• Open-source leader with 290+ AI modules announces major coordinated initiative
• Transforms organic community innovation into unified product vision with industry backing
• Establishes dedicated AI team drawn from leading agencies to provide coordinated innovation at scale

June 9, 2025 – Portland, Oregon - Drupal today launched the Drupal AI Initiative, a comprehensive effort to democratize intelligent digital experiences for everyone and drive responsible AI innovation. With over 290 AI modules already available and integrations spanning 21 major providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS Bedrock, Azure, and Google Vertex, Drupal, the leading open-source CMS, has built substantial momentum in AI adoption. The new initiative channels this community-driven innovation into a coordinated product vision with dedicated leadership, funding, and strategic direction.

The initiative establishes a dedicated Drupal AI team drawn from top agencies globally, unified by an AI strategy that prioritizes human expertise over technological replacement. While most technology companies build AI systems that replace human decision-making, Drupal's AI approach centers on collaboration—amplifying expertise rather than replacing it.

Drupal already has a head start with our growing ecosystem of AI modules and active community," said Dries Buytaert, Drupal Founder and Project Lead. "What we are doing now is turning that creative energy into a coordinated product vision.”

The Drupal AI Initiative promises to fundamentally change how organizations approach digital experiences. Teams will create engaging, targeted content in days rather than weeks, while AI agents handle routine tasks like performance optimization and audience targeting. Content creators will focus on strategy and creativity as AI manages translation, layout generation, and SEO optimization automatically. The result is faster time-to-market for campaigns, better performance insights, consistent brand voice, and marketing teams freed from manual work to concentrate on strategic innovation.

A Different Philosophy

Most AI solutions force organizations to choose between powerful capabilities and meaningful control. Drupal's strategy is built around four principles:

• AI-Human Partnership: Technology that makes people more capable, not less relevant
• Comprehensive Trust Infrastructure: Advanced governance framework with approval workflows, audit trails, and compliance tools for responsible AI management
• True Freedom of Choice: Use any AI provider without vendor lock-in
• Community-Driven Innovation: Development guided by real-world needs, not corporate roadmaps

"We're not just adding AI features," said Dries Buytaert, Drupal Founder and Project Lead. "We're rethinking what responsible AI leadership looks like. This is about building a foundation that organizations can trust with their most important digital experiences."

Industry Leadership and AI Team

The initiative launches with unprecedented support from leading Drupal agencies worldwide, including founding members FreelyGive, Dropsolid, 1xINTERNET, Salsa Digital, and Acquia. This collaboration represents the equivalent of multiple full-time roles committed to development, with dedicated technical leads, UX designers and project managers.

Jamie Abrahams (FreelyGive), Baddý Breidert (1xINTERNET), Christoph Breidert (1xINTERNET), Dominique De Cooman (Dropsolid), and Kristen Pol (Salsa Digital) lead the initiative, representing the founding member agencies and bringing together diverse expertise in innovation, coordination, development, marketing, and community engagement.

Resources

• Strategy Document: drupal.org/ai/strategy
• Drupal AI Landing Page: drupal.org/ai  
• Dries’s Announces the AI Initiative: drupal.org/ai/announcement 

About Drupal Drupal powers over 500,000 websites worldwide, including NASA, the BBC, and government agencies across six continents. Since 2001, this open-source platform has helped organizations create flexible, secure digital experiences while maintaining complete control over their technology. Recognized as a Digital Public Good, Drupal generates an estimated $3.5 billion annually through its global ecosystem of agencies and service providers.

Media Contact 

Ryan Witcombe (Australia)
Director, Product Marketing, Drupal Association
ryan.witcombe@association.drupal.org
+61 3 431 983 295

Nick Koger (USA)
Manager, Product Marketing, Drupal Association
nick.koger@association.drupal.org
+1 410 868 6425

The future of Drupal is AI-powered. Discover the groundbreaking initiative driving responsible, innovative AI integration to the Drupal ecosystem.

“In such an emergency as we are right now everyone needs to take more responsibility… and use whatever platform they have… to push in the right direction. I think that is our duty as human beings.”

—Greta Thunberg

Humanity’s greatest strength is our willingness to speak out—to oppose injustice, genocide, and hate—even when neutrality feels easier. Choosing silence often means accepting the unacceptable. As individuals and as a global society, we hold a collective duty to defend human dignity. When we embrace our responsibility to speak up, we help shape communities that uphold justice, empathy, and solidarity.

Drupal embodies this principle. Project leadership and contributors have consistently spoken out against racism, oppression, and violence. In 2020, Drupal founder Dries Buytaert affirmed that “Drupal is a force for good in the world,” renewing the project's commitment to justice and equality. The Drupal Association's official statement against racism encouraged the community to not only speak up but also take informed, intentional action. This includes educating ourselves, actively listening, and building inclusive spaces for all.

This isn’t just philosophy—it’s action. The Drupal Diversity & Inclusion initiative amplifies the voices of underrepresented individuals and supports genuine inclusion through mentorships, speaker training, and community-driven support. Contributors across the globe give their time not only to build software but to shape a culture rooted in empathy and fairness. The Drupal community proves that open source isn’t just about code; it’s about creating a world we want to live in.

Drupal also powers websites for humanitarian organisations like Human Rights Watch, UNICEF, and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). These aren’t just technical achievements—they’re acts of alignment with values that matter. Supporting truth, justice, and human rights is built into the very fabric of what we create. Because speaking up isn't about making noise—it's about making a difference.

