[okfn-advisory] Advising Open Knowledge in 2015

Wed Feb 4 09:09:17 UTC 2015

All,

It sounds like we should fix up a call to talk about the role of the
council. I can send around a doodle to fix a time.

Rufus - should anyone else from Open Knowledge be invited or just you?
Should we ask the board, or a representative from the board, to join so we
can learn how they would like us to contribute?

Laura
On 29 Jan 2015 17:18, "Rufus Pollock" <rufus.pollock at okfn.org> wrote:

> Hi Carolina,
>
> First, thanks to you (and everyone else) for commenting here - its really
> useful to get this discussed.
>
> Re strategy: one thing that some AC members may not be aware of (since
> there has been major additions in the last year or so) was that for the
> last major round on the strategy in 2013 we went out and attempted to
> consult most of the AC members at the time personally (including Peter).
>
> Obviously, that may be trickier next time given increased size and I would
> also note that was a particularly significant moment as we were developing
> our first really formal strategy.
>
> Regarding calls, I think if there was appetite with the AC for organizing
> them this would be a great thing to do and would be hugely beneficial.
>
> Rufus
>
> On 28 January 2015 at 18:03, Carolina Rossini <carolina.rossini at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> +1000 to Peter comments
>> The AC could also have a more direct role on shaping strategy.
>> Is there an OKF meet-up this year? Should we have an AC meeting during
>> the Festival? Should we have periodic calls? Maybe 1 each 4 months or so?
>>
>> On Wed, Jan 28, 2015 at 7:15 AM, Peter Murray-Rust <pm286 at cam.ac.uk>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Thank you Rufus,
>>>
>>> I don't want to get into a design-by-email
>>>
>>> In retrospect what could and IMO should have happened would be:
>>> * AC receive regular (occasionally confidential) updates on OKF. These
>>> would have advised that a report was going to be written and estimated the
>>> timescale.
>>> * then: an advice that the report had been submitted
>>> * advice that certain section of the report had been embargoed by the
>>> funder.
>>>
>>> This is normal business and I would have been quite happy with this and
>>> accepted it and kept the information confidential. Instead there were
>>> rumours and uncertainty for many months.
>>>
>>> A more recent example. By chance I have learnt that the OKF has a
>>> proposal on Open (Clinical) Trials - with Ben Goldacre. This is excellent.
>>> However in our ContentMine project we have independently made contact with
>>> Ben and others and so see the proposal that has been submitted by OKF. I've
>>> spent 20 years in pharma, drug regulatory, electronic healthcare and would
>>> have been happy to be involved - as it is I had only learnt by casual
>>> conversations.
>>>
>>> I am not asking that AC is necessarily consulted about all early
>>> projects at OKF or that OKF proactively take detailed account of the skills
>>> and expertise of the AC.. However at present I know virtually nothing of
>>> what the OKF is doing. I would expect that an AC would get regular formal
>>> updates of lists of projects - at least titles and funders - when we may be
>>> able to help with contacts, advice, moderation, encouragement, etc. We
>>> cannot be expected to glean this from the website/s.
>>>
>>> So in simple terms.
>>>
>>> * Keep AC *regularly* up to date with OKF activities. Most of this will
>>> be semi-public and almost all will be no more than staff-confidential.
>>> * Ask AC if it has expertise in areas where OKF is likely to run
>>> projects, hire people, etc...
>>> * Specifically ask about critical foreseen events in OKF development.
>>>
>>> Then we can possibly contribute.
>>>
>>> And decide whether the AC is just for Rufus, or whether it's for the
>>> wider OKF and Board. If it's just for Rufus I don't think it's useful. So
>>> I'd like this discussion to go to the Board.
>>>
>>> P.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jan 28, 2015 at 11:43 AM, Rufus Pollock <rufus.pollock at okfn.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I am responding quickly on the specific item around the report.
>>>>
>>>> Sharing has been delayed because of discussion with funder about the
>>>> report and especially its final version and overall sharing process. Since
>>>> this is not fully resolved and ultimately requires Board level sign-off on
>>>> final steps (which has not happened) this has been delayed.
>>>>
>>>> I would also acknowledge that progress on resolving those items has not
>>>> always been a top priority given the press of other very important things
>>>> to do.
>>>>
>>>> I would really like to be sharing this with you all but I am also
>>>> mindful that this is not completely straightforward and that this is not my
>>>> (or other team members) sole decision to make.
>>>>
>>>> Rufus
>>>>
>>>> On 28 January 2015 at 11:38, Daniel Dietrich <daniel.dietrich at okfn.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I couldn't agree more with what Peter just said. I still have not seen
>>>>> Morris Lipson's report although I have asked for it several times
>>>>> (Management team have only shared the section about Germany with us so
>>>>> far). Could the management team (witch is Rufus at the moment I guess)
>>>>> please share the full report with us? Many thanks!
>>>>>
>>>>> All best
>>>>> Daniel
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Daniel Dietrich, co-founder & chairman
>>>>> Open Knowledge Foundation Germany
>>>>> www.okfn.de | info at okfn.de | @okfde
>>>>> Office: +49 30 57703666 0 | Fax: - 9
>>>>> Mobile: +49 176 32768530
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> > On 28 Jan 2015, at 12:23, Peter Murray-Rust <pm286 at cam.ac.uk> wrote:
>>>>> >
>>>>> > I've been on the Advisory Council since OKF started (10+ years).
>>>>> I've been proud to have this position and have promoted it and the OKF.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > The OKF needs an AC. However I have been disappointed that there is
>>>>> no structure or activity or role for the AC.  It has much in common with
>>>>> Editorial Boards of journals where often the sole role is to parade the
>>>>> great-and-good to convince people how wonderful the journal is. When that
>>>>> happens I (a) create a fuss (b) resign publicly.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > The role of the AC is to be proactively asked for advice, and to be
