Dear Councillors, We have three candidates for the ccNSO representative to the NomCom position: 1) Mohamed Ibrahim, .so 2) Giovanni Seppia, .eu 3) Christopher To, .hk Their statements on why they wish to have the position are copied in below. Please, let me know via email who you would prefer to have the position. The position is for one year, with the possibility to be renewed for another year. I need your votes by the 14th September! Thanks, Gabi --- Mohamed Ibrahim, .so: I feel I'm ready to serve the ICT and global Internet community via ICANN to be an honour and a privilege. I will on a sabbatical leave from my university and therefore I will have time to focus on learning and focusing on this role. I'm also involved in setting up the .so ccTLD, internet society chapter of Somalia and other ICT for development related projects in Somalia. Having worked in the IT industry for two decades at different levels, there were many times I was involved in selecting and recruiting staff including some at managerial level. I have also worked and gained experience in dealing with people from different parts of the world, i.e. the Pacific region (Australia, Papua New Guinea), the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE), Africa (Somalia and Kenya). I have also lived and travelled extensively in Europe and the USA. My years in academia also gave me opportunity not only to teach and lecture but also to write papers and work with others in my field in a collaborative ways. I have gained experience in selecting potential candidates for graduate studies (Masters and Phds)among many students who apply for positions in university positions, etc. Therefore whether it was from interviewing potential employees or students my focus has always been finding the right person based on many variables beyond their technical capabilities such as their personal integrity, objectivity and intelligence. As an ex-ICT professional, public servant and now academic I value highly the importance of the broad public interest ahead of any particular interests; hence my membership to many community associations, such as the Australian computer society, friends of Music (at university), local green society (in my area) and a sport club. I'm also head of the 'one institution @ a time' initiative for Somalia, where few of us form the Somalia diaspora are working to help the rebuilding of the country focusing on one institution at a time; my area of responsibility in this initiative is helping the ICT community and hence my role as the project manager of the .so ccTLD project which will go-live in few weeks time and other ICT projects such as the internet society chapter of Somalia, assisting the universities, etc. I have been attending the ICANN conferences, IGF and ICT4D conferences over the last few years. I feel I have gained some understanding of the association works and now I'm ready to be part of its real work by volunteering to do my part in moving it forward and making sure the internet reaches everyone by doing my part of the rowing and ensuring the right people are selected to do the steering. --- Giovanni Seppia, .eu Having worked within the ccTLD community during the past ten years and having already participated in several ICANN policy-processes, I believe I am suitable for the ccNSO representative position in the NomCom. I do understand that the role implies a certain level of commitment which I am ready to undertake with the enthusiasm, flexibility and professionalism which are the values I am always trying to "ensure" in my tasks. The ICANN approach requires profiles that can both further progress the work done so far and adequately represent the need of the incredibly multicultural ccTLD community. I think I might be helpful in selecting the right people for this job. --- Christopher To, .hk: A. Why would you like to volunteer as a ccNSO representative to the NomCom? - want to contribute to the ongoing development of the Internet, in particular the Domain Name System - appreciate the efforts of ccNSO in pushing through IDN ccTLD fast track - want to ensure there are capable and knowledgeable people sitting on the ICANN Board (and different Advisory Committees and Supporting Organisations) who understand the needs of ccTLDs and can speak for these needs and fight for results beneficial to the ccTLD community - for current and future issues like the IDN ccPDP, DNS-CERT, implementation of DNSSEC, etc. B. What are your strengths for this position? - more than 10 years' experience in UDRP, domain name dispute resolution and arbitration - more than 10 years as the Secretary General of HKIAC and ADNDRC - 6 years as the Chairman of HKIRC, the registry for the .HK ccTLD - 2 years as a Member of the Consultative and Advisory Panel (CAP) of HKIRC - was previously a NomCom member - knows and understands the process and procedures and priorities involved in the nomination process - chartered electronics engineer, chartered IT professional, arbitrator, mediator, adjudicator and lawyer - hold adjunct professorships at a variety of universities in engineering and law - vice-chairman of the IET (Hong Kong Branch) and vice-chairman of HKIE - electronics division - council member of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors and understands Corporate Governance principles and procedures - excellent command of spoken and written English ---