INTERVIEW

• The Code and Commitment That Carries Drupal: A Conversation with David Bekker
• Building Drupal, Building Community: Avi Schwab Talks

DISCOVER DRUPAL

• Inside Drupal Autotesting: Expert Insights from Aliaksandr Shabanau
• Developer Enables 360° VR Video Playback in Drupal Using A-Frame.js
• Bhumika Madan Launches Smart FAQ Chatbot AI Module for Drupal Using Google Gemini

DRUPAL COMMUNITY

• Drupal Association Announces 2025 At-Large Board Election Candidates: Voting Starts 18 June

EVENTS

• How Drupal Events Like MidCamp 2025 Prioritize Accessibility and Inclusion in Tech Conferences
• DrupalCamp Poland 2025: What to Expect from the June 7 Conference in Warsaw
• Why the London Drupal Engineering Meetup on June 9 Is a Must-Attend for Web Developers in 2025
• DrupalCon Vienna 2025: Selected Session Notifications Sent to Speakers Today
• Splash Awards 2025 to Recognize Top Drupal Projects at DrupalCon Vienna
• Free Drupal AI Webinar Series Backed by Dropsolid, FreelyGive, and EU

ORGANIZATION NEWS

• Drupal Association Pledges June Swag Shop Profits to LGBTQ+ Organization

We acknowledge that there are more stories to share. However, due to selection constraints, we must pause further exploration for now.

To get timely updates, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. You can also join us on Drupal Slack at #thedroptimes.

Thank you,

Sincerely,
Kazima Abbas
Sub-editor, The DropTimes

The Drupal IXP program officially launched a couple of months ago, marking a significant step in our community's effort to build future talent. Modeled after traditional apprenticeship approaches (with the Drupal-y twist of 250 contribution credits,) the program aims to connect newcomers at the beginning of their Drupal journey with organizations willing to hire and mentor them. While the initiative is poised to address a critical talent gap, its launch occurs during a challenging period for the Drupal community, prompting a reflection on the timing and rationale.

A challenge, and an opportunity

The primary challenge is the current landscape where many experienced Drupal developers are suddenly seeking employment. It is not unreasonable to assume that some percentage of these people will find non-Drupal jobs. Combine this potentiality with the fact that the Drupal developer community is getting older and that fewer and fewer new Drupal developers have been joining us suggests a long-term need for new talent. The single goal of the IXP program is to cultivate new Drupal developers so that we can maintain a community hearty enough to carry Drupal Core and Drupal CMS into the future.

Despite the external market conditions, the decision to launch the IXP program now was driven by the significant volunteer effort and organizational support from the Drupal Association. It just didn't make sense to not launch the program with the pending need so great, and while it had momentum. The program has reached a stage where it is ready to provide tangible opportunities for newcomers and benefits for participating organizations.

Advantages for new developers and businesses

The IXP program focuses on individuals with less than three months of paid Drupal experience, specifically targeting that crucial transition point between learning and professional practice to bridge the gap between learning Drupal and securing the first professional role. It serves as a structured pathway and a "safe learning environment" to help new developers navigate this complexity and build their skills under the guidance of experienced mentors. By providing paid experience in real-life use cases with structured mentorship (at least one hour of mentorship for every ten hours worked,) the program directly addresses the difficulty newcomers face in gaining practical experience.

IXP developers are expected to have knowledge about Drupal (either gained on their own or via courses like Drupal Career Online or Professional Module Development) - the program isn't asking hiring organizations to provide basic Drupal knowledge.

For businesses, hiring new Drupal developers through the IXP program presents potential advantages including the fact that they are not entering the workforce with the same level of expertise or salary expectations as seasoned developers. The program allows organizations to shape talent according to their specific practices and needs, representing a strategic investment in future talent. IXPs gain paid work experience and build a portfolio, while organizations benefit from fresh perspectives and enthusiasm.

IXPs can also be a low-cost way for organizations to invest in learning about and leveraging new developments in the Drupal community, including Drupal CMS as well as Drupal AI modules and techniques. Other potential tasks that IXPs can perform for hiring organizations include Drupal core and module updates, Drupal site-building, and quality assurance. These tasks can be foundational for various projects, including those potentially for smaller clients.

Make the choice

Yes, launching the Drupal IXP program now comes at a time with challenges. However, we really can’t afford putting off such a sound solution to address the long-term health of the community by creating structured pathways for new talent. Supported by a dedicated community of volunteers as well as the Drupal Association, we reached a point where launching was the necessary step to start building the future talent pipeline, offering paid experience and mentorship to new developers while rewarding organizations for their investment in the ecosystem.

If you're a hiring organization and want to get involved, start here.

AI was used for the initial outline of this blog post.
 

I'm often asked, Will AI agents replace digital marketers and site builders?. The answer is yes, at least for certain kinds of tasks.

To explore this idea, I prototyped two AI agents to automate marketing tasks on my personal website. They update meta descriptions to improve SEO and optimize tags to improve content discovery.

Watching the AI agents in action is incredible. In the video below, you'll see them effortlessly navigate my Drupal site: logging in, finding posts, and editing content. It's a glimpse into how AI could transform the role of digital marketers.

The experiment

I built two AI agents to help optimize my blog posts. Here is how they work together:

• Agent 1: Content analysis: This agent finds a blog post, reviews its content, and suggests improved summaries and tags to enhance SEO and increase discoverability.
• Agent 2: Applying updates: After manual approval, this agent logs into the site and updates the summary and tags suggested by the first agent.

