Hi
Clearly, the Board chair attempted to interfere in the NOMCOM process by saying what she said.  Absolutely wrong for Tripti to have a personal opinion when she is sitting in a meeting as Board chair. Her statement was not ambiguous. She said NOMCOM was wrong to disregard advice from the board. What it means is that NOMCOM should appoint someone based on the advice of the board. What is now the essence of NOMCOM? This is noting but harassment of NOMCOM to say the least
   Then.....Pari, Leon and Oliver, do you understand the implications of this?  i beg to differ. 

We need to SPEAK OUT very Loudly on this ... Board's or the personal opinion of Trpti should not (NEVER) tell NOMCOM. What to do as NOMCOM is and should be independent. Thi

As for Edmon's suggestion, its good but we need to take something into context that he was not reappointed by NOMCOM  and he  has the right to feel bitter about this. He is also great guy dou.



AK

On Fri, Nov 7, 2025 at 6:55 PM Carlton Samuels via ALAC <alac@icann.org> wrote:
I tried to join the debate 8 hours ago from an area of the country ravaged by hurricane and failed.  Good thing I did too.

First, I implore you to take Leon's advice and develop a well-nuanced view of the whole kerfuffle. I would further recommend that the ALAC desist from any official response. This too shall pass.

The Board Chair is annoyed that her choice was spurned by the NomCom and that is indeed understandable. It is the position of every parent that your child is above average. She will get over it in due time. 

The At-Large sends five - count 'em - delegates to the NomCom. I concur with Olivier on this point: the overriding and compelling At-Large interest is the sustained independence of the NomCom in deciding selections. 

Edmond suggested, Judith agreed and Seun extended the matter of additional data points in the triage process for nominees towards selection. I hope you didn't miss Seun's finer sensitivities on the subject. Mark me in support down that line. 

I go one further and put my personal experience on the block. I applied for the Chair-Elect of the NomCom this last season. I was considered ineligible because - as a very kind Board associate rang and informed me - service on the NomCom is a prerequisite for consideration.  

Look at the position!  Check how it is supposed to be operationalised! What an astoundingly...well, counterintuitive prospect that this data point is a kill switch!  

I put it to you that is more insidious than a casual bellyaching eruption from a disappointed Board Chair.

And I am unanimous in that.

Carlton  


==============================
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On Fri, 7 Nov 2025 at 18:07, Seun Ojedeji via ALAC <alac@icann.org> wrote:
Hello Judith,

Am not sure this is at all a good suggestion. This assumes that one can tell about performance of an individual by just observing a single board meeting, it also suggests that appointees needs to be active within ICANN at the time nomcom folks are observing the meeting both of which be can very subjective. 

I would suggest care at introducing data points that could create unnecessary subjectivity in the process. 

There are community elected/selected positions and those data points you refer can be useful for those kind of candidates not for nomcom appointees whose candidates extend beyond the usual suspects within ICANN. 

For me the challenge of nomcom is not selection of wrong candidates, it is lack of open seats to accommodate all the qualified candidates. If there is anything to bring nomcom attention to, it could be to increase focus on non ICANN candidates and candidates from global South which is improving in recent times

Regards

----
Sent from my mobile
kindly excuse typos

On Fri, 7 Nov 2025, 4:10 pm Judith Hellerstein via ALAC, <alac@icann.org> wrote:

HI All,

Thanks, Olivier, for your comments.  I very much agree with you when you said I might not always agree with the people the NomCom appoints, but I will fight for the right of the NomCom to appoint these people.  However, I very much liked Edmun Chung's suggestion that we add some additional data points to the analysis.  He was suggesting that the Nomcom might want to observe a board meeting and see how the different board members interact.  I think this is good since it adds some additional data points to the review.  Sometimes different nominees just like others have had bad days or are too preoccupied with another task to give their full and best performance in an interview.  It happens to everyone.  However, I think the more data points there are to the evaluation, the better the team is able to analyze who will be the best candidate.  For those not currently on an ICANN board, observing another meeting where the candidate is active, whether live or recorded could provide the extra data point which would be helpful to the evaluation

Best,

Judith

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On 11/7/25 3:31 PM, Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond via ALAC wrote:
Dear all,

and I'll just add briefly that in our very community there are views pointing to both sides of the argument: some think that the NomCom is not attentive enough to the needs of the Board and of the Community and due to their independence, is not accountable to anyone and therefore the whole concept of a NomCom needs to be revisited.
Others support the NomCom's complete independence.

I must admit that looking at years of NomCom selections, some appointed candidates have been incredibly "good", surpassing all expectations, and some others have been disappointing. It is also a case of beauty being in the eye of the beholder: if the NomCom appoints someone you do not like, you tend to criticise it. If, on the other hand, it's someone who shares your opinions, then you praise the NomCom. I myself have sometimes been bewildered as to why the NomCom would make such a choice of candidate. But then, having been part of one NomCom many years ago, I also remind myself about the hours and hours of deep dive and tough discussions on the NomCom between people that sometimes have very different views, to reach a consensus, and I praise this process. 
I might not always agree with the people the NomCom appoints, but I will fight for the right of the NomCom to appoint these people. (pun intended)

Kindest regards,

Olivier

On 07/11/2025 18:59, Pari Esfandiari via ALAC wrote:

Dear All, 

Thank you all for this thoughtful exchange. I share the community’s dedication to preserving the independence of the NomCom, which is fundamental to ICANN’s legitimacy. At the same time, I believe we should distinguish between influence and institutional reflection.

