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labelChair


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labelBenjamin Akinmoyeje

Name: Benjamin Akinmoyeje

Declared region of residence: Africa

Gender: Male

Employment: Ph.D. Research Student

Any conflicts of interest: None

Questions:

 Why do you want to serve on the EC?   I want to continue to serve on the EC because I want to help promote the voice of the non-commercial constituency and advance the cause of the group. I also want to help enhance our visibility especially as the current period requires new means of engagement. I want to help reboot the community presence in ICANN.

I look forward to continuing to help our community to grow in technical capacity, and to  contribute to the PDPs. I am also working on finding alternative sources of support for the community to help make our empowered participation sustainable.

Provide a brief biography of recent experience, associations, and affiliations relevant to serving on the Executive Committee. Describe the relevance of your personal and professional experience to serve on the NCUC Executive Committee, and identify any conflicts of interests you might have. Currently, a Ph.D. student of Informatics, at the Faculty of Computing and Informatics, Namibia University of Science and Technology, conducting academic research in the area of social media excessive use among young adults and social media platform governance, I am part of HR CCWP, I am an Article19 Internet of Rights Fellow and currently NCUC chair, I was able to initiate NCUC members call and it led to some positive engagements. I have managed to improve NCUC engagements in ICANN postCOVID19, I am working on revamping our website in collaboration with the ECs. I also engaged the NCSG e-Team.

The EC performs several functional responsibilities for the Constituency. What level of time commitment can you bring to your EC role on a weekly and overall basis?Describe any concerns or limitations on your ability to attend online meetings of the Executive Committee and ICANN Meetings in person. The EC performs several functional responsibilities for the Constituency. What level of time commitment can you bring to your EC role on a weekly and overall basis? Describe any concerns or limitations on your ability to attend online meetings of the Executive Committee and ICANN Meetings in person.

As a research student, I have the privilege of time to participate actively in the ICANN process for up to 10 hours weekly to attend ICANN online meetings. A possible area of concern may be the occasional need for quality internet access at meeting hours while I am at home.

Communication with the membership is critical. How would you keep members apprised of your EC-related activities? As the chair and having seen previous ways past chairs have  communicated with the community, I hope to emulate their communication style of always keeping members in the loop and also try to improve on it by actively engaging other platforms that technology has provided.

Such as social media platforms like Whatsapp and Twitter. As a chair, the monthly EC meetings will continue to  and also devise quarterly calls or virtual town hall meetings for NCUC members.

We are working on rebuilding our website, it will be ready in a few weeks.

How do you foresee NCUC’s function, scale, or role changing in the future? What areas of ICANN policy, if any, need more attention and why? Incumbent candidates should answer in a manner that is both backward and forward-looking, i.e. taking note of their contributions and work in the previous year.       

The New gTLD Subpro is the trending policy issue as well as the legitimacy of the Multistakeholderism, both topics require more participation of the civil society and NCUC is well positioned to keep championing these causes and I hope to keep driving the engagement and representation of the community within ICANN and outside ICANN.

In the past NCUC's functions in the future will only expand as the need for protection of the non-commercial individual users of DNS increases, as we begin to see ICANN being drawn to issues such as content moderation, and the EPDP phase 2 , use of AI, free speech (freedom of expression online) and the challenges of digital rights/ Human Rights.There may be a need for NCUC to consolidate with other SGs with similar  interests to push a common agenda. In the phase of multiple regulatory laws, and ICANN needs to continue to function, we must continue to voice the non-commercial perspective and the policies that I can develop. More than ever before individual rights to privacy and data protection have been challenged in DNS space, the situation calls for NCUC to be alert to ensure ICANN policies are sensitive to these realities.





     



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labelAsia/Australia/Pacific



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labelMili Semlani

Name: Mili Semlani
Region of residence: Asia Pacific
Gender: Female
Employment: Journalist and Community Manager @e27 [e27.co] (tech startup publication in Southeast Asia); Founder and leader at Youth4IG [youth4ig.asia]
Conflict of interest: None

Reasons for willingness to take on the position

I have been involved in the IG space since 2014 as a youth ambassador (Netmission). That has also given me insights into recognizing and addressing barriers to participate and stay engaged in regional, local, and international forums as a youth ambassador and fellow at local and regional IG forums. 

After my first ICANN fellowship, I joined NCUC and I would like to use this term to use my advance the work of enabling newcomers and youth from the APAC region to be able to actively participate in policy making. 

Alongside, revising the mailing list and enhancing communication at NCUC APAC, I also steered youth in the APAC community over the past year by collectively submitting workshop proposals to regional IGF and public comments to ICANN, organizing capacity-building webinars, strengthening the youth voice in APAC and launching the mentorship program.



