 Working with everything from television to print to the Internet, Mark Surman has been using media to support collaboration and build community for over 15 years. Mark's current role is as the president of Commons Group, Inc. - a research and strategy firm focused on collaboration, community building and social technology. He also served as the Director of Content and Community at Web Networks and as a program consultant for the Government of Ontario's Volunteer @ction Online grants program.
Whether helping develop a business plan for a social enterprise or developing a strategy for a collaborative technology project, Mark is committed to using a participatory, community-driven approach. He has extensive experience with a variety of facilitation methods, including the transformational facilitation and popular education techniques developed by the Zhaba facilitator's collective. He also has a long track record working with virtual communities, doing everything from running online consultations to starting an open source software initiative that now has participants from over a dozen countries.
Since starting Commons in 1998, Mark has managed or evaluated over 150 online collaboration and communications projects for clients like the Canadian Child Care Federation, Community Information Toronto, the Association for Progressive Communications, and the Ontario Human Rights Commission. He serves on the boards of Rabble.ca and WildCanada.net. Mark has written widely on social technology issues, with publications including both 'Appropriating Technology for Social Change' (SSRC) and 'Commonspace: Beyond Virtual Community' (Financial Times Press).
Consulting Projects
Program Design and Grant Review - Ontario Ministry of Citizenship (V@O) 
Provided senior program planning and evaluation advice to the director of Volunteer @ction Online, an $11.5 million funding pool supporting non-profit Internet projects. Also, provided pre-approval sustainability and technology review for all proposals being considered by the program, and worked directly with potential grantees to improve their proposals in these areas. 1998 - 2001
Changing Technology Funding Practices - IMPACS
Worked with the Institue for Media Policy and Civil Society to promote broader understanding of technology issues amongst Canadian grantmakers. Included development of various articles on technology funding as well as a cross Canada series of workshops and consultations. 2003 - 2004
APC ActionApps - Association for Progressive Communications
Leadership and project management for APC's 'Action Applications', a collection of open source web publishing and constellation building tools. Developed specs, managed global development team, worked with funders. 1998 - 2001
BalkanBytes Business Planning Workshops - Regional Environmental Centre
Ran business planning workshop to help environmental NGOs in South Eastern Europe develop technology and information services enterprises. Each participating network created a plan describing market needs, products and services, marketing strategy and financing. 2004
Non-Profit Technology Best Practices - Ontario Ministry of Citizenship (V@O)
Research project to identify sharable tools, documents and best practices from the first 60 non-profit Internet projects funded through Ontario's Volunteer @ction Online program. The final outputs from the research will include a non-profit web strategy guide based on best practices and a list of organizations with sharable tools and documents. 2003
From Access to Applications - Ontario Ministry of Citizenship (V@O)
A report reviewing the use of the Internet by voluntary and non-profit organizations. Includes detailed reviews of Internet services and grants available to Ontario non-profits as well as recommendations on building better technology support for voluntary organizations. 2001
Open Source Decision Making for NGOs - APC
Developed a guide that support open source adoption within NGOs. Included information on needs assessment, software selection, server tools and web applications. 2003
Information Management Research - IDRC
Led a consultative process to understand information management needs related to IDRC's new RPCR organizational learning process. Developed concrete recommendations based on this process. 2004
FACTS Software Collaborative Evaluation - Aspiration
Undertook an evaluation and case study of the Food and Commodity Tracking System (FACTS), a collaborative software development initiative involving Aspiration, Microsoft and a number of aid NGOs. Looked at how partnership, development and training issues were handled and at future steps that could be taken to increase software adoption. 2004 / in progress
Language Interpreter Booking System Evaluation - Info Niagara
Evaluation of shared, web-based booking and reporting software used by non-profit agencies providing language translation services to Ontario's domestic violence courts. Included interviews and focus groups with end users and managers, as well as the development of detailed recommendations related to useability and long term sustainability. 2004
Database Strategy for Ontario Settlement Agencies - OCASI