All of this could be done in one step, or with a single agent, but keeping a 'human-in-the-loop' is good for quality assurance.

This was achieved with just 120 lines of Python code and a few hours of trial and error. As the video demonstrates, the code is approachable for developers with basic programming skills.

The secret ingredient is the browser_use framework, which acts as a bridge between various LLMs and Playwright, a framework for browser automation and testing.

The magic and the reality check

What makes this exciting is the agent's ability to problem-solve. It's almost human-like.

Watching the AI agents operate my site, I noticed they often face the same UX challenges as humans. It likely means that the more we simplify a CMS like Drupal for human users, the more accessible it becomes for AI agents. I find this link between human and AI usability both striking and thought-provoking.

In the first part of the video, the agent was tasked with finding my DrupalCon Lille 2023 keynote. When scrolling through the blog section failed, it adapted by using Google search instead.

In the second part of the video, it navigated Drupal's more complex UI elements, like auto-complete taxonomy fields, though it required one trial-and-error attempt.

The results are incredible, but not flawless. I ran the agents multiple times, and while they performed well most of the time, they aren't reliable enough for production use. However, this field is evolving quickly, and agents like this could become highly reliable within a year or two.

Native agents versus explorer agents

In my mind, agents can be categorized as "explorer agents" or "native agents". I haven't seen these terms used before, so here is how I define them:

• Explorer agents: These agents operate across multiple websites. For example, an agent might use Google to search for a product, compare prices on different sites, and order the cheapest option.
• Native agents: These agents work within a specific site, directly integrating with the CMS to leverage its APIs and built-in features.

The browser_use framework, in my view, is best suited for explorer agents. While it can be applied to a single website, as shown in my demo, it's not the most efficient approach.

Native agents that directly interact with the CMS's APIs should be more effective. Rather than imitating human behavior to "search" for content, the agent could retrieve it directly through a single API call. It could then programmatically propose changes within a CMS-supported content editing workflow, complete with role-based permissions and moderation states

I can also imagine a future where native agents and explorer agents work together (hybrid agents), combining the strengths of both approaches to unlock even greater opportunities.

Next steps

A next step for me is to build a similar solution using Drupal's AI agent capabilities. Drupal's native AI agents should make finding and updating content more efficiently.

Of course, other digital marketing use cases might benefit from explorer agents. I'd be happy to explore these possibilities as well. Let me know if you have ideas.

[newsletter-blog] Conclusions

Building an AI assistant to handle digital marketing tasks is no longer science fiction. It's clear that, soon, AI agents will be working alongside digital marketers and site builders.

These tools are advancing rapidly and are surprisingly easy to create, even though they're not yet perfect. Their potential disruption is both exciting and hard to fully understand.

As Drupal, we need to stay ahead by asking questions like: are we fully imagining the disruption AI could bring? The future is ours to shape, but we need to rise to the challenge.

At DrupalCon Asia in Singapore a few weeks ago, I delivered my traditional State of Drupal keynote. This event marked DrupalCon's return to Asia after an eight-year hiatus, with the last one being DrupalCon Mumbai in 2016.

It was so fun to reconnect with the Drupal community across Asia and feel the passion and enthusiasm for Drupal. The positive energy was so contagious that three weeks later, I still feel inspired by it.

If you missed the keynote, you can watch the video below, or download my slides (196 MB).

I talked about the significant progress we've made on Drupal CMS (code name Drupal Starshot) since DrupalCon Barcelona just a few months ago.

Our vision for Drupal CMS is clear: to set the standard for no-code website building. My updates highlighted how Drupal CMS empowers digital marketers and content creators to design sophisticated digital experiences while preserving Drupal's power and flexibility.

For more background on Drupal CMS, I recommend reading our three-year strategy document. We're about a quarter of the way through, time-wise, and as you'll see from my keynote, we're making very fast progress.

A slide from my recent DrupalCon Singapore State of Drupal keynote showcasing key contributors to Drupal CMS. This slide showcases how we recognize and celebrate Makers in our community, encouraging active participation in the project.

Below are some of the key improvements I showcased in my keynote, highlighted in short video segments. These videos demonstrate just 7 recipes, but we have nearly 20 in development.

Watching these demos, it will become very clear how much time and effort Drupal CMS can save for both beginners and experienced developers. Manually assembling these features would take weeks for a Drupal expert and months for a novice. These recipes pack a wealth of expertise and best practices. What once took a Drupal expert weeks can now be done by a novice in hours.

AI support in Drupal

We're integrating AI agents into Drupal to assist with complex site-building tasks, going far beyond just content creation. Users can choose to have AI complete tasks automatically or provide step-by-step guidance, helping them learn Drupal as they go.

Search

We're including enhanced search functionality that includes autocomplete and faceted search, delivering enterprise-grade functionality out-of-the-box.

Privacy

With increasing global privacy regulations, marketers need robust compliance solutions, yet very few content management systems offer this out-of-the-box. I demonstrated how Drupal CMS will offer a user-centric approach to privacy and consent management, making compliance easier and more effective.

Media management

Our improved media management tools now include features like focal point control and image style presets, enabling editors to handle visual content efficiently while maintaining accessibility standards.

Accessibility tools

Our accessibility tools provide real-time feedback during content creation, helping identify and resolve potential issues that could affect the user experience for visually-impaired visitors.

Analytics

Analytics integration streamlines the setup of Google Analytics and Tag Manager, something that 75% of all marketers use.

