Elections/bod-2024/Chris Wilson
The 2022–2024 W3C Board of Directors has prepared a self-assessment questionnaire for candidates to this election. Here are the responses for Chris Wilson, as well as his nomination statement. See responses by other candidates at Elections/bod-2024.
Nomination Statement
The Web’s success is fundamentally important to Google, so we are pleased to sponsor the nomination of Chris Wilson. His statement follows.
I care very deeply about evolving the Web to make it serve users better. I care deeply about W3C as an organization because W3C is the collaborative space where we can come together to make the Web work for everyone.
My affiliation with Google tends to be seen as a detriment, but I believe this is a short-sighted view. My tenures at Microsoft and Google have been motivated by recognizing the impact these companies have on the Web, and working from within to make their impact better for the world. “Big Tech” is not going anywhere, and I have a deep belief in guiding it to work for the common good rather than in mere corporate interest. My agility working with tech companies large and small is an asset to ensuring the Web puts people before profits and exists as a space of connection, as well as an important connection for funding and participation.
It is critical that we elect individuals like me who have the time, expertise, and drive to ensure the long-term viability of W3C rather than electing individuals who use their seat to represent their own narrow perspective or special interests. Despite calls for fresh faces and admonitions that serving on the Board is not a huge time commitment, I believe serving on this Board (and more importantly working on its Committees) is a serious time commitment and responsibility. A responsible board member is one who shows up ready to put aside special interests for the greater good of the Web through communication, collaboration, integrity, and action. A high functioning Board of Directors is critical to W3C’s structural success, because W3C Inc does not yet have the long-term financial structure or sustainable nonprofit status to ensure a stable future.
Financial integrity and oversight are second nature to me. I was raised by two accountants (personal and corporate) who taught me financial management at a young age, and I have run multiple side businesses as an adult. I know the value of staying calm and patient in the storm of numbers, while ensuring that important details are properly examined. I recognize that budgets tell a story of where an organization has been and where it has the capacity to go.
Finally, I have had decades of exposure to the intricacies of nonprofits through my spouse who has worked at both programmatic and strategic levels in a variety of nonprofit settings and roles. She has taught me the importance of having a seamless connection between mission, vision, values, budget, and constituents. W3C Inc does not have a coherent story that links all of these together, but it can, and it must for the Web to function properly. The Board owns an important piece of that story with its oversight of resources and structure.
I would be an asset to the W3C Board of Directors because I bring:
- A long history with the Web paired with a deep desire to strengthen its capacity to work for all users. I know where we’ve been and have the vision and integrity to help get us where we could go.
- A proven track-record of doing the work, particularly the complex yet critical tasks that make up the backbone of W3C.
- Numerous leadership roles in which I am viewed as a guiding leader who has integrity, compassion, drive, and the ability to think both strategically and logistically.
- A deep understanding of fiscal oversight and functional nonprofit structure.
Thank you for considering my nomination.
Connection to W3C
I have subscribed to a W3C mailing list
Yes, many.
I have participated in a W3C Community Group
Yes, many. I currently co-chair the Web Platform Incubation Community Group and the Immersive Web Community Group.
I have participated in a W3C Working Group
Yes, many over the years. Notably: I helped co-found the CSS Working Group, currently co-chair the Immersive Web Working Group , in the past co-chaired a different incarnation of the HTML Working Group, was an editor in the Audio Working Group, and many others.
I have contributed text to a specification that became a W3C Recommendation
Yes, many, including HTML, Audio, CSS, XSL, Web XR and more.
I have edited a W3C Recommendation
Yes, notably : Web Audio API, Web MIDI (which is not yet a REC).
I have chaired a W3C Working Group
Yes. I have co-chaired the Immersive Web WG, as well as co-chairing the Advisory Board.
I have served on the Team, AB, or TAG
Yes, I have served on the AB off and on since 2013, serving as its co-chair from 2021-2023.
Financial acumen
I have experience in financial oversight (e.g., serving on a Finance committee)
Not in the same way; however, I have managed several businesses from end-to-end, including a restaurant; analyzed the finances of a number of non-profits for fund-raising and donating purposes, and managed a team budget.
I have had specialist training in finance (e.g., professional development sessions)
No.
