I have been part of the PostgreSQL Community for over 20 years. I believe passionately in the software we produce, but also in the sense of family and inclusiveness that prevails throughout the community. I have the privilege to work closely every day alongside some of my closest friends, some of whom I've known for almost as long as I've been part of this incredible group, and some for just a year or two.
I recognise and accept the importance of corporate involvement in the project, which is why I've worked at EnterpriseDB for over a decade, during which time they have continuously supported my work in the community. Some of the friends I've made work for our competitors, and in some cases, own or run those companies - yet despite being in competition we remain friends and continue to work together for the good of PostgreSQL and the community.
To me, the PostgreSQL Project is unique; an ever-growing family who rival the most successful companies in the world in their passion for the software they engineer and the work they do to help others use that software.
I want to keep it that way whilst we continue to grow, which is why I've served for a number of years as Secretary of the board of PostgreSQL Europe.
During that time, my work for PostgreSQL Europe has focussed not only on organising our conferences in which we strive to maintain the sense of family and intimacy that attendees have told us time and time again that they value, but on our legal work. This includes straightforward tasks such as updating sponsorship and training contracts and working with our lawyer to ensure they are fair and effective, to liaising with the leaders of other PostgreSQL non-profit organisations around the world to both coordinate our efforts and ensure that at the same time we retain our individuality and "Europeaness", through to taking legal measures to protect our identity and ensure the PostgreSQL community can easily recognise the work that we're doing without confusing it with the work of others that may not be in keeping with the same ideals that we hold dear.
If re-elected to the board of PostgreSQL Europe, I commit to the community that I will continue to work towards the betterment of the PostgreSQL Community in Europe, to ensure that it remains open to all individual and corporate contributors in a fair, balanced and impartial way.