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Submission of SOI for APRALO VC - Kasun Tharaka
by Kasun Tharaka May 4, 2026

May 4, 2026

Dear APRALO Community and ICANN Staff, I am pleased to express my interest in serving as Vice Chair of the Asia Pacific Regional At-Large Organization (APRALO). As an active member of the ICANN At-Large community from Sri Lanka, my engagement in Internet governance has been driven by a strong commitment to advancing the interests of end users, particularly from underrepresented and underserved communities across the Asia-Pacific region. Having actively engaged in Internet governance processes at national, regional, and global levels, I have seen firsthand the persistent gaps in awareness, capacity, and meaningful participation particularly from underrepresented economies, youth professionals, and marginalized communities. I currently serve as the Country Coordinator for the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and as the Founding Chairman and Director of the Lanka School on Internet Governance (LKSIG), where I lead national and regional initiatives focused on capacity building, awareness, and multistakeholder engagement. Through these roles, I have been actively contributing to strengthening inclusive participation in Internet governance processes and bridging the gap between global policy discussions and local implementation. My involvement within the ICANN ecosystem includes active engagement with APRALO and the broader At-Large community. I am a member of the ALAC Community Engagement Subcommittee, where I contribute to enhancing community outreach and participation strategies. I am also a member of the Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) Multi-Stakeholder Group, serving as a Co-Convener of the Event Committee and a member of the Programme Committee, contributing to the planning and delivery of regional policy dialogues and capacity building initiatives. Additionally, I am a member of the Asia Pacific School on Internet Governance (APSIG) and a former Secretary of the Internet Society Sri Lanka Chapter, where I have led and supported national-level Internet governance and community development efforts. Professionally, I bring over 15 years of experience in digital transformation, capacity building, and digital governance. In my current role as Senior Manager – Capacity Building at the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka, I lead national programmes focused on digital inclusion, digital skills development, and public sector digital transformation. My work involves designing and implementing large-scale initiatives that enhance digital literacy, promote responsible technology use, and strengthen institutional capacity across diverse stakeholder groups. This experience has provided me with a strong foundation in programme design, stakeholder engagement, and policy-oriented capacity building, which are directly relevant to APRALO’s mission. I have also been actively engaged in regional and global Internet governance processes, including participation in ICANN and IGF-related initiatives. As an ICANN Fellow (ICANN86 and ICANN82) and APSIG Fellow, I have developed a strong understanding of ICANN’s bottom-up, multistakeholder model and the importance of ensuring meaningful and informed participation from end users across the region. If elected as Vice Chair, I am committed to supporting the APRALO Chair and Leadership Team in advancing APRALO’s strategic priorities and strengthening its role within the At-Large community. I will particularly focus on: • Enhancing community engagement across APRALO, with a special emphasis on marginalized communities and youth by expanding outreach efforts and creating more accessible engagement pathways. • Promoting Internet localization and inclusive participation to ensure broader representation in ICANN processes • Supporting initiatives that improve language accessibility, local content development, and awareness, enabling broader participation across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts. • Developing and promoting structured onboarding, mentorship, and training programmes to enable new and existing members to meaningfully participate in ICANN policy processes. • Strengthening collaboration within APRALO, across RALOs, and with ICANN Org, ALAC, and other stakeholders • Support transparent, accountable, and efficient processes within APRALO, including better communication, documentation, and follow-up on action items. I bring a collaborative, inclusive, and action-oriented leadership approach, grounded in practical experience across national, regional, and global multistakeholder environments. I am committed to upholding ICANN’s principles of openness, transparency, and bottom-up policymaking, and to ensuring that APRALO continues to be a strong, diverse, and impactful voice for Internet end users in the Asia-Pacific region. Serving as Vice Chair will allow me to contribute more directly to strengthening APRALO’s organizational effectiveness, enhancing community engagement, and supporting inclusive, bottom-up participation in ICANN processes. I am particularly motivated to help transform participation from passive attendance to active and informed contribution. I look forward to contributing to a stronger, more inclusive APRALO. T Thank you. Kasun Tharaka Wickramasuriya Sri Lanka -- [image: green_tree10.jpg]*Save a tree. Think Green - Read on Screen. Don't print this e-mail unless it's really necessary.* Kasun Tharaka

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Submission of SOI for APRALO VC
by Ashirwad Tripathy May 3, 2026