Worked with the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) to survey the case management database needs of frontline settlement agencies. The process included an online survey, three focus groups, in depth software reviews and software implementation case studies. The final outcome of the project was a report on database and information exchange standards for the settlement sector in Ontario. 2004
Collaborative Software and Process Review - Canadian Employement and Immigration Union
Worked with union leadership to review software options and define business process changes necessary to implement a collaborative, nationwide online project management system. 2004
CAP Business Plan Analysis - Industry Canada
Developed a report on sustainability trends within Ontario-based community-Internet access networks. The report was based on a day long facilitated session with CAP networks as well as a review of CAP business plans from across Ontario. 2004
Marketing Your Online Community - APC
Developed an online learning module aimed at helping online community builders promote their sites and recruit more members. This was a part of a larger online community courseware project undertaken by the APC for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. 2004
Building a National Tech Training Networks - LEF
Worked with the Learning Enrichment Foundation to facilitate a four day summit of Canadian technology training organizations serving Canada's voluntary sector. This event was a part of the Canadian Voluntary Sector Initiative's technology stream. 2004
CAP Network Vision Document - Learning Enrichment Foundation
Developed a vision document describing a possible future model for Canada's Community Access Program and for the creation of a National CAP Network. Facilitated a visioning meeting of 15 community technology leaders which fed into the development of the document. 2004
One World Canada Business Plan - One World Canada
Business strategy and organizational structure for portal site focused on human rights, sustainable development and social justice. 2001 - 2002
CAPE Business Plan - Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
Business plan focused on fundraising and marketing for this group of physicans working on environmental issues. 2001 - 2002
Inventory of ICT4D Volunteering Programs - Industry Canada - Netcorps
Develop an inventory of the ICT4D volunteering sector and provide recommendations for future work by the Netcorps program. Done collaboratively with input from Geekcorp and other volunteering programs. 2003
OHRC CMS Strategy - Ontario Human Rights Commission
Developed strategy to upgrade OHRC web site and add a web based content management system (CMS). Also developed an RFP and assisted with selection of design and CMS vendors. 2003
Communicopia Business Planning - Communicopia Internet
Business planning and product development for Canada's longest running and most successful social mission Internet company. Includes the development of an overal framework for product and service management, human resource planning and operational systems design. 2003
Paths to Equal Opportunity - Ontario Ministry of Citizenship (EOP)
Strategy, technical planning and project management for a portal site focused on disabilities, barrier removal and equal opportunities in the workplace. 2000-2001
APC ActionApps - Association for Progressive Communications
Leadership and project management for APC's 'Action Applications', a collection of open source web publishing and constellation building tools. Developed specs, managed global development team, worked with funders. 1998 - 2001
Best Practices Manual - National Library of Canada
Research and writing for a Best Practices Manual for electronic publishers, commissioned by the National Library of Canada as a supplement to their e-publication collection initiatives. Also include high level strategy advice on e-publication program. 2001
GCIF Web Site Strategy - Global Citizen's Internet Forum
High level web site strategy and requirements for a portal for community networking organizations around the world. The site will also be used to Global Community Networks Conference to be held in Montreal in October 2002. 2001
IMS Project Evaluation - Ontario Ministry of Citizenship (Settlement)
Security and application usability evaluation for a web-based booking and accounting system used by community translation agencies. 2000 - 2001
Community Interpreter Booking System - Information Niagara
User consultation and requirements documentation for online booking and accounting system used by 10 community-based translation agencies. 2001
Gateway to Diversity - Ontario Ministry of Citizenship (EOP)
Strategy and technical specifications for a system that distributes content creation amongst program staff within a government ministry. (Site has been replaced by Paths to Equal Opportunity) 1999 - 2000
Community-based Internet Training Conference - OCASI
Facilitation and technical training for over seventy community based agencies working in the immigrant and refugee settlement sector. 2000
Moebius Internet Radio Project - AMARC
Initial community consultation and strategy for a network of community radio stations who share and aggregate content over the Internet. 1999
Community Networks Business Planning Workshop - APC
Business planning and product development training for small Internet providers and consulting firms from 25 countries. Also produced business planning manual for use by workshop participants and other community networks. 1999
