Nominator Syeda Sanjida Afrin: “Mumtahina has consistently explored and embraced opportunities for non-coders to contribute to WordPress. She is an active contributor to the Polyglots, Training, Marketing, and Documentation teams and most notably served as the Documentation Team Lead for WordPress 6.7. Beyond WordPress teams, her journey from a volunteer at WordCamp Kolkata 2022 to an organizer for WordCamp Asia 2025 is truly inspiring. She actively spreads awareness about WordPress contributions through meetups, mentoring, and community engagement, supporting college-based WordPress communities across various districts. Concerned about the lack of female participation in WordPress, she organized an impactful online meetup to inspire new female contributors and highlight the achievements of Bangladeshi women in upcoming WordCamps. More such initiatives are already in her pipeline. Despite balancing her 9-to-5 job and new motherhood, she remains dedicated to increasing female involvement in WordPress contributions. The Yoast Care Fund is designed to support individuals who make a difference, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving than Mumtahina Faguni. I wholeheartedly believe that with this support, she will inspire even more individuals and make an even greater impact.”

Let’s get to know Mumtahina Faguni

Those are some lovely words by Syeda Sanjida. Let’s get to know Mumtahina a bit better and ask her some questions about her work and passion for WordPress:

Hi, Mumtahina! Can you tell us about what you do in the WordPress space?

I do what I love—exploring various ways to contribute to the Make WordPress community. In my free time, I contribute to translations, documentation, the WordPress photo directory, and test tickets within my expertise. I also actively participate in local meetups and WordCamps, which bring me immense joy. WordCamps, in particular, are my happy place—I try to attend them whenever possible, meeting amazing people, learning from the community, and making lifelong connections.

What’s one WordPress-related goal you have for this year?

Thanks for asking this interesting question! I do have a WordPress-related goal this year: to get school and college students involved in WordPress contributions. I always say that if I had known about the WordPress community during my college days, I would have fallen in love with it earlier and started contributing more. In my country, volunteering is common, but awareness of international communities like WordPress is limited. So, I want to raise awareness among young people about the beauty of contributing. Additionally, I aim to attend more WordCamps within my budget.

What advice would you give to someone just starting with WordPress?

This question is special to me because I share it with every newcomer I meet. You don’t need to know coding to start with WordPress—there are plenty of non-coding ways to get involved! For example, you can contribute by translating WordPress strings into your local language or writing blogs. If you love writing, you can start managing your own blog. Blogging doesn’t have to mean writing 2,000+ words—you can begin with any word limit that feels comfortable. And if you’re interested in contributing but unsure where to start, join the meetings in the Make WordPress Slack channel. It’s a great way to discover where you belong!

What’s your favorite WordPress memory or something you’re most proud of?

Wow! As I read this question, so many special memories come rushing back—it’s tough to pick just one. Maybe I’ll end up mentioning two! I always try to inspire people around me to contribute to WordPress and other volunteer platforms. After my talk at WordCamp Sylhet 2024, a college student approached me and said, ‘Thank you for your talk, it inspired me a lot. I’ve been thinking the same—can you guide me in starting a club at my college to get more people into volunteer contributions?’ That moment lit up my mind and made me realize that I am truly able to spread my message. Hopefully, that brilliant mind will go on to inspire many others. Another proud moment was being invited by Topher to write about my WordPress journey for HeroPress. I’ve always found inspiration in the essays there, and knowing that my story could motivate others felt incredibly rewarding. HeroPress welcomes stories from everyone, proving that every journey has the power to inspire. I should stop here—or the list will go on!

Where can people connect with you-whether online, at WordCamps, or other meetups?

If you are from Bangladesh, you may see me at various local meetups and WordCamps. And if we are apart, you can find me on the Make WordPress Slack channel as @Mumtahina Faguni, on LinkedIn, on my WordPress.org profile, and on X.

Thank you for this interview, Mumtahina, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Mumtahina Faguni who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

The post Mumtahina Faguni receives the Yoast Care fund for her contribution to the WordPress community appeared first on Yoast.

Nominator Prashant Baldha: “Alkesh has been actively contributing to WordPress for nearly a decade. As a dedicated member of the community, he co-organizes the WordPress Surat meetup and was a speaker at WordCamp Vadodara 2019. His contributions span various areas of the WordPress ecosystem, earning him multiple badges on his WordPress.org profile, including Core Contributor, Meetup Organizer, Meta Contributor, Plugin Developer, Themes Team, Translation Contributor, and WordCamp Speaker.”

Let’s get to know Alkesh Miyani

Those are some lovely words by Prashant. Let’s get to know Alkesh a bit better and ask him some questions about his work and passion for WordPress:

Hi, Alkesh! What do you do in the WordPress space?

I am a WordPress developer, a plugin and theme creator, and the founder of Techeshta, a digital agency focusing on WordPress web design and development. Since 2012, I’ve created and maintained over 50 plugins and 30 themes, which are listed on platforms like WordPress.org. My contributions extend to sharing knowledge as a speaker at WordCamps and local meetups. You can find more about my work and contributions on my WordPress profile.

How did you first discover WordPress, and why did you start contributing?

I first discovered WordPress while exploring different web development platforms, and I was immediately impressed by its flexibility and the thriving community around it. I started contributing to the WordPress space because I saw an opportunity to share my skills and experiences, especially after moving from freelance work to building my own agency. I believe in the open-source nature of WordPress, and contributing through plugins, themes, and knowledge sharing has always felt like a natural way to give back to the platform that has helped me grow.

What excites you most about WordPress?

What excites me most is the endless possibilities within the WordPress ecosystem. It’s an open-source platform that empowers anyone, from beginners to experts, to create amazing websites and digital solutions. The WordPress community is incredibly diverse and always eager to collaborate, whether through development, design, or support. I’m also really excited about the innovation happening with new features like the Block Editor and Full Site Editing, which are transforming the way we build sites.

Could you share a standout WordPress moment with us?

One of my most memorable experiences was presenting “7 Lessons Learned While Creating WP Plugins” at WordCamp Vadodara in 2019. It was incredibly rewarding to share insights on plugin development, including both successes and challenges, with fellow WordPress enthusiasts. I always value the opportunity to give back to the community and help others on their WordPress journey. You can read more about the session on this blog.

What’s one WordPress-related goal you have for this year?

This year, I’m focusing on developing a series of tools to improve the WordPress development experience. My goal is to create plugins that help streamline development workflows and enhance site performance. I’m also aiming to contribute more to the core of WordPress, particularly around performance optimization and better developer tools.

Where may people find you? Online, WordCamps, other meetups?

You can connect with me online through my site, where I share insights and updates about WordPress development. I’m also active on LinkedIn, where I engage with the WordPress community. Additionally, I regularly attend and speak at WordCamps and local meetups, including WordCamps in cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mumbai, and more. I’d love to meet fellow WordPress enthusiasts at these events or online, so feel free to reach out if you’re attending a WordCamp or meetup near you.

Thank you for this interview, Alkesh, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Alkesh Miyani who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Stefano Cassone: “I am very pleased to nominate my friend Dennis Ploetner for his contributions to the WordPress community, both in Italy and internationally. Simply listing everything he has done—and continues to do—for WordPress is amazing. Dennis has been a lead organizer for WordCamp Milan in 2018 and 2019, as well as an organizer of several other WordCamps and WordPress events, the most recent of which was Core Days, where he did a fantastic job organizing the speaker program. Additionally, he organizes the Milan WordPress Meetup and has spoken at several WordCamps. Last but not least, he is an active WordCamp mentor and a program supporter for the Community team.”

Let’s get to know Dennis Ploetner

Those are some lovely words by Stefano. Let’s get to know Dennis a bit better and ask him some questions about his work and passion for WordPress:

Hi, Dennis! First of all, what do you do?

I’m a developer and a German living in Italy. I contribute to open-source projects and am a big fan of WordPress. I work at Syde, where I help development teams build and maintain high-quality WordPress solutions. I also enjoy maintaining several WordPress plugins, contributing to the WordPress ecosystem, and mentoring at community events like WordCamps.

How do you know about WordPress? 

I first learned about WordPress many years ago when I was looking for a flexible content management system (CMS) for multilingual websites. Over time, I became more and more involved—first as a user, then as a plugin developer, and eventually as a contributor to the open-source project and an active member of the community.

