PeopleofSuperintelligence

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Bernadette Meehan

Also known as Bernadette M. Meehan

Bernadette Meehan is chief executive officer of the Wikimedia Foundation, and TIME places her among the Shapers in its 2026 TIME100 AI list. Before joining Wikimedia, she worked at JPMorgan, joined the Department of State in 2004, and served as United States ambassador to Chile from 2022 to 2025. In 2017 she helped launch the Obama Foundation. The Wikimedia Foundation appointed her in December 2025, and she took up the post in January 2026. In a March 2026 interview, she said human-created knowledge on Wikipedia is more essential than ever, even as it becomes less visible in an AI-shaped landscape.

Timeline

  1. By 2004

    Banking before public service

    She works at J.P. Morgan, helping design one of its first web-based client platforms, before she joins the Department of State in 2004.

  2. 2017

    Helping launch the Obama Foundation

    In 2017 she helps President and Mrs. Obama launch the Obama Foundation, then leads the design of its leadership development programs.

  3. 2022–2025

    Ambassador to Chile

    She serves as United States ambassador to Chile from 2022 to 2025.

  4. December 2025

    Named chief executive of Wikimedia

    In December 2025 the Wikimedia Foundation announces her appointment as chief executive officer.

  5. January 2026

    Starting the Foundation role

    She takes up the chief executive post in January 2026.

  6. March 2026

    Interview on AI and Wikipedia

    In a March 2026 interview she says human-created knowledge on Wikipedia is more essential than ever, even as it becomes less visible in an AI-shaped landscape.

  7. 2026

    Named a TIME100 AI Shaper

    TIME places her among the Shapers in its 2026 TIME100 AI list.

  8. Since 2026

    Running the Wikimedia Foundation

    She leads the Wikimedia Foundation as its chief executive officer.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Bernadette Meehan yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. User:BMeehan-WMF - Meta-Wiki meta.wikimedia.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. Wikimedia Foundation appoints Bernadette Meehan as Chief Executive Officer – Wikimedia Foundation wikimediafoundation.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. Ambassador Bernadette Meehan | Institute for the Study of Diplomacy isd.georgetown.edu. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. We interviewed Bernadette Meehan, the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, which operates Wikipedia, and asked her in detail about what Wikipedia aims to achieve in the age of AI. - GIGAZINE gigazine.net. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. Single-page edition for 2026-03-10 – The Signpost signpost.news. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. Elon Musk, Paris Hilton and Ben Affleck - TIME names 100 AI influencers qazinform.com. Checked 14 October 2026.