mark surman [email protected] The web is one of our most valuable public resources — it’s Mark Surman’s job to protect it. He is Executive Director of Mozilla, a global community that keeps the web open and free. Mark also believes web literacy is just important as reading, writing and math — and that we all need the right tools to be citizens of the web. In 2012 he launched Mozilla’s Maker Party, a yearly web literacy campaign across 80 countries, and he is now bringing Mozilla Learning Networks to 500 cities around the world. Prior to joining Mozilla, Mark was awarded a Shuttleworth Foundation fellowship; served as Managing Director of telecentre.org; and was co- founder and president of the Commons Group. Mark is a prolific blogger, writer and speaker, and serves as an advisor on the boards of the World Bank Solutions for Youth Employment Consortium, the Toronto Arts Foundation and Peer-to-Peer University. education
Bachelor of Arts, History of Community Media, University of Toronto Independent study degree looking at Challenge for Change and other early examples of community-based electronic media. The degree also included courses in international development, cultural studies and communications at Trent, Queens and Ryerson. 1988 – 1995 employment history
Executive Director, Mozilla Foundation Responsible for the overall strategic direction and leadership of Mozilla Foundation. Positioned Mozilla as a world leader in internet education and advocacy, establishing grassroots digital literacy programs that reach over 80 countries, building an advocacy team that has won on issues like net neutrality, and increasing philanthropic support for Mozilla’s work by over $40M. Also serves on the executive committee that oversees both the product and philanthropic sides of Mozilla’s work. 2008 – present
Open Philanthropy Fellow, Shuttleworth Foundation Advisor to the CEO on the integration of open source thinking into the Foundation’s business practices, and the development of an open educational content program area to prototype the new practices. 2007 – 2008
mark surman | page 1 of 8 Managing Director, telecentre.org / IDRC Led joint Canada / Switzerland / Microsoft initiative to create grassroots networks connecting social enterprises working in community technology. Established program and team, grew budget from $11 million to $26 million and developed global community of networks spanning over 30 countries. 2005 – 2007
President & Co-Founder, The Commons Group Co-founded this small consulting group, recognized in Canada and globally as a leading source of advice and insight on networks, technology and social change. Also, used Commons as a platform to promote the concept of social enterprise within the community technology sector. Managed both internal consulting staff and teams of contractors hired to deliver on client projects (view list below). 1998 – 2007
Director of Community + Technology, Web Networks Led the community and technology services divisions of Web Networks, a $1.4 million/year social enterprise providing Internet services to Canadian non-profits. Included product development and day-to-day management for community portal, web hosting and application development business lines. 1994 – 1998
Community Producer, Maclean Hunter Worked as a community producer for Canada’s third largest cable television company, providing video production training and coaching to residents in one of Toronto’s poorest neighborhoods. Acted as internal entrepreneur within the company, leading important policy changes to increase community involvement and participation. 1990 – 1994
Various positions in commercial and public television Worked at both a supervisory and staff level in on-air technical services for various commercial and public outlets including CBC (Kingston), CTV (Kenora) and YTV (Toronto). 1985 – 1990 committees & volunteer work
DigitalMe Connected Learning Alliance Millions Learning Peer-to-Peer University (P2PU) Telefonica Foundation Toronto Arts Foundation World Bank Solutions for Youth Employment Coalition (S4YE)