Why do you think you got nominated?

I believe my community work played a role in this nomination. Over the past year, I’ve been particularly involved in the preparation and organization of Core Days in Rome. It seems my efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, which makes me quite proud.

Why WordPress?

WordPress is open-source, flexible, and supported by an incredible community. Unlike closed systems, it allows developers to build, extend, and innovate freely. The idea that anyone can contribute and help shape the platform’s future aligns with my values.

Why did you start contributing? Could you share your first contribution with us?

I started contributing because I needed functionality that existed but wasn’t freely available. In 2011, WordPress 3 introduced multisite to the core, which led me to release the Multisite Language Switcher. This plugin simplifies managing multilingual content in WordPress multisite environments. Since then, I’ve continued improving the plugin while also contributing in other ways.

What does WordPress look like in your perfect world?

A truly multilingual core, better support for complex multisite setups, and a streamlined developer experience—these are key goals for WordPress. It should remain as open and community-driven as possible, with continuous improvements in performance, accessibility, and collaboration.

What contribution or moment are you most proud of?

Maintaining the Multisite Language Switcher for over a decade has been a significant achievement. I’m also proud of organizing and mentoring at WordCamps and Meetups. One challenge that constantly pushes me out of my comfort zone is public speaking—sharing my knowledge and passion at events has been both rewarding and transformative.

What would you love to do in the future?

I want to continue advocating for multilingual improvements in WordPress core, mentoring more contributors, and developing innovative solutions for complex WordPress environments. I also enjoy sharing my knowledge at events and helping others navigate the open-source ecosystem.

Where may people find you? Online, WordCamps, other meetups?

You can find me online at ploetner.io and on GitHub (lloc). I also attend WordCamps across Europe, local meetups, and occasionally speak at events. If you see me at a WordCamp, feel free to say hi!

Thank you for this interview, Dennis, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Dennis Ploetner who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Mukesh Panchal: “Pravin is an incredibly dedicated and consistent contributor to the WordPress community. He has attended more than 20+ WordCamps around the globe. His work across various teams, including Core, Polyglots, and Community, highlights his passion and technical expertise. As a Gujarati GTE, Pravin has made significant contributions to improving WordPress translations for the Gujarati language, ensuring accessibility for a broader audience. I’m confident that Pravin will continue to make impactful contributions to WordPress, further strengthening one of the best open-source communities for years to come.”

Let’s get to know Pravin Parmar

Those are some lovely words by Mukesh. Let’s get to know Pravin a bit better and ask him some questions about his work and passion for WordPress:

Hi, Pravin! First of all, What do you do?

Hello! I’m Pravin Parmar, a passionate WordPress enthusiast with over 8 years of experience in crafting dynamic, user-centric web solutions. I specialize in delivering exceptional digital experiences tailored to diverse clients’ unique needs, ranging from startups to well-established enterprises.

Throughout my career, I’ve collaborated with clients across multiple industries, including education, healthcare, e-commerce, real estate, and more. By understanding their specific goals and challenges, I have provided tailored solutions that drive measurable results, enhance brand presence, and streamline business operations.

How do you know about WordPress? 

One of the most memorable days in my journey with WordPress was during my final year of computer engineering. I was preparing my final year project, which I initially planned to build as a Core PHP e-commerce solution. At that time, I discussed my project idea with my cousin, Chetan Prajapati, who had significant experience in web development.

Chetan suggested an alternative approach and introduced me to WordPress. He said, “Let’s see what we can do with this platform.” He then set up a WordPress website, installed WooCommerce, and, within minutes, demonstrated how easily a functional e-commerce store could be created. I was stunned by the simplicity and efficiency of WordPress.

With Chetan’s guidance, I decided to pivot my project and build it using WordPress instead of Core PHP. Over the next few weeks, I dove deep into learning the platform, customizing themes, and extending functionalities to create a robust e-commerce solution. When I submitted my final project to college, it was well-received and sparked my interest in exploring the endless possibilities with WordPress.

Since that day, I’ve been a passionate WordPress enthusiast, continually amazed by its flexibility, community, and potential to create impactful web solutions. That project marked the beginning of my journey, and today, WordPress is at the heart of everything I do as a web developer.

Why did you start contributing? Could you share your first contribution with us?

I’ve always been passionate about building connections and interacting with like-minded individuals. The WordPress community stood out as an incredible collaboration, learning, and networking space through Meetups and WordCamps.

My first contribution to the WordPress community was volunteering for WordCamp Ahmedabad 2017. Being part of the volunteer team for this event was a truly enriching experience. It allowed me to contribute to the success of a major community event to meet amazing people, share knowledge, and deepen my appreciation for the open-source ethos that WordPress represents.

Since then, I’ve been committed to contributing to the community in various capacities, from organizing events to supporting initiatives that strengthen the WordPress ecosystem.

What contribution or moment are you most proud of?

One of my most proud moments was volunteering at WordCamp Europe 2018. At 22, I took the bold step of self-funding my trip for my first international journey. This life-changing experience allowed me to immerse myself in the global WordPress community, meeting fellow enthusiasts, contributors, and professionals worldwide.

Being part of such a prestigious event expanded my network and deepened my passion for WordPress. The connections I made and the knowledge I gained during WordCamp Europe continue to inspire and motivate me in my journey within the community. It remains one of the most memorable milestones of my life.

Where may people find you? Online, WordCamps, other meetups?

I actively engage with the WordPress Ahmedabad Community, where I regularly attend local meetups and participate in WordCamp events. I also attend WordCamps, locally and internationally, to stay connected with the WordPress ecosystem. 

Most recently, I will attend and volunteer at WordCamp Asia 2025 in Manila, Philippines. It’s an exciting opportunity to meet and collaborate with WordPress enthusiasts and professionals from across the globe. 

You can always find me at Ahmedabad WordPress Meetup, and you can reach out to me on Linkedin, X, or my website.

Thank you for this interview, Pravin, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Pravin Parmar who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Dennis Ploetner: “Tammie accepted right away to participate as a speaker at Rome Core Days. She has been active in the WordPress Community since 2006. She was co-leading the design lead, the first phase of the Gutenberg release, and the WordPress block editing experience. Tammie has also led projects within theme experience around WordPress.”

Let’s get to know Tammie Lister

That’s quite an introduction, Dennis. We would love to get to know Tammie even better. That’s why we asked her some questions about her work and her passion for WordPress:

Hi, Tammie Lister! What do you do?

I contribute to WordPress and work across full-stack products. My work focuses on building WordPress products and collaborating with or designing existing products. I can be found consulting, designing and developing, and I also love a good roadmap.

Why WordPress?

I came to Open Source before I came to WordPress. My initial answer to this significantly differed from my one today. It was initially because I was tormenting my code, trying to stick together a blog.

Time has changed, and WordPress is my Lego kit of options, with which I can build as little or as much. My why is because I have grown with the project, the possibilities to make today, and the products created here.

What did you work on?

I have been lucky enough to work across most project areas. These included being part of the theme review team, design team, and core. I recently worked on default theme triage and the past default themes.

As a core committer and contributor, I have contributed to triage, participated in releases, and become a component maintainer. A little while ago, I was the design lead for releasing phase one of Gutenberg. Aside from product making, I also had the privilege of co-organizing WCEU and a few local WordCamps.

What contribution or moment are you most proud of?

My first answer is that I am proud to be part of the project. It is profound to say I was part of something that is shipped and used by many as a product maker.

The most significant impact was the first default theme release I co-led, Twenty Sixteen, in 2015. As a theme creator, I remember that moment, which stays with me today.

From a project perspective, it was being part of Gutenberg, and that was when I was proud of so many people more than myself. Being proud of those collaborating and proud as someone leading work is a gift I consider valuable and grateful.

What would you love to do in the future?

I would be part of clearing away issues, tickets, and patches that no longer fit. Part of this is increasing triage, but some of it requires closing more than is done today. I did some of this work in the default theme queue earlier this year and wish to continue in other areas. Then, we can ease the job for those focusing on features and make it easier to see what projects need work and where the actual bugs and issues are.

Practically, as far as features go, I want to focus on any area that empowers those creating. This includes extensibility and components, as well as the design system. The design system also includes how parts can be adopted into other areas and what needs clearing up first. The more potential and opportunities we have to build, the more products we will thrive and develop, which is a sign of a healthy project.

