Léonie Watson nomination statement

English translation.

I am Director of TetraLogical, a specialist company helping organisations become self-sustaining in their approach to accessibility.

I believe the web is better and stronger when we work together, and that the W3C is better and stronger when we work together; if I am re-elected to the Advisory Board (AB) I will continue to champion this philosophy at every level.

I joined the Protocols and Formats Working Group (WG) (now called the Accessible Platform Architectures WG) in 2010, as a self-funded Invited Expert. I was then responsible for Nomensa joining the W3C and was their Advisory Committee (AC) representative until 2013. I was AC representative for The Paciello Group between 2013 and 2018, and was first elected to the AB in 2016.

I participate in several groups including the Accessible Platform Architectures WG, and the Accessibility Guidelines WG, making sure that the needs of TetraLogical's customers are given a fair hearing in the development of standards that affect their work and life.

I have been Co-Chair of the Web Platform WG since 2015, and I am now co-chair of the Web Applications WG, where I make sure that all participants are given that same opportunity. I also co-chair the Inclusion and Diversity Community Group, helping the W3C strengthen its culture by encouraging greater diversity.

In the last 12 months I have begun several activities that will help us all work better together at W3C, including:

• I proposed and ran an experiment, using Microsoft Translator to provide real-time translation during the AB meeting in Tokyo 2018. The goal is to find a way to make W3C meetings easier for people who speak different languages. The next step is to run a bigger experiment.
• I carried out a review of the W3C Horizontal Review (HR) process, to find out what is working, what isn't working, and what needs to change. The recommendations from this review were presented at the AC meeting in Quebec City 2019. The next step is to look at HR in the context of the proposed Evergreen Standard.

I believe in the spirit and values of the W3C, but I also recognise that the W3C must evolve if it is to remain relevant. If I am re-elected to the AB I will continue these activities, and will also:

• Represent the interests of the many small and medium size organisations participating at the W3C.
• Encourage even greater inclusion and equality across the W3C.
• Bring perspectives from the people and organisations that use W3C standards every day.
• Continue to help make the W3C Process lighter, easier, and more agile.
• Help the W3C adopt a more relevant and modern work mode.

If you have any questions, please write to me at lw@tetralogical.com, or find me on WhatsApp or WeChat at +44.7921168551.