New Zealander appointed to ISOC Board

New Zealander appointed to ISOC Board

InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) is pleased to announce that Wellington-based Internet luminary Keith Davidson has been appointed a trustee of the Internet Society (ISOC) - the international organisation that has the vision of “the Internet is for everyone”. He will also continue to head InternetNZ’s international work and relationships.

Elected to ISOC’s 12-strong Board, Davidson will commence his duties from August 2012 overseeing a full plate of Internet policy, governance, technology and development work.

InternetNZ Chief Executive Vikram Kumar says Keith’s experience in global Internet governance and technical and public policy will be of huge benefit to the ISOC Board. He describes the appointment as a feather in the cap for New Zealand and testament to the esteem in which Keith is held internationally.

Davidson brings a fine Internet pedigree to his Board role. From relatively humble beginnings as the owner of a Wairarapa-based ISP, he began involving himself in local Internet governance. In the 2000s he rose to become Chairman of InternetNZ (2000 – 2004), and later (2006 – 2009) served as its Executive Director. Keith also serves a number of international roles including governance positions within ICANN and APTLD (the Asia Pacific Top Level Domain Association, which is a collaboration of ccTLD operators like .nz). He has also been the prime driving force for the Pacific Internet Governance Forum, and serves on the organising committee for the Asia Pacific Internet Governance Forum. Over the past decade, he has established himself as one of the world’s foremost specialists on Internet governance.

“Keith has been co-Chair of ISOC’s Advisory Council for the past two years. His step up to ISOC’s main governance board is a first for a Kiwi and continues the tradition of New Zealander’s shining on the international Internet governance stage,” says Kumar.

“ISOC’s vision of the Internet ‘available to everyone’ is dear to Keith’s heart. We know that he will work tirelessly to help realise that vision and wish him all the best in his new role.”

In addition to its policy focus, ISOC also operates the registry for .org – one of the original top level domains – and provides the home of the Internet Engineering Task Force, which develops Internet-related technical standards. ISOC has approximately 80,000 members internationally, most of whom are members of country chapters.
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