In Memoriam

Alan Barrett was a longtime member of the Internet governance community, beginning in the early 1990’s when he was involved in setting up the first Internet connection for South African universities.

Alan is credited with creating co.za zone and was instrumental in the formation of the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC), the Regional Internet Registry for Africa, and was later appointed Chief Executive Officer of AFRINIC, serving in that role from 2015 to 2019. 

As a representative of the Number Resource Organization serving on the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) Transition Group, Alan helped design the proposal that resulted in the IANA Stewardship Transition. 

He was nominated by the Address Supporting Organization to serve on the ICANN Board in 2021 and again in 2024. Among his many contributions to the Board, Alan served as Co-Chair on the Board Caucus for the New Generic Top-Level Domains Program 2026 Round. 

During his many years as an engaged member of the ICANN community, Alan contributed wisdom, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to ICANN’s mission in all discussions.

Fred Baker was a dedicated member of the Internet community for over three decades. He held numerous contributing and leadership roles in ICANN, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), and the Internet Society. He also contributed and liaised with multiple organizations, including the ITU-T, the United States Federal Communications Commission, and United States National Institute of Standards and Technology. 

Fred was active in the IETF from 1989 until 2024, including serving as IETF chair from 1996 to 2001 and Internet Architecture Board chair from 1996 to 2002. Fred authored 64 Requests for Comments on many different technologies, especially in the areas of Internet routing and IPv6. 

In 2017, Fred joined the Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC) as the primary representative from the Internet Systems Consortium (ISC), an organization he helped found in 1994. In 2018, he became a co-chair of RSSAC, and in 2019, when RSSAC replaced its two co-chairs with a chair and a vice chair, Fred became the first RSSAC chair. Fred continued serving as RSSAC chair until 2023.

Throughout his career, Fred mentored many people who are still active in the IETF and ICANN communities and was always willing to explain complex Internet technologies to policymakers and newcomers.

Nigel Hickson was a dedicated member of the ICANN organization and Internet governance community for more than two decades.

Nigel was ICANN Vice President for Europe (2012–2014) and Vice President for the U.N. and IGO (2014–2020). Returning to the U.K. government in 2020, he served two terms as Vice Chair of the Governmental Advisory Committee between March 2023 and March 2025.

Nigel joined the U.K. Civil Service in 1982. He worked on a number of policy issues including secondment to the Confederation of British Industry and as a senior adviser for the Minister for Telecommunications in Bermuda for three years. At ICANN and the U.K. Government, through his leadership, expertise, and charm, he made a huge contribution to government and industry and had an important influence with the global Internet governance community.

Joining ICANN in 2012, he helped to establish ICANN's office in Brussels. He led the organization's engagement in Brussels and across Europe. Moving to Geneva, he led ICANN delegations to the Internet Governance Forum, the International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference, the OECD, and more.

Zita Marta Wenzel played a pivotal role in the creation of ICANN. She worked in computer networking at the University of Southern California's Information Sciences Institute (ISI) alongside ICANN founder Jon Postel. In 1998, she was part of the team working to transition the oversight of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority to a new, independent organization – ICANN.

When Jon passed away unexpectedly, Zita worked to ensure that his vision came to fruition. As a result, she was present at the first ICANN Board meeting, where she was elected Interim Vice President, Interim Chief Financial Officer, and Interim Secretary.

After ICANN was established, Zita continued to work at ISI, where she served as the administrator of the .us country code top-level domain. She was active in the World-Wide Alliance of Top Level Domains, which preceded the Country Code Names Supporting Organization. In 2000, she led the effort to transfer the administration of the .us country code top-level domain to Verisign, for which she won a Meritorious Service Award from ISI.

Jonathan served on the ICANN Board from 1999 through June 2003.

He was Senior, Managing Partner of the Shapiro Cohen Group of Intellectual Property Practices, located in Ottawa, Canada. During his career, Jonathan belonged to many intellectual property organizations such as FICPI, AIPPI, AIPLA, INTA, IPIC, IPBA, LES, MARQUES, APLA, CBA, and IBA, which collectively represent the interests of all categories of intellectual property stakeholders, including small and large businesses, and individuals.

Jonathan took an active role in Internet governance reform and the ICANN formation process from the start, beginning with his participation in the WIPO-IAHC meetings in Geneva in 1997, through the formation of the DNSO, and ultimately the Intellectual Property Constituency, where he served as the IPC's first President and Names Council representative until his election to the ICANN Board. He also served on ICANN's nominating committee.

Raimundo Beca was a civil engineer and economist by training. His career in the computing field began in 1972, when he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of ECOM, the National Computing Company of Chile. After a coup in 1973 he went into exile. When he returned to Chile after a successful career in France, he immediately got involved in the local tech industry sector.

In 1999, Raimundo was a founding member of the Board of LACNIC, representing the Latin American telecom industry. From 2004 to 2010 he served as a member of the ICANN Board, appointed by his colleagues from the Internet Protocol numbers community. His work on the Board earned him the deep appreciation of the entire ICANN community. We will remember his passion to contribute to the development of the Internet ecosystem. Many organizations, such as PIR and NIC Chile, also benefited from his knowledge and wisdom.

Bill Graham served on the ICANN Board from June 2011 through June 2014.

Bill began a 20-year career working for the Canadian government in 1988. During this time he held management positions in program evaluation, strategic planning, promotion of community networking and Internet use and adoption in Canada, as well as international business development, and the information and communications technology sector.

In December 2007 Bill joined the Internet Society, where he led ISOC's strategic global engagement activities. He was responsible for ISOC's efforts to develop strategic positions on key Internet issues and to engage the highest level of global policymakers on emerging issues.

Before joining ISOC he held a number of positions with Industry Canada including, Director of International Telecommunications Policy, Senior Advisor of International Telecommunications Policy, Trade Strategy and Market Access Manager, and Coordinator of Community Networking. He has also been the Associate Director of Government Relations at Teleglobe Canada.

During part of his tenure with Industry Canada, Bill represented the Government of Canada on the Governmental Advisory Committee as Industry Canada is the Canadian government's department responsible for the technology economy. He served as the Vice-Chair of the GAC in 2007. He also represented his government at other related fora, such as the World Summit on the Information Society, Internet Governance Forum and International Telecommunications Union.

Njeri Rionge served on the ICANN Board from June 2003 through November 2008. She was the first female African representative ever seated on the Board.

A well-known and accomplished businesswoman, Njeri was the CEO and founder of Ignite Consulting & Investment Ltd., and director and co-founder of Wananchi Online Ltd., a leading IP communications solutions provider.

She was a passionate and successful leader with extensive local and international experience in strategic leadership and organizational development. Njeri frequently expressed her conviction that Africa would become the world's next great economic power and she changed the tech landscape in Kenya, and beyond.

In 2011, she was named one of Africa's most successful women by Forbes.