AB/ABMeetCandidates2023/AB Candidate Questionnaire/Chris Wilson

What priorities should the AB take on in the next year? How will you help accomplish them?

As I captured in my talk from the recent AC meeting, there are two previous priorities that I think continue to be important - the Vision work, which I have been leading and editing for multiple years, and the "4 Is" - essentially, the process of incubating web standards, and how independent interoperable implementations should factor in to that. In addition to that, I think it is imperative that the Advisory Board take on the goal of improving inclusion and trust across various groups.

As to how I will help accomplish them, I would offer to continue to edit the Vision document and drive discussions there to be productive; I would look forward to making proposals and entering discussions on the Incubation topic, leading the initial draft of what we hope to accomplish there. On improving inclusion and trust, I have been an active participant in the Positive Work Environment CG, and I would like to continue the work the AB chairs did last fall to improve inclusion in our own group and work to scale it up to the entire organization.

The AB positions are unpaid but require regular meetings at inconvenient times/locations, preparation for said meetings, and collaboration with people you might disagree with. Why do you personally wish to take this on?

Because it's important; the W3C being member-led is not new, and the AB is a core piece of ensuring the members' voices lead the W3C.  I am celebrating my 30th anniversary of working on the web platform - clearly I have a lifelong commitment to the Web, and a passion for making it better.  Though I've worked on browsers for the bulk of my career, I should be clear my picture of the web is much broader than that; I just believe the advisory board can be a very impactful position from which to improve the Web for all.

Attending meetings is not enough to be an effective member of the AB. What else do you expect to do to contribute to the AB's activities?

I have done, and continue to do, an immense amount of work dedicated to the work of the AB. From the large amount of work the co-chairs do to manage, organize and prepare for the AB meetings, to the editing work on the Vision, to collaboration work with the Board, the Process CG and the PWE CG, I work very hard for all. I believe it is imperative that we elect do-ers to the AB, not just perspectives; advising the W3C is a very active job, and we need active hands to do it.

How do you think W3C should build consensus in large groups, and can you speak to your ability & experience building consensus (at W3C or elsewhere)?

I have long experience as a co-chair of various groups (HTML WG, AB, WICG, Immersive Web WG and CG) and editor of various specs. I believe large group consensus is a challenging task, but should be centered on a diverse core engaged and motivated group, building shared goals first. I believe good consensus-building involves listening and understanding more than evangelizing. I think it is critical to circle back and build approval on an ongoing basis from that core group.

How can W3C improve its diversity and inclusion, and what is the role of the AB in improving those?

Diversity and Inclusion to me require separate approaches, though inclusion supports diversity. Improving the W3C's diversity requires such tasks as reaching out to other regions of the work; this is critically important to the W3C's impact and future, but it needs some organizational support.

Inclusion is something we can all improve; not just setting the bar of a positive and treasured Code of Conduct, but in truly working to make sure all voices are heard. My passion for this goes beyond just the work in PWECG, and beyond setting a bar with the Code of Conduct, but improving actual productivity as well as inclusion with efforts like the standards of behavior work I have championed at Google. I think it is critically important that we work to set better, more precise rules and follow them to include others. Together with Tzviya as co-chair, we did a deep introspection last fall to figure out how to improve our own working on the AB - especially around those who might not be as comfortable with English as the default language.

There is a proposal for an AC Chair. What do you think of the idea? Who should do the job (not naming individuals, describe the role, position)

I think it is a brilliant idea to ask for volunteers to moderate the AC forum, both to improve inclusion and be more welcoming, as well as to work together with the AB chairs to connect back to the AB's priorities. I do not think it would be wise to expand that role to a more traditional chairing role - setting priorities and goals - if only because I think the AC is not a single group that needs to be "led" in a common direction. The value of the AC is in its diverse opinions and positions.