I also work as a multistakeholder steering group member of the Asia Pacific IGF and am a part of the Program and Fellowship Committee and also represented NCUC and introduced newcomers at APrIGF 2019 in Russia on Day 0. I plan to use my regional connections to spread the NCUC mission and activate the APAC membership at NCUC.

Qualifications for the position
I am a tech, policy, and business journalist. I have reported in and about the Asian region with work assignments in India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Singapore and have a good understanding of our diverse region. 

I hold a Masters degree in Journalism and worked as a consultant for the BPF Gender and Access at IGF. This experience also enhanced my knowledge in IG policies and divulged my interest deeper in topics related to gender and ICT with a special focus on how ICT can be used to fight gender issues in developing Asian economies. 

Combining my skills as a journalist with my passion for public policy and interest in technology issues; it also gave me the ability to engage with various stakeholders of the multistakeholder process and formulate innovative programs to manage youth groups and volunteers leading change globally with a special focus on APAC.

In 2019, I started Youth4IG, Asia's largest youth and the only democratic youth movement in Internet Governance. It is a home for youth in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC) to meet, share ideas, and contribute to the multi-stakeholder policy-making process for IG. This leadership experience has helped me grow as a community builder.

I have been a fellow at APrIGF 2017 and 2019 and ICANN 63 and 66, inSIG 2018. Since then I am an active MSG member and co-chair of the Program Committee that organizes APrIGF. As a part of PC, I work on the sub-themes, main themes, and workshop guidelines, and program evaluations each year. I am a member of the Drafting Committee at MSG and worked on the Synthesis Document presented at IGF each year.

Time commitment
I have been part of various IG processes for over 6 years now and know it enough to get used to the workload, volunteer burnout, and working across time zones. 

I work remotely and that aids my ability to join in meetings and spend the time and energy that is needed to serve on the Executive Committee, especially in such a complex environment as ICANN. Mostly, I am eager to offer my creativity to manage the various tasks in keeping the community active and going strong.

I am absolutely motivated to make the APAC presence at ICANN not just larger but also and more importantly vocal (undoing the shy Asian stereotype) and it will be my pleasure to contribute to NCUC development and growth in the upcoming year. 




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labelEurope


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labelAmine Hacha

Candidate Statement:

* Name: Amine Hacha 

Region of residence: Europe. 

Gender: Male. 

Employment: Programmer  

 

* Any conflicts of interest: No, I do not have any conflicts of interest.

* Questions:

  1. Why do you want to serve on the EC?

I am interested in serving on the NCUC executive committee because I believe in the importance to be actively contributing to decision-making processes and collaborating with others to shape the group's strategic direction. I am motivated to bring my skills, experience, and passion to the group in order to make meaningful progress and achieve collective goals.

 

  1. Provide a brief biography of recent experience, associations, and affiliations relevant to serving on the Executive Committee. Describe the relevance of your personal and professional experience to serve on the NCUC Executive Committee, and identify any conflicts of interest you might have.

I earned BIS in Computer Science, BA in Business Management & special courses in Programming Fashion Design. I am specialized in Cybersecurity and Encryption; the Founder & President of "The Lebanese Cyberspace Association"; an ICANN fellow member (67 and 76); Alumni member of APSIG(Asia Pacific Internet Governance), INSIG, & Diplo-Switzerland. Since 2014, I have been a dedicated participant in the Internet Governance Forum, immersing myself in the realm of digital policy. Through my active involvement in both physical gatherings and virtual events such (as WSIS, IGF, ITU, and EURO-DIG), I have acquired a profound comprehension of the constantly evolving landscape of Internet governance. Moreover, I proudly serve as a member of the LMAG 2023 Board for the Lebanese IGF 2023.

I volunteer regularly and I am:

-Member of LIONS CLUBS International since 1995 where I served in several positions and responsibilities.

-YOUTH Lebanese Red Cross, Vice-President 94-97

-Beirut International Awards Festival-BIAF, Committee 2011-14

-Active in the development of the Lebanese Election since 2004. I was elected to the “Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections–LADE" Board of Directors from 2013-17 & treasurer from 2016-17.

I received numerous International awards.

 I do not like pushy people. I enjoy helping people & loves to learn new skills.

 

  1. The EC performs several functional responsibilities for the Constituency. What level of time commitment can you bring to your EC role on a weekly and overall basis? Describe any concerns or limitations on your ability to attend online meetings of the Executive Committee and ICANN Meetings in person.

I am fully committed to fulfilling my responsibilities at the EC. I can dedicate a substantial amount of time to actively contribute to the committee's work and perform the necessary tasks on a weekly basis. As for attending online meetings of the Executive Committee and ICANN Meetings in person, I am flexible and available to participate as required. However, it is worth noting that any potential concerns or limitations regarding attendance will be promptly communicated and addressed to ensure effective collaboration and fulfill the responsibilities of my EC role.