Program Design - Industry Canada - VolNet
Program and application process design for a grant program providing Internet connectivity and training for non-profits. 1998
Volunteer Action Portal - Ontario Ministry of Citizenship
Business and technical plan for a voluntary sector portal site involving private, public and non-profit partners. 1998
Employment History
Shuttleworth Foundation - Open Philanthropy Fellow
Eighteen month fellowship to integrate open source thinking and business practices into how the day to day work of the Shuttleworth Foundation. Also responsible for international network building and outreach, especially in the area of open education. 2007 - present
telecentre.org - Managing Director
Designed and managed joint Canada / Switzerland / Microsoft initiative to network community technology activists around the world. Established program and team, developed grassroots engagement and grant making strategy, grew budget from $11 million to $26 million and built a global community of networks spanning over 30 countries. 2005 - 2007
The Commons Group - President
Founded small consulting group that developed and managed projects connecting networks, technology and social change. Also, worked extensively on open source software development and advocacy within the non-profit sector. Grew company from one to ten people before winding it down to start telecentre.org 1998 - 2004
Web Networks - Director of Content and Community
Managed the community and technology services divisions of Web Networks, a $1.4 million/year social enterprise providing Internet services to Canadian non-profits. Included product development and day-to-day management for community portal, web hosting and application development business lines. 1994 to 1998
Maclean Hunter Ltd. - Community Producer
Worked as a community producer for Canada’s third largest cable television company, providing video production training and coaching to residents in one of Toronto’s poorest neighborhoods. Acted as internal entrepreneur within the company, leading important policy changes to increase community involvement and participation. 1990 – 1994
Various positions in commercial and public television -
Worked at both a supervisory and staff level in on-air technical services for various commercial and public outlets including CBC (Kingston), CTV (Kenora) and YTV (Toronto). 1985 - 1990
Presentations & Workshops
Telecentre Community Development Workshops - telecentre.org
Various locations: Convened and co-facilitated over 20 workshops gathering social entrepreneurs from the community technology sector in Europe, Asia and Africa. 2005 - 2007
The Future of Open Education - iSummit 2007
Dubrovnik, Croatia: Presentations and facilitation for three day track on the future of open education at iCommons iSummit 2007. 2007
Open Sourcing Education in South Africa - Ubuntu Live
Portland, OR, USA: Presentation on the open (source) education strategies being developed by the Shuttleworth Foundation. 2007
CopyCamp - http://www.copycamp.ca/
Toronto, Canada: Assisted in the design and facilitation of 100+ person unconference on the copyright, the arts and the Internet. 2006
Web of Change - http://www.webofchange.com
Cortez Island, Canada: Co-convenor and facilitator for annual gathering of social technology leaders from North America and around the world. 2000 to 2004
PenguinDay -
Toronto, Canada: Organized and facilitated day long convergence on non-profits and open source software. 2004
Partnership, Planning and People: Non-profit tech lessons learned -
Toronto, Canada: A presentation on best practices and lessons learned from the Volunteer Action Online technology grants program. Delivered to the 2004 Voluntary Sector Community of Inquiry Symposium. 2004
Business Planning for Balkan Evironmental Networks - Regional Environmental Centre
Rome, Italy: Three day strategic business planning workshop for NGO networks based in the Balkans and Central Europe. Included a look at strategies for moving away from grant dependency and towards independent revenue generation. 2004
Changing Technology Funding Practices - Industry Canada - Voluntary Sector Initiative
Various cities: A series of half day workshops with grantmakers and leading NGOs about technology funding issues. Workshops were held in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax. 2004
Marketing and Product Development for African ASPs - APC
Johannesburg, South Africa: A three day workshop on marketing and product development for African technology service providers interested in offering the APC's ActionApps software to their NGO users. 2003
Appropriating the Internet for Social Change - Social Sciences Research Council
Geneva, Switzerland: Presentation of major discussion paper to symposium of leading civil society technology practitioners and researchers. The symposium was convened by SSRC on the two days following the first WSIS in Geneva. 2003
Technology and Culture - Knowledge Across Borders Forum -
Toronto, Canada: Workshop on the role of the Internet as an organizing and management tool for international development NGOs. 2000
Web Syndication for NGO Networks - Action Applications
Budapest, Hungary: Presentation to NGOs, foundations and community networking experts on the use of APC's ActionApps software to create web syndication networks. 2000
