The OpenSearch Project wouldn’t be where it is today without the developers, maintainers, and advocates who contribute their time, ideas, and energy to help it grow. That’s why we’re excited to launch the OpenSearch Software Foundation Ambassador Program, a new way to recognize and support standout community members who go above and beyond.
Today, we’re proud to introduce our inaugural ambassadors. This group represents a mix of contributors, content creators, organizers, and technical leaders who’ve been actively helping others learn, build, and connect with OpenSearch.
The Ambassador Program is designed to spotlight the people who are already making an impact in the OpenSearch community and give them a little more visibility and support to keep doing what they do best.
Meet the First OpenSearch Software Foundation Ambassadors
This first cohort includes folks from across the globe who work in different industries, write in different languages (human and code!), and bring different perspectives to the project. They’ve all shown a commitment to helping the OpenSearch community grow in healthy, inclusive, and technically strong ways.
Amanda Katona
Focused on growing the OpenSearch Foundation and expanding OpenSearch adoption worldwide. A natural community builder, she creates programs that empower users and organizations to get the most out of search and AI. She’s also an adventure-seeker who finds inspiration everywhere from Copenhagen dining to Utah trails.
Charlie Hull
Search consultant with deep experience in open source platforms, including OpenSearch. He helps organizations build effective search systems and integrates AI into search to improve results. Known for his honest perspective, he’s also a frequent speaker, writer, and trainer.
Dotan Horovits
Senior developer advocate at AWS and long-time OpenSearch champion. He’s been involved since the project’s inception, pushed for a foundation-led model, and now leads the Observability Technical Advisory Group. When he’s not shaping observability, he’s hosting the OpenObservability Talks podcast.
Eric Pugh
Co-founder of OpenSource Connections and contributor to OpenSearch documentation and relevance features. He helps organizations improve their search maturity and build effective OpenSearch teams. When he’s not focused on search, he’s building furniture by hand, currently working on a Danish modern couch.
Itamar Syn-Hershko
Founder of BigData Boutique, where he helps organizations run mission-critical OpenSearch clusters. With over a decade of experience in search, he advises on scaling large search and analytics systems. When not consulting or speaking, he contributes directly to the OpenSearch community.
Kassian Rosner Wren
Open source evangelist specializing in OpenSearch, AI, and developer education. They create tutorials, workshops, and talks that make search and machine learning more approachable. With a love for humor and robotics, Kassian brings energy and creativity to the OpenSearch community.
Kris Freedain
Community Manager for the OpenSearch Project and its Technical Steering Committee. He builds global user groups, connects contributors, and makes the community a welcoming space. Beyond OpenSearch, he helps run the Fosstodon Fediverse community.
Laysa Uchoa
Backend engineer contributing expertise in distributed systems, data modeling, and cloud infrastructure to OpenSearch. She focuses on performance and clean design, making the project more scalable and reliable. A dedicated search enthusiast, she still makes time to geek out over system design.
Nate Boot
Developer advocate for OpenSearch with a background in DevOps and Linux. At AWS for nearly a decade, he helps users adopt OpenSearch through user groups, conferences, and community support. He’s also into retro tech, so ask him about old video games if you catch him with a margarita.
Nils Bandener
Freelance software architect and co-maintainer of the OpenSearch security plugin. He helps strengthen the project’s security while keeping usability top of mind. Known for his pragmatic approach, his go-to phrase is, “Let’s take one step back.”
Sakshi Nasha
Software engineer at Cohesity and contributor to OpenSearch. She shares her knowledge at international conferences, helping developers learn how to get more from search technologies. Outside of work, she’s an avid athlete who enjoys trekking and cycling.
What’s Next
If you’re building cool things with OpenSearch or helping others do the same, we welcome you to express your interest in becoming an Ambassador for our next term.
Keep an eye on the OpenSearch blog and social channels, where we’ll be highlighting their stories, projects, and contributions in the weeks ahead.
Thanks to everyone who’s helped OpenSearch get to this point. We’re just getting started.