Thank you for this interview, Tammie, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Tammie Lister who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Musangalo JohnBosco: “Moses is a dedicated web developer from Uganda and has shown exceptional leadership within the WordPress community. As the Mukono WordPress Meetup leader, he fosters growth and collaboration among aspiring developers. At the same time, his efforts in events like WordCamp Nairobi 2024 and the Paydel Summit in Uganda highlight his commitment to community needs. Through his tech company, Cursor Technologies, Moses empowers young people with web development skills and champions accessibility by translating WordPress into Luganda and Kiswahili. His passion for innovation, inclusivity, and mentorship make him a deserving candidate for the Yoast Care fund”.

Let’s get to know Moses Cursor Ssebunya 

That’s quite an introduction, Musangalo! We would love to get to know Moses even better. That’s why we asked him some questions about his work and his passion for WordPress:

Hi, Moses! What do you do?

I am a website developer and WordPress enthusiast from Uganda. I am passionate about sharing knowledge and excel at creating visually appealing websites that combine design and coding expertise. I’m also a multilingual translator and skilled technical writer, making complex concepts manageable for a global audience. I’m committed to ensuring quality through rigorous system testing for top-notch performance. My dedication to excellence and active involvement in the tech community make me a valuable contributor to the ever-changing digital landscape. I’m a digital artisan shaping user-friendly experiences and bridging language gaps.

Why do you think that you got nominated?

This is a hard question. People see even when we aren’t noticing. I may not know precisely why I was nominated, but I could give you a quick guess—my active involvement in the WordPress community, particularly in Uganda and Kenya. I have contributed as a WordCamp speaker in several WordCamps in the two countries, as a Meetup organizer, and as a contributor to various WordPress teams. I’ve spared some time to uplift the community and share knowledge. My passion for bridging language gaps through translation and making complex concepts accessible has also been a significant factor.

What contribution or moment are you most proud of?

One of the most significant moments for me was being listed among the core contributors for WordPress Release 6.7 during the State of the Word. Excitement would let me sleep. Seeing Uganda on the map encourages me to work even harder. Contributing in small ways—sharing knowledge, solving problems, or assisting with technical issues—has been deeply rewarding. I’m particularly proud of my work on improving the WordPress experience for local users and my role in events like WordCamp Nairobi to bring the community together.

Who is your WordPress hero?

While many individuals have inspired me, my WordPress hero is the friend who introduced me to the platform, Stephen Dumba. His patience and willingness to share knowledge transformed my skepticism into advocacy, setting me on a path of continuous learning and contribution. Always asked for progress so I don’t fall off the path. Now, when guiding others, I know what to give and what to expect. Beyond the friend who introduced me to WordPress, I’ve been fortunate to learn from various community Leads in Uganda and Kenya. Their collective wisdom and support have been instrumental in my growth as a developer and contributor.

Where can people find you online, at WordCamps, or other meetups?

You can find me online through my personal website and social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. I actively participate in WordCamps and other WordPress-related meetups. I’m currently planning WordCamp Mukono 2025, which will celebrate the power of women in the WordPress ecosystem. It will encourage women and many underrepresented persons to enjoy and be recognized in the WordPress Ecosystem.

Thank you for this interview, Moses, and all your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Moses Cursor Ssebunya who deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Nilo Velez: “Patricia has been a WordPress Valencia meetup and WordCamp organizer without financial support for a long time. She discovered the WordPress Valencia Meetup in 2016. She has not missed any of the events they have organized since 2017. WordPress has been with her since her professional beginnings as a web designer, and she has continued in design thanks to discovering its wonderful community.”

Let’s get to know Patricia Navarro

That’s quite an introduction, Nilo! We would love to get to know Patricia even better. That’s why we asked her some questions about her work and her passion for WordPress:

Hi, Patricia Navarro! What do you do?

I build websites for small and medium-sized companies and freelancers. I always work with WordPress and use visual builders to make it easy for me and my clients. My goal is to teach and help them update and manage their projects. I am also a trainer; I enjoy teaching what I am learning myself.

Why do you think that you got nominated?

I think the reason is apparent: the recent floods in Valencia have affected me and my family a lot, and some of the people of the Spanish WordPress community know it and want to help me in my current situation.

We have also been without coverage and unable to work for almost 20 days, which has made it even more complicated. My entire family lives in the affected area: Aldaya, Benetússer, and Sedaví. You really can’t imagine the devastation that still surrounds us 35 days later. It is going to be very hard to recover from this.

What contribution or moment are you most proud of?

How nice to be able to talk about beautiful things. I have two favorite moments: the first is WCValencia 2022 (the WordCamp of Design, coinciding with Valencia being the World Design Capital). It took us a lot of effort to achieve it due to a series of impossible setbacks. However, it has been the best so far: there were many days, talks, parallel events, and many important people, companies from the sector, and above all many students who came. Everything went great, and we are very proud of it.

The second is that we have added Valencian to the list of WordPress languages. Although we are still working on translations and going very slowly because we have very few translators, I think it is a wonderful achievement for my mother tongue to take care of and protect the language of my land.

What would you love to do in the future?

I would very much like to continue organizing events (but also in other cities in Europe that don’t do it in person; they don’t know what they are missing!). It’s the part I enjoy the most and where I feel most useful. I can quickly develop ideas, get people involved, and apply them in our community. I’ve always had a knack for connecting people, so I hope I can always continue to do that. It’s the fun part.

Since I got my teaching certificate and started doing it, teaching has been a challenge for me. However, I enjoy it more and more every day.

Where may people find you? Online, WordCamps, other meetups?

You can find me on my website and Instagram. I am not active on networks like X or LinkedIn (it’s an error, I know). I don’t like to spend my free time on the computer unless it’s studying or watching tutorials and courses, so I’m sorry, but you won’t find me there. The easiest thing to do is patri@thesuperwaywebs.com. And at the MeetUp de WordPress Valencia and WordCamp Valencia, always.

I try to attend other national WordCamps like Madrid, Torrelodones, etc., but it’s not always possible, so the best thing is that you all come to Valencia. You’ll love it, it’s a very beautiful city.

Thank you for this interview, Patricia, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Patricia Navarro who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Joan Namunina: “Mohammed Kateregga is a technopreneur, data scientist, mobile and web app developer, and educator with over a decade of experience in tech, primarily in WordPress, data engineering, cloud, security, AI, and DevOps. As a community leader and co-organizer of the WordPress Jinja Meetup Community for the past four years, Mohammed has supported and played a vital role in growing WordPress adoption in Eastern Uganda. An ardent educator and active Rotarian, he supports diversity by volunteering in Rotary. He trains youth and overlooked demographics like women to transition into tech, including myself, a former teacher in WordPress and web design. He has co-organized WordCamp Jinja since 2022 and charity WordPress hackathons for NGOs since 2021, providing free web design services. Mohammed’s leadership, passion, and recent role as the lead organizer of WordCamp Jinja 2024.”

Let’s get to know Mohammed Kateregga

That’s quite an introduction, Joan! We would love to get to know Mohammed even better. That’s why we asked him some questions about his work and his passion for WordPress:

Hi, Mohammed! What do you do?

I am a tech entrepreneur, full-stack mobile and web developer, data analyst, cloud and blockchain engineer educator, and community leader based in Jinja, Uganda. In addition, I have founded multiple social impact-driven tech startups. Most relevantly Hello World Africa and Xerus Media Group, focusing on education, media, finance, tech incubation, and innovation. I am also deeply passionate about and involved in growing the tech landscape in Eastern Uganda over the past decade through various communities, initiatives, and programs. Currently, I lead the GDG Cloud Jinja Chapter and WordPress Jinja community. I served as a co-organizer of the Jinja WordPress Meetup and helped co-organize several WordCamps in Jinja and our annual Charity WordPress Website Hackathons for NGOs and Startups in Jinja since our first in 2021. Most recently, I served as the lead organizer of WordCamp Jinja 2024.

I love volunteering and am an active Rotarian in the Rotary Club of Jinja City. In addition to that, I enjoy giving back to the community. Regularly, I mentor youth in tech and entrepreneurship, guiding/mentoring them through the cloud, blockchain and data engineering, web, and app development using Python, JavaScript, and WordPress et, al and also startup building both in the communities I lead and also my mentees, students, and alumni at Refectory, Andela, CodeIT Institute of Technology, Hello World Africa, et al. and through other online initiatives and academies, as well as physical outreaches too, most recently at Macedonian Vocational School in rural Jinja, Eastern Uganda during our WordCamp Jinja 2024 with more outreaches planned.