Experience Builder

Drupal's new Experience Builder will bring a massive improvement in visual page building. It combines drag-and-drop simplicity with an enterprise-grade component architecture. It looks fantastic, and I'm really excited for it!

Conclusion Drupal CMS has been a catalyst for innovation and collaboration, driving strong growth in organizational credits. Development of Drupal CMS began in 2024, and we expect a significant increase in contributions this year. Credits have tripled from 2019 to 2024, demonstrating our growing success in driving strategic innovation in Drupal.

In addition to our progress on Drupal CMS, the product, we've made real strides in other areas, such as marketing, modernizing Drupal.org, and improving documentation. These are all important parts of the Drupal Starshot initiative.

Overall, I'm incredibly proud of the progress we've made. So much so that we've released our first release candidate at DrupalCon Singapore, which you can try today by following my installation instructions for Drupal CMS.

While we still have a lot of work left, we are on track for the official release on January 15, 2025! To mark the occasion, we're inviting the Drupal community to organize release parties around the world. Whether you want to host your own event or join a party near you, you can find all the details and sign-up links for Drupal CMS release parties. I'll be celebrating from Boston and hope to drop in on other parties via Zoom!

Finally, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to Drupal CMS and DrupalCon Singapore. Your hard work and dedication have made this possible. Thank you!

Avi Schwab, Community Organizer, Drupal Architect, and Technical Product Consultant at ImageX, has spent over a decade shaping not just Drupal projects, but the community that powers them. In this interview with Alka Elizabeth of The DropTimes, Avi opens up about the evolution of Open Y, the real costs of SaaS platforms, the importance of non-code contributions, and how local events like MidCamp keep the Drupal spirit alive. Whether you're a longtime contributor or new to open source, Avi’s reflections offer a grounded, human perspective on what it takes to lead and sustain meaningful work in tech.

Discover how accessible local government websites really are. Learn why digital accessibility is essential for public sector services and inclusive online access – and the main issues that affect their accessibility.

Thinking about upgrading to Drupal... Drupal duncan Thu, 05/06/2025 - 17:29 While Drupal 10 (D10) is supported until mid-late 2026, upgrading to Drupal 11 (D11) is more than a technical change - it’s an opportunity to add value to your website. You should certainly be thinking about planning that upgrade to D11 now and not just for 2026 budgetary purposes. The process can begin today by preparing your Drupal 10 website incrementally…

Join the London Drupal Engineering Meetup on June 9 at 5:30 PM for an evening of practical insights, real build stories, and peer-to-peer advice on Drupal 10/11 — no ticket, no ego, just smart conversation.

DrupalCon isn’t just about attending, it’s about participating.

Open source is more than a licensing model, it’s a culture, a movement, and a global force driving innovation, collaboration, and inclusion. At DrupalCon Vienna 2025, this spirit takes center stage as we gather to celebrate not just Drupal, but the vibrant community and ecosystem that make it thrive.

Why Open Source Matters Now More Than Ever

In a digital world dominated by proprietary platforms and walled gardens, open source empowers organizations to build with freedom, transparency, and long-term sustainability. From local governments to multinational enterprises, Drupal is trusted because of its flexibility, security, and active community.

DrupalCon Vienna 2025 is your opportunity to see how open source continues to shape the future, not just of web development, but of digital transformation at large.

 

 A Global Community, United in Purpose

One of the most powerful aspects of DrupalCon is the people it brings together. Developers, designers, marketers, strategists, and decision-makers from all corners of the world come to Vienna to:

• Share their knowledge and experience
   
• Collaborate on solutions to common challenges
   
• Celebrate their contributions and milestones
   

Expect contributions from leading open source advocates, inspiring stories from underrepresented communities, and honest conversations about the future of Drupal and open technology.

 

The Power Behind the Code

Open source isn’t just about using free software, it’s about building it together. DrupalCon Vienna will spotlight the often unsung heroes behind modules, patches, translations, documentation, and testing. These contributions are the backbone of the Drupal ecosystem.

Through contribution sprints, mentoring sessions, and initiative updates, attendees will get a front-row seat to Drupal’s continuous evolution and learn how to play a part. Whether you’re fixing bugs, writing new features, mentoring newcomers, or documenting, every contribution counts, and DrupalCon is where it all comes together.

 

Cross-Industry Innovation, Open by Design

Drupal’s open architecture enables seamless integration with cutting-edge tools  from CRM platforms and marketing automation to AI personalization and multilingual content workflows.

Sessions at DrupalCon Vienna 2025 will highlight use cases across industries:

• Healthcare: Delivering accessible, privacy-compliant patient portals
   
• Higher Education: Managing complex, decentralized content across departments
   
• Government: Building scalable and secure citizen-focused platforms
   
• Retail & Commerce: Leveraging personalization and automation to boost engagement

Open source means freedom, the freedom to build what your organization truly needs.

 

Voices That Represent the Future

DrupalCon Vienna 2025 will elevate diverse voices from across the community including first-time contributors, veteran maintainers, and those pushing the boundaries of open source for social good.

Sessions will explore:

• Ethical technology development
   
• Inclusive and decentralized collaboration models
   
• Accessibility and sustainability
   
• Non-traditional pathways into open source

Open source thrives when it reflects the diversity of its users, and DrupalCon is a place where every voice can be heard and valued.

