Dear SSC,

Thank you again for all your participation and a great call today.

As Jeff noted at the close of today’s call, his torch to Sebastien Ducos for the GNSO Liaison to the GAC role was formally passed at the ICANN81 Annual General Meeting in November 2024; as the saying goes, it only seemed like yesterday/last year (the whole process + Jeff leaving us), but while it may feel as though this occurred only last year, I would like to clarify for the record that this transition took place 2 calendar years ago, not 1. Please refer to the GNSO Council Resolutions Page for this appointment and also the SSC wiki page which documents the selection process at the time.

Given that the current position is set for a 2-year term, this would ordinarily indicate that the SSC may be tasked with the next GAC Liaison selection process in July of this year; however, as the GAC Liaison role can be extended for another 2 years (term limit of 2 consecutive 2-year terms), it is possible that a new selection process may not be required at this stage. (See GNSO Laison to the GAC description guidelines here)

That said, while the annual ICANN Fellowship Mentor selection process has now been completed and any further work for SSC this year may arise on an ad hoc basis, I thought it would be prudent to outline the recurring work for SSC, given that this matter has already been raised on two separate occasions.

Please see the recurring work for SSC below:

• ICANN Fellowship Program:
  • GNSO-appointed Mentor selection: Every January
  • GNSO-appointed Selection Committee Member: Every Other January (Next selection: 2027)
• GNSO Liaison to the GAC: Every 2 or 4 years in July (Next selection: possibly 2026 OR 2028)
• GNSO Non-Registry Liaison and Alternate to the CSC: TBC (The updated CSC Charter is currently under Public Comment until April 2026; Normally, the roles are appointed for a 2-year period with the option to renew for up to 2 additional 2-year terms, and the most recent selection, conducted in 2025, took place following a five-year interval)

As noted during the calls, all activities for SSC at this stage are ad hoc in nature, and the SSC will reconvene only if and when work is formally tasked by the GNSO Council. This may, at times, involve urgent requests with correspondingly short turnaround periods, like this time.

I hope this provides greater clarity regarding the anticipated scope of work for 2026. Please also check the SSC wiki page here outlining the recurring processes and the ad hoc processes, all of which provide additional context on each selection process.

Should any work for the SSC arise, we will provide you with an update promptly.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Kind regards,

Saewon

Saewon Lee

Policy Development Support Manager for GNSO

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)

Mobile: +1 (310) 463-5541

Email: saewon.lee@icann.org

Skype: saewon.lee.icann

Website: www.icann.org