[FSFE PR][EN] FSFE elects new President and Vice President

[press at fsfeurope.org]

 = FSFE elects new President and Vice President =

[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2015/news-20150922-01.en.html ]

Matthias Kirschner and Alessandro Rubini are FSFE's new President and
Vice President. They were elected last week in Bucharest during FSFE's
General Assembly, while Reinhard Müller was re-elected as Financial
Officer. They will serve FSFE in those positions for the upcoming two
years.

Matthias Kirschner is an FSFE employee since 2009. He started using
GNU/Linux in 1999 and realised that software is deeply involved in all
aspects of our lives. Matthias is convinced that this technology has to
empower society rather than restrict it. While studying Political and
Administrative Science he convinced the FSFE to accept him as the FSFE's
first intern in 2004. Since then he has been helping other
organisations, companies and governments to understand how they can
benefit from Free Software -- which gives everybody the rights to use,
study, share and improve software -- and how those rights help to
support freedom of speech, freedom of press, or privacy.

Matthias loves spending time with his baby son, and in his spare time
assists in wilderness first aid seminars, enjoys comics like XKCD and
Transmetropolitan, Monty Python, and Die Ärzte.

Alessandro Rubini is an electronic engineer and holds a Ph.D. in
computer science. He installed Linux 0.99.14, is an active Free Software
user and developer, and author of the book "Linux Device Drivers". After
his Ph.D. he left the university as he did not want to just write
articles. He now works as an independent consultant in the area of
industrial use of GNU/Linux, mainly on device drivers and embedded
system as well as on microcontrollers and PCB design. Recently he has
been working with CERN within the White Rabbit project, aimed at sub-
nanosecond synchronisation of I/O cards. He enjoys working with CERN, as
they have a policy to publish all their work as Free Software and Free
Hardware.

Alessandro was already a member of the Free Software Foundation Europe
from 2001 to 2006 and recently joined FSFE again. He felt that FSFE is
the right place to have positive and constructive discussions about Free
Software. Beside his volunteer engagement in FSFE and in other Free
Software organisations, he is an active boy scout, likes cycling, is
father of two children, and listens to white noise during work.

    "I am happy to welcome both Matthias and Alessandro to their new
    roles," says Executive Director Jonas Öberg, "both have been
    instrumental in shaping the organisation into its current form and I
    look forward to the expertise they will bring as we go about
    empowering users to control technology."


  == About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==

  The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a non-profit
  non-governmental organisation active in many European countries and
  involved in many global activities. Access to software determines
  participation in a digital society. To secure equal participation in
  the information age, as well as freedom of competition, the Free
  Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) pursues and is dedicated to the
  furthering of Free Software, defined by the freedoms to use, study,
  modify and copy. Founded in 2001, creating awareness for these issues,
  securing Free Software politically and legally, and giving people
  Freedom by supporting development of Free Software are central issues
  of the FSFE.

  http://fsfe.org/