InternetNZ strengthens New Zealand’s international reach

InternetNZ strengthens New Zealand’s international reach
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Media Release - 7 March 2011

New Zealand's voice in the complex arena of global Internet governance has been strengthened, with InternetNZ contractor Keith Davidson’s appointment to a key position within ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).

Keith Davidson, a former InternetNZ President and Executive Director, has been elected unopposed as a Councillor on ICANN's ccNSO Council (the Country Code Names Supporting Organisation). Keith’s new role is as one of the two people representing the country code top level domains (like .nz) in the Asia Pacific region.

His seat on the ccNSO complements his existing international positions as Chair of the Asia Pacific Top Level Domain Association (APTLD) and as one of the three Officers for the Advisory Council of The Internet Society (ISOC). All organisational members of ISOC belong to the Advisory Council, and the Officers are elected to liaise between the organisational membership and the ISOC Board and senior staff.

InternetNZ Chief Executive Vikram Kumar says Keith's appointment to the ccNSO underscores InternetNZ's sphere of influence globally and continues the trend of New Zealanders succeeding in international Internet governance roles.

"Global relationships are a key part of our work and a significant effort we undertake on behalf of the New Zealand Internet community. Ensuring that the right New Zealanders are engaging with the right international people is essential for delivering on our vision of an open and uncaptureable Internet.

"Keith is an incredibly successful advocate for InternetNZ and New Zealand. We are delighted with his appointment to the ccNSO. His appointment is another example of the respect that Kiwis are earning for their contribution to various international organisations responsible for the Internet globally."

Vikram Kumar says former and current InternetNZ people have played an active and influential role at ICANN for many years. ICANN is chaired by another former InternetNZ President, Peter Dengate Thrush, and InternetNZ Fellow Andy Linton is one of only seven 'crypto officers', responsible in part for safeguarding the global Internet's DNSSEC security key. Andy Linton has also recently been elected as co-chair of the Policy Special Interest Group of APNIC (Asia Pacific Network Information Centre, one of five regional registries charged with ensuring the fair distribution and responsible management of IP addresses and related resources).

"While there is no one person or organisation in control of the global Internet, there are a number of NGOs that take responsibility for developing policy, standards and ensuring there is a consensus on technical matters," says Vikram Kumar.

"It is important that InternetNZ continue taking an active part at such fora, representing the New Zealand Internet community and contributing to discussions that will impact on the future expansion and evolution of the Internet."

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