Executive Board
Chair Florian Bailey
Ever since I attended Worldcon in Helsinki, I’ve been thinking about what it would mean to bring a Worldcon to Nuremberg. Life happened, the timing never felt right, and the idea stayed on the shelf – quietly waiting.
Last year it started to feel like the right moment. I can’t fully explain what shifted, but the second I began talking to people, something clicked: local friends and partners, didn’t hesitate – they just asked, “How can I help?”
Nuremberg feels like the right place for this moment because it holds contradictions in one city: amazing history, a slightly nerdy and introverted local character, Bavarian summer evenings – and also a very dark chapter that the city has chosen not to hide from. Nuremberg carries the weight of the rally grounds and the war, but it is also shaped by the Nuremberg Trials and the idea that accountability and human rights can be rebuilt. If science fiction is the genre of imagining futures, then this feels like a meaningful place to host a Worldcon.
A Worldcon in Nuremberg would also be an invitation to Central Europe: easy to reach, with affordable travel options – a chance to bring new fans into Worldcon and build something that lasts for decades.
Some key facts
I started one of Europe’s largest open future festivals in Nuremberg – a format where anyone can host an event. It’s not a science fiction convention (not for lack of me trying), but over the years our guests have included Charlie Stross, Bruce Sterling, Theresa Hannig, and others.
I’m also an entrepreneur, and in recent years I’ve focused on projects that build resilience and awareness against digital manipulation.
And I’m a restaurateur: together with a close friend, I helped build one of Germany’s most sustainable Michelin-starred restaurants.
I’m married to a human rights lawyer, and we have two kids — one of them with special needs.
I really like hats and cats.
florian@nuremberg2028.de
Vice Chair Ruben Wickenhäuser
When Florian asked me whether I would like to join him on a very special journey and then talked about his idea of hosting a Worldcon in Nuremberg, my first thought was: Now this is a great idea.
My second thought was: And it sounds a little bit insane—especially considering how little time there is before the voting takes place.
However, upon closer inspection, the idea became more and more realistic. Not only because Florian is an extremely resourceful and highly experienced event organiser, but also because, for me as a trained historian and professional writer, Nuremberg truly feels like the right place at the right time. Dystopia and utopia are exceptionally close in this city. Where better to discuss visions of the future?
The idea of including our European neighbours—from Eastern Europe as well as from France—is equally thrilling, and it is high time the science fiction community gave them the attention they deserve.
And as a passionate veteran Jugger player and coach, I simply can’t resist the challenge of participating in one of the greatest events of the science fiction fandom.
And so we set off on our route to Nuremberg 2028 …
As for my role, I will act as an Agile Coach: enabling the different teams, helping to identify impediments and remove roadblocks, and generally keeping an eye on a smooth and effective agile process.
Some key facts
I am a professional writer of novels, factbooks and youth novels, currently working for the oldest Science Fiction series of the world, Perry Rhodan, But I am also a Scrum Master, my foundation to act as an Agile Coach.
Back in 2002, I initiated and chaired Quo Vadis, a professional writers’ association for historical novelists, and organised national gatherings featuring public readings and lectures at historical locations such as castles. In his early days, he started a city-wide Pupils’ Initiative Against Xenophobia and Violence (SAGwas!) and was active in the Aktion Courage.
Jugger, a nerdy sports based on a post-apocalyptic Rutger Hauer movie, is my passion. So I became one one of the most renowned figures in the Jugger community. The Jugger Coach YouTube channel is just the digital side. In the “real world”, I founded four successful teams, published the first four factbooks about Jugger, served as custodian of the first three editions of the German national Jugger rulebook and organised the complex rules voting processes. I then introduced Jugger to Sweden, founded the Swedish Jugger Association (Svenska juggerförbundet), and launched an annual international Jugger festival, Järnsvenskan, held in the heart of Sweden. The event attracted teams from all over the world, including the United States, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Lithuania, and many more.
Nerd fact: I also was among the first Fuel Rats, a 3301, in Elite:Dangerous, founded the Fuel Rats Artists Collective, and have published many cartoons about our lovable group of players.