May 3, 2026

Dear APRALO Commnity and ICANN Staff, I hereby express my interest in serving as Vice Chair of APRALO. As an active member of the ICANN At-Large community from Nepal, I am currently serving as President of the Internet Society Nepal Chapter and Vice Chair of APrIGF MSG. My engagement in Internet governance has been driven by a commitment to advancing the interests of end users, particularly from underserved and underrepresented regions. Through my work at national, regional, and global levels, I have consistently focused on bridging the gap between grassroots communities and global policy processes, ensuring meaningful participation from diverse stakeholders across the Asia-Pacific. I am also a member of APSIG and Executive Committee Member of IEEE SA IC on Digital Resilience. Within ICANN, I have been an active contributor to APRALO and At-Large activities. I have participated in CPWG meetings, contributing to policy discussions and public comment processes. Additionally, I have been a member of the APRALO CIP- CCG since its inception, supporting efforts to enhance APRALO’s effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. As an ICANN Fellow (ICANN72 & ICANN82) and APSIG Fellow, I have cultivated a profound comprehension of ICANN’s bottom-up, multistakeholder model and the encompassing Internet governance ecosystem. My comprehensive experience spanning ICANN, IGF, and regional processes equips me to effectively contribute to APRALO’s role within the global Internet governance landscape. Should I be elected, I will prioritize the following: · Enhancing community engagement across APRALO, particularly from underrepresented economies and youth. · Enabling structured onboarding, training, and mentorship initiatives to facilitate meaningful participation in ICANN processes. · Ensuring operational effectiveness to uphold transparency, accountability, and efficiency in APRALO’s endeavors. · Strengthening coordination within APRALO, across RALOs, and with ICANN Staff and ICANN Board. PFA my detailed statement of Interest below. WBR, -- *Ashirwad Tripathy*

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**RECORDED** Re: [Ext] Re: ACTION SUDHA - APRALO Vice Chair Nomination -
by Michelle DeSmyter May 2, 2026

May 2, 2026

Dear Sudha, Thank you, your acceptance has been recorded. Kind regards, Michelle DeSmyter ________________________________ From: Sudha Bhuvaneswari <sudhanarayan03(a)gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2026 3:08 PM To: Michelle DeSmyter Cc: ICANN At-Large Staff Subject: [Ext] Re: ACTION SUDHA - APRALO Vice Chair Nomination - Dear Michelle, Thanks for the notification and I accept the nomination by Shreedeep. Regards Dr.Sudha Bhuvaneswari.N On Thu, Apr 30, 2026 at 8:21 PM Michelle DeSmyter <michelle.desmyter(a)icann.org<mailto:michelle.desmyter@icann.org>> wrote: Dear Sudha, Hello! You were nominated for the the position of APRALO Vice Chair by Shreedeep Rayamahji, a kind reminder, if you choose to accept the nomination, please know that Friday, 01 May 2026 is the deadline for nomination acceptances. Candidate statements should be submitted no later than 4 May 2026. Thank you so much! Kind regards, Michelle DeSmyter

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Fwd: [SubPro-IRT] New gTLD Program: 2026 Round now accepting applications
by Justine Chew May 1, 2026

May 1, 2026

*My apologies for the receipt of duplicates or triplicates due to cross posting* For your attention -- 2026 Next Round application submission window is now open and *will close on 12 August 2026*. Kind regards, Justine ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Jared Erwin via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt(a)icann.org> Date: Fri, 1 May 2026 at 01:10 Subject: [SubPro-IRT] New gTLD Program: 2026 Round now accepting applications To: subpro-irt(a)icann.org <subpro-irt(a)icann.org> Dear IRT Members, The New gTLD Program: 2026 Round application submission period is now open. Please see the announcement here: https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-opens-application-wind…. Congrats to all on this tremendous achievement! Best Jared -- Jared Erwin Senior Director, New gTLD Program Global Domains & Strategy (GDS) Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) jared.erwin(a)icann.org _______________________________________________ SubPro-IRT mailing list -- subpro-irt(a)icann.org To unsubscribe send an email to subpro-irt-leave(a)icann.org _______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos) You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.

