Jimmy Wales

USA

Jimmy Wales, is the Internet entrepreneur best known for founding Wikipedia.org, as well as other wiki-related organisations, including the charitable organisation Wikimedia Foundation, and the for-profit company Wikia, Inc., which operates Wikia.com. Wales received his Bachelor's degree in finance from Auburn University and his Master's in finance from University of Alabama. He was appointed a fellow of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School in 2005 and in 2006, he joined the Board of Directors of the non-profit organisation Creative Commons.

In January of 2001, Wales started Wikipedia.org, the online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and in mid-2003, Wales set up the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in St. Petersburg, Florida, to support the Wikipedia.org site. In 2004, Wales co-founded Wikia, Inc. with Angela Beesley. Wikia, Inc. is a for-profit company based on principles similar to Wikipedia.org, which allows people to contribute information and opinions on any topic, in any language. As part of his work at Wikia, Inc., Wales is developing a human-powered search engine, Search Wikia, which will be based on the same open, transparent, community-driven principles of Wikia and Wikipedia.

Recently, The World Economic Forum recognised Wales as one of the 'Young Global Leaders' of 2007. This prestigious award acknowledges the top 250 young leaders across the world for their professional accomplishments, their commitment to society and their potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world. In addition, Wales received the 'Time 100 Award' in 2006, as he was named one of the world's most influential people in the 'Scientists & Thinkers' category.