Why WordPress?

WordPress is more than just a content management system. It’s a fantastic open-source ecosystem with an inclusive and supportive global community that empowers people. Its ease of use makes it ideal for beginners and seasoned developers. WordPress gives us the tools to build powerful websites and, more importantly, a platform to teach others. I’ve introduced WordPress to many young people, showing them how it can help them create, share their stories, and even build their businesses. The community aspect is also unmatched; there’s always someone willing to help or collaborate, making it a truly inclusive space.

Who is your WordPress mentor?

I’ve had many mentors in my journey, too many to name all here. Still, I truly appreciate and thank them all, especially all those locally in Uganda, East Africa, and globally. You all hold a special place in my heart. Let me take this chance to express my appreciation to the two of you who have stood out regarding WordPress in Uganda. Firstly, Arthur Kasirye is my current WordPress mentor. His guidance has been instrumental in helping me navigate and grow our WordPress community and events and hone my skills and community leadership. Arthur’s problem-solving approach and commitment to using WordPress for meaningful impact and contributing to the WordPress Community and Polyglots team. He has been a constant source of motivation for me to do the same since I was doing that in Google Crowdsource to enhance the diversity and localization of open-source projects. I look forward to contributing to more teams in WordPress in the coming months and years.

Secondly, Rogers Mukalele, who has been a leading figure in popularizing WordPress in Uganda. His work has inspired many, including me, to embrace it fully and advocate for it. Together, we organized the first WordPress Website Hackathon in Jinja, in 2021 and our WordCamp in Jinja in 2022. We have been steadily growing the tech and WordPress community in Eastern Uganda. His dedication to WordCamps, WordPress events, Hackathons, and the wider WordPress community locally has been a powerful source of inspiration and encouragement to do the same and increase our impact in our local communities.

Lastly, I thank all the community team members, co-leads, and fellow organizers in Uganda, East Africa, Africa, and globally with whom I have interacted. You have all equally been inspirational and a great support system. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with all of you and increasing our impact across the country, region, continent, and globally.

What would you love to do in the future?

I want to collectively, through our initiatives, programs, and with all supportive partners and our communities, continue building a strong innovation culture and uplift the tech landscape and innovation in Eastern Uganda, East Africa, and Africa as a whole, particularly by empowering youth through leveraging accessible technologies like WordPress. I’m also actively encouraging members in the developer communities I lead and my students/mentees from CIT, Andela, Refactory, and Hello World Africa to develop local solutions that meet the specific needs of African businesses and communities.

I’d love to see more African solutions and narratives digitized and shared globally through WordPress. I’m excited to continue contributing to WordPress and all impactful open-source projects to make them more localized and diverse. I hope to expand our impact to offer more comprehensive digital solutions and eLearning platforms, making tech education in technologies like WordPress accessible to everyone through accessible mobile apps and web platforms in the coming months and years, and possibly future integrations with Web3/Blockchain, VR/AR, IoT, and other emerging technologies.

Where can people find you online, at WordCamps, or other meetups?

I participate in various tech communities and events in Jinja, Eastern Uganda, and East Africa. I mostly use Google Developer Groups and WordPress communities that I lead/volunteer in, among others, like Open Source Community Africa, Internet Society Uganda, et al. I’m on Twitter and LinkedIn, where I engage with fellow developers, tech entrepreneurs, and open source and WordPress enthusiasts. I regularly organize, attend, speak, or volunteer at local Meetups or WordCamps, including our annual WordCamp Jinja and others. In addition, I organize other tech events within the local GDG, Cloud, and Blockchain developers communities. I will continue to contribute actively to the WordPress community team, so we can always link up in the official WordPress Community Slack.

Thank you for this interview, Mohammed, and all your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Mohammed Kateregga who deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Bud Kraus: “Winstina is a deserving recipient, because she has done so much for the WordPress Community for years. She was the lead organizer for WordCamp NYC 2018, and ushered me into the WP Community then. She has organized countless Meetups in person and online. Winstina has spoken at many WCs and, most importantly, is now the founder of Support Inclusion in Tech, which assists many in attending WordPress events. If anyone deserves this honor, it is Winstina, who works tirelessly and with love so that we can all benefit.”

Let’s get to know Winstina Hughes

That’s quite an introduction, Bud! We would love to get to know Winstina even better. That’s why we asked her some questions about her work and her passion for WordPress:

Hi, Winstina Hughes! What do you do?

I contribute to WordPress, and my career is in transportation planning. The agency I work for sets the regional vision and planning goals for transportation and transit for 13 counties and two cities in New Jersey.

My role is to engage, listen, inform, educate, and seek input on these goals from the communities and governments we serve. Our region is one of the most diverse in the United States, both ethnically, racially, and in terms of income and physical features. The U.S. can be as different geographically and culturally as the U.K. is to Switzerland (Europe), South Africa is to Nigeria (Africa), and India is to Japan (Southern and Eastern Asia). We plan for 7 million people who live and work in a dense and rural geography, including skyscrapers and concrete, hills, farmland, and coastal developments.

New Jersey is home, and I’m so happy to be back! I recently transitioned to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) from the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT State Highway). In addition to that, I am the Senior Manager of Outreach and am thrilled to work alongside a team committed to excellence. I am also excited to apply my DOT public engagement experience and skills to my new MPO role.

How do you know about WordPress?

In 2006-2007, my college GIS assignment required adding maps to a WordPress blog. I attended NYC Meetups to learn WordPress and, over time, became a community and core contributor. My community contributions include co-organizing more than 30 NYC Meetup events in person at venues such as WeWork Times Square, Microsoft, and Google offices. I co-organized over 40 online events on Zoom for those who couldn’t attend in person. Over 800 awesome members registered for in-person events, and more than 1400 for online events (proving that WordPress love knows no distance!)

As a lead organizer in 2018, I welcomed 43 speakers and 400 attendees and secured sponsorships working with a phenomenal team of 18 for WordCamp NYC. Collaborating with our team, managing our conference budget of $120,000, and welcoming our speakers and attendees was incredibly rewarding.

During the pandemic, Daniel Schutzsmith and I co-hosted a bi-weekly Twitter Spaces series called #WPTalks, where we discussed the human side of WordPress.

In 2022, I founded Support Inclusion in Tech (SiNC) with partners in the WordPress ecosystem. SiNC goes beyond inclusion – achieving a “fifth freedom”: a truly open and accessible tech environment for everyone. Our work has a global reach, helping send speakers from five continents to WordCamps in 2023. 57% of applicants identified as women, 43% identified as men. I’m deeply grateful to Yoast and Newfold Digital for partnering with 12 other companies to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in WordPress.

Why WordPress? 

I came to learn, and I stayed for our community. WordPress New York City Meetup is home. I’m touched to the core to be nominated for this award by Bud, whom I met at the first WordCamp NYC I helped co-organize.

Who is your WordPress mentor? 

This is such a great question. I don’t have a WordPress mentor. I would love one! If you are a C-suite leader and my skills and contribution align with your expertise and values, and you want to mentor me, please contact me!

While I haven’t had a mentor, I have been guided by incredible Automatticians and contributors throughout the years. Steve Bruner‘s leadership with WPNYC Meetup for nearly two decades is a model for establishing a long-term community. Cami Kaos guided me on how to host inclusive Meetup events. Together, we crafted language for NYC events tailored to women. We settled on ‘women and non-binary’ for inclusivity. Angela Jin suggested I switch out ‘sponsor inclusion’ to ‘support inclusion’ in tech. I did this to remove any thought that companies paid for speaker opportunities. Our speakers are selected on merit and seek travel funding from us. Jill Binder offered me insight on interviewing job candidates, which helped me hire my first remote employee, who is lovely! I’ve absorbed enough marketing wisdom from Mary Baum, Lindsey Miller, and Meryl Randman to know it requires talent and I shouldn’t do everything – it is wise to work with marketing experts. What Marieke van de Rakt created with the Yoast Diversity fund is inspirational. I trust them, and I’ve learned from each.

What would you love to do in the future?

