Introduction

I've worked at [Canonical]](https://canonical.com), the company behind Ubuntu, since 2021l; I'm a director of engineering and lead Canonical's documentation practice. I have a particular interest in the elevation of engineering standards through attention to practice - for example, I created Canonical's Practice Leadership Handbook.

Before that, I worked at Divio for seven years.

Experience

I've been involved in Python/Django open-source communities almost as long as I have been involved in software - 16 years so far. I found that I was welcomed, first as an asker of basic questions, and then as a contributor, of documentation, code, governance and organisation.

I'm a PSF member and fellow, and recipient of a community service award. I'm a member of the Django Software Foundation too, and a former vice president, and former core developer. I'm one of the trustees of the UK Python Association.

I've been involved In organising multiple editions of multiple OSS community conferences since 2013 - DjangoCon Europe, DjangoCon and PyCon Africa, PyCon Namibia. I'm particularly committed to the African Python community and its events - being involved in those has been a defining part of my life for more than ten years.

I'm the creator of the widely used Diátaxis documentation approach, and of Fanaka ("a handbook for prospective and early-career African professionals in the international software industry").

Vision & Goals

The PSF has been a key supporter of initiatives and projects that have meant a huge amount to me, and I want to help it do that in such a way that helps drive maturity and sustainability both into those initiatives themselves, and the way the PSF supports them.

I believe it's possible to put into place frameworks that measure and track quality and progress in effective ways, and bring transparency and visibility into organisational objectives and activities - especially where there are commitments to deliver on one side, and support and backing from the other.

Goals

• I'd like to work with the board to help establish policies, practices and systems that bring the kind of organisational maturity I have described to the grants process. Funders of the PSF want and need to see how their support is used, and to know that it is effective.
• I'd like to discover whether similar thinking could help other aspects of the PSF's organisation and governance.
• I would like to help make the perspective of those Python communities further removed from the centre better understood within the PSF. That includes African Python communities, but isn't limited to them by any means.

Hi everyone, my name is Pond from Thailand. My Python journey began at university, where data science quickly became one of my favorite subjects. I worked extensively with pandas, scikit-learn, and NumPy, and during my first internship in 2019 I researched the BERT model, a baseline for NLP before the rise of GPT. For my senior project, I applied Python libraries such as TensorFlow, SpaCy, and NLTK to perform sentiment analysis on Twitter data, aiming to help restore tourism in Thailand after COVID-19. On the side, I built a crypto arbitrage bot using the CCXT library to automate cross-exchange token trading.

Professionally, I building Tokenomist, a freemium tokenomics analytics platform serving over 2 million unique users and integrated with leading crypto data tools. Our work with more than 400 projects has focused on promoting trust and transparency in token supply, allocations, and unlock schedules. This experience gave me deep, practical exposure to grant governance for instance how to set criteria for providing grants, review applications, and measure the return on investment for funded initiatives. I have studied how major crypto governance projects like Optimism and Arbitrum structure and report their spending, and I believe these lessons can help the PSF maximize the impact of its own grants program.

I also bring hands-on community experience. I volunteered for PyCon Thailand in 2023 and 2025, working on logistics and the venue team that handling on-site attendee support, local sourcing, partner programs, social events, and volunteer coordination.

If elected, I would focus on four priorities:

1. Strengthening alignment with AI companies that rely heavily on Python. Many AI companies use Python extensively but are unaware of how the community directly supports their success. I propose adding a "Python for AI" conference track and dedicated grants that focus on AI-related libraries, events, and startups building AI-enabled products. This targeted approach would make the value to AI companies tangible and encourage them to sponsor and support the PSF.

2. Revitalizing PyCon US financial sustainability. The conference's shift from profit generator to loss leader threatens the PSF's core funding model. I propose a "PyCon US Revenue Diversification Strategy" including: premium AI/ML workshops with higher margins, corporate training partnerships, hybrid attendance options with tiered pricing, and strategic venue partnerships reducing operational costs. Drawing from my experience scaling Tokenomist's freemium model, I would help implement data-driven pricing optimization and corporate package differentiation that captures more value while maintaining accessibility through financial aid programs.

3. Measuring the impact of funded libraries and events. I would help build a standardized, transparent impact measurement framework and a public Impact Dashboard. This would track metrics such as events funded, attendee demographics, skills gained, and library usage/download growth giving both community and sponsors clear visibility into outcomes.

4. Promoting transparency in grant decision-making. I would work to ensure budget templates and allocation criteria are publicly accessible. Sponsors would receive quarterly breakdowns of how their contributions were used, for example: "$50K from Company X supported 5 events, trained 1,200 students, and improved 2 Python libraries." This level of openness strengthens trust and reinforces the PSF's commitment to accountability.

I believe my blend of technical expertise, governance experience, and community service uniquely positions me to help the PSF address its current challenges particularly the need for sustainable funding, measurable impact, and transparent processes. My focus is on ensuring that every dollar spent drives meaningful outcomes for the global Python community while building a financially resilient foundation that can weather future economic uncertainties.

Leveraging data to empower communities is my superpower. As a PSF Fellow with extensive non-profit experience, I aim to apply this expertise to enhance the PSF's global reach, member experience, and financial sustainability.

