The Free Software Foundation (FSF) Has Un-cancelled the Best People, Just in Time for the Big 4-0

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Sep 23, 2025,
updated Sep 23, 2025

(Anniversary 11 days from now)

This... just in:

FSF confirms Alexandre Oliva to board of directors
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA - Monday, September 22, 2025 - The Free Software Foundation (FSF) today announced the addition of Alexandre Oliva to its board of directors after a three month trial period.
After eighty-three nominations, ten candidates in forum discussions with FSF associate members, months of conversations between current board members and all candidates, and a review of all sitting board members, the confirmation of Oliva after his three month trial period now concludes the FSF's first board process as initiated in 2021.

"We look forward to having Oliva fully on board," says FSF president Geoffrey Knauth, "Alex's commitment to free software principles and his vast knowledge of today's challenges in the community are highly valuable."

A longtime free software activist and founder of FSF Latin America, Oliva brings decades of experience in the free software movement to the FSF board. He is chief developer of the GNU Linux-libre project, a version of the kernel Linux that removes all nonfree bits from the kernel's source code, enabling users around the world to run fully free versions of the GNU/Linux operating system. For his deep commitment and tireless work in free software, Oliva received the 2016 Advancement of Free Software award given annually by the FSF.

Nine directors currently serve on the FSF's board of directors, a substantial increase from before the board initiated this new process in 2021.

Knauth added: "Since 2021, we added five board members, of which one is a staff union position and the other four are highly qualified community activists. We want to thank all people who nominated, reviewed, and discussed the candidates and helped us achieve such a great result."

As an associate has put it, "congratulations!"

Mr. Oliva should have been there all along (since 2019). Things changed (the narrative). █

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