 

Talks That Inspire, Inform, and Ignite Change

Whether you’re new to Drupal or a long-time contributor, the session lineup at DrupalCon Vienna offers something for everyone:

• Keynotes from influential voices in open source and digital freedom
   
• Deep dives into real-world implementations of open source at scale
   
• Panels on diversity, accessibility, and responsible technology
   
• Hands-on contribution sprints and Birds of a Feather (BoF) sessions
  
   

Join the Celebration

If you’ve ever built with Drupal, contributed to an open source project, or simply believe in the power of community-built technology DrupalCon Vienna 2025 is where you belong.

This isn’t just a conference. It’s a celebration of shared values, collaboration, and the endless possibilities of open source.

 

By Iwantha Lekamge

Technical Lead
WSO2

We've secured a new developer contract to support LocalGov Drupal, strengthening our ongoing commitment to the project and its community.

Get the full details on DrupalCamp Poland 2025, happening June 7 in Warsaw. Learn what’s planned for this one-day Drupal and PHP conference, including sessions, panels, community events, and how organisers are shaping it for today’s open-source ecosystem.

Why Drupal's Global Community Needs More Than Good Intentions Image Image Article body

I've heard it countless times in Drupal community discussions: "I like that idea," "We need this," "This can really help." The enthusiasm is genuine, but here's what I've learned through my experience with community initiatives. Good intentions without action don't move the needle.

 

When we launched the IXP (Inexperienced developer) Initiative, the response was overwhelming. So many people reached out saying they wanted to help. Then we get busy, life happens, and the follow-through disappears. I've been guilty of this myself. In the end, it was just a few of us (Mike Anello, Ana Laura Coto, myself, and Tim Lehnen from the DA) who did the actual work of defining the program.

 

This pattern isn't unique to the IXP Initiative. It's something I see across our global Drupal community, especially when it comes to regional representation and authentic global participation. For our community to thrive globally, we need systematic change that benefits everyone.

The Numbers Tell a Story

When you look at Drupal.org's certified partners, the geographic concentration tells a story. The gap between regions is massive, with top-tier partners with 30,000+ contribution credits predominantly based in wealthier markets. There are different business models working in different regions. Some companies focus on local markets, while others depend on staff augmentation work for international clients. This dependency relationship means many regional companies may not know about partnership opportunities or can't access them.

 

In my February intervention at the Drupal Association board meeting, I shared some economic realities: minimum salary in countries like Colombia runs $200-300 per month, while in the United States, minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. With 40 weekly working hours, that's approximately $1,160 per month in the US. This total may exceed what many junior developers would make in Latin America. I speak about Latin America because it's what I know, but this economic reality translates to other regions as well.

 

As Tim Doyle noted in the board meeting, the Drupal Association (DA) does have regional pricing adjustments, but this needs to be better publicized so regional communities know these options exist.

From Franchise to Federation Support

I proposed a franchise schema for DrupalCon to the DA back in 2015. I'm glad to see elements of that concept being used now, but there's a fundamental problem: all the risk gets placed on the people interested in organizing a regional DrupalCon.

 

When I explored DrupalCon Latin America returning, I was told to find a fiscal sponsor. This requirement exists because of DA budget constraints - another example of the paradox.

 

This should be an intentional strategy from the Drupal Association or the emerging Federation initiative. During my experience helping organize DrupalCon Bogotá 2015, if we had continued building on that foundation, we'd have established regional DrupalCons by now.

 

The path forward requires building a cadence of regional events. Initially, organizers need well-known international speakers to attract local developers and gain government and business support. Eventually, they could become self-sustaining regional powerhouses. The goal would be genuinely regional conferences: by Latin Americans for Latin Americans, by Africans for Africans, creating local business opportunities and expertise.

 

In Latin America, we have trade show style events (what we call "ferias") - imagine a conference where each company booth potentially generates business revenue where companies pay for their spots and create sustainable business models around the conference itself. I believe DrupalCon should incorporate a well-balanced hybrid approach that includes some of this business-community balance. I also wish DrupalCamps could find this local business connections approach beneficial, especially if we can open the middle and bottom of the pyramid to smaller budget customers.

The Federation Opportunity

During recent community discussions about the Federation initiative, I've emphasized that we're dealing with multiple chicken-and-egg situations. Regional conferences need international speakers for credibility, the Marketplace initiative for accessible business models, the Federation for institutional support, and Drupal CMS for simplified access. Each depends on the others.

 

Here's the paradox: everyone is resource-constrained right now, and these initiatives might not immediately solve everyone's problems. Yet without building this interconnected system, regional communities will remain dependent on wealthier markets indefinitely. We need to build this interconnected ecosystem when resources are scarce, even though skeptical communities don't see immediate benefits. Recent Federation discussions highlighted this when community members raised concerns about representation gaps, including regions like Africa that currently lack formal inclusion.

 

The Federation initiative represents a historic opportunity to move beyond the "we should do this" conversations toward systematic structures that actually enable global participation. Regional DrupalCons need institutional support, not just permission to proceed.

 

Think about what this could look like: DrupalCon Asia, LATAM, and Africa as ongoing initiatives with proper Federation support. Regional certification pathways that make economic sense for local markets. Partnership models that work for companies serving their regional markets.

Beyond Good Intentions

When I participated in recent Federation discussions, I saw genuine enthusiasm for addressing these challenges. People acknowledge the need. The question is whether we're ready to move from recognition to action.

 

I've spent years working on regional community building. From helping organize DrupalCon Bogotá 2015 to participating in the Colombian Drupal Association to implementing the IXP Initiative. Each experience has taught me that community enthusiasm is necessary but not sufficient. You need systematic support, proper incentive alignment, and institutional commitment.

