Aged 57, married with two grown-up children, I have been part of the TYPO3 community since 2002, contributing as a developer, mentor, consultant, and organizer. Together with my wife Petra, who later served as Vice President of the TYPO3 Association, I organized the TYPO3 User Experience Week (2014–2019) to foster collaboration between developers, designers, integrators, and users. I am also one of three authors of O'Reilly's TYPO3 Cookbook, which has helped countless developers master TYPO3’s complexities.
As the lead developer of Gridelements and maintainer of L10nmgr, I have worked on solutions that are widely used in the TYPO3 ecosystem. Currently, I am the CTO of InnoCoding GmbH, where we develop scalable digital products, AI-driven automation, and funding-based innovation projects beyond TYPO3. Additionally, I work in our family business, Cybercraft GmbH, which provides long-term maintenance and professional support for TYPO3 extensions via our project Coders.Care.
Beyond development, I am an experienced international speaker, having presented at numerous TYPO3 events, conferences, and workshops worldwide. I specialize in explaining complex technical topics in clear, engaging, and fluent English — and, of course, in German. Additionally, I have a background in digital policy, having served on a national expert committee shaping political strategies for digital transformation.
Outside of my daily work, I am passionate about media production and sustainability. I produce and film the YouTube channel 'Petra Likes Cooking', focusing on high-quality content about homemade recipes. I also enjoy hands-on projects like modernizing our 1950s home, working on photovoltaic energy solutions, and bridging the gap between technology and everyday life. Living in Hohegeiß, a mountain village in the Harz Mountains in Germany, allows me to combine my passion for digital innovation with the tranquility of nature.
TYPO3 has long been a strong CMS in specific markets and industries. However, its long-term success depends on moving beyond the ‘Not Invented Here’ mindset and embracing true interoperability — both technically and strategically. The digital landscape is evolving: modern content workflows are no longer CMS-centric but require API-driven content hubs that connect editors, AI systems, translation tools, CMS platforms, shops, and various publishing channels.
While TYPO3 already interacts with other technologies, this often happens passively rather than as part of a deliberate strategy. In contrast, many open-source projects — such as Symfony and Doctrine — have successfully positioned themselves as cross-platform components used across multiple ecosystems. With its flexible architecture, TYPO3 has the potential to play a stronger role in such environments, ensuring that content flows seamlessly between systems rather than being confined within a single platform.
Beyond technical interoperability, visibility matters. A dedicated TYPO3 conference is valuable, but true industry impact requires active participation in global events, where key decisions in digital transformation are made. TYPO3 should not only be discussed within its own community but should also be recognized and represented alongside major players in the open-source ecosystem.
To make this happen, I want to drive TYPO3’s evolution toward a more connected and visible future. Having founded initiatives and teams focused on multilingual content handling and structured content, I understand both the technical and strategic challenges involved.
Additionally, improving communication and coordination within the Association and the community between initiatives, teams, and decision-makers is crucial. Too often, valuable ideas get lost in bureaucratic loops, delaying much-needed innovation. My goal is to ensure that the TYPO3 Association Board not only supports but actively enables progress by fostering transparency, efficiency, and real-world applicability in its decisions.
TYPO3 already has a solid foundation, but its true potential lies in collaborating more effectively within the wider digital ecosystem. Open-source projects thrive on cooperation, not isolation. As a community, we can either stand together and grow, or remain fragmented and risk irrelevance. Together we stand — divided we fall.
With my background in development, content strategy, and digital policy, I bring a strong combination of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and hands-on execution to help shape this future.
Germany
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