[Osmf-talk] Balancing the presence of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team at the OSM Foundation in 2017

[Christoph Hormann]

On Wednesday 29 November 2017, Martijn van Exel wrote:
> [...] Merely
> having an affiliation DOES NOT represent a conflict of interest. A
> conflict of interest only arises when a topic is being addressed
> where a board member has an interest in the topic stemming from their
> outside affiliation that may not align with the interest of OSMF.

I am no expert on conflicts of interests but i think this is not quite 
correct.  As i understand it a conflict of interest exists based on the 
possibility of an undue influence of a secondary interest, not just if 
such an influence is actually exercised in a meaningful way.

My understanding is that even if you know/believe your secondary 
interests (for example as a Telenav employee) align perfectly with the 
interests of the OSMF on a certain matter or even if you intend to act 
against these secondary interests you would still have to recuse 
yourself from participation in a decision making process on matters 
where your employer has an interest in due to the possibility that 
these interests do not align perfectly and you might put these 
interests above your obligation as a board member.

-- 
Christoph Hormann
http://www.imagico.de/