 

I'm committed to contributing to these solutions, not just identifying the problems. The community has the opportunity to shape this transition, but only if we move beyond good intentions. The community has shown it can innovate when we combine good intentions with proper structure and resource commitment. The question is whether we're ready to apply that same approach to global representation and regional development.

 

The Drupal community has always been about building together. Now we need to make sure "together" actually includes everyone, not just those who already have the resources to participate on terms designed for the wealthiest markets. That's going to take more than good intentions. It's going to take intentional action. Join the Federation Working Group discussions. Advocate for regional representation. Help turn good intentions into systematic change.

Subject of Beyond Makers and Takers: Being a Faker in Open Source Running for the Drupal Association Board Again Because the Work Isn't Finished About Community First, Business Second, Build Everything with Drupal IXP Graduates from Initiative to Program: Companies Can Start Using It Now! Rebuilding Drupal's Ecosystem Pyramid: A Path to Sustainable Growth The Future of Drupal: Overcoming Challenges with Community Initiatives Author Carlos Ospina Abstract Community enthusiasm without systematic support fails to enable authentic global participation. The Federation initiative represents a historic opportunity to move beyond good intentions toward structures that actually enable regional representation and sustainable development in Drupal's global ecosystem. Tags drupal Drupal Planet community drupalcon global-representation international-federation drupal-association-board community-development drupal-leadership latin-america-drupal ixp-initiative federation-initiative regional-conferences Rating Select ratingGive Why Drupal's Global Community Needs More Than Good Intentions 1/5Give Why Drupal's Global Community Needs More Than Good Intentions 2/5Give Why Drupal's Global Community Needs More Than Good Intentions 3/5Give Why Drupal's Global Community Needs More Than Good Intentions 4/5Give Why Drupal's Global Community Needs More Than Good Intentions 5/5Cancel rating No votes yet Leave this field blank Add new comment

Who are you? (biography/background)

In 2009, I co-founded Zoocha, which has grown to become a global digital agency specialising in Drupal and working with clients including United Nations, University of Cambridge, Alzheimer’s Society and British Tourist Authority. With a team of over 90 incredible people, Zoocha is headquartered in the UK and has offices in Spain and Brazil.

Prior to Zoocha, I worked in digital product management and digital marketing, specialising in e-commerce.

I have been involved in the Drupal community for about 15 years and have been a regular speaker at Drupal events internationally. I have been a session reviewer for DrupalCons in Europe and North America for the last 5 years, more recently leading the Agency & Business track for DrupalCon Europe. I also lead the Drupal Swag Shop Working Group, am a director of Drupal England & Wales and DrupalCamp England and am active in the Network of European Drupal Agencies (NEDA), an initiative that is now collaborating with the DA on the plans for a ‘Drupal International Federation’.

I live in Cambridge (UK) with my wife, Anabel and our dog, Daisy. In my spare time, I play tennis and bridge.

https://www.drupal.org/u/zoocha-will

Why are you running for a board seat at the Drupal Association? (mission/motivation)

Growing the ‘Maker’ Community:
A significant contributor to Drupal’s success is the symbiotic relationship it has with digital agencies, and the Drupal Certified Partner (DCP) framework is a powerful enabler for future growth and success. With the launch of Drupal CMS and the initiative to scope a ‘marketplace’ platform, the maker community poised to enter a new era of growth and diversity. I am motivated by the desire to help answer 2 important questions:

1. How can we extend the reach of the Drupal brand and proposition to drive growth for DCP’s and generate sustainable revenues for Drupal?
2. What needs to happen to ensure ‘commercialization’ of Drupal does not negatively affect the community or the quality of the product?

Improving Transparency:
I count myself among the most passionate Drupal evangelists and believe the Drupal community to be a healthy, diverse and inclusive one. As the community grows and the governance of Drupal evolves, there will be new challenges to overcome and I am motivated by helping to overcome them. The challenges include:

• How can we improve collaboration and transparency of decision making as responsibilities are increasingly split between paid team members at the DA and community volunteers?
• Sharing the workload fairly. This is from two perspective:
  • not over burdening a small group of highly committed community members
  • not concentrating decision making and control in the hands of a few

Why should members vote for you? (qualifications)

The qualifications I want to highlight are centred around my industry and community insights. My experience in both client side (end user) and agency side roles gives me a rounded perspective of the CMS market, how it is navigated by buyers and how it is sold by agencies. Furthermore, with the UK (and Europe more widely) a significant market for Drupal, with strong growth prospects, I feel that representation on the board is important.

I also bring a community perspective, not only as one of the leaders of the Drupal community in England, but also through my leadership of teams in Spain and Brazil who are increasingly participating in their local Drupal communities.

File attachments:  willhuggins.jpg

Who are you? (biography/background)

My name is Vladimir Roudakov. I'm from Brisbane, Australia, which has been home for over two decades. I'm a teacher, business owner, and software engineer.

I've been a strong advocate for open source for more than a decade, and I'm a co-organiser for local industry events like the WordPress meetup, Drupal code sprints, and DrupalSouth conferences. I'm an active contributor to Drupal's code, documentation, and community-building initiatives. You can see a list of my contributions on my  profile: https://www.drupal.org/u/vladimiraus.

I've also been working with local colleges to introduce the new generation to Drupal development and open source, leveraging the latest trends such as generative intelligence. I have a few insights on how we can better support open source newcomers.

I'm actively involved in other open source communities including Linux Australia, Gitlab, and WordPress, and I'm keen to share their ideas and approaches with the Drupal community.

