Simon Peter Schrijver
Diversity is something we need to address in all layers of the society, not only in an organization like AST. Nevertheless we can be one of the frontrunners. We must. We have to treat people as equal, in various context. We must expose ourselves to be the organization where everybody is welcome. An organization where everybody get a chance, a listening ear for all kind of situations and challenges. First thing we can do is to organize next years CAST conference where we have diversity in gender and experience.
The AST as an organization kept on going with the things she promotes like the BBST program, CAST conferences and the Grant program. Lately we have started with webinars, but we did not keep it going. We tried a program like WHOSE (Workshop on Self Education in Software Testing). These new initiatives can be expanded. I like to start with setting up small communities of experts who can come up with webinars and provide means of self education. Communities on specific topics like security, accessibility, existing things like testing mobile apps, exploratory testing, test coaching, but also new things like testing with artificial intelligence.
I hope to build an organization which serves the test community all over the world. Start to form local chapters (geographically) where people can go to and meet up. Or seek partnerships in areas where we can contribute.
I want the AST become a modern organization which can adapt to the challenges as we facing as testers. To be a frontrunner in the new things that come to us.
5. Many people come to be AST Board of Directors candidates through a long history of community involvement. This community involvement usually involves teaching, creating and running peer conferences, creating and running regular conferences, and working with commercial entities.
Simon (Peter) is a very experienced all-round tester, who has worked since 1997 as tester, test coordinator and test manager. He has many years of experience using SBTM as a test approach. Since 2005, Simon works as an independent consultant. He visits annually at least two conferences and/or two training sessions to keep his knowledge up to date and where necessary, broaden/deepen his knowledge. The last years, Simon (Peter) can be seen as a speaker. He has spoken at several major conferences (twice at CAST) in different parts of the world.
Simon (Peter) has been an active member of the AST for about 10 years. I’ve attended the CAST conferences since 2011 (missed CAST 2015). I’ve attended some peer conferences organized thru the AST like STiFS and WOPR. I’ve become facilitator for the AST to help out with peer conferences and the CAST conference.
Simon (Peter) is also an active member of TestNet and (co-founder of) the Dutch Exploratory Workshop on Testing. In these communities of enthusiastic testers he is active with peers and discuss with them on the testing profession to keep up to date and improve themselves.