I have undergraduate education in a financial discipline (e.g., accounting, economics)
No.
I have post-graduate education in a financial discipline
No.
I have a professional qualification in a financial profession (e.g., certified public accountant)
No; however, I was raised in a family of CPAs. My father was a federal tax manager for a large oil firm; my mother was a CPA in private business. I was taught tax concepts and money management from a very young age.
I have two or more years of full-time professional experience in a financial profession
No.
Legal acumen
I have experience in legal oversight (e.g., serving as the secretary of an organization)
Not as secretary. However, I have for many years functioned as the interface between engineering teams and our legal departments, particularly around patent issues.
I have had specialist training in legal matters (e.g., professional development sessions)
Yes; internal legal trainings from my large corporate employers.
I have undergraduate education in a legal discipline (e.g., law, public policy)
No.
I have post-graduate education in a legal discipline
No.
I can practice law in at least one jurisdiction
No.
I have two or more years of full-time professional experience in a legal profession
No.
Governance experience
I have experience in governance oversight (e.g., serving on a Governance committee)
No.
I have had specialist training in governance (e.g., professional development sessions)
No.
I hold a professional qualification in governance (e.g., AAICD, GAICD, ACG, FCG, CMInstD)
No.
I have served on the Board of Directors of a non-profit organization
No, although my spouse has served on a large number of non-profit boards, and I have assisted her.
I have served on the Board of Directors of a for-profit organization
No.
I have served on a Board of Directors of an organization with a budget of at least US$ 5,000,000 (or equivalent)
No.
I have served as the Chair of a Board of Directors
No.
I have served as the Officer of a corporation
No.
Fundraising experience
I have experience in fundraising for an organization (e.g., finding and/or working with donors)
Yes: when my spouse was on various boards and employed by different local non-profits, I assisted in funding drives and seeking out donors.
I have experience in fundraising for an organization, involving amounts greater than US$50,000 (or equivalent)
From the other side, yes; but not fundraising for that amount.
I have a professional qualification in a fundraising profession (e.g., Certificate in Professional Fundraising)
No.
I have two or more years of full-time professional fundraising experience
No.
Risk management experience
I have experience in risk management for an organization (e.g., compiling a risk register)
No.
Public sector and policy experience
I have written policy briefs or positions
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
Leadership and strategy experience
I have successfully led a team or project to achieve its goal
Yes, at a number of scales.
- On the AB, I have driven prioritization, co-chaired repeatedly, been a key member driving the creation of the W3C Legal Entity, and many more efforts.
- As first an engineer and then as a product manager, I have lead many teams that delivered various software projects, primarily portions of web browsers. I have managed people (teams up to a dozen PMs, virtual teams up to around 45) as well as been an individual contributor strategist.
- In my current role, I am responsible for overseeing multiple aspects of a multi-billion-dollar business' engagement in the web standards world, and ensuring that my team members are fair, respectful, and engage properly with standards. I oversee multiple aspects of our intellectual property as part of that engagement, as well as Code of Conduct and many other aspects.
- As a W3C WG member, spec editor, and occasionally chair, I have assisted in the development of many Recommendations.
I have been involved in the strategic planning for an organization
Yes. From many instances of strategic planning in my professional roles, to strategic planning as co-chair of the AB when we worked on the early Legal Entity plans.
I have been responsible for assessing market trends
Never as my primary job, but definitely was a component of my job, particularly in browser roles at Microsoft.
Global experience
I speak two or more languages
I will not claim to be fluent in any language but English. However, I do speak basic-level Spanish, French and (slightly more fluent) German.
I write two or more languages
See above. I can generally comprehend written German, some Spanish and slightly less so French.
I have lived in a country other than the one I was born in for two or more years
No, though I am comfortable travelling in other countries where I do not speak the language.
I regularly work with people in other countries and from other cultures
Yes. I have worked solely in multi-cultural environments for the last two decades.
I have had cultural awareness training or similar
Yes.
Demographics
Optionally, candidates may be prepared to provide in confidence the following information:
The continent where you usually reside
North America
Your age (in ten-year brackets; e.g., 50-59)
50–59
The Sub-Industry of your employer
I believe that is Internet Services & Infrastructure (45102030).
Your gender identity
Male
Whether you have a disability (yes/no)
No.