Why are you running for a board seat at the Drupal Association? (mission/motivation)

My main motivation for running is to improve Drupal's educational impact and documentation. I'd love to have more resources at my disposal to bridge the gap between Drupal and academia, and I believe a board seat would provide the necessary access to those resources. This means building stronger awareness of the Drupal platform and its potential applications in educational settings, and of course, continuously improving Drupal's help resources.

Specifically, I'm passionate about:

• Promoting Drupal as the technology of choice in academia: I've seen firsthand, as a teacher, the challenges and opportunities of bringing Drupal into colleges and universities. I want to make it easier for students and educators to get started and continue with Drupal.

• Improving Drupal help and learning material: New students and teachers often struggle to find up-to-date Drupal tutorials, which is a major hurdle. I'm keen to tackle this head-on.

• Researching how to improve documentation for generative intelligence tools: With  AI tools becoming more prevalent, we need to ensure Drupal documentation is not only compatible but also leveraged effectively to stay current and helpful.

Why should members vote for you? (qualifications)

I'm actively working on the above initiatives. Here's why I reckon members should vote for me:

• Hands-on experience with documentation and education: I'm co-organising regular documentation and help sprints where teams are actively working to improve user guides, developer tutorials, and API documentation. I'm also working closely with local colleges to identify and address challenges in Drupal adoption within the academic environment.

• Cross-community insights: Being an active contributor to other open-source communities like Gitlab and WordPress has given me a fresh perspective on different approaches to community building and contributor recognition. As a Gitlab Hero, I've seen various initiatives to recognise contributors, including special events and MVP announcements. I'm eager to explore how we can apply similar successful strategies to the Drupal community.

• Understanding Drupal user needs: As an IT teacher, I get direct feedback from both teachers and students on what works and what doesn't when using Drupal and other CMS platforms. I use this insight to identify gaps in documentation and training materials, which I then work to improve.

• Commitment to the community: I've been contributing to Drupal.org for many years as both developer, teacher and organiser, curating regular training sessions, local meetups, and code sprints.

File attachments:  VladimirRoudakov.jpg

Who are you? (biography/background)

Maya Schaeffer

Why are you running for a board seat at the Drupal Association? (mission/motivation)

I’m running for a seat on the board because I believe the Drupal community is in a powerful moment of transition—and opportunity. My mission is to contribute to a more inclusive and outward-facing Drupal ecosystem, where marketing, design, communications, and non-technical contributors feel a stronger sense of belonging.

As lead organizer of EvolveDrupal, I’ve helped rebuild the in-person side of the community post-pandemic, connecting over 1,000 attendees (40% from outside the traditional Drupal space) across eight events in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Atlanta, NYC, and Boston (upcoming June 2025). These summits have demonstrated the demand for cross-functional community spaces that showcase Drupal’s relevance across sectors.

I also want to actively contribute to the Promote Drupal initiative and help shape a Drupal Association that prioritizes clear storytelling, accessible entry points, and a strong pipeline for the next generation of users and contributors.

Why should members vote for you? (qualifications)

While I am relatively new to the Drupal community, I believe that’s part of the strength I bring. I offer a fresh, user-focused perspective—one that reflects the experience of many organizations and individuals just beginning their Drupal journey. And in practice, I’ve worked closely with longtime community leaders to make this perspective actionable.

• I’ve collaborated with Suzanne Dergacheva, a former DA board member and co-founder of Evolving Web, as well as partnered on community initiatives with Lynne Capozzi, Mike Herschel, and Nikhil Deshpande, among others.

• I serve as the lead organizer of EvolveDrupal, a summit series supported by Pantheon, Acquia, and the Drupal Association, designed to grow Drupal’s visibility and invite new contributors into the fold.

• At Evolving Web, a Drupal Certified Partner (Diamond Tier), I’ve represented the community at major industry events like Digital Collegium, while contributing to the broader mission of advancing multilingual, accessible, and open-source digital experiences.

If elected, I will bring community energy, strategic event leadership, and a deep commitment to building bridges—between disciplines, regions, and generations.

File attachments:  mayaheadshot.jpeg

Who are you? (biography/background)

Matt Glaman @mglaman

Mission/motivation 

My mission for joining the Drupal Association Board is to catalyze the growth and sustainability of the ecosystem by championing initiatives that empower open-source developers to build viable businesses, thereby ensuring Drupal's continued innovation and market relevance. A key, transformative driver for this is the successful implementation of a marketplace for Drupal site templates, as recently explored by Dries. This aligns perfectly with my long-held conviction that strong financial models for contributors are beneficial and essential for Drupal's future.

My motivation stems from a deep conviction that a robust financial model for contributors is critical for Drupal's future. This marketplace concept offers a powerful solution by:

• Generating sustainable revenue for open-source developers: This addresses the long-standing challenge of funding open-source work, providing a clear path for developers to be compensated for their valuable contributions.
• Attracting and retaining talent: When developers can build sustainable businesses around Drupal, the platform becomes a far more attractive choice for new and existing talent, fostering a vibrant and innovative community.

Qualifications/why

My 12 years of experience with Drupal, including six dedicated to Drupal Commerce and building a business directly funded by open-source development, gives me a unique perspective on the intersection of open source and commercial viability. I've personally experienced the challenges and opportunities in this space. Furthermore, my own exploration into solving open-source funding through gated releases, as documented on my blog, demonstrates my commitment to finding innovative solutions for the sustainability of our community.

