[Ecosystem] Nominate conordb.eth

Your preferred name/ENS name: conordb.eth

Forum username: conordb.eth

Twitter profile link (optional): https://twitter.com/conordb

Why do you want to be a Steward of this Working Group?

--Background: I am the founder of Ethereum Brasil, having built a large and engaged community in Brazil over the past 2+ years. We have run multiple hackathons, dev bootcamps, conferences, startup pitching days etc.

I recently founded CODIFI (codifi.com.br) - a startup program for Brazilian startups in Blockchain for Finance, consisting of a hackathon and incubator to foster new projects in Brazil every 6 months.

Although I have lived in Brazil since 2006 working as an entrepreneur (founder x 6), I am Irish and my first language is English, as well as being fluent in Portuguese. I have a masters in International law from Trinity College Dublin and I practised as a Lawyer for 5 years in Ireland.

--So that means: — I have all the communication, technical and admin skills to do this job. — I also have lots and lots “real world” of experience outside crypto that — I work/have worked with all the main protocols in the Ethereum ecosystem with a proven track record. — I am pretty outspoken when necessary, and would not be a person who shirks from their duty to call out something that they see as not being in the best interest of the ENS community. — Our team has been applying for grants in the ecosystem over the years for various educational initiatives. I can bring the experience as a project applying for ecosystem grants, in particular for teams that are not very experienced in applying.

--Why do I want to be a steward of the Ecosystem Grants? I have seen how being successful with grants is mostly how good one is at admin/filing applications, rather than the project per se. I will explore how non-grant experts with good projects can be brought into the fold.

Transparency, accountability and arbitrariness: I have been vocal and have had very frank and public discussions with the likes of ESP on the way they decide the allocation of their grants - I have had support from other main ETH event organisers on this subject, which many believe is based more on “fren-ships” than merits of projects. Cronyism within the crypto space, for me, is destructive in the long term. Escaping from old, corrupt systems was one of the main reasons I dedicate myself to the community. It would be something that I would make sure is not present within the ENS ecosystem.

Community involvement: the community needs to be aware and involved in decision-making for the grants program through regular communication channels and feedback mechanisms.

Ecosystem grants awareness: I have a strong network in LATAM and among the principal ETH event organisers. I can help to drive awareness to ENS grants in the LATAM region and beyond.

Fresh Ideas and ways of thinking: My mantra at Ethereum Brasil, has to be “inclusive and not exclusive”. New ways of thinking and working with projects that are “not cool” are something that I am good at, being more a pragmatist than a die-hard idealist. For example, I can sit down with the likes of Banks and explain the benefits for both sides working together. Big change (mass adoption) is a long road starts with small and steps...

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Any other information you wish to share with Delegates (e.g. potential conflicts or existing engagements) - I have other projects (listed above) but these should not affect my ability to fulfil the duties as Ecosystem steward.