Leadership Expertise

I began by organizing local meetups for Women in Machine Learning and Data Science in Chennai, India. It was a start, but the real growth happened when I became a Community Leader for Women Who Code Python. I saw the community grow from 800 to over 3,000 members in just 1.5 years, and that wasn’t just a number – it was a testament to the workshops, study groups, and AI at the edge initiatives we drove. I had a fantastic team of 50 volunteers, and many went on to contribute to PyCon and even become PSF Fellows. This experience directly highlights my leadership in growing a community.

When I transitioned to working full-time at Women Who Code, I started to see how much more we could do with the data we were collecting. Fun fact: I saw how we collected data, and I knew there were gaps in how we could utilize this data to reach the right people, and that’s how I pitched my role to the president and got my first full-time job in a non-profit. This helped us better understand our demographics, and it importantly answered questions like whether we actually help women stay in their technical careers over the ten years of Women Who Code. That's when I realized the immense power of data to not just track progress, but to validate impact and inform future strategies. This ability to leverage data for community growth and accountability is essential for the PSF, directly addressing the question of leadership expertise by showing how I lead with data.

Throughout my journey, especially in the world of non-profits, I've discovered a powerful superpower: data. It’s not just about numbers; it's about the human stories those numbers tell, and how they can guide impactful leadership. My leadership skills, whether volunteer or professional, have been significantly amplified by my ability to interpret and utilize data.

Fundraising know-how.

Reading the PSF's announcement about pausing the Grants Program was tough. I know from personal experience the weight of a decision like that. When the grants, the very lifeblood of our non-profit, stopped coming in at Apart Research, it was a genuinely scary time—a real moment of crisis. I understand the heartbreak the PSF Board and staff must be feeling because I've been there, too. In that difficult moment at Apart Research, we leaned on the one thing we knew had immense value: our community. We had the stories of 3,500 people who had poured their time and passion into our hackathons. These weren't just numbers on a spreadsheet; they were journeys of discovery, of careers nurtured, and of talent found. So, our team rolled up our sleeves in what became a massive, heartfelt effort to piece together the human impact of our work. People responded with incredible generosity. By weaving those personal stories into a compelling narrative, we raised nearly $600,000 in just a few months. It taught me a powerful lesson: when you can show the real, human difference you’re making in people's lives, you can inspire others to support your mission.

This is the experience I want to bring to the PSF. I believe my superpower is leveraging data to empower communities, and I see a direct path to apply that to the current situation. Here is how my experience can help:

1. Telling Our Community's Story with Data: My experience at Apart Research taught me that data, when thoughtfully presented as stories, is the most powerful fundraising tool. I can apply this skill to articulate the PSF’s long-term impact, building stronger cases for the sustained funding and partnerships needed to move beyond short-term grants.

2. Connecting with the AI Sector: The PSF has rightly identified the AI sector as a largely untapped area for support. Having successfully secured funding from organizations worldwide, I have the direct experience and credibility to help bridge this exact gap.

3. Navigating a Crisis with Empathy: I have hands-on experience navigating the exact kind of funding crisis the PSF is facing. I deeply understand the challenge this pause creates for community organizers who rely on these grants. My goal is to apply my skills to get the program back on a sustainable footing so we can continue to support our diverse, international community, which is at the heart of the PSF's mission.

I know this pause is challenging, but I am confident that by working together and telling our story effectively, we can un-pause the Grants Program and build a stronger, more financially sustainable future for the foundation we all care so much about.

Non-Profit Experience

1. Women Who Code(Community Leader and Product Manager) : I began as a community leader during the pandemic, helping our Python workshops grow and aiding almost 3,000 members in upskilling and transitioning into software engineering. My learnings from this experience helped me pitch and secure my role as a Community Product Manager, focusing on leveraging data to understand demographics and validate our impact, such as helping women stay in technical careers over ten years.

2. Women in Machine Learning(Board Director): In 2022, I joined the board of Women in Machine Learning, where I've served for almost three years. My role involves analyzing financial data and social media engagement to ensure we're reaching those who need it most and securing continued support.

3. Apart Research(AI Safety, Community Program Manager). Most recently, I was with an AI safety non-profit. I learned that community isn't just about numbers; it's about the individual stories within that data, bringing together 4,000 community members to tackle critical issues like AI policy.

4. Human Rights Organisation(Thailand and Myanmar): Even outside the technical realm, I've seen data's power: I worked with human rights organizations in Thailand and Myanmar, managing data from refugee camps to ensure vital information was collected and analyzed to protect human rights.

Event-Organising

For me, organizing events isn't just about logistics; it's about creating a space where people feel they belong and can grow. Seeing someone's face light up when they grasp a new concept or connect with a mentor is what has always driven my work in community building. It's been an enriching journey, and I've had the privilege of leading some truly impactful initiatives.

Here's a little more about my experience:

• Women Who Code: I had the honor of leading the organization of 30-40 Python-focused events. We welcomed between 3,000 and 5,000 participants, many of whom were looking to change their careers or upskill in software engineering. It was incredibly moving to see so many people take brave steps toward a new future and to be a small part of their journey.