Commonspace and the Growth of Online Communities -
Waterloo, Ontario: Presentation to students at Wilfred Laurier University on the emergence and social role of online communities. 2001
Commonspace for MBAs -
Toronto, Canada: Presentation to MBA students on the importance of online community as a pillar of e-business strategy. 2001
Grazing the Commons -
Toronto, Canada: Roundtable discussion on the connection between local real world communities and global online communities. 2001
Social Enterprise Strategies for NGO Networks in Central Europe - APC
Kvacany, Slovakia: Five day workshop on business strategies for non-profit Internet providers and community networks in Central and Eastern Europe. 1999
Connecting Global Villages - Community Networking byDesign
Toronto, Canada: Presentation for the Pan-America by Design Visionary Speaker Series. 1999
Mission-Driven Business and Non-Profits on the Internet -
Oaxaca, Mexico: Two day business skills development workshop for executive directors of non-profit Internet service providers and community networks from 25 countries. 1998
Online Communities and the Right to Communicate -
Cape Town, South Africa: Plenary speech on the role of Internet communities in building a global movement for the right to communicate. Delivered to the Videazimut General Assembly. 1998
Radio, the Internet & Community -
Milan, Italy: Plenary speech on the history of community media and the role of 'community convergence partnerships' in the future of civil society media. Delivered to the AMARC7 community radio conference. 1998
Universal Access Symposium -
Toronto, Canada: Acted as workshop leader and presenter for workshops on sustainability and funding mechanisms for community based Internet access program. Organized by Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto. 1996 and 1997
Building Partnerships for an Electronic Commons -
Halifax, Canada: Plenary speech delivered at 1997 Telecommunities Canada Conference (an annual gathering of Canadian FreeNets and CommunityNets). 1997
The Internet and the Environmental Movement -
Toronto, Canada: Presentation to York University Faculty of Environmental Studies Seminar in Media & the Environment. 1997
Wired Words: Utopia, Revolution and the History of Electronic Highways -
Montreal, Canada: Speech delivered at Internet Society's annual conference - INET '96. 1996
Information Highway Policy and Lessons from History -
Ottawa, Canada: Plenary speech delivered at the 1995 Community Information Highway conference. 1995
Building a Commons for Community -
Ottawa, Canada: Plenary speech delivered at the 1994 Telecommunities Canada conference. 1994
Publications
Open Sourcing Education
Learning and wisdom from iSummit 2007 Sep 07 2007
From the Ground Up
The evolution of the telecentre movement Aug 19 2007
The Evolution of Learning
Taking open educational resources to the next level Jul 29 2007
Making the Connection
Scaling telecentres for development Jul 24 2007
Commonspace: beyond virtual community
All chapters from the book Apr 16 2005
Beyond the Box: technology grantmaking in Canada
Nov 12 2004
Planning, Partnership and People
Keys to successful non-profit technology projects Nov 12 2004
Choosing Open Source
A guide for civil society organizations Jan 06 2004
Appropriating the Internet for Social Change
Towards the Strategic Use of Networked Technologies by Transitional Civil Society Organizations Nov 25 2003
From VTR to Cyberspace
Jefferson, Gramsci and the electronic commons Nov 20 2003
Understanding Civil Society Portals
Online content and community models for the CSO sector Sep 18 2002
Collaborative Online Projects
Exploring 'constellation style' partnerships Apr 27 2002
Electronic Publishing
National Library of Canada's guide to best practices for Canadian publishers Nov 30 2001
Balancing Mission And Money
Building Sustainable Electronic Networks for Civil Society Sep 10 1999
Balancing Mission And Money
Building Sustainable Electronic Networks for Civil Society Sep 10 1999
Wired Words
Utopia, Revolution, and the History of Electronic Highways Jun 28 1996
Volunteer and Committee Work
Aspiration - Board of Directors
Worked with executive director and other board members to develop sustainability strategy for organization aimed at getting better software solutions into the hands of non-profits. 2007 - present
Centre for Social Innovation - Open Franchising Advisor
Collaborated with board and leadership team to develop open franchising model that will allow CSI to rapidly spread it's shared workplace and incubation programs across Canada. 2008 - present
rabble.ca - Co-founder
Developed original business and technology plan and served as board member for Canada's most popular progressive news web site. 2001 - 2004
Association for Progressive Communications - Board of Directors
Served on the executive board of this global network of technology service providers serving the non-profit and charitable sectors. 1996 - 1998
Education
Independent Study (History of Community Media) - Bachelor of Arts - University of Toronto
Independent study degree looking at Challenge for Change and other early examples of community-based electronic media. The degree also included courses in international development, cultural studies and communications at Trent, Queens and Ryerson.
1988 – 1995
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