Seeking W3C community input for TAG appointees

Having released the election results, W3C is seeking input for appointment to the W3C Technical Architecture Group (TAG). We have opened a mail address for an internal list that you can use to make suggestions for us to consider. This call ends after January 5, 2024.

Please read more below to learn about the TAG, the new rules for TAG appointees, and the specific skills deemed important by the TAG.

Roles of the W3C TAG

The TAG was created in 2001 as a special W3C working group, chartered to steward the Web architecture. To do so, it fulfills 3 missions:

• to document and build consensus around principles of Web architecture and to interpret and clarify these principles when necessary;
• to resolve issues involving general Web architecture brought to the TAG;
• to help coordinate cross-technology architecture developments inside and outside W3C.

The TAG is part of the Horizontal Review Process and reviews a large number of specifications done at W3C and outside, even during their early stage.

The TAG and the W3C Advisory Board are also part of the W3C Council to help resolve objections on specifications.

New rules for TAG appointments

Process 2023, which W3C adopted last November, sets new rules for the TAG appointees. Quoting the most relevant parts:

“The Team [...] must make available to the W3C community at large a means to propose candidates for consideration, explicitly soliciting input from at least current and incoming TAG members, the Advisory Committee, and Working Group Chairs.” 
“selection begins once the results of the elections are known [14 December 2023], and the Team should announce the ratified appointment(s) no later than the start of the regularly scheduled term [1 February 2024].”
“The Team should use its appointments to support a diverse and well-balanced TAG, including diversity of technical background, knowledge, and skill sets.”

Skills deemed important for effective work on the TAG

Architectural vision, design review, diplomacy, chairing skills, cultural/social diversity, technical writing and copy editing, deep/broad technical knowledge (including but not limited to AI and XR, Web accessibility, security, JavaScript, as well as web platform).

Participating as a TAG member

Individuals elected or appointed to TAG act in their personal capacity, to serve the needs of the W3C membership as a whole, and the Web community. Whether they are Member representatives or Invited Experts, their activities in those roles are separate and distinct from their activities on the TAG. The TAG participants use their best judgment to find the best solutions for the Web, not just for any particular network, technology, vendor, or user. The participation commitment for the TAG includes:

1. one teleconference per week,
2. three to four in-person meetings per year,
3. participation in TAG mailing list discussions,
4. participation at the two Advisory Committee meetings each year (encouraged, but not required).

Please, note two important aspects:

• The Process limits participation in the TAG to no more than one individual with a primary affiliation to a given organization. Affiliations of the individuals on the TAG are: Digital Bazaar, Apple, Samsung, Alibaba and Mozilla.
• Appointees secure their own funding for TAG work, including travel.

Call to action

Please write to us at nomination@w3.org as briefly as you can, until January 5, 2024, to self-nominate or to suggest persons for us to consider, and why.

Timeline

During the window spanning 14 December 2023 - 1 February 2024, suggestions are made to –and assessed by– the W3C Team (including seeking willingness and financial ability to serve from individuals), and the W3C Team's choice of appointees is subject to ratification by secret ballot by both the W3C Advisory Board and the TAG itself.