mark surman | page 2 of 8 Previous board positions included WildCanada (Board of Directors, 2003 – 2004), One World Canada (Management Board, 2001 – 2004) and the Association for Progressive Communications (Board of Directors, 1996 – 1998). Co-founder of Rabble.ca, Canada’s most popular progressive news web site, and served on the board from 2001 – 2004. publications
Why Web Literacy Matters, Too Article 2015
A New Engagement Model for the Internet Era Book Chapter 2015
Philanthropy Must Jump-Start a Digital Revolution for the Common Good Article 2015
Local Content, Smartphones and Digital Inclusion Article 2014
Why Web Literacy Should Be Part of Every Education Article 2012
Open Sourcing Social Change: Inside the Constellation Model Article 2008
Listening to the Stars: The Constellation Model of Collaborative Social Change Article 2008
Open Sourcing Education: Learning and Wisdom from iSummit 2007 Report 2007
From the Ground Up: The Evolution of the Telecentre Movement Book 2007
The Evolution of Learning: Taking Open Educational Resources to the Next Level Article 2007
Making the Connection: Scaling Telecentres for Development Book Chapter 2007
Commonspace: Beyond Virtual Community Book 2005
Beyond the Box: Technology Toolkit Toolkit 2005
Beyond the Box: Business Case Slides for Grantmakers and Champions Slide Deck 2005
Beyond the Box: Business Case Slides for Nonprofits Slide Deck 2005
Beyond the Box: Technology Business Case Plug-and-Play Slides Slide Deck 2005
Planning, Partnership and People: Keys to Successful Nonprofit Technology Projects Report 2004
Choosing Open Source: A Decision-Making Guide for Civil Society Organizations Guide 2004
Beyond the Box: Technology Grantmaking in Canada Report 2004
mark surman | page 3 of 8 Appropriating the Internet for Social Change: Towards the Strategic use of Networked Report 2003 Technologies by Transnational Civil Society Organizations
Understanding Civil Society Portals: Online Content and Community Models Case Study 2002
Collaborative Online Projects: Exploring Constellation-Style Partnerships Slide Deck 2002
Electronic Publishing: National Library of Canada’s Guide to Best Practices for Canadian Guide 2002 Publishers
From Access to Applications: How the Voluntary Sector is Using the Internet Report 2001
Balancing Mission & Money: Building Sustainable Electronic Networks for Civil Society Case Study 1999
Wired Words: Utopia, Revolution, and the History of Electronic Highways Article 1996
From VTR to Cyberspace: Jefferson, Gramsci and the Electronic Commons Paper 1994 selected presentations & workshops
Open Data Day Toronto 2015
Building Mozilla Learning Together Mozlandia Joint Work-week, Portland 2015
The Digital Revolution: Riding the Next Wave of Innovation Convention, Brussels 2014 Innovation
Make the Web: Campus Party Keynote Campus Party, São Paulo 2013
The Web is the 4th Literacy WISE, Doha 2013
Web Literacy: Building a Generation of Digital Makers StartUp Europe, Brussels 2013
Making Movements: What Punk Rock, Scouting, and the Personal Democracy Forum, New York 2012 Royal Society Can Teach Us
Open Distributed Learning Learning Without Frontiers, London 2012
TEDxKids: Hackasaurus TEDxKids, Brussels 2011
Media, Freedom and the Web Annual Marshall McLuhan Lecture, Berlin 2011
How the Web Was Won USI, Paris 2010
Where Next for Openness? OSCON, San Jose 2009
Open Sourcing Education in South Africa Ubuntu Live, Portland 2007
mark surman | page 4 of 8 The Future of Open Education iCommons Summit, Dubrovnik 2007
CopyCamp (organizer) Toronto 2006
Telecentre Community Development Workshops various locations 2005–2007 (organizer)
PenguinDay (organizer) Toronto 2004
Changing Technology Funding Practices (organizer) various locations 2004
Business Planning Workshop for Balkan Environmental Rome 2004 Networks (organizer)
Partnership, Planning and People: Nonprofit Tech Lessons Voluntary Sector Symposium, Toronto 2004 Learned
Appropriating the Internet for Social Change SSRC/WSIS, Geneva 2003
Marketing and Product Development for African ASPs Johannesburg 2003 (organizer)
