Linux Solutions

The Shuttleworth Foundation’s Mark Surman will move to the Mozilla Foundation after he was appointed executive director, where he will continue his work in open sourcing philanthropy.

The Mozilla Foundation is an international community and open source software project that believes the internet is a public resource that must remain open and accessible to all. The organisation runs many projects, and is responsible for the development of the Firefox web browser.

“Mark’s move to Mozilla shows that our fellowship programme is working,” says Helen King, principal advisor to the Shuttleworth Foundation. “The programme aims to let people explore new ideas like open philanthropy, and then to move on to using these ideas in places that matter, such as at the Mozilla Foundation.”

King explains that through fellowships, the Shttleworth Foundation aims to work with people on the front edge of issues like open education, Knowledge and telecommunications in a way that will make a real difference.

At present there are four fellows working with the foundation; Andrew Rens in the area of intellectual property, Steve Song – telecommunications, Steve Vosloo, communications and analytical skills, and Mark Surman, open philanthropy and open education

“The fellowships emerged about 18 months ago as a way for us to make bets not only on projects, but on people too,” says King. “So far it has been successful and we have begun to see traction on key issues in terms of progressing an open knowledge society.”