A New Chapter Unfolds: PKP Welcomes Three Visionary Leaders to Its Governance Committee

Well, isn't this exciting news for anyone invested in the world of open access and scholarly publishing! The Public Knowledge Project, or PKP as we affectionately know it, just shared a fantastic update that truly signals a bright future ahead. They’ve recently welcomed three remarkable individuals to their 2026 Governance Committee, and honestly, the collective brainpower and passion these folks bring to the table is just phenomenal.

First up, let’s talk about Heather Steel. She’s a powerhouse librarian and a true scholar at heart, someone who genuinely understands the intricate dance between research, access, and community. With her deep roots in open access initiatives and scholarly communication, particularly from the library services side, she brings an absolutely invaluable perspective. Heather's already familiar with PKP's Open Journal Systems (OJS) and Open Preprint Systems (OPS), and she’s even lent her expertise to their Advisory Committee before, so she’s hitting the ground running, which is just brilliant.

Then we have Jonathan (Jon) Evans, and for all you tech enthusiasts and open-source advocates out there, this is a name to remember. Jon is a seasoned software developer with a palpable passion for open-source sustainability and community building – you can just feel it. His technical acumen, coupled with his extensive experience nurturing various open-source projects, means he's perfectly poised to help PKP navigate the evolving landscape of digital infrastructure. It's truly exciting to see that kind of hands-on, community-focused technical insight join the ranks.

Last but certainly not least, we have Patricia (Pat) Hswe, who brings a truly strategic, big-picture vision. As the Director of Public Access Initiatives at the University of Michigan's Office of the Vice President for Research, she's right at the intersection of research, policy, and public access. Her background in open access, managing research data, and understanding the perspectives of major funding agencies is simply crucial. She, too, has served on PKP's Advisory Committee, so she understands the nuances and the mission deeply. Pat’s insights will undoubtedly be key in guiding PKP's strategic direction and impact on a much broader scale.

So, what does all this mean for PKP? Well, with this trio of brilliant minds – encompassing the worlds of librarianship, cutting-edge open-source development, and strategic research leadership – PKP is clearly setting itself up for an even more impactful future. Their diverse expertise isn't just a collection of skills; it's a synergistic force that will undoubtedly strengthen PKP's core mission to make knowledge openly accessible and to innovate within scholarly communication. It's a fantastic step forward, really, and I, for one, can't wait to see the incredible things they achieve together.