Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia and a leading advocate for free knowledge, took center stage at this year’s Wikimania 2025 to award some of the Wikimedia movement’s most outstanding contributors. Presented annually, the Wikimedian of the Year awards celebrate exceptional volunteers from around the world whose work makes Wikipedia and its sister projects possible.
From writing and editing thousands of articles to building technical tools, training newcomers, and preserving indigenous languages, these honorees represent the heart of a global movement built on collaboration, openness, and a shared commitment to accessible knowledge for all.
Wales, in his opening remarks, emphasized the power of collective action: “Wikipedia is built entirely by volunteers. These are the people who protect it, grow it, and share knowledge with the world—not for profit, but for the public good. Today, we honor just a few of the many who make this mission a reality.”
Wikipedia remains one of the top ten most visited websites in the world and the only one operated by a nonprofit, the Wikimedia Foundation. With over 260,000 active volunteers contributing in more than 300 languages, the site is viewed more than 15 billion times every month. The Wikimedian of the Year awards serve not only as recognition of individual excellence but also as a celebration of the Wikimedia community’s collective strength.
The 2024 Wikimedian of the Year: Robertsky (Singapore)
The top honor this year went to Robertsky, an English Wikipedia editor from Singapore whose more than 79,000 edits have focused on improving local and regional content. In 2024, he became a Wikipedia administrator, reflecting his trusted standing within the community. Among his key contributions is the revitalization of the Index of Singapore-related articles, a comprehensive resource he saved and automated through custom scripting.
Beyond editing, Robertsky co-founded the Wikimedians of Singapore User Group and serves on the ESEAP Hub Preparatory Council, helping to foster regional collaboration across East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific. His leadership and technical ingenuity have made him a standout figure in the Wikimedia movement.
Wikimedia Laureate: Risker (Canada)
Canadian editor Risker received the Wikimedia Laureate award, which honors long-term impact and commitment to the Wikimedia ecosystem. A contributor for over two decades, Risker has shaped policy, guided technical tool development, and worked extensively behind the scenes to ensure Wikipedia remains a safe and inclusive space. As both an administrator and Arbitration Committee member on English Wikipedia, she has helped resolve complex disputes and protect the platform from misuse. Her legacy includes the creation of “Risker’s checklist,” a resource to guide future developers in responsible tool design.
Media Contributor of the Year: 1Veertje (Netherlands)
From the Netherlands, 1Veertje was recognized as Media Contributor of the Year for her enormous contributions to Wikimedia Commons. Since 2010, she has uploaded more than 86,000 photographs, featured across 4,000 Wikipedia pages in 134 languages. With technical expertise in metadata and a regular presence at Wikimedia Hackathons, she not only produces content but also improves how media is cataloged and accessed throughout the platform.
Newcomer of the Year: Dadrik (Côte d’Ivoire)
Dadrik, an editor from Côte d’Ivoire, was awarded Newcomer of the Year for his efforts to improve content on African topics, particularly related to his home country. With over 19,000 contributions since joining the movement, he has led workshops, trained new editors, and supported the development of Baoulé Wikipedia, a major step in preserving local language knowledge. His participation in the #100Wikidays challenge led to a wide range of new articles on Ivorian culture, geography, and history.
Functionary of the Year: AramilFeraxa (Poland)
Polish steward AramilFeraxa received the Functionary of the Year award for his critical behind-the-scenes work safeguarding Wikimedia projects across multiple languages. As a steward, he helps address cross-wiki issues, supports communities without administrators, and handles sensitive moderation tasks. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, he has contributed high-quality content, including 16 Featured Articles on film.
Tech Contributor of the Year: Eugene233 (Cameroon)
Cameroonian Wikimedian Eugene233 was named Tech Contributor of the Year for his leadership in training African developers and building inclusive technical spaces within the movement. A mentor with Wiki Mentor Africa, Eugene has guided more than 1,000 contributors and helped develop tools like WikiSpeech, WDLexAudio, and regional translation tools. His efforts have greatly expanded Africa’s presence and participation in Wikimedia’s technical infrastructure.
Honorable Mentions: Nitesh Gill (India) and Ammarpad (Nigeria)
Two editors received Honorable Mentions for their significant, wide-ranging impact.Nitesh Gill, from India, has been a leading force for gender representation on Punjabi Wikipedia. As its only female administrator, she has created hundreds of articles about women and led the She Leads program to empower female leaders in Wikimedia. Her organizational work includes major global events such as WikiWomen Camp 2023 and Wikisource Conference 2025.
Ammarpad, from Nigeria, was honored for his dual role as a developer and content contributor. A key figure in MediaWiki development, he has made more than 900 software changes while also writing and curating content for English and Hausa Wikipedia. As an administrator on Hausa Wikipedia, he has helped shape its technical and editorial foundations.
Recognizing the Global Power of Volunteers
The 2025 Wikimedian of the Year awards highlight the incredible diversity, talent, and passion within the Wikimedia community. From veteran editors to new voices, these honorees exemplify what is possible when people from around the world come together to build something for the public good.
As Jimmy Wales concluded during the ceremony: “These volunteers remind us that truth, transparency, and collaboration still have a place on the internet. They are the quiet force behind one of humanity’s most ambitious projects—and today, we thank them.”
The awards serve not just as recognition, but as a call to action—for anyone, anywhere, to join the movement and help shape the future of free knowledge.
