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OSMF Board Holds Two-Day Meeting in Madrid to Set 2026 Priorities
The OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF) Board of Directors convened in Madrid on June 6‑7, 2026, to outline actions for the next twelve months. According to the foundation’s official blog post, the meeting covered a fundraising campaign, the revival of the Communications Working Group (CWG), a forthcoming job posting, the foundation’s move to the European Union, and the launch of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy.
The board is composed of seven members: Craig Allan serves as Chair, Dani Waltersdorfer Jimenez is Secretary, Roland Olbricht holds the Treasurer role, and Héctor Ochoa Ortiz, Laura Mugeha, and Maurizio Napolitano are additional directors. Allen Gunn, who has facilitated OSMF meetings for over a decade, led the session.
The meeting was notable for its face‑to‑face format. Board members live in different countries, so in‑person collaboration is rare. The blog post stresses that “having the opportunity to work together, ideate, brainstorm, discuss tough topics, and enjoy our time together is quite treasured and important for us.” The foundation emphasizes that community engagement is a core value that distinguishes the OpenStreetMap project.
Key topics discussed include:
Fundraising – The board plans a campaign to secure financial support for the foundation’s operations and community projects. Communications Working Group – The CWG, which handles media outreach and community storytelling, is slated for revival. Job Posting – A new position will be advertised in the coming months to support the foundation’s growing needs. European Union Move – The foundation will relocate its legal domicile to the EU, a change that may affect governance and compliance. * AI Policy – An AI policy will be introduced to guide the use of artificial intelligence in mapping and data processing.
The meeting took place in the offices of TomTom in Madrid. The foundation thanked the company for providing the space and highlighted the contribution of Priscilla Zachée, who spent the weekend with the board.
OpenStreetMap itself is a volunteer‑generated, freely licensed map of the world. The project was created in 2004 by Steve Coast in response to the UK Ordnance Survey’s decision not to release its data under a free licence. The database is hosted by the OSMF, a non‑profit organisation founded in 2006 that supports the project but does not control it.
The foundation’s decision to move to the EU is part of a broader trend of open‑data organisations aligning their legal structures with the regulatory environment of the European Union. The AI policy launch reflects growing attention to the ethical and practical implications of machine learning in geospatial data.
The board’s agenda demonstrates a continued focus on community‑driven development, financial sustainability, and responsible technology use. The foundation’s public communication will likely include updates on the fundraising campaign, the status of the CWG revival, and the specifics of the AI policy.
As of the date of the blog post, the foundation has not released detailed timelines for the new job posting or the EU relocation. The board’s next steps will involve drafting policy documents, preparing fundraising materials, and coordinating with TomTom for future collaboration.
The meeting underscores the foundation’s commitment to open data, community participation, and transparent governance. The outcomes of the session will shape the foundation’s strategy for the coming year and influence how the OpenStreetMap community engages with emerging technologies.
The board is composed of seven members: Craig Allan serves as Chair, Dani Waltersdorfer Jimenez is Secretary, Roland Olbricht holds the Treasurer role, and Héctor Ochoa Ortiz, Laura Mugeha, and Maurizio Napolitano are additional directors. Allen Gunn, who has facilitated OSMF meetings for over a decade, led the session.
The meeting was notable for its face‑to‑face format. Board members live in different countries, so in‑person collaboration is rare. The blog post stresses that “having the opportunity to work together, ideate, brainstorm, discuss tough topics, and enjoy our time together is quite treasured and important for us.” The foundation emphasizes that community engagement is a core value that distinguishes the OpenStreetMap project.
Key topics discussed include:
Fundraising – The board plans a campaign to secure financial support for the foundation’s operations and community projects. Communications Working Group – The CWG, which handles media outreach and community storytelling, is slated for revival. Job Posting – A new position will be advertised in the coming months to support the foundation’s growing needs. European Union Move – The foundation will relocate its legal domicile to the EU, a change that may affect governance and compliance. * AI Policy – An AI policy will be introduced to guide the use of artificial intelligence in mapping and data processing.
The meeting took place in the offices of TomTom in Madrid. The foundation thanked the company for providing the space and highlighted the contribution of Priscilla Zachée, who spent the weekend with the board.
OpenStreetMap itself is a volunteer‑generated, freely licensed map of the world. The project was created in 2004 by Steve Coast in response to the UK Ordnance Survey’s decision not to release its data under a free licence. The database is hosted by the OSMF, a non‑profit organisation founded in 2006 that supports the project but does not control it.
The foundation’s decision to move to the EU is part of a broader trend of open‑data organisations aligning their legal structures with the regulatory environment of the European Union. The AI policy launch reflects growing attention to the ethical and practical implications of machine learning in geospatial data.
The board’s agenda demonstrates a continued focus on community‑driven development, financial sustainability, and responsible technology use. The foundation’s public communication will likely include updates on the fundraising campaign, the status of the CWG revival, and the specifics of the AI policy.
As of the date of the blog post, the foundation has not released detailed timelines for the new job posting or the EU relocation. The board’s next steps will involve drafting policy documents, preparing fundraising materials, and coordinating with TomTom for future collaboration.
The meeting underscores the foundation’s commitment to open data, community participation, and transparent governance. The outcomes of the session will shape the foundation’s strategy for the coming year and influence how the OpenStreetMap community engages with emerging technologies.