I would love to expand the impact of Support Inclusion in Tech (SiNC) by investing more in our talent and multiplying the impact of our partners. One way to do this is to continue our mentorship program in 2025. Another is by offering past recipients travel support to professional conferences. This would foster a richer exchange of ideas in WordPress and bring their expertise to a wider audience.

I would love to bring a little Winstina to watch one of our speakers present. Introducing my little one afterward would fill my heart to the brim. And if they ask me about becoming a speaker, I’ll say, “Darling, let’s practice tonight with your dad.”

Before I retire, I would love to contribute to transportation planning at the federal level. Teaching a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) course and working on a real-world case study with younger transportation planners as an adjunct professor would be amazing.

I would also love to continue volunteering in transportation research. Research in my field is crucial for saving lives and innovating with a constrained budget. I’m committed to contributing meaningfully to The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) in the next three years. I was recently appointed to two NAS Transportation Research Board (TRB) panels. NCHRP 20-44(58) aims to implement findings from the previous study titled “Metropolitan Planning Organizations: Strategies for Future Success”, and NCHRP 07-37 is updating the AASHTO “Guide for the Planning, Design and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities.” Our goal is to improve engineering standards to prevent pedestrian deaths. Earlier this year, the research report from my first project panel BTSCRP BTS-17, “Determining the Effectiveness of Combined High Visibility Enforcement (HVE),” was published.” If you want insight into how we’re working to save lives, spend a few minutes reading it!

Where may people find you? Online, WordCamps, other meetups?

You can find me at a NYC Meetup, follow my work on my website, winstinahughes.com, and contact me through Support Inclusion in Tech’s Open Collective page.

Thank you for this interview, Winstina, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Winstina Hughes who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Imokol Faith Ruth: “Joan Logose is an active member of the WordPress community in Uganda and one of the co-leads at WordPress Kampala. Her contributions have been instrumental in restarting the monthly meet-ups in Kampala and organizing the upcoming Online Payments and Delivery Summit 2024. Joan is a treasure to the community, having been part of the organizing teams for various WordCamps in Uganda. Her willingness to speak, facilitate, and contribute to events across the East African region further demonstrates her dedication. Her leadership continues to significantly impact the growth and development of the WordPress community in Uganda.”

Let’s get to know Joan Logose

Those are some lovely words by Faith. Let’s get to know Joan a bit better and ask her some questions about her work and passion for WordPress:

Hi, Joan! First of all, can you tell us what you do?

I am a Web Support Specialist, helping non-profit organizations implement WordPress projects, particularly in eCommerce. I assist them in identifying, managing, and following up on web development projects. I also co-lead the WordPress Meetup in Kampala. I help organize events and support community members’ WordPress needs in my free time.

How did you first learn about WordPress?

I was introduced to WordPress in 2014 when I joined an organization as an ICT officer. Part of my job involved managing the corporate website built on WordPress. WordPress was very user-friendly as my trainer taught me how to log in, create pages and posts, and publish content—all within an hour.

Can you tell us about your first contribution?

In 2019, a colleague suggested I attend WordCamp Kampala and shared a link with me. When I applied, the lead organizer, Laurence Bahiirwa, encouraged me to speak instead of just attending. Although I hesitated because it was my first time speaking at a tech event, Laurence’s leadership inspired me to try it. My first contribution was as a speaker at my first WordCamp. I don’t recall much of what I said because of nerves, but it was an invaluable learning experience, and the WordPress community has been incredibly supportive.

Who is your WordPress hero?

It’s hard to choose just one. The first would be Shalynne Mbai from Nairobi, Kenya, who introduced me to WordPress in 2014. Currently, the meetup leads in Uganda are my heroes, especially those introducing WordPress to students in challenging conditions. Their dedication is truly inspiring.

Where can people find you?

You can find me at upcoming events like the Online Payments and Delivery Summit and at the WP NextGen event. I’ll also be speaking at WordCamp Nairobi 2024, thanks to the Yoast Diversity Fund. I am also a member of the following meetup Groups: Elementor Uganda Meetup, Kampala WooCommerce Meetup, Lira WordPress Meetup, Divi Nairobi, Jinja WordPress Meetup, Entebbe WordPressMeetup, Masaka WordPress Meetup. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn, X, and on WordPress.org.

Thank you for this interview, Joan, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Joan Logose who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Stefano Cassone: “Piermario is a great contributor to the WordPress community, both Italian and international. He is one of the GTEs of the Italian WordCamp team, as well as a WordCamp organizer. Last year, he was the organizer of WordCamp Torino, and this year, he is the leader of the Content team for WordCamp Europe 2024, which he has dedicated a lot of time. I believe he is one of the most cheerful people in the community and a true friend who offers to help as soon as needed, facts that make him one of the most listened-to contributors.”

Let’s get to know Piermario Orecchioni

That’s quite an introduction, Stefano! We would love to get to know Piermario even better. That’s why we asked him some questions about his work and his passion for WordPress:

Hi, Piermario! What do you do?

I’m a web designer living in Italy, on the island of Sardinia. In the WordPress Community, I’m part of the Italian Polyglots Team as a GTE and translation editor with the permissions (and responsibility) to validate strings on all projects with an Italian version, from WordPress core to themes and plugins. In addition to that, I’m also a WordCamp organizer. I’ve been part of WordCamp Italy in 2021 and 2022 and WordCamp Torino in 2023 as part of the Speakers Team. I’ve also been part of the Content Team at WordCamp Europe 2023 in Athens and the Team Lead for the Content Team at WordCamp Europe 2024 in Torino. I do some other things here and there in the Community, but these are my main ones.

Why did you start contributing? Could you share your first contribution with us?

I started contributing back in 2017 after being a bit of a lurker in the Italian WordPress Slack for quite some time. At first, I began translating strings for several plugins I was using for my customers’ websites without even reading the Polyglots handbook. I did not know I was supposed to ask for revisions and approval of the translated strings. I started participating in weekly meetings on the #polyglots channel. At that time, I realized there was a group of people actively working on translations, a handbook, style guidelines, and a glossary… it took me a while to get there, but I’m thrilled I did.

Who is your WordPress hero?

My WordPress hero is everyone who keeps showing up and finds the time, motivation, and resources to contribute to the Community in any form. Many contributors, including me, are not sponsored but still spend much time and resources participating in different teams and initiatives. Every contribution is precious and should not be taken for granted. I’m grateful to all those who are helping right now and those who helped in the past and helped shape the WordPress Community as we know it.

Who is your WordPress mentor?

Two of the most important people I met while contributing to WordPress are Laura Sacco and the late Paolo “Wolly” Valenti. They are pivotal members of the Italian Community. Dealing with translations at first can be challenging and come with a million doubts. Wolly taught me to contribute without fear of making mistakes, embracing possible errors and imperfections as stepping stones. We can make mistakes if we are willing to learn and do better next time. Laura, who rebooted the Italian Polyglots team years ago. I’m now lucky to call a dear friend. She repeatedly showed what it means to lead by setting a good example, listening to every voice, and being resolute without ever lacking kindness and grace. She’s a treasure for the whole WordPress community.

What contribution or moment are you most proud of?

One of the contributions I’m most proud of is the work with the Content Team at WordCamp Europe 2024 in Torino. We challenged ourselves to innovate how a Content Team works and try new directions. Starting from a welcoming Call for Speakers that received almost 500 applications. We created one of the most diverse event schedules ever, achieving gender parity among speakers. The way our event program was obtained has been very positive. We hope this will inspire future WordCamps to follow in our footsteps.

Where may people find you? Online, WordCamps, other meetups?

People can find me on piermario.com or happierweb.com, on social media on what’s left of Twitter (still Twitter to me), and on Mastodon and Bluesky as @piermario. Someday, I’ll even update LinkedIn.

Thank you for this interview, Piermario, and all your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Piermario Orecchioni who deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Huzaifa Al Mesbah: “As a Noteworthy Contributor for WordPress 6.5 “Regina” and WordPress 6.4 “Shirley,” Huzaifa has consistently demonstrated dedication and expertise. His work on WordPress default themes like Twenty Twenty-Four and Twenty Twenty-Five, both block-based themes, showcases his technical skill and commitment to improving the platform. His active involvement with core tickets and WordCamps further highlights his dedication. Huzaifa contributes as a developer and takes on leadership roles, including serving as a core table lead at WordCamps. His efforts in advancing WordPress Core make him an invaluable asset to the community.”