 

  1. Communication with the membership is critical. How would you keep members apprised of your EC-related activities?

To ensure effective communication with the membership regarding my EC-related activities, I would employ several strategies:

I would provide regular updates through various channels such as email or online platforms. I would encourage an open dialogue with members, welcoming their feedback, suggestions, and concerns. I will help the committee to prepare comprehensive reports summarizing EC meetings, decisions, and outcomes. in addition to all ways of collaboration.

 

  1. How do you foresee NCUC’s function, scale, or role changing in the future? What areas of ICANN policy, if any, need more attention and why? Incumbent candidates should answer in a manner that is both backward and forward-looking, i.e. taking note of their contributions and work in the previous year.

I anticipate several potential changes for the NCUC:

- The NCUC may expand its advocacy efforts to address emerging challenges in areas such as privacy, data protection, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

- The NCUC's role may extend further into the global arena, collaborating with other constituencies and stakeholders to address cross-border Internet policy issues.

- The NCUC may see growth in its membership base, attracting a more diverse range of voices and perspectives.

Regarding areas of ICANN policy that need more attention, I can see:

- Policies addressing Internet access and affordability, particularly in underserved regions, warrant increased attention. Ensuring equitable access to the Internet is crucial for fostering digital inclusion and bridging the digital divide.






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labelAfrica


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labelInes Hfaiedh






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labelNorth America


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labelKen Herman

Name, declared region of residence, gender and employment; Kenneth Herman/North America/Male/Technology Consulting

 

Any conflicts of interest; I am unaware of any conflicts of interest.

 

Please provide a short (one or two paragraphs) answer to the following questions:

 

Why do you want to serve on the EC? After a lengthy career that has a substantial non-profit, community-development focus, I believe that the NCUC EC is a natural fit as I gain experience with the ICANN processes. I believe that my background facilitating multistakeholder discussions and decision-making processes in a multicultural environment might be useful to the Executive Committee.

 

Provide a brief biography of recent experience, associations, and affiliations relevant to serving on the Executive Committee. Describe the relevance of your personal and professional experience to serve on the NCUC Executive Committee, and identify any conflicts of interests you might have. In a former career as a UN staff member for many years I regularly attended and participated in IGF meetings and the WSIS forums, including in the 2019 WSIS forum presenting in a high-level panel on gender equality in technology. With non-profit organizations I have helped to organize events at the UN that bring together international policy specialists with young people to advocate for gender balance in STEM fields. Recently I have consulting assignments with a major intergovernmental institution to support government and community cybersecurity initiatives in developing economies.

 

I have also become more immersed in the ICANN processes by self-financing my attendance at ICANN 63 (Barcelona), 64 (Kobe) and 66 (Montreal), with a focus on the non-commercial sessions and have participated as best I can in the recent ICANN virtual forums.

 

I have had my own personal domain since 1998 and have been instrumental in guiding non-profit organizations and individuals to the Internet. For example, I assisted in getting the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition (unscn.org) disentangled from the UN presence on the Internet by establishing their own domain (I did the initial registration and connected them with the appropriate local resources to maintain the Internet presence) and I did the same for a special interest group of returned Peace Corps volunteers to form a country-specific site, also by initiating their registration and ultimate transfer to the appropriate technical support services.

 

The EC performs several functional responsibilities for the Constituency. What level of time commitment can you bring to your EC role on a weekly and overall basis? Describe any concerns or limitations on your ability to attend online meetings of the Executive Committee and ICANN Meetings in person. I do not have any specific concerns or limitations regarding online participation in meetings of the EC, or in-person meetings when they resume. As mentioned, I have self-funded my attendance at many recent ICANN meetings over the past few years. While professional, and other, commitments may at times place limitations, I expect to be able to satisfy any reasonable time commitment required. My expectation is that there will be periods that will require substantial time, perhaps spanning many days over a period of weeks.

 

Communication with the membership is critical. How would you keep members apprised of your EC-related activities? I understand that communication is a necessary element of community engagement, and in addition to the normal networking tools available, I would try to reach out individually to members for their input.

 

How do you foresee NCUC’s function, scale, or role changing in the future? What areas of ICANN policy, if any, need more attention and why? Incumbent candidates should answer in a manner that is both backward and forward-looking, i.e. taking note of their contributions and work in the previous year. I have observed during my time as an EC Rep that within ICANN (not so much the org, but the greater community) a substantial focus on satisfying the needs of commercial entities, seemingly at the expense of the rights of individuals or other non-commercial stakeholders. As part of the community I hope to strengthen my ability to advocate for a greater non-commercial voice within the entire ICANN ecosystem. Within NCUC, my observation is that there may be some benefit to a stronger human-centred approach to policy in a way that focuses more directly on users, rather than institutions.




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