From my perspective, Tripti’s remarks were not an attempt to interfere, but rather a legitimate expression of concern voiced after the NomCom’s decision—an important distinction. Board leaders, like all community members, should be able to reflect openly on governance outcomes, especially when doing so invites greater vigilance, transparency, and diligence in future selections. Honest reflection strengthens accountability; silencing it would weaken the culture of openness that defines ICANN.

Tom Barrett’s reminder of the NomCom’s autonomy and Tripti’s call for reflection are not contradictory—they are complementary expressions of care for the integrity of the system. Both underscore that accountability and independence must coexist, not compete.

Rather than issue a reactive statement, ALAC could use this moment constructively—to call for clearer communication between the Board and the NomCom on how “guidance” is conveyed and understood, and to reaffirm our shared commitment to accountability, transparency, and respect for process boundaries. In doing so, we would demonstrate leadership not by taking sides, but by protecting the integrity of the multistakeholder system itself—where independence, dialogue, and mutual respect must coexist.

Pari Esfadiari


On Fri, Nov 7, 2025 at 8:44 PM Seun Ojedeji via ALAC <alac@icann.org> wrote:
Hello Leon,

I share yours and others' understanding of Carlos' comment as well.  That said, the statement of the Chair of the Board is weighty and it can be really difficult to air personal opinions when wearing such a hat. It's a burden the bearer of the title must carry unfortunately. Not to defend her, perhaps she made the statement just to challenge nomcom to do more. 

Nevertheless, I do know that NOMCOM has a process to interact with leadership of the various stakeholders whose leaders are partly filled by nomcom including the Board, that process is not to tell nomcom how/who to select but rather to highlight what kind of skill set or other diversity ingredients etc they feel might be missing in their current composition which i believe nomcom do put into consideration.

Tom has performed his duty as nomcom Chair to rightly reiterate the importance of maintaining the independence of nomcom (to the extent possible) and it's good to hear from Leon that the Board share the same view. The same nomcom process is what was used to appoint current nomcom appointee members of the Board including the Chair and they were not just formalities; the selections were done on merit. I believe Leon will take this as a feedback to the Board hence we may be flogging the matter by having ALAC do a separate dedicated statement.

Regards


On Fri, 7 Nov 2025 at 11:56, León Felipe Sánchez Ambía via ALAC <alac@icann.org> wrote:
I too understood that Carlos is suggesting something should be said in support of Tom’s statement in order to avoid undue interference with NomCom’s independence.

Now, having said that, let me clarify that it is not the Board being referred in Tom’s statement. His statement was addressed to the Board’s Chair as she made statements regarding her disappointment on past NomCom’s cycle selections and she was also clear that this was her personal sentiment and not of the Board.

My view is  that the Board respects and supports the NomCom’s independence and also respects and supports its processes and Delegates. Proof of this is the vote on the resolution that appointed Tom and James as this year’s NomCom Chair and Chair-elect, in which only two individuals abstained and the rest of the Board members present voted in favor of the resolution.

I believe an independent NomCom is one of the corner stones of our MSM and as such we need to cherish it and care for it and defend it.

Kind regards,


León

El 7 nov 2025, a las 11:32 a.m., Tijani BEN JEMAA via ALAC <alac@icann.org> escribió:

This is also What I understood from Carlos message.
Tijani
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Vanda Scartezini via ALAC <alac@icann.org> a écrit :

i understood Tom’s words were quite clear and in a positive way defending the full independence of NOMCOM. I believe  as I know what Ching said, that Carlos was just worried by the tentative of interference from the Board in the selection process of NOMCOM.
kisses 
 
From: Raymond Mamattah via ALAC <alac@icann.org>
Date: Thursday, 6 November 2025 at 18:06
To: carlos dionisio aguirre <carlosaguirre62@hotmail.com>
Cc: alac interno 2 <alac@icann.org>, 'alac-excom@atlarge-lists.icann.org <'alac-excom@atlarge-lists.icann.org>, alac-admin@icann.org <alac-admin@icann.org>
Subject: [ALAC] Re: We need to say something about this. I think.
 
Hi Carlos, 
 
I have gone through the attachment and I'm not sure I can identify where Tom went wrong. 
 
Possibly, if you could quote his exact words that are problematic and explain why they're in bad taste. This will help us all known where you are coming from.
 
My one pesewa thought. 
 
Regards, 
---
Raymond Mamattah
Accra, Ghana 🇬🇭
 
On Thu, 6 Nov 2025, 17:17 carlos dionisio aguirre via ALAC, <alac@icann.org> wrote:
In the attachment, I’m sharing a post by Ching Chao that includes the accurate transliteration of what John Barrett said during the ICANN84 Public Forum when addressing the board.
I believe we must publicly address and demand an official response to the statements made by John Barrett (NomCom Chair). What he said is deeply concerning and cannot be left unanswered.
His words reveal a troubling perspective on the NomCom’s role and independence, and they risk undermining the trust that the entire ICANN community has worked so hard to build.
We need clarity, accountability, and a firm commitment that the NomCom will continue to operate free from undue influence.
 
Carlos Dionisio Aguirre
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seun Ojedeji,
Bringing another down does not take you up - think about your action!

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