Tammy Coxen (CA): Chair, Detcon1 (2014 NASFiC), Facilitation DH for Glasgow 2024 and Member Services DH for Dublin 2019, various area head roles at other Worldcons, currently Hugo Administrator for LAconV (2026)
Colin Harris (UK): Co-Chair, Interaction (2005 Worldcon), Chair’s Staff/Advisor for multiple Worldcons including Renovation, Chicon 7 & 8, LoneStarCon 3, LAcon V, Loncon 3 and Glasgow 2024
Advisors
Bobbi Armbruster (US): Co-Chair Smofcon 32, Vice Chair Chicon 7 & Chicon 8, Division Head for Facilities, Exhibits, & Member Services for several Worldcons, and Timeline Manager for San Jose 2018, Dublin 2019, New Zealand 2020, Washington, DC 2021, Chicago 2022, Glasgow 2024, and Los Angeles 2026 as well as Chair’s Advisor for several Worldcons
Meg MacDonald (UK): Vice-Chair and DH for Promotions for Glasgow 2024, DH Program for LAcon V (2026), DH Volunteers for the Dublin 2029 Worldcon bid, and senior roles across various conventions in communications, promotions, facilitation, and programming
Sara Felix, (US): Artistic director for Dublin 2019 and Glasgow 2024 and other design related roles including head of Publications for Chicon 8 and Glasgow 2024
Bid Committee
Alan Fleming (UK): Glasgow 2024: pre- and at-con Info Desk, Fan Meetups, Fan Tables and a local area guide. Co-chairing Eastercon 2027 in Glasgow
Carolina Gomez Lagerlöf (SE): Carolina Gomez Lagerlöf (SE): DH Member Services for Loncon 3, DDH Member Services in Helsinki, DH International programme for Chengdu, AH Program Ops Discon 3, Chair for Eurocon 2011 and Titancon 2019, Chair SMOFcon 42 in Stockholm, Chair of five Swecons (Fanatastika).
Dave Hogg (US): Social Media for Worldcon 75 in 2017, Chicago in 2022, Seattle in 2025 and Los Angeles in 2026. Virtual operations for Discon 3 in 2021
Esther MacCallum-Stewart (UK): Chair, Glasgow 2024, advisor to multiple Worldcons and senior roles in Administration, Programme, WSFS, Facilities, Exhibits and Social Media
Ingo Di Bella (DE): Nuremberg Digital Festival
John Coxon (UK): Hugo Award-winning podcaster for Octothorpe, DDH of Publications for Loncon 3, and generally excited about Discords
Nicholas Whyte (BE): Promotions Division Head for Loncon 3 in 2014, Hugo Administrator for Worldcon 75 in 2017, Dublin 2019 and Glasgow 2024, also on the Hugo team 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2025
Roman Schleifer (DE): author, conrunner, Austria Cons
Shana Worthen (SE): Exhibits DDH, Loncon 3 & Dublin 2019; Member Services DH, Chicon 8; Member & Staff Services DH, Glasgow 2024
Stefan Peter Roos (DE): Tech Lead Nuremberg 28 (Ticketing, Voting Technology), various Perrycons
Steve Cooper (UK): Active in Worldcon fandom since 2002, filling a variety of roles including DH Publications, DDH & DH Facilities, DH Finance and Co-chair of the 2014 Worldcon (Loncon 3). Also active in UK conventions and has run three UK con running events and help to run two Smofcons (29 & 43).
Volunteers
Kim Kofmel (US), LAcon V Party Coordinator
Pam Burr (US), North American Promotions staff: Promotions and/or Pubs for multiple Worldcons and NASFICs (both seated and bids) over the past 10 years. Currently, Fan Table Coordinator for LA
Tim White (US), North American Promotions staff: Game Director for GameStorm 2023-24, Games for LAcon V
Bid Boosters
Adam StJohn Lawrence (DE), SCA Franconia
Alexander Haas (DE), Radio Freies Ertrus SF fan podcast
Björn Sülter (DE): publisher, author, Verlag in Farbe und Bunt
Gérard Kraus (LU) – Founder and president of Science Fiction & Fantasy Society Luxembourg, Chair of LuxCon (2014-present) and EuroCon 2022
Michael Haitel (DE), Verleger, p.machinery; SF fan
Kate Wood (UK): Member Services DDH for Glasgow 2024, Events DH for Montreal 2027, and many other mostly member services-related roles for Worldcons (2014-future) and Eastercons
Michael Vogt (DE): comic artist, illustrator of the MetropolCon ESFS-Award, Berlin
Robert Corvus (DE): author, Member of Worldcon Helsinki, San Jose, Dublin
Roger Murmann (DE): conrunner, booksaver, mini-smof, community-manager, member of Worldcon Glasgow (2×), London, Helsinki and Dublin
Science Fiction Treff Darmstadt (DE): traditional regular SF fan meetup
Tara Moritzen (DE): publisher, organiser, author, Verlag Avenyra, LarpCon Germany
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