Code of Conduct

1. Our commitment

Community Stack is committed to creating environments where people can learn, contribute, and participate safely.

Our communities exist to support:

• Respectful technical discussion
• Peer-led learning and knowledge exchange
• Collaboration across organisations and sectors
• Accessible participation for all

We do not tolerate behaviour that undermines safety, dignity, or trust.

2. Where this Code of Conduct applies

This Code of Conduct applies to all Community Stack spaces, including:

• In-person meetups and conferences
• Online events, webinars, and livestreams
• Community chat spaces and forums
• Speaker and sponsor interactions
• Social events connected to Community Stack programming
• Direct messages and follow-ups related to Community Stack events

It also applies to behaviour outside an event where that behaviour impacts the safety or participation of community members.

3. Expected behaviour

We expect all participants to:

• Treat others with respect and professionalism
• Be welcoming and constructive in discussions and questions
• Respect different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds
• Give people space to participate without interruption or intimidation
• Follow organiser instructions, venue rules, and safety guidance
• Prioritise inclusion and accessibility where possible
• Report concerns early so we can respond appropriately

We operate communities with stewardship before scale — trust matters more than volume.

4. Unacceptable behaviour

The following behaviours are not permitted in Community Stack spaces:

Harassment and discrimination

Including behaviour or language that targets someone based on:

• age, disability, gender identity or expression
• nationality, race, ethnicity, or religion
• sexual orientation
• physical appearance
• pregnancy, family status
• socio-economic background or educational status

Bullying, intimidation, or hostility

Including:

• aggressive behaviour
• repeated disruption of talks or Q&A
• targeted mockery or public humiliation
• unwanted sexual attention or advances

Threatening or unsafe conduct

Including:

• threats of violence
• encouraging self-harm or harm to others
• stalking or persistent unwanted contact
• deliberately creating unsafe conditions at an event

Misuse of community access

Including:

• using the event purely to harvest contacts
• spam, predatory sales behaviour, or pressure tactics
• unsolicited mass messaging to attendees
• misrepresenting your role or organisation

Disruption and sabotage

Including:

• deliberate disruption of speakers or sessions
• interfering with AV/venue operations
• undermining organisers or volunteers

Inappropriate content

Including:

• sexualised content in a professional setting
• hate speech or extremist content
• content that encourages illegal or harmful activity

5. Sponsors, partners, and commercial participation

Community Stack partners with organisations to support ecosystem sustainability. We welcome sponsors and partners who engage responsibly.

Sponsors and partners must:

• Respect the practitioner-led nature of our communities
• Keep outreach ethical and proportionate
• Only use attendee data where consent and policy allows
• Follow organiser guidance on brand presence and speaking formats

Any sponsor activity that undermines trust may result in removal from the event or future programming.

6. Photography, recording, and consent

Some events may be photographed or recorded for community communications.

We expect participants to:

• Respect requests not to be photographed
• Avoid recording individuals without consent
• Follow any event-specific media rules

If you would like to opt out of photography, please inform an organiser at the event.

7. Reporting concerns

If you feel unsafe, witness unacceptable behaviour, or have a concern:

If there is an urgent safety issue at an in-person event, contact venue security or emergency services first.

We will take every report seriously and respond as quickly as we reasonably can.

8. What happens after a report

We will:

• Listen and respond respectfully
• Prioritise safety and wellbeing
• Review the incident fairly
• Take action where appropriate
• Keep information limited to those who need to know

Where possible, we will acknowledge receipt and share next steps.

9. Enforcement and actions we may take

Community Stack reserves the right to take any action necessary to protect participants and the integrity of the ecosystem, including:

• A verbal or written warning
• Removal from an event (without refund, where applicable)
• Suspension from community spaces
• Permanent ban from events and platforms
• Escalation to venue security or law enforcement where required
• Removing speaker slots or sponsor participation

We may also decline future attendance, speaking applications, sponsorships, or partnerships where behaviour creates unacceptable risk.

10. Appeals and accountability

If you believe an action was taken unfairly, you may request a review by contacting:

conduct@communitystack.io

We will review appeals responsibly, but decisions made for safety may be final.

11. A final note

Community Stack exists to strengthen trust, resilience, and long-term ecosystem value.

That only works when people feel safe, respected, and able to participate fully.

Thank you for helping us build infrastructure that endures.