• Women in Machine Learning: As a board member, I took on significant event responsibilities, including organizing a large workshop during the pandemic. I led a team of 20 volunteers to ensure that everything ran smoothly online for our influential speakers and all the attendees. That experience really drove home how crucial strong, reliable processes are, especially when the community is counting on you.

• Apart Research: At this AI Safety non-profit, I guided a community of nearly 3,600 members and organized over 30-40 hackathons in a single year. My belief is that research, just like technology, should be accessible to everyone, no matter their background.

• Current Research Community: I am currently leading a community of 50 researchers who are focused on prompt optimization research. We have ten different projects, and there are no barriers to entry besides a genuine interest in AI research. It's truly incredible to watch people from all walks of life pitch their ideas and contribute to research without needing traditional qualifications to hold them back.

Speaking and Teaching Experience

For me, getting up to speak has never been about just being on a stage. It's always been about something more: helping other people find their own voice and share their story. There's honestly no better feeling than seeing someone's confidence click into place when they realize they have something important to say.

That belief is really what's been behind all my work.

1. PyCon India Diversity & Inclusion Committee: My time with PyCon really stands out for me. I've spoken at and reviewed for several of them, from India to Singapore and Malaysia. But my seven years on the PyCon India Diversity and Inclusion committee were special. My favorite part wasn't being the one speaking; it was helping first-time speakers get ready for their moment. We'd do dry runs, I'd help them work through the nerves, and we'd find the core of the story they wanted to tell. Watching someone go from nervous to confident is what it's all about for me.

2. LinkedIn Learning Courses Instructor : This idea that tech and AI should be for everyone is a huge passion of mine. It's why I poured so much energy into creating over five courses for LinkedIn Learning on topics from AI safety to Tiny Machine Learning and LLMOps. It's wild to think that those courses have reached between 20,000 and 25,000 students. It feels good to know I'm helping create an accessible starting point in a field that can sometimes feel intimidating.

3. Community Workshops: But it's the hands-on workshops that keep me connected to what's happening on the ground. I've probably run between 100 and 150 seminars over the years, typically one or two per month. I just truly enjoy talking to people and staying in the mix of the community. Honestly, if I know something, I want to make sure other people have the chance to learn it, too

Techncial and Day Job Experience:

My career path might seem varied, but there's always been a common thread: using technology to connect with people and make complex things easier to understand. It all started back in India.

1. Research AI Engineer (Chennai, India): My journey really began as a research AI engineer in Chennai back in 2017. Even then, I realized my job wasn't just about the engineering. It was about being a translator---taking complex AI concepts and making them understandable to different departments. That early experience is where I first saw the vital role of the Python ecosystem in everything we did, and it really laid the groundwork for all my community work to come.

2. AI Engineer and Data Scientist (Continental & DHL) My next move took me into corporate roles, first as an engineer at Continental Automotive and then as a data scientist at DHL Express. This is where I really sharpened my technical skills, especially in data analysis. I learned how to pull meaningful insights out of massive datasets , and that ability to understand data became a cornerstone of how I approach building communities.

3. Community Manager at Women Who Code and Apart Research: That experience with data was what actually led me to jump full-time into the non-profit world. I pitched and created my own role as a Community Product Manager at Women Who Code , and later worked with the AI safety non-profit, Apart Research

4. Developer Advocate (Aleph Alpha)Now, I'm a Developer Advocate at Aleph Alpha, a German AI company. I was so drawn to them because of their commitment to transparency, trust, and fostering open-source development here in Europe. It feels like the perfect blend of my technical side and my passion for community. My role lets me work with cutting-edge AI while also advocating for open-source initiatives and the Python community. I get to be embedded in both worlds, ensuring the insights from my technical work can directly inform and support the open-source community I care so much about.

Vision and Goals

When you look at my background, what I bring to the PSF board is a unique blend of data expertise and a deep understanding of community building, especially in challenging times. As I've seen at Women Who Code and APART Research, data is truly a superpower. It's not just about numbers; it's about telling the compelling stories of individuals and communities. This sets the stage for my vision and goals for the PSF.

The PSF has an incredible history, spanning over 20, perhaps even 30 years. Throughout this time, it has touched countless Python developers and community members worldwide. My vision is to help the PSF tell this powerful story more effectively, especially to donors and partners. We need to articulate why the PSF's mission is so vital and why its work must continue. My experience at Women Who Code, where we used data to showcase the impact on almost 350,000 members globally, has shown me how instrumental data can be in securing support and demonstrating value.

The Python community is incredibly diverse and global. I've personally experienced this journey, starting in India, moving to Singapore, and now living in Europe. Python developers, like myself, often move and carry the community spirit and the ecosystem with them. It's crucial to highlight these global narratives to donors and organizations. This human-centric approach, backed by data, can truly demonstrate the enduring impact of the PSF.

I'm aware that the PSF, like many non-profits, faces funding hurdles, especially with current grant challenges. I genuinely believe my experience in leveraging data to bridge these funding gaps, as I did with APART Research, can be incredibly valuable to the PSF. My goal is to apply this skill directly to:

• By using data to articulate the PSF's long-term impact and reach, we can build stronger cases for sustained funding and partnerships, moving beyond short-term grants.