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APRALO Policy Forum - EURALO Joint Webinar: Understanding the Role of Trusted Notifiers in DNS Abuse
by ICANN Policy Calendar April 29, 2026

April 29, 2026

The APRALO Policy Forum (APF) and EURALO are delighted to present a Joint Webinar on “Understanding the Role of Trusted Notifiers in DNS Abuse Mitigation” on Thursday, 07 May 2026 at 07:00 UTC for 75 minutes, where moderators Steinar Grøtterød and Justine Chew will co-host guest speakers from AXGHouse, Petillion Law, and the Trusted Notifier Network (TNN). The selection of this topic was motivated by the recent At-Large Webinar: Overview on DNS Abuse Mitigation<https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoBZP>, and is aimed at exploring the landscape of abuse mitigation efforts, and partnership opportunities with third party stakeholders active within and beyond ICANN. As such, participants can expect to gain an understanding of: 1. The concept of a trusted notifier 2. The role a trusted notifier system plays in mitigating more than just DNS abuse and making the Internet safer 3. Some real world examples of trusted notifier systems 4. How can individual Internet end users and end user networks - such as the At-Large community - work with trusted notifiers to protect end users against online abuse If you have an interest in this topic, please join us to discuss your point of view and/or to get your questions answered. Don't forget to pre-register your participation! Please let us have your questions on this topic in advance (if any) by posting them as comments to this wiki page below; or if you prefer, submit them by emailing staff at staff(a)atlarge.icann.org<mailto:staff@atlarge.icann.org> For other times: Click here<https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=APRALO+Policy+For…> The agenda and call details can be found at: https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/AYCuPw Zoom Registration Link: https://icann.zoom.us/meeting/register/FogIEc7BSlGtH6aJu_B9LA (After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.) APRALO Policy Forum Wiki Workspace: https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/OOrdBg [icann-community.atlassian.net]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/OOr…> Thank you. Kind Regards, At-Large Staff ICANN Policy Staff in support of the At-Large Community Website: atlarge.icann.org [atlarge.icann.org]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/atlarge.icann.org/__;!!PtGJab4!5YNro8f8u…>

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APRALO Policy Forum - EURALO Joint Webinar: Understanding the Role of Trusted Notifiers in DNS Abuse
by ICANN Policy Calendar April 29, 2026

April 29, 2026

The APRALO Policy Forum (APF) and EURALO are delighted to present a Joint Webinar on “Understanding the Role of Trusted Notifiers in DNS Abuse Mitigation” on Thursday, 07 May 2026 at 07:00 UTC for 75 minutes, where moderators Steinar Grøtterød and Justine Chew will co-host guest speakers from AXGHouse, Petillion Law, and the Trusted Notifier Network (TNN). The selection of this topic was motivated by the recent At-Large Webinar: Overview on DNS Abuse Mitigation<https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoBZP>, and is aimed at exploring the landscape of abuse mitigation efforts, and partnership opportunities with third party stakeholders active within and beyond ICANN. As such, participants can expect to gain an understanding of: 1. The concept of a trusted notifier 2. The role a trusted notifier system plays in mitigating more than just DNS abuse and making the Internet safer 3. Some real world examples of trusted notifier systems 4. How can individual Internet end users and end user networks - such as the At-Large community - work with trusted notifiers to protect end users against online abuse If you have an interest in this topic, please join us to discuss your point of view and/or to get your questions answered. Don't forget to pre-register your participation! Please let us have your questions on this topic in advance (if any) by posting them as comments to this wiki page below; or if you prefer, submit them by emailing staff at staff(a)atlarge.icann.org<mailto:staff@atlarge.icann.org> For other times: Click here<https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=APRALO+Policy+For…> The agenda and call details can be found at: https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/AYCuPw Zoom Registration Link: https://icann.zoom.us/meeting/register/FogIEc7BSlGtH6aJu_B9LA (After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.) APRALO Policy Forum Wiki Workspace: https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/OOrdBg [icann-community.atlassian.net]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/OOr…> Thank you. Kind Regards, At-Large Staff ICANN Policy Staff in support of the At-Large Community Website: atlarge.icann.org [atlarge.icann.org]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/atlarge.icann.org/__;!!PtGJab4!5YNro8f8u…>

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APRALO VC Nomination
by Maureen Hilyard April 29, 2026

April 29, 2026

I would like to nominate Shah Rahman for the position of Vice Chair of APRALO Shah has already served a term on the ALAC so he is aware of the roles and responsibilities of ALAC and RALO leadership. He has worked in the internet industry and has used this experience in his work in the region, including the APAC DNS Forum as well as in regional and UN-IGF events. Shah is committed to strengthening capacity building and fostering inclusive participation of normally under-represented groups in our region. Maureen Hilyard CIIAG, PICISOC, Internet Society Board. -- *Maureen Hilyard* MMgt, BBus, AdvDipTchg Development Consultant Cook Islands Internet Action Group Internet Society Board DotAsia Board At-Large Community, ICANN Multistakeholder Steering Group, APRIGF *Mobile (Cook Islands) *+682 54641 *Mobile (NZ) *+64 2108192283 *maureen.hilyard(a)gmail.com <maureen.hilyard(a)gmail.com>* *hilyard(a)oyster.net.ck <hilyard(a)oyster.net.ck>* *Linkedin <https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-hilyard-consultant/?original_referer=>* PO Box 156, Avarua, Rarotonga COOK ISLANDS