I am eager to bring my practical experience and passionate advocacy for developer empowerment to the Drupal Association Board, working collaboratively to make the marketplace a reality and secure a prosperous future for Drupal.

Matthew Saunders

Drupal.org username: MatthewS

Introduction

I’m Matthew Saunders, a technologist, storyteller, and Drupal evangelist. I’ve been a part of the Drupal community since 2006, attending my first DrupalCon in 2007. Atlanta 2025 was my 26th. I’m a former Board Member of the Drupal Association, Chair of Drupal Colorado, and a founder of Drupalcamp Colorado — the longest-running DrupalCamp in North America. My leadership spans community governance, digital strategy, and accessible technology, with a growing focus on AI and neurodiversity advocacy.

Vision and Impact

I’ve led significant work in the AI space through my role as AI Ambassador for amazee.io. I’ve been building demos, writing policy, and evangelizing data-sovereign, enterprise-grade AI tools for Drupal. I’m also organizing the first Drupal AI hackathon at Drupal GovCon and leading sessions at multiple camps to make AI practical and approachable for site builders.

Parallel to this, I’ve continued my public advocacy for neurodiverse inclusion in tech. My session “The Neurodivergency Superpower: How Diverse Teams Function Better” has been featured at DrupalCon and regional camps. I’ve created a YouTube series (“My Neurodivergent Brain”) and lead Pfizer’s internal podcast on neurodiversity, offering a lived-experience lens to build inclusive cultures in open-source.

Community Contributions

• Co-founder and Chair of Drupalcamp Colorado (2007–present)
• Volunteer for Drupal GovCon 2025
• Founding member, Drupal Event Organizers Working Group (2019-2024)
• Spoken at over 30 world-wide events including 10 Drupalcons and numerous camps
• Former Director, Drupal Association Board (2013–2016)
• Organizer of the first DrupalAI Hackathon (2025, Drupal GovCon)
• Admin, Drupal Facebook group
• CoC contact 
• Contributor to community health initiatives

Current Roles

I currently work for amazee.io as their AI Ambassador on the Product Team. I’m Chair of Drupal Colorado. I’m a volunteer with Drupal GovCon. I’m an advisor to the Bluefly Collective. I’m a maintainer for 8 projects. You can see my LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmsaunders/ 

Why I’m Running Again

Drupal is at an inflection point. With the rapid adoption of AI and an urgent need for inclusive governance, the Drupal Association Board needs leaders with both technical insight and a strong community ethos. I bring both. I want to help shape our strategy around emerging technologies while reinforcing Drupal’s values of openness, accessibility, and shared growth.

Why Vote for Me?

I bring depth and breadth, from technical leadership to community-building, from nonprofit governance to enterprise-scale Drupal strategy. I’ve worked across agencies, startups, global corporations, and grassroots orgs. I’ve served on nonprofit boards, built digital teams, and shown up consistently for the Drupal community for nearly two decades. If elected, I’ll continue to be a connector, a challenger, and a champion for both innovation and inclusion.

File attachments:  MatthewSaunders.jpeg

Who are you? (biography/background)

I am Carlos Ospina,

I've been working with Drupal for over a decade, spending nearly ten years as a Technical Account Manager at Acquia where I helped organizations solve complex implementation challenges.

Drupal.org username: camoa

Why are you running for a board seat at the Drupal Association? (mission/motivation)

I'm running because I believe Drupal needs board leadership that understands how to build sustainable communities globally, especially in regions that haven't had representation before.

I've spent years working within the Drupal community in both Latin America and the United States. I helped organize DrupalCon Latin America back in 2015, and honestly, I want to bring more opportunities like that to LATAM and other regions that get overlooked.

The thing I'm most proud of is co-creating the IXP Initiative. We saw this fundamental problem - new developers couldn't get hired without experience, but couldn't get experience without being hired. So we built something to fix it. Working with other community members and the Drupal Association, we turned this idea into a real program. Now we have companies actually participating, offering structured pathways for new developers, and getting 250 contribution credits for each successful engagement.

What drives me is seeing how regional economic differences create both challenges and huge opportunities for Drupal. At the recent board meeting, I brought up how a $1,000 partnership fee that works in the US becomes impossible in countries where monthly minimum wage is $200-300. These aren't just numbers - they represent talented developers who want to contribute but need different pathways.

I also understand we need a sustainable Drupal Association that balances community needs with business realities. For example, when I proposed bringing back DrupalCon Latin America, I suggested adapting the fair-style event model common in our region - where organizations pay for exhibition spots and actively invite end users, creating genuine business opportunities alongside community building.

I've been writing about ways to help make contribution more economically sustainable. I have some ideas about how Drupal.org could better connect businesses with service providers and how we might adapt programs to work better across different economic regions.

Why should members vote for you? (qualifications)

I've learned through my TAM experience that sustainable growth happens when you understand these realities and build systems that work across different contexts. The IXP Initiative proves we can create programs that strengthen the entire ecosystem while addressing real problems people face.

My qualifications include:

- Nearly a decade as Technical Account Manager at Acquia

- Co-creator and leader of the IXP Initiative (now a functional DA program)

- Community organizer (DrupalCon Latin America 2015, ongoing LATAM community work)

- Active contributor across multiple community initiatives

My focus as a board member would be supporting community development globally, expanding talent pipeline programs like IXP, and ensuring board decisions balance community sustainability with business needs. I want to help build the infrastructure that lets communities everywhere contribute and grow while keeping the association financially sustainable.