• Through data-driven insights into member needs, preferences, and engagement patterns, we can tailor programs and resources to directly enhance their experience and foster a more vibrant community.

• My experience in DEI initiatives and creating accessible educational content, informed by understanding audience demographics through data, will directly contribute to expanding Python's reach to underserved communities globally.

I'm confident that my data-driven and community-centric approach will help the PSF continue to thrive in the coming years, directly addressing my vision and goals for the organization.

Introduction

Hello, I’m Arjun from Bangalore, India. As a recent computer science graduate, I’m deeply passionate about technology and bringing people together through communities.

My volunteering journey began with PyCon India 2024 — my very first chance to be part of a large tech event. It was an unforgettable experience that not only connected me with inspiring people but also introduced me to the global world of Python communities.

In 2024, I learned more about how these communities work across the globe, which motivated me to start PyGulf — a new initiative to bring Python enthusiasts together in the Middle East. While living in Bahrain, I realised there were no active Python events or communities in the region. So I decided to take the first step: create awareness, connect developers, and host events — from a yearly conference to regular monthly meetups.

I’m excited to contribute not just locally, but also to PyCons and Python initiatives worldwide.

Qualifications

• B.Tech in Computer Science.
• Hands-on experience with Python and its libraries.
• Active in community building, event organisation, and fostering collaboration.

Goals

• Build and grow a strong Python community in the Gulf region, where currently , there are no active PyCon or core Python communities.
• Establish PyGulf as a central hub for Python developers, with an annual conference and regular events.
• Connect Gulf-based Python developers with the wider global Python community, creating opportunities for collaboration and contribution.

Final Words

I believe that communities thrive when people feel included, supported, and connected. My goal is to bring that spirit into the Gulf region and beyond. I’m ready to dedicate my time and energy to creating spaces where Python enthusiasts—no matter where they are—can learn, share, and grow together.

Community Contributions

• Volunteering at PyCon India .
• Founded and currently organising PyGulf, a community for Python growth in the Middle East.
• Planning to contribute to Python projects, packages, and international PyCons in the coming year.

I'm Sheena from South Africa. I run Prelude, where I teach Python and teamwork skills. I'm a recognised leader and contributor in the African Python community, with several years of experience in software engineering and technical education.

Background

In my early to mid-career, I worked as a software engineer and tech lead. I did well with that, but I felt that I wasn't making the impact I wanted to make. I was always drawn to teaching and decided to change tracks. I wanted to start teaching code with the goal of empowering people who would typically struggle to break into the industry.

I'm grateful that I got the opportunity to do just that - I spent five years working in non-profit technical education in South Africa, helping people start tech careers, often with a focus on Python. That experience taught me a lot about what works (and what doesn't) when it comes to education and career building. I've taken those lessons and built them into my current work.

Through Prelude, I work with teams and developers who want to level up their Python skills. I also offer specialised teamwork training, helping technical teams improve their collaboration, communication, and collective problem-solving abilities. This dual focus on technical and interpersonal skills comes from seeing how often projects fail not due to code problems, but due to team dynamics. I work to support learners who couldn't otherwise afford training through discounts and freebies. One of my goals for Prelude is to generate enough goodness that there is enough to share.

You can learn more about my education journey and my approach here:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93zAMQMGKaM
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EMyP2pesB0

Community Work

I've been involved with PyConZA (South Africa) for several years, mainly working on improving our travel grants program and connecting with other Southern African communities. I helped organise the first-ever DjangoCon Africa in Tanzania in 2023, and I'm the local chair for PyCon Africa 2025.

On the education front, I started the Guild of Educators - a community for people who teach code. We're launching a Python teacher mentorship program soon. The idea is that if we help teachers get better, they can help more students more effectively. By listening in on the conversations that come out of that program, I hope to learn a lot about the challenges that teachers face and how they are facing them, and help best practices to emerge and spread. I'm also part of the PSF's Education and Outreach workgroup.

What I would bring to the PSF

I have a few different things I can bring to the table:

• I have strong leadership and organisational skills from my formal work (I've led, built and grown teams), my community engagements, and my experience training teams in effective collaboration
• I understand education from multiple angles - non-profit, commercial, and community-based. I understand what it takes to teach well and the gaps and pitfalls that many beginner programmers struggle with
• I'm good at spotting where processes are broken and figuring out practical fixes
• I have experience connecting different initiatives so they support each other better (1+1 = 3)
• I can represent perspectives from Southern Africa and similar regions that are often underrepresented

What I'd Focus On

If elected, I'd love to work on:

• Supporting Python educators and students and helping them adapt to changing needs. The programming landscape is changing in big ways, and it's important to stay on top of things. If we can support folks to teach and learn Python in ways that help them ride the wave we are on, that will help us ensure the longevity of the language. A focus on education is a focus on the long game
• Building better connections between Python communities globally, especially bringing emerging communities into the conversation. I'm connected to a few communities around Africa, especially Southern Africa. There's a lot of work to be done here
• Tackling other big hairy problems. For example, I'd love to help figure out how to make the grants program work well. There are limited resources and a lot of complexity in figuring out how to distribute those fairly and effectively.

