential benefits, not material conflict - and am confiden=
t that we can navigate if such a situation were to arise. From a tim=
ing perspective, we will be announcing my ODI role on Weds, and finalising =
our comms messages this week - if OKFN are happy, it would be great to incl=
ude a message about me joining the OKFN board at the same time. If we need =
to discuss, of course this can wait.

<br>Best wishes<span class=3D"HOEnZb"><font color=3D"#888888"><br>Gavin<br>
</font></span></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><div><br></div>-- <br>Co-Founder,=
 Open Knowledge Foundation<br>Promoting Open Knowledge in a Digital Age<br>=
<a href=3D"http://www.okfn.org/" target=3D"_blank">http://www.okfn.org/</a>=
 - <a href=3D"http://blog.okfn.org/" target=3D"_blank">http://blog.okfn.org=
/</a><br>
<br><br>

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