>>>>> listened to on a very regular basis.  It may also be required to help with
>>>>> unexpected issues (both positive and negative). Although it may only be
>>>>> advisory it should be taken seriously.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > In my ten years I have only met as advisory council  at OKFests
>>>>> where I happened to be present. Berlin (which was very good), Helsinki, a
>>>>> dinner run by Laura at Geneva. But these were random.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Over the last 5 years there has been massive growth in OKF and the
>>>>> council has not been consulted. I would have regarded the following as
>>>>> mandatory for a AC:
>>>>> > * change of name and logo. In my view these have been a disaster but
>>>>> I have not been given the formal chance to comment
>>>>> > * Morris Lipson's report. This is probably the most in-depth
>>>>> assessment of the OKF (I cannot write OK as it's ridiculous). I was
>>>>> interviewed and felt it was extremely constructive but have had zero
>>>>> feedback. If there is any single activity the AC should have been involved
>>>>> in it is helping to plan the future of OKF. We knew by hearsay that there
>>>>> was a report - that's all, but that we weren't considered
>>>>> responsible/useful enough to know anything about it. Yes it may have had
>>>>> sensitive parts, but we are experienced people and can deal with such
>>>>> matters.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Effectively - at present - the AC is irrelevant to OKF, except as a
>>>>> list of great-and-good.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > So if it is to go forward it has to be rearchitected properly. A bit
>>>>> of sticking plaster will only lead to the same problems.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > ***I would suggest that these views go to the Board - as it's their
>>>>> responsibility for what the AC does or does not get involved in.***
>>>>> >
>>>>> > At the very least a new AC would have a timetable, regular formal
>>>>> updates on what the OKF has done, is doing and wants to do.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > I still love OKF and always will and remain part of it...
>>>>> >
>>>>> > P.
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > On Tue, Jan 27, 2015 at 9:25 AM, Laura James <lbjames at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>> > All,
>>>>> >
>>>>> > I'm delighted to be joining the Advisory Council now that I've
>>>>> finished work at Open Knowledge.  The Council (primarily through
>>>>> conversations with individual members) was a valuable support whilst I
>>>>> co-led Open Knowledge with Rufus, for which many thanks to you all.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > As we start 2015 and what I imagine will be a time of change and
>>>>> evolution for the organisation, with a new ED coming in and continuing
>>>>> rapid development in the open data sector, I hope the Advisory Council can
>>>>> continue to be useful to Open Knowledge's leadership, both reactively and
>>>>> proactively.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Advisory Council members: what do you think the Advisory Council and
>>>>> Open Knowledge should be doing in 2015? Are there issues or events that we
>>>>> should be paying attention to?
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Rufus: what do you want and need from the Council this year? How can
>>>>> we most effectively help you?
>>>>> >
>>>>> > The Council has, of late, mostly been consulted as individuals and
>>>>> this email list has, perhaps, been underused.  Occasionally there's been a
>>>>> suggestion of meetings, or a chair. I think it's worth considering how we
>>>>> work, perhaps once we have an idea of what we want to do this year :)
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Best regards,
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Laura
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > _______________________________________________
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>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > --
>>>>> > Peter Murray-Rust
>>>>> > Reader in Molecular Informatics
>>>>> > Unilever Centre, Dep. Of Chemistry
>>>>> > University of Cambridge
>>>>> > CB2 1EW, UK
>>>>> > +44-1223-763069
>>>>> > _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> *Rufus PollockFounder and President | skype: rufuspollock |
>>>> @rufuspollock <https://twitter.com/rufuspollock>Open Knowledge
>>>> <http://okfn.org/> - see how data can change the world**http://okfn.org/
>>>> <http://okfn.org/> | @okfn <http://twitter.com/OKFN> | Open Knowledge on
>>>> Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/OKFNetwork> |  Blog
>>>> <http://blog.okfn.org/>*
>>>>
>>>> The Open Knowledge Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation.  It is
>>>> incorporated in England & Wales as a company limited by guarantee, with
>>>> company number 05133759.  VAT Registration № GB 984404989. Registered
>>>> office address: Open Knowledge Foundation, St John’s Innovation Centre,
>>>> Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, UK.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Peter Murray-Rust
>>> Reader in Molecular Informatics
>>> Unilever Centre, Dep. Of Chemistry
>>> University of Cambridge
>>> CB2 1EW, UK
>>> +44-1223-763069
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> --
>> *Carolina Rossini *
>> *Vice President, International Policy*
>> *Public Knowledge*
>> *http://www.publicknowledge.org/ <http://www.publicknowledge.org/>*
>> + 1 6176979389 | skype: carolrossini | @carolinarossini
>>
>>
>
>
> --
>
> *Rufus PollockFounder and President | skype: rufuspollock | @rufuspollock
> <https://twitter.com/rufuspollock>Open Knowledge <http://okfn.org/> - see
> how data can change the world**http://okfn.org/ <http://okfn.org/> |
> @okfn <http://twitter.com/OKFN> | Open Knowledge on Facebook
> <https://www.facebook.com/OKFNetwork> |  Blog <http://blog.okfn.org/>*
>
> The Open Knowledge Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation.  It is
> incorporated in England & Wales as a company limited by guarantee, with
> company number 05133759.  VAT Registration № GB 984404989. Registered
> office address: Open Knowledge Foundation, St John’s Innovation Centre,
> Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, UK.
>
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