Let’s get to know Huzaifa Al Mesbah

That’s quite an introduction, Muhibul! We would love to get to know Huzaifa even better. That’s why we asked him some questions about his work and his passion for WordPress:

Hi, Huzaifa! What do you do?

I am a WordPress developer specializing in creating custom themes and plugins that enhance user experience and meet my client’s unique needs. Currently, I work at Buzz Geek, LLC, where I tackle innovative projects that inspire me.

In my free time, I love contributing to the WordPress community, always looking for new ways to make a positive impact.

Why did you start contributing?

I began contributing to WordPress because this platform has given me so much throughout my journey as a developer. It has opened doors and provided countless resources that have helped shape my career. I strongly desired to give back and share my knowledge with others, hoping to help them navigate challenges and enhance their websites.

What I love most about contributing is my connection with the WordPress community. Engaging with fellow developers and users inspires me and allows me to learn from their experiences. It’s a rewarding exchange of ideas and creativity. Being part of this vibrant community reminds me that we’re all in this together, and it’s my passion to keep growing and improving as a developer.

What does WordPress look like in your perfect world?

In my perfect world, WordPress is a welcoming space where people from all backgrounds come together to create and support one another. It focuses on making it easy for everyone, whether they are beginners or experienced developers, to build amazing websites.

I envision a lively community that values each person’s contributions, encourages learning, and offers support to all. WordPress would continually improve with new features while staying open and accessible, ensuring that everyone feels welcome to help shape its future.

What contribution or moment are you most proud of?

One of the moments I’m most proud of is when I made my first core contribution in WordPress 6.3 and appeared on the contributor list. But what truly stands out for me is being recognized as a Noteworthy Contributor for the first time while working on the Twenty Twenty-Four block theme. It was a deeply rewarding experience, and that recognition felt more meaningful because it reflected the effort and passion I put into the project. It gave me a sense of belonging in the WordPress community, and that meant a lot to me.

Where can people find you? Online, WordCamps, other meetups?

You can often find me at local WordCamps and meetups, where I enjoy engaging with the community as a table lead during Contributor Day. These events are a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow WordPress enthusiasts and share our passion for this incredible platform.

In addition to in-person gatherings, I maintain an active online presence. You can connect with me on Facebook and LinkedIn. I also regularly update my WordPress profile with my latest contributions and activities. I welcome the chance to connect, share ideas, and collaborate—let’s grow together in the WordPress community!

Thank you for this interview, Huzaifa, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Huzaifa Al Mesbah who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Estela Rueda: “Tor-Björn has been a contributor to polyglot for a long time. Nowadays, he is a mentor for the polyglots team, and his support has been invaluable for the launching of the mentorship program, now in its third cohort. Tor-Björn is always ready to provide guidance, support, and mentorship to us as mentors and to the mentees recruited.
All around, he is a fantastic WordPress contributor.”

Let’s get to know Tor-Björn Fjellner

That’s quite an introduction, Estela! We would love to get to know Tor-Björn even better. That’s why we asked him some questions about his work and his passion for WordPress:

Hi, Tor-Björn! What do you do?

I’m currently actively looking for a job. I have a lot of experience as a Project Manager, Product Manager, and Change Manager in Telecom and IT, but those labels only give a slight hint of my wide experience.

Why WordPress?

I started blogging (in Russian) on LiveJournal in 2004, when I moved from Moscow to Muscat to work for a new GSM operator. I wanted to share some of my experiences in Oman with friends and former colleagues. Around 2010, I wanted to start parallel blogging in three languages, and WordPress turned out to be flexible and versatile enough for my needs. I still remember how super-easy it was to migrate my LiveJournal blog to WordPress.

Why did you start contributing? Could you share your first contribution with us?

I updated the Russian and Swedish translations of the WordPress theme I used for my trilingual blog, and shared that with the developer. This was early 2011. I started maintaining the Swedish translation of WordPress core, themes, plugins, and “meta” (UI for various sites on the WordPress.org network) much more actively 2016. Since then, I’ve become deeply involved in the global Polyglots team, but I am also one of the most active volunteers in the Swedish support forum.

What does WordPress look like in your perfect world?

I already like the flexibility of WordPress now. As a linguist, I’d want terminology around WordPress to be a bit more structured.

What contribution or moment are you most proud of?

I want to highlight three moments:

• Despite living in Spain, I was a co-organizer of WordCamp Stockholm 2017.
• My presentation at WordCamp Europe 2023.
• Being one of the initiators of the Mentorship Program for new WordPress contributors. You’re welcome to tag along when a new cohort starts in October. Join the global Slack team for WordPress contributors (“Making WordPress“) and add yourself to our channel “mentorship-cohort-oct-2024”. I can guarantee you’ll pick up many valuable tips and ideas even if you’re an experienced WordPress contributor (Yep, that’s my secret – the fun thing about being a mentor is that you always continue to learn new things).

Where can people find you, online, at WordCamps, at other meetups?

I’d say mostly online: my wordpress.org account and on WordPress Slack, which I mentioned above, plus Linkedin and Facebook.

I live near Barcelona in Spain, but my Spanish is only on an intermediate level. I don’t actively participate in the local meetups. There used to be an international meetup here, but it was discontinued several years ago.

Thank you for this interview, Tor-Björn, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Tor-Björn Fjellner who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Kashif Gabol: “I believe that Arslan Ahmed is a standout contributor to the WordPress community. He was the first to achieve 28 badges on his WordPress profile and contributed to all open-source WordPress projects. Arslan is also an active contributor and the lead organizer of the WordPress Meetups in Ghotki. His dedication has inspired many others in the community. In addition to his local efforts, Arslan was a table lead at WordCamp Lahore in 2023, teaching contributors how to translate WordPress into local languages. He was also a table lead for the photos team and polyglots at WordCamp Islamabad 2023. He spoke at the same event, discussing building communities and contributing to open source. His leadership and educational contributions have significantly impacted and motivated many within the WordPress ecosystem.”

Let’s get to know Arslan Ahmed

That’s quite an introduction, Kashif! We would love to get to know Arslan even better. That’s why we asked him some questions about his work and his passion for WordPress:

Hi, Arslan! What do you do?

I am a freelance WordPress developer offering various services, including website development, design, SEO, and maintenance. I help clients enhance their online presence through effective WordPress solutions. In addition to my freelance work, I am an active contributor to the WordPress community, supporting various projects and initiatives. I also lead and participate in WordPress events and contribute to different WordPress teams.

Why do you think that you got nominated?

I was nominated due to my extensive and diverse contributions to the WordPress community. My involvement includes earning badges in numerous roles, such as Core Contributor, Accessibility Contributor, and WordCamp Speaker. I have made a significant impact through my leadership as a table lead at WordCamp Lahore 2023 and WordCamp Islamabad 2023, where I taught contributors how to translate WordPress and discussed building communities and contributing to open source. These efforts and my ongoing commitment to guiding and supporting others likely contributed to my nomination.

What does WordPress look like in your perfect world?

In my ideal vision, WordPress remains a powerful, inclusive, and collaborative tool that fosters creativity and innovation. I envision a thriving community where contributors from diverse backgrounds work seamlessly together to enhance WordPress’s capabilities and accessibility. The platform would be a learning, sharing, and growth hub with robust support systems for contributors at all levels.

Who is your WordPress mentor?

My WordPress mentor is Muhammad Kashif, who introduced me to WordPress and played a crucial role in my journey. His insights and encouragement helped my brother and I use WordPress to transform our lives and careers. His support has been fundamental in shaping my contributions and active involvement in the WordPress community.

Where can people find you? Online, WordCamps, other meetups?

You can connect with me online through my professional website and social media channels: Personal Website, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

I am also actively involved in WordCamp events, having served as a table lead and speaker at WordCamp Lahore 2023 and WordCamp Islamabad 2023. Additionally, I organize and participate in local WordPress meetups in Ghotki, where I connect with fellow enthusiasts and contribute to the community.

