Open Boards Summit

Announcing the first Open Boards Summit

The first-ever Open Boards Summit will take place online on

Thursday 24 October, from 15h to 18h UTC.

The event will serve to both explore needs and opportunities, while also testing the value and viability of both an ongoing community effort and a potential in-person convening.

A co-created program

The agenda for the Summit will be co-created with confirmed participants leading up to the event. Based on early conversations with confirmed participants, the program will strive to address a range of outcomes and issues.

Convening board members and project leaders

The Open Boards Summit is focused on supporting board members of Open projects and organizations, as well as the project leaders with whom they directly interact.

When speaking of “Open” initiatives, in practical terms, these are organizations that: Openly license intellectual property, include Open as a key approach to the governance of the organization and community, and/or center their strategies and practices on Open values and norms in realizing their mission.

We interpret Open medium-broadly: there is not a purity test to participate, but we are not interested in “fauxpen” participation by organizations that assert Open only in words and not in deeds.

Mindful of the complex and varied power dynamics that exist between Open boards and other leaders in their respective communities, we hope to convene a healthy balance of those who sit on boards and those who work directly with them.

How to participate

In order to maintain a manageable group size in the online context, we are requesting expressions of interest.  

To express interest in joining the Open Boards Summit please send an email to: summit@openboardssummit.org. Please include the following information:

  • What specific goals would you have in joining the Open Boards Summit, and what would be your ideal outcome(s)?
  • Geographic region(s) where your org or project is based and/or operates
  • Your relevant role(s) or title(s) in your organization or project
  • We also welcome you to share anything about yourself, your background, how you identify, or your passions and motivations relating to Open boards.