July 2025 Minutes

The following Working Group (WG) requests and approvals are presented for discussion:

• Funding WG: Members include Andrew, Harold; will invite Aruneesh and align overlapping “Budget WG” ideas while keeping scope focused (donations, corporate supporters, platforms). First meeting to be scheduled.
• Marketing WG: Awaiting staff marketing hire to act as liaison; community expert Brian Reed may participate.
• Certification WG: Led by Shruti Kulkarni; deliverables: body of knowledge and exam within 12 months. Any certification launch will return to the Board for strategy/funding approval.
• 25th Anniversary WG: To be staffed with volunteers (Events to contact former volunteer lead from OWASP Global AppSec Barcelona).

Background The OWASP Chapter Committee has been working on a charter to formalize its role and responsibilities within the OWASP community. The charter outlines the committee's purpose, membership, and operational guidelines.

• Link to the OWASP Chapter Committee Charter

Motion: "It is resolved that the Board will table Chapter Committee Charter vote until August 2025 meeting" Note: no sponsor/second needed for this vote

• Diego Silva Martins: Yes
• Avi Douglen: Yes
• Ashwini Siddhi: Yes
• Sam Stepanyan: Yes
• Steve Springett: Yes
• Ricardo Griffith: Yes
• Harold Blankenship: Absent

Result: Motion PASSES, 6–0 (1 absent).

Sponsor: Sam Stepanyan Second: Ricardo Griffith

Background Led by Diego Martins and Avi Douglen, the Board is discussing the upcoming 2026 Board elections and the qualifications for Directors. This includes potential changes to the election process and criteria for candidates.

Background The Belgian government and our current accountants for the old EU entity have requested that OWASP formally close the old entity. The Board is discussing the implications and next steps for this closure.

Background A status update on the new OWASP EU Foundation iVZW entity. At the time of writing, the new entity.

Background OWASP is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026. The Board is discussing plans for the celebration, including events, activities, and potential collaborations.

NOTE: Harold Blankenship joined the meeting at this point and participated in subsequent discussions and vote.

Background The OWASP Badging Program is a new initiative to recognize and reward contributions to OWASP projects and activities. The Foundation is delivering this in the August timeframe, initially focusing on the OWASP Education Committee and the Papers Committee.

Background The Board meeting has traditionally been held at 12 PM US Eastern Time, but this has caused issues for some Board members and the Executive Director in different time zones. The motion is to move the meeting three hours earlier to 9 am US Eastern Time.

Motion: "Resolved, that from August 2025, the OWASP Board of Directors will hold its regular monthly meetings at 9 am US Eastern Time on the fourth Tuesday of each month until further notice."

Sponsor: Ricardo Griffith Second: Diego Martins

• Diego Silva Martins: Yes
• Avi Douglen: Yes
• Ashwini Siddhi: Yes
• Sam Stepanyan: Yes
• Harold Blankenship: Yes
• Steve Springett: Yes
• Ricardo Griffith: Yes

Result: Motion PASSES, 7–0.