Thank you for this interview, Arslan, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Arslan Ahmed who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Harcy Moses Ssebuwufu: “Sharon Norah is among the women in tech who share their knowledge and skills with the WordPress Community in Uganda. She is currently one of the leads of the Kampala WordPress Meetup chapter, and an organizer of the upcoming Kampala Online Payments and Delivery Summit 2024, a WordPress Next Gen event. Her speaking engagements at various WordCamps and WordPress events, including WordCamp Kampala 2023, WordCamp Entebbe 2023, WordCamp Masaka 2023 and the WordPress in Education Showcase 2024, have been instrumental in inspiring girls to pursue careers in tech and actively contribute to the WordPress community.”

Let’s get to know Sharon Norah

That’s quite an introduction, Moses! We would love to get to know Sharon even better. That’s why we asked her some questions about her work and her passion for WordPress:

Hi, Sharon Norah! Why did you start contributing? Could you share your first contribution with us?

The members of the WordPress Uganda Community motivated me. In 2019, I went to my first WordCamp and became a part of the community. The people in the community have taught me a lot and enabled me to contribute significantly. Delivering a speech at WordCamp Jinja was my first contribution.

Why do you think that you got nominated?

My active participation in the community. After WordCamp Kampala 2019, I continued engaging with the community members and learning more, which inspired me to teach others. I have spoken at four WordCamps and other WordPress meetups. Additionally, I have organized WordCamps and Next Gen WordPress Events.

What contribution or moment are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the moment my WordPress mentor, Laurence Bahiirwa, handed me the role of leading the WordPress Kampala Meetup Group. We have three co-leads, including Joan Logose and Faith Imokol. Laurence has mentored all three of us, and we’re proud to be the current leads with a robust support system from other community leaders.

Who is your WordPress hero?

Laurence Bahiirwa offered me a job when I did not know how to use WordPress. He taught me WordPress and paid me to work for him. It’s how my WordPress journey started. My sister, Faith Imokol, a plugin developer, is another hero. She invited me to my first WordCamp and later introduced me to Laurence, who offered me the opportunity.

What would you love to do in the future?

To teach and mentor more kids in tech. I am the co-founder of Erani Tech, and my dream is to reach as many kids as possible, especially in Africa. In addition, I will continue contributing to WordPress. I am currently exploring other ways of contributing to WordPress besides Community roles.

Thank you for this interview, Sharon, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Sharon Norah who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Juan Hernando: “Sabela is an example of effort and sacrifice and a true leader. Since the day she arrived at the WordPress community, she’s helped and inspired so many people with her work, attitude, and willingness to make the world a better place. She hasn’t had an easy journey, personally or professionally, but she is always willing to lend a hand, prepare a barbecue, or lead a WordCamp! She is the kind of person that if she embarks on an adventure, you must follow her.”

Let’s get to know Sabela Muñiz

That’s quite an introduction, Sabela! We would love to get to know Sabela even better. That’s why we asked her some questions about her work and her passion for WordPress:

Hi, Sabela! What do you do?

I’m a product, UX/UI and 3D designer. You could also say that I am an expert in finding creative, effective, and efficient solutions to design problems, giving shape and life to ideas, and questioning everything to detect or foresee failures and, thus, find improvements or alternatives.

I love customization and small details, so I always put all my effort and interest into ensuring the success of my projects. That’s why, in addition to the work that feeds me, I am constantly involved in projects that challenge me and allow me to help others or improve this world.

Why did you start contributing? Could you share your first contribution with us?

I met the organizers of WordCamp Pontevedra at the end of 2018 when I attended a monthly Meetup. When I saw the enthusiasm, dedication, and care they put into making the event a success, I wanted to contribute in a small way. I knew little about WordPress, so I thought of a way to contribute to the event using what I had learned. That’s how I came up with giving life to WordCamp Wappu.

First, I made a 3D model inspired by the design that Lúa Louro had made. Next, I decided to animate it to welcome the attendees of the WordCamp Pontevedra 2019. I created a video that Juan Hernando, the WordCamp leader that year, had to synchronize with to make it look like they were having a conversation. Except for a minor glitch, the inauguration was very cool and surprising.

That was my first WordCamp, and after experiencing it, I wanted to get more involved in the WordPress community. I attended Jose Luis Losada’s talk, “How I have taken advantage of WordPress,” in which he convinced us of the importance of collaborating and that everyone has something to provide.

Since then, I have collaborated on everything possible: from organizing events to giving talks. I’ve also translated some, uploaded videos to WordPress TV, or simply moved chairs, as Jose Luis would say.

What contribution or moment are you most proud of?

I always love it when someone comes to me and says, thanks to you. For example, thanks to you, I dared to/learned to/I met/I discovered/etc. However, the moment when I truly felt that what I was doing mattered, was in the do_action hackathon before the WordCamp Pontevedra 2023. I was the event coordinator, and I was pretty concerned that everything went well, that the teams did a good job, that the associations were involved, and that it was valuable and enriching for everyone involved.

When it was time to present the websites that we had created that day, a member of one of the associations (who had not been able to be there during work time) arrived. When he suddenly saw the result, seeing his website as something real and in operation, he was very surprised and excited about something that, otherwise, he might never have been able to have. Seeing the happiness reflected on his face and receiving the participants’ thanks made me feel proud and happy for the effort and work done.

Why WordPress?

I am not an advocate of any tool. I always say that everyone should use what they feel comfortable with and what allows them to do what they need without too much effort.

However, beyond the technical or design aspects, WordPress has a community behind it that I have not seen in other open-source technology groups or groups of digital professionals. In addition to including very different profiles from diverse backgrounds, the welcome and connections formed from the very first moment are incredible.

You arrive without knowing anything about WordPress, without knowing anyone, and soon, you have a family that you can count on for anything. There is always someone who knows something you need and is willing to share it with you.

In an era of individualism, self-sufficiency, having to know everything, virtual contacts, emotional loneliness, the WordPress community allows you to find people willing to join forces and resources, who leave aside selfishness. Something like that is rare to find. It’s priceless.

Where can people find you: online, at WordCamps, or other meetups?

You can surely find me at some technological event in Galicia. Although my heart is with WordPress, I also collaborate with more groups or projects to fight against the digital divide. I love meeting people with other interests because they always have something to contribute to my life. They help me see the world from other perspectives, and discover what happens beyond my usual circle.

In addition, you can find me at any WordPress Pontevedra meetup, because I don’t miss a single one. If possible, I also attend the meetups of the other groups in Galicia. And, of course, you can find me at this year’s WordCamp Pontevedra since I am the lead organizer.

If you want to know more about me as a designer, you can visit my website. You can also follow me or contact me through X.

Thank you for this interview, Sabela, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Sabela Muñiz who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Okwanga Oscar: “Angoda Emmanuel is an award-winning ICT teacher using WordPress since 2013 to develop and manage websites. He has trained many people on how to use WordPress free of charge, and I am also among the beneficiaries. Emmanuel is the team leader of the WordPress community in Lira city, Lira WordPress Meetup, which is the first WordPress community in the northern region of Uganda. Lira WordPress Meetup is organizing their first WordCamp this year on the 24th of August.”

Let’s get to know Angoda Emmanuel

That’s quite an introduction, Okwanga! We would love to get to know Angoda even better. That’s why we asked him some questions about his work and his passion for WordPress:

Hi, Angoda! What do you do?

I am a teacher currently working with Lira Town College. I am also the founder of TESITriskelion Education and Skills Initiative, a non-profit that uses ICT to improve education in northern Uganda. I love teaching, especially tech skills, providing career guidance services, and encouraging young people to pursue STEM courses. I also love mentoring young people, and under TESI, we have a mentorship program that has allowed young people to quickly learn advanced tech skills, including WordPress and Robotics.

How do you know about WordPress?

Since the early 2000s, I have been interested in the internet revolution. I learned how to write email addresses and URLs at 16. When I attended university, website development was one of my favorite courses. I mastered the art of using Content Management Systems as early as 2010, and by 2013, I entirely switched to WordPress.

I have found WordPress relatively easy to teach and learn. It has hundreds of thousands of templates and plugins, and above all, it is straightforward to receive support from the community.

Why do you think that you got nominated?

I was nominated because of my pioneering role in starting and steering Lira WordPress Meetup, which eventually led to WordCamp Lira 2024, the first WordCamp in northern Uganda. You see, I have been a very passionate WordPress designer, and I do follow WordPress-related events in Uganda and beyond. I keenly followed WordPress meetups in Jinja, Kampala Entebbe, and Masaka, yet the distance to these events is often prohibitive—over 300 km away. So, I had to work with a few passionate WordPress people, and we started Lira WordPress Meetup. After a year of community engagements and activities, we applied for a WordCamp, which was fortunately granted.

