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ICANN 2017 Nominating Committee Invitation and Suggestion for Candidates: Public Technical Identifiers

7 February 2017

This document is a comprehensive description of all of the information needed for the process of expressing interest to serve on the Board of the Public Technical Identifiers (PTI). It contains information for potential candidates, for people wishing to suggest candidates, and for the submission of statements of interest. It also provides links to other information on the ICANN website regarding the Nominating Committee (NomCom) process.

The call for