Online Community and NGOs Global Citizen Forum, Toronto 2002
Keynote: eCommunity for Healthcare HeSCA, Annual Meeting, Winnipeg 2002
Local Community in a Virtual World Couchiching Institute for Public Affairs, Orillia 2002
Developing Online Community Strategies Conference Board of Canada, Ottawa 2002 (workshop leader)
Grazing the Commons (facilitator) Toronto 2001
Commonspace for MBA Toronto 2001
Commonspace and the Growth of Online Communities Waterloo 2001
Web of Change (organizer) Cortez Island 2000–2004
Web Syndication for NGO Networks: Action Applications Budapest 2000 (workshop)
Technology and Culture: Knowledge Across Borders Toronto 2000 Forum (workshop)
Connecting Global Villages: Community Networking by Pan-America by Design Visionary Speaker Series, 1999 Design Toronto
Social Enterprise Strategies for NGO Networks in Central Kvacany 1999
mark surman | page 5 of 8 Europe (workshop)
Radio, the Internet & Community AMARC 7 Ccommunity Radio Conference, Milan 1998
Online Communities and the Right to Communicate Videazimut International Seminar & General 1998 Assembly, Cape Town
Mission-Driven Business and Nonprofits on the Internet Oaxaca 1998 (workshop)
Building Partnerships for an Electronic Commons Telecommunities Canada Annual Conference, Halifax 1997
Universal Access Symposium (workshop leader, presenter) Toronto 1996–1997
Wired Words: Utopia, Revolution and the History of iNet96, Montreal 1996 Electronic Highways
Information Highway Policy & Lessons from History Community Information Highway Conference, 1995 Ottawa
Building a Commons for Community Telecommunities Canada Annual Conference, Ottawa 1994
Commonspace for Librarians Ontario Library Association Annual Conference, 2002 Toronto the commons group: selected projects
IDRC Information Management Research 2004
Voluntary Sector Portal Business Plan Development 2004
Language Interpreter Booking System Evaluation 2004
OCASI Database Strategy 2004
CEIU Collaborative Software & Process Review 2004
Community Access Program Business Plan Analysis 2004
Learning Module: Marketing Your Online Community 2004
Building a National Tech Training Network 2004
Community Access Program Network Vision 2004
Business Planning Workshops for Eastern European Nonprofits 2004
mark surman | page 6 of 8 Changing Technology Funding Practices 2003–2004
Canadian Child Care Federation Online Community Strategy 2003
Open Source Decision-Making for Nonprofits 2003
Inventory of ICT4D Volunteering Programs 2003
V@O Nonprofit Technology Best Practices 2003
211 Pro Business Plan & Market Research 2003
Human Rights Commission Content Management Strategy 2003
Efficient Web Development Process Guide for CPCHE 2003
Communicopia Business Planning 2003
FACTS Software Collaborative Evaluation 2002–2004
APC Learners + Practitioners Network Business Plan 2002
APC Civil Society Portal Framework 2002
Canadian Child Care Federation Content Management Strategy 2002
VolunteersOnline.ca Site Strategy 2002
Africa ActionApp Service Development Workshops 2002
ONESTEP Strategic Technology Plan 2002
One World Canada Business Plan 2001–2002
CPCHE Web Strategy & Funding Proposal 2001–2002
Global Citizens Internet Forum Web Site Strategy 2001
Community Interpreter Booking System 2001
V@O: From Access to Applications 2001
Best Practices Manual for Electronic Publishers 2001–2002
Paths to Equal Opportunity: Strategy & Planning 2000–2001
Ontario Ministry of Citizenship IMS Project Evaluation 2000–2001
OCASI Community-Based Internet Training Conference 2000
Canadian Environmental Law Association Communications Audit 2000
mark surman | page 7 of 8 Ontario Ministry of Citizenship: Gateway to Diversity 1999–2000
APC Community Networks Business Planning Workshop 1999
Moebius Internet Radio Project 1999
APC ActionApps 1998–2001
V@O Program Design & Grant Review 1998–2001
Ontario Ministry of Citizenship Volunteer Action Portal 1998
Program Design for Industry Canada’s VolNet 1998
Web Networks Application Service Provider Transition 1998
Canadian Society of Association Executives Digital Strategy 1997
Web Networks Community Portal Site 1997
mark surman | page 8 of 8