So, I believe the nomination recognizes my many years of work and contribution to the WordPress community in northern Uganda. Now that we have a thriving WordPress community in Lira City and northern Uganda, the next step for me and other WordPress enthusiasts is to build local plugins that meet local demands.

Why WordPress?

For me, WordPress is very user-friendly, and the learning curve is not steep, which makes it ideal for students under 18. As teachers, I believe that we should teach learners how to thrive in the real world, not the book world. In Uganda, there’s a wide gap between what’s taught at school and what happens in industry. Educators like me have to find innovative ways of implementing the curriculum while also skilling young people.

When introducing WordPress to teenagers or undergraduate students, I feel delighted to see their faces brighten up. WordPress makes life so easy. I have used it for activism—highlighting essential issues in education—and for tech mentorship, supporting young people to embrace tech/STEM careers.

Who is your WordPress hero?

I have many godfathers in WordPress, but I will never forget Rogers Mukalele. I have followed his footsteps ever since I became a teacher. Rogers has single-handedly popularised WordCamps in Uganda and WordPress as a CMS of choice for website development. He has inspired many ICT teachers, like myself, to embrace WordPress in the classroom fully.

There’s also Peter Kakoma, who introduced me to the idea of making WordPress plugins in 2016; something I’ve almost achieved. In addition, I will not forget Arthur Kasirye, who, using WordPress, has carved out an admirable career using his WordPress expertise. Moses Sssebuwufu, team leader of WordCamp Masaka, has also been an inspiring figure for the entire WordPress community and me in northern Uganda.

Thank you for this interview, Angoda, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Angoda Emmanuel who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Juan Hernando: “The time Luis Miguel dedicates to helping speakers lose their stage fright and give better presentations at WordPress events is exceptional. Still, it is only comparable to his time mentoring and reactivating meetup groups worldwide. His effort and brilliant results are his best letters of introduction. However, he is also always willing to lend a hand wherever needed in the WordPress community. A real example to follow!”

Let’s get to know Luis Miguel Climent

That’s quite an introduction, Juan! We would love to get to know Luis even better. That’s why we asked him some questions about his work and his passion for WordPress:

Hi, Luis! What do you do?

For the last twenty years, I’ve been making websites (design, programming, implementation, and maintenance). First, I used HTML and CSS, then JavaScript and PHP. When choosing a CMS, I initially chose Drupal, but for the last six years, I’ve only used WordPress.

Now that I’m retired, I dedicate myself to collaborating as much as possible with the WordPress Community (a member of the Global Community Team) and helping WordCamps Speakers from Spain and Latin America improve their talks and communication skills through mentoring.

Why did you start contributing, could you share with us your first contribution?

I discovered WordPress seven years ago. It coincided with my move from a very big city like Barcelona to a very small town like Denia (Alicante province).

I took a few months off to learn new things and slowly, I discovered WordPress; especially its community captivated me from the first moment.

When I moved to Denia and was delving into this new-to-me CMS, I discovered that there was a WordPress Meetup in Denia that had been inactive for a while. I contacted the organizer and offered to collaborate in whatever was needed to reactivate the events. We went on to co-organize the Denia Meetup, which became an official event of the WordPress Meetup program. I attended my first WordCamp (in Valencia 2019) that same year.

What have you worked on?

I’ve worked on countless things, some for pleasure and out of a thirst for knowledge, others out of sheer necessity for subsistence. But, along with websites, there is another fundamental dedication in my life: theatre. I’ve been an actor and director for more than 20 years. I usually summarize this professional duality in one sentence: “Half of my life doing theater, and the other half doing websites.”

What would you like to do in the future?

Among many other things within the WordPress Community, I’d like to create a team of “Mentors for new Speakers” in Spanish, covering Spain and Latin America, to help people with less experience to give talks and feel encouraged, and have the necessary help to propose talks in WordCamps, Meetups, and WordPress Events.

In general, of all the moments I can contribute to the project, most significantly, when I see one of the dozens of people who have participated in my mentorships giving their presentation on the stage of a WordCamp, it fills me with pride.

Where can people find you, online, at WordCamps, at other meetups?

You can find me at the WordCamps in Spain that I can attend and online in Spain and Latin America. You can find me at: CharlistaPro Project, Twitter (X), Bluesky, and LinkedIn

Thank you for this interview, Luis, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Luis Miguel Climent who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Ana Gavilán: “Estela is a mentor for the translation of documentation in the Spanish community. She helps organize other local teams to have documentation in their own language. Her work in the documentation team has improved the access of non-developers to WordPress documentation, and she continues to promote this with the local communities.”

Let’s get to know Estela Rueda

That’s quite an introduction, Ana! We would love to get to know Estela even better. That’s why we asked her some questions about her work and her passion for WordPress:

Hi, Estela! Why did you start contributing? Could you share your first contribution with us?

I started contributing by accident; I didn’t know what I was doing or what it was called. I attended my first WordCamp in Utrecht in 2017, where I learned about the Slack channel for WordPress and started volunteering for WordCamps in the Netherlands.

What did you work on?

I started attending weekly design meetings where we mostly worked on resolving and moving trac tickets that needed design work or design feedback. It got boring pretty fast for me. I needed more.

What contribution or moment are you most proud of?

My work with the documentation team, specifically the split of the documentation for developers and non-developers, has taught me that anyone can create a simple website with WordPress if you give them instructions or guides that are easy to understand and without all the developer jargon.

Who is your WordPress mentor?

My WordPress mentor is Tammie Lister. She taught me how to work within the community. The most important lesson is that without ownership of a task (or project) within WordPress, it would most likely not happen. So now, whenever something comes up, I look for contributors who can take ownership of the task if I cannot do it myself and will follow through to make sure it is resolved.

Who is your WordPress hero?

There is no one hero. Everyone who supports the development of WordPress should be a hero on their terms. Well, maybe I should say that everyone who contributes to WordPress is my hero.

What does WordPress look like in your perfect world?

In the perfect world, there are more opportunities available to bring WordPress everywhere in the world. Teach users how to work with WordPress in their language and at their level. This is why having different levels of documentation and support is very important. Translation of these documentation articles, WordPress lessons, WordPress issues, etc., will significantly help with this goal.

Thank you for this interview, Estela, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Estela Rueda who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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Nominator Abdullah Ramzan: “I am delighted to nominate Zaman Hassan for his outstanding contributions to the WordPress community. Zaman has been an integral part of WordPress Lahore since 2019, and his community journey began with his enthusiastic volunteering at WordCamp Lahore 2019. He has continued to show his dedication by actively supporting local meetups. Zaman was a valuable member of the organizing team for WordCamp Lahore 2023.”

Let’s get to know Zaman Hassan

That’s quite an introduction, Abdullah! We would love to get to know Zaman even better. That’s why we asked him some questions about his work and his passion for WordPress:

Hi, Zaman! What do you do?

I am a freelance WordPress designer and SEO strategist, who is busy helping people grow online by creating elegant website designs using WordPress, and improving search engine rankings. Additionally, I am an active member of the WordPress community to give back to the open-source CMS. I also love to support the community and help beginners.

How do you know about WordPress?

I have been using WordPress to design websites since 2022. Since then, I have created many website designs for clients and provided freelance WordPress services.

Why WordPress?

I like WordPress because it is user-friendly, highly customizable, SEO-friendly, cost-effective, and supported by a large community. It also offers strong security, scalability, multimedia support, and ecommerce capabilities.

Who is your WordPress hero?

I have learned a lot from the WordPress community. Mr. Farrukh Hassan is my WordPress hero and mentor. Farrukh guided me at every step of my contribution to the community. Besides Farrukh, everyone in the community was fun to work with, and I found everyone very helpful and courteous.

What contribution or moment are you most proud of?

WordPress Community Lahore led me to volunteer at WordCamp Lahore 2019. Later, my contribution to the community hierarchy let me to organize WordCamp Lahore in 2023, which was one of my proudest moments as a contributor to WordPress. On the event day, I worked with the event outreach team and Food wrangler.

Thank you for this interview, Zaman, and for all of your contributions to the WordPress community! Do you know someone like Zaman Hassan who also deserves to be in the spotlight? Go to our Yoast Care page and nominate them right away.

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