I'm excited about the opportunity to bring my experience in education, community, and problem-solving to the PSF board and to help ensure Python remains accessible and valuable to communities worldwide.

Hi, I'm Simon Willison. I've been a board member of the Python Software Foundation since 2022 and I'm running for re-election in 2025.

Last year I wrote a detailed article about Things I’ve learned serving on the board of the Python Software Foundation. I hope to continue learning and sharing what I've learned for a second three-year term.

One of my goals for a second term is to help deepen the relationship between the AI research world and the Python Software Foundation. There is an enormous amount of value being created in the AI space using Python and I would like to see more of that value flow back into the rest of the Python ecosystem.

I see the Python Package Index (PyPI) as one of the most impactful projects of the Python Software Foundation and plan to continue to advocate for further investment in the PyPI team and infrastructure.

As a California resident I'm excited to see PyCon return to the West Coast, and I'm looking forward to getting involved in helping make PyCon 2026 and 2027 in Long Beach, California as successful as possible.

Relevant experience

• I've been blogging about Python since 2002, publishing more than 1,172 posts about the language and the community.
• In 2004 I helped create Django while working at the Lawrence Journal-World newspaper in Kansas.
• I've presented talks and tutorials at dozens of Python conferences around the world, including EuroPython, PyCon North America (I gave a keynote in 2024) and DjangoCon.
• In 2010 I co-founded a startup, Lanyrd, which used Python and Django to provide a service for discovering and making the most out of conferences. We were acquired by Eventbrite in 2013.
• I have 340 projects on PyPI.
• In 2017 I created Datasette, "an open source multi-tool for exploring and publishing data". Datasette is written in Python and supports plugins, of which there are now well over 100. Each plugin is a package on PyPI.
• In 2018 I released sqlite-utils, a Python library and CLI tool for manipulating SQLite databases.
• In 2023 I started the LLM project, another plugin-based project focused on providing CLI tools and a Python library for working with Large Language Models.
• I've volunteered as a mentor for Hackbright Academy in San Francisco, helping several students there graduate the program and start their careers as Python developers.

Where to find me

My blog is simonwillison.net. I'm also on Mastodon at @simon@simonwillison.net, on Bluesky at @simonwillison.net and on GitHub as simonw.

Take Back Python - Creating the Python Software Federation

AI is rapidly changing the world – and Python is the primary language for AI.

The Python ecosystem relies on an international, diverse community of developers and scientists – yet ownership of legal and technological Python assets is in the hand of a small number of organisations such as the Python Software Foundation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all human societies have certain unalienable rights as custodians of their own technological progress, in pursuit of liberty and happiness. That to secure these rights, technology governance is instituted, deriving power from the societies impacted; that whenever any governance becomes restrictive of these ends, it is the Right of any People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new technology governance, in such form they deem appropriate.

We believe that the Python Software Foundation must give up its centralized, monopolistic grip on Python.

That legal and technological assets must be shared with the peoples of the world, by planned devolution and transfer of assets to national or supranational organisations.

We pledge to pursue this goal as our topmost and urgent priority – a cooperative international landscape of Python organisations, wielding actual technological power on behalf of the societies they represent.

Urgency is required due to the speed of the AI revolution: the assets of the PSF must immediately be directed towards

• creating an international network of independent, fully empowered organisations,
• building Python competence and technological independence in this network,
• moving towards governance as a Federation of Python.

The focus of PSF must become knowledge transfer, technology sharing, and funded opportunity creation for developers, worldwide.

Pythonistas of the world, vote!

Take back Python, it belongs to you!

Join & vote

Join, or learn how you can support us - voting tutorial included:

https://github.com/python-software-federation/psf2025

Concrete policy measures

In the targeted end state, independent non-profit organisations for Python exist in individual jurisdictions of the world, corresponding to nation states or supranational organisations with joint jurisdictional sphere. These organisations are constructed and enabled to be independent of PSF, and controlled locally.

Legal assets held directly or indirectly by the PSF, such as trade marks, sponsorship and license contracts, are to be split up and distributed to non-profit organisations in jurisdictions across the world.

Technology transfer will enable the decentralization of Python distribution and maintenance assets. Maintenance will not be split into fully independent clusters, but is expected to be synced through protocols similar to Byzantine fault tolerance.

For instance, the package distribution system could be moved to a decentralized system of synced mirrors, with local administrators and shared code – such that no single node can become an entry point for political games or unilateral control.

Local organisations will be expected to be autonomous in technological decision making, and represent local interests; they will also be expected to participate in a coherent and interoperable technology landscape, i.e., not fork Python or package infrastructure, but instead participate in synchronized maintenance of the base technology, and consensus seeking in international technology politics.

Stance on other PSF issues

We do not take a particular stance on other issues. We believe that local decision making bodies are best placed to decide on these based on needs of their constituents. Enabling these constituents to make their own decisions is, therefore, our priority.

We also consider the repeated introduction of US party politics inspired “culture wars” wedge issues to the Python forums a distraction, and harmful to the bigger picture.

In particular, we deliberately abstain from these topics, as we consider these dumb (yet, sadly, often effective) distractions from the questions that actually matter: technology monopolies and worldwide technology colonialism.