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Nomination of Shreedeep Rayamajhi for NomCom Representative of APRALO
by Mohammad Abdul Haque April 29, 2026

April 29, 2026

Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to nominate Mr. Shreedeep Rayamajhi for the position of Nomcom representative of APRALO. Shreedeep has previously served a term on the ALAC and is well acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of both ALAC and RALO leadership. He has been actively engaged in civil society Internet governance initiatives and has effectively contributed his experience at the regional level, including across the APAC region, as well as in regional and United Nations IGF events. He is strongly committed to strengthening capacity-building efforts and promoting inclusive participation, particularly among underrepresented communities in our region. I believe his experience, dedication, and collaborative approach will be valuable assets to APRALO. I kindly request your support for his nomination. Thank you. Best regards, Mohammad Abdul Haque Anu Secretary General Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum *Anu* -------------------------- *Mohammad Abdul Haque* *Secretary General | Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum |* *Member** | **MSG** | **Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum** |* *Executive Editor | The Monthly Computer Jagat |* *Chairman **| Arpon Communication Limited |* *General Body Member** | FBCCI ** |*

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ALAC SSAD SRT Members
by Heidi Ullrich April 29, 2026

April 29, 2026

Dear All, On behalf of Jonathan Zuck, ALAC Chair, please note that the ALAC-selected members on the System Standardized Access/Disclosure Supplemental Recommendations Team (SSAD SRT) have been selected by the ALAC. The members are: * Alan Greenberg, ALAC Representative to the SSAD SRT * Murray McKercher, ALAC Alternate to the SSAD SRT Kind regards, Heidi Heidi Ullrich, PhD VP, Policy Development & At-Large Relations Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Mobile: +1 310 437 3956 Fax: +1 310 823 8649 Website: atlarge.icann.org<https://atlarge.icann.org/>

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TODAY - Reminder & REGISTER!* At-Large Webinar: ICANN Global Public Interest Framework (GPIF) and its Relevance to At-Large on Tuesday, 28 April 2026 at 19:00 UTC
by ICANN At-Large Staff April 28, 2026

April 28, 2026

[cid:image001.png@01DCD713.73D40EE0] At-Large Webinar: “ICANN Global Public Interest Framework (GPIF) and its Relevance to At-Large” Zoom Registration: https://icann.zoom.us/meeting/register/yTfe4KY4T9CNSXP6u7LKfQ<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann.zoom.us/meeting/register/yTfe4KY4T…> You must register to join. Password: #gpif2026! Tuesday, 28 April 2026 at 19:00 UTC for 75 mins You are invited to participate in this At-Large Webinar: “ICANN Global Public Interest Framework (GPIF) and its Relevance to At-Large” on Tuesday, 28 April 2026 at 19:00 UTC for 75 mins, to discuss the applicability of the GPIF to the work of the At-Large in ICANN. “The role of the ALAC shall be to consider and provide advice on the activities of ICANN, insofar as they relate to the interests of individual Internet users. This includes policies created through ICANN's Supporting Organizations, as well as the many other issues for which community input and advice is appropriate.” – ICANN Bylaws, Article 12, Section 12.2(d)(i) In advocating for the interests of individual Internet users, the ALAC and At-Large community’s engagement in ICANN ought to include the consideration of the global public interest. This webinar aims to establish a common understanding of the ICANN Global Public Interest Framework to inform a discussion on its relevance and applicability to the ALAC and At-Large community’s engagement in ICANN. Join us to learn more and to offer your input to our agenda on global public interest! This webinar is part of the FY2026 At-Large Capacity Development Initiatives [docs.google.com]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/docs.google.com/document/d/1Hnv5EnPAOu99…> Interpretation will be available in English, French, and Spanish. For other times: Click Here [tinyurl.com]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/tinyurl.com/yeyjrxkm__;!!PtGJab4!5PZguuX…> The agenda and call details can be found at: https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/AYCOPg<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/AYC…> Zoom Registration: https://icann.zoom.us/meeting/register/yTfe4KY4T9CNSXP6u7LKfQ<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann.zoom.us/meeting/register/yTfe4KY4T…> You must register to join. Password: #gpif2026! Thank you. Kind regards, At-Large Staff ICANN Policy Staff in support of the At-Large Community www.icann.org<http://www.icann.org>

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