Jannis who?

Working to keep Python strong and accessible for everyone — from scientists and web developers to educators and hobbyists — by investing in its infrastructure, making community programs resilient, and connecting its global community.

My name is Jannis “jezdez” Leidel, and I’m running for re-election to the PSF Board of Directors. Since being first elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2022, I’ve served continuously and remain deeply committed to the Foundation’s mission to nurture and grow the global Python community.

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PSF Board and Community Involvement

Over the past six years, I’ve contributed to the PSF’s strategic direction through roles on the:

• Finance Committee
• Membership Committee
• PyCon US Committee
• PSF Communications Officer for the 2021–2022 term

These roles have included helping guide the Foundation through moments of uncertainty, including the operational challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and periods of rapid growth. I'm a long-term member of PSF’s Packaging Working Group and more recently co-founded the User Success Working Group to advance user experience improvements, including better onboarding, accessibility, Python.org usability, localization, and shared guidance for UX across the ecosystem.

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Python's Expanding Impact

Python's role in the world has never been more critical. It’s one of the most widely used programming languages across education, research, and industry, fueled by the success of the Scientific Python ecosystem, the PyData movement, widespread adoption in AI and machine learning, and its continued importance in web development and embedded systems. From frameworks like Django and FastAPI to projects like MicroPython and CircuitPython, Python continues to prove itself as a flexible, accessible, and empowering tool. Reports from GitHub’s Octoverse, Stack Overflow, TIOBE, and RedMonk confirm what we already know: Python is everywhere.

This growth has also placed new demands on the PSF, particularly on our grants program. Funding requests have grown rapidly (nearly quadrupling in recent years), highlighting the need for new strategies to maintain and expand our impact. The PSF has made difficult choices to align the program with available resources, and I fully support the staff and volunteers working to keep it effective, transparent, and equitable.

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Priorities for the Next Term

I believe we need to think boldly about how we serve a growing global ecosystem. That includes:

• Sustaining and investing in core infrastructure, including packaging, Python.org services, and security initiatives
• Strengthening our grants program to improve accessibility, transparency, and long-term viability
• Deepening collaboration with organizations and institutions that rely on Python at scale, creating new pathways for cooperation and shared investment
• Working with regional Python communities and organizations that focus on local impact and community building, helping to strengthen the ecosystem and broaden our collective reach

I will work to ensure that new initiatives are openly discussed with the community and remain aligned with the PSF’s mission and values.

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About Me

Based in Germany, I’ve worked across multiple communities in Europe and globally to improve Python’s infrastructure and long-term health. Outside of work, I spend time with my family and think a lot about how we can make community involvement more accessible for people in different life situations.

I work as a Principal Software Engineer at Anaconda, where I contribute to the Python packaging ecosystem, including projects like conda and conda-forge. I’m a founding member of PyPA and co-facilitated the Python Packaging Summit in past years. I’ve long been involved in Python’s open-source and infrastructure communities, including earlier work in the Django and Mozilla communities, and remain focused on building tools that serve a broad user base.

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Closing

I’m running again because I believe the PSF benefits from board members who understand both the technical foundations and the governance needed to serve a global, open community. I first picked up Python to bring my own ideas to life, and that experience showed me how empowering access to programming can be. I want to help the PSF continue growing in ways that make that access more equitable and more widely available.

There’s more work ahead, and I’d be glad to continue contributing where I can.

Thanks for reading, and for everything you do to support Python.

I'm Alex Clark, a senior data engineer working in healthcare innovation. I've been using Python professionally for over a decade to build and manage data pipelines that support research, education, and internal tooling. Although I haven't contributed directly to open source or been actively involved in the public Python community, Python is at the core of almost everything I build. I work extensively behind the scenes, mentoring teammates, maintaining internal codebases, and solving the kinds of data problems that often don't make it into conference talks but are essential nonetheless. I'm passionate about helping others grow as developers and making tools that are clear, reliable, and easy to maintain. If I'm elected to the PSF board, I'd like to represent folks like me, people who use Python every day in practical, less-visible ways. I care about making sure Python stays approachable and useful to a wide range of users. I’d also like to help the PSF reach more communities and industries that rely on Python but don’t always feel connected to the broader ecosystem. Thanks for considering me.

Introduction

I am Lola Egherman, Vice President of Product and Operations at CodeDay. I am a passionate advocate for the improvement of computer science education, and strong believer in the ability of technology to create equitable opportunities regardless of background. My excitement for computer science began at a young age, however (like many) I struggled with finding opportunities and community for other students like me.

If elected to the Python Software Foundation Board, I will leverage my experience as an educator and program leader to make the Python Software Foundation's efforts even more accessible for new engineers.

Experience

My work at CodeDay focuses on creating and executing two programs: - A hackathon-style event targeted at showing first time coders all the cool things possible with technology. - A project based technical mentoring program for college students, giving them real-world (and often paid!) software development experience through making contributions to open source software. As a former participant in, volunteer for, and staff member of both our programs, I bring a unique and cumulative perspective to the field.

Leadership

Under my leadership, both our programs have grown their impact, scale, and are continuously adapting to better meet the needs of today's students. - I coordinate cross-functional communication between several teams, maximizing the synergy of our initiatives. - I collaborate and resource share with like-minded organizations, maximizing collective impact. - I have authored multiple peer-reviewed research papers on work-based learning and mentorship in CS education. - I was invited by the United Nations to represent CodeDay as part of their annual Open Source Week, where I participated in dialogue and collaboration on how open source can solve challenges across the globe.

Events

CodeDay runs hackathon-style events across the globe to get new coders excited about programming. Attending one of these events while I was in middle school was a major stepping stone drawing me in to computer science. That was the gateway to my leading CodeDay's events program as a whole. Our events primarily target students traditionally overlooked for CS education outreach, who have never had the opportunity to try and find out if coding is for them. - I oversee CodeDay's team of volunteer event organizers, helping them build local partnerships, follow our procedures, and engage underrepresented students in their community. - I write organizer-facing documentation on CodeDay's policies and integrate feedback into meaningful documentation changes, improving our knowledge base for all. - I regularly attend conferences, speaking and leading discussions on diversity in CS and effective mentoring approaches. - I coordinate global efforts to mitigate barriers faced by under-served attendees, such as our laptop distribution program for students without access to technology at home. They come to CodeDay, and get a laptop to keep!

Technical

• I design and implement internal software to execute CodeDay's business logic.
• I mentor participants of CodeDay's college program, demonstrating real-world problem solving, debugging, and communication techniques.
• I perform in-depth analyses on outcomes for sharing with stakeholders, publishing in research papers, and enabling a data-driven approach to program design.

Vision & Goals

While serving on the Python Software Foundation Board, I will advocate for newer engineers in the Python community. I bring to the table my 8 years of experience as an education leader, mentor, and open source advocate - as well as CodeDay's 16 years of experience running education programs.

Python is often regarded as the best first programming language to learn, and as such the community has a responsibility to be welcoming and accepting to engineers of all skill levels. This is already a current strength of Python - but more can always be done. As a Board member, I will encourage and guide the continued expansion of initiatives to make Python an even more welcoming environment for new users.

Goals

Expand opportunities for newer engineers in the Python community

Being involved in any community, especially one for something so large and important as Python, is intimidating. As a member of the PSF Board, I will help the PSF create opportunities targeted at engineers who feel they "aren't experienced enough" to participate.

Increase opportunities for new speakers

Going from Python User to Python Event Attendee is hard - even harder, going from Python Event Attendee to Python Event Speaker. While on the PSF Board, I will encourage creation of initiatives which make giving your first talk less daunting.

Improving pathways for contributing to Python Infrastructure

Becoming a contributor to Python and it's related infrastructure is an intimidating task, and it can be unclear where or how to start. My experience helping thousands of students make their first-ever PRs will help the PSF develop efforts to improve the first-time contributor process.

Hi i'm Agata I have been programming in Python since 2015 and organizing workshops and conferences. Here is my activity:

• PyCode Conference founder and organizer:

The aim of PyCode Conference is to raise the qualifications of the participants and to draw attention to the latest trends in Python. It is also important that we spread good programming practice. The conference is open to all Python programmers. It opens up to a community at all levels of experience which means it is designed for advanced professionals as well as beginners, including students. We help and contribute to supporting the diversity group in IT. We build an inclusive community, free from prejudice and discrimination, in which everyone can feel safe.

We strive for this, each participant felt accepted. Diversity is a highly valued value by us. We protect it as such as the Code of Conduct of the conference and we do not check behavior that is harmful to diversity. Supporting diversity enables one to integrate with a part of the underrepresented community, listening to their perspective and experience.

• Meetups organizer like: PyData Trójmiasto, PyLadies Poland departments Trójmiasto
• Python Group founder: PyLbn and PyKosz
• Teacher of technical IT subjects and programming
• Former PyCon PL co-organizer (PyCon PL 2015 and 2016)
• Organizer of PyLadies Poland
• Member of the Polish Python User Group and Former President
• Co-organizer of the PyData Warsaw
• Member of the Program Community at PyData Global and PyCon US 2021
• Writer at OSWorld.pl
• Python Teacher

I am excited about the possibility of serving on the PSF Board of Directors and contributing to the Foundation’s efforts to create a more inclusive and supportive Python community. Thank you for considering my nomination.

Who am I?

I am Abigail Mesrenyame Dogbe, an open-source community builder, programs manager, researcher, and STEM education advocate from Ghana who loves seeing people empowered by technology. My initial experience with Python was at my first Django Girls Accra experience as a mentee. I subsequently joined the Python Ghana community and eventually became the lead for the PyLadies Ghana community. Although I wrote code around that time, I developed a deep passion for bringing people together to learn, share resources and network. Throughout the years, together with other volunteers, I helped organize several Python events for the Ghanaian and African Python Communities, such as Python Ghana, PyData Ghana, PyCon Africa, etc.

Being curious and excited to connect more Pythonistas from our global communities with the PyLadies Ghana community, I started contributing to PyLadies Global through the communications team and inviting guest speakers and facilitators to our events. Gradually, I encouraged and supported the start of new PyLadies chapters across Africa and other parts of the world. I have been contributing to PyCon US over the years as an online and in-person volunteer and at the PSF booth, the recently held PyCon 2025, I led the lightning talks session and I organized a sprint for the Python Software Foundation’s Community and Conference Organizers Toolkit.

Through these commitments, I have found purpose in contributing to Open Source through community building. I am poised to do more to serve others while spreading Python, particularly within Africa and the global community.

Accomplishments

• Compiled and published the first draft of The PSF Community and Conference Organizers Toolkit
• Worked with a team to revive the PSF’s Education and Outreach Workgroup
• Spoken at global Python conferences such as EuroPython, DjangoCon US and advocated for the spread and use of Python in Africa All of my talks till date
• Mentored at several Django Girls events in Ghana and co-organized Django Girls PyCon Africa.
• Hosted, organized and collaborated on several events for PyLadies Ghana, increasing the participation of women in the Python Community.
• Collaborated with and supported other PyLadies to start their own communities in different parts of the world
• Ensured that people from French-speaking African countries are included in continent-wide Python events.
• Spoke on the PSF Diversity and Inclusion workgroup panel at PyCon US 2024 about Python community building in Africa and its challenges.
• Conducted research in Open Source Governance focused on “Empowering Inclusive Open Source Governance: Designing an Online Tool for Board Selection Through Participatory Methods”
• Started a book drive called Books for Techies, where I donate books to people getting started with contributing to open source in Africa

Awards and Recognitions

• Outstanding PyLady Award Recipient (2024)
• DSF Individual Member (2022)
• PSF Community Service Award Recipient (2020)
• Google Open Source Peer Bonus Award Recipient (2020)
• PyDev of the week (2020)
• PSF Fellow (2019)

Goals

• Improve the Community and Conference Organizers Toolkit, including documenting stories from current organizers to inspire prospective organizers.
• Continue supporting the Education and Outreach workgroup at the PSF
• Bringing the francophone Python communities located within Africa closer to the PSF
• Collaborating with other members of the board to achieve the mission and vision of the Python Software Foundation.
• Creating a pipeline and encouraging others to take up leadership roles and opportunities within our community, with sustainability at the forefront.

Now more than ever, our community needs representation from diverse regions, to advocate for and explore ways to keep moving forward and I am excited to bring my expertise and also collaborate with other members of the board to accomplish these goals. Let’s build together!

Hi there! My name is Sydney Runkle, and I'm excited to announce my nomination for the PSF Board. I'm primarily known in the Python community for maintaining open source projects, most notably pydantic and tools in the langchain suite. I'm also an active member in the talks circuit and a frequent Python/AI podcast guest. I'm eager to bring a passionate perspective to the bigger picture of Python's development.

Background

Interestingly, my fascination with Python all started because of a sledding accident. One broken leg later, I was confined to a wheelchair and in desperate need of a new hobby. My dad handed me an introductory Python book, which quickly evolved into a deep dive in courses on data science, machine learning, and applied stats.

I began working on projects like plotting bird migration tracks, analyzing US election data with streamlit, and generating plotly visualizations for articles I was writing for the local newspaper. One of the most rewarding projects was working with a local nonprofit PORCH to optimize non-perishable pickup routes with an interactive map application.

Service

My career has been largely focused on open source development. I take a unique approach to open source maintenance, a "kill 'em with kindness" philosophy, if you will. Open source is grounded in relationships, conversations, and effective collaboration. I'm looking to bring this same approach to the PSF Board.

Open Source Contributions

• pydantic lead maintainer (2024-2025)
• pydantic-ai maintainer (2024-2025)
• langgraph lead maintainer (2025-current)
• langchain maintainer (2025-current)
• streamlit early user and collaborator with devrel team (2019-2020)

Miscellaneous

• PyConUS 2025: Reviewed 600+ talk proposals with detailed ratings and feedback
• School Improvement Team Board Member: Served a 2 year term, learning effective governance
• Hunger Relief Club President: Recruited volunteers, organized fundraisers, and coordinated advocacy campaigns

Initiatives

If elected, I plan to lead work on the following initiatives:

1. AI Education: Python is the top language for AI development, but the PSF has yet to significantly invest in educational resources surrounding emerging patterns for AI use with Python. My experience with both pydantic-ai and the langchain suite of tools makes me uniquely qualified to help advance this initiative.
2. PyPride 2026: Python has many groups bringing together underrepresented communities (like PyLadies), but I don't think enough has been done to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in Python. I'd like to help organize and fund a PyPride event in June of 2026 (and future years) to bring together a community that's not often represented fully or seen.
3. "Zero to Speaker" Pipeline: I feel lucky to have spoken at a variety of Python conferences, but I don't feel like there were adequate resources encouraging young speakers to get involved. I'd like to change that. My experience both giving and reviewing talks will help me to demystify this process.

Speaking and Media

Talks

• Mastering Pythonic Data Validation and Transformation with Pydantic, MadPy 2024
• Pydantic Performance Tips, PyCon US 2024
• My Year+ of Open Source at Pydantic, PyCon Portugal 2024
• All About Pydantic, Boston Python 2025

Podcast Appearances

• Pydantic Performance Tips
• The Young Coder's Blueprint To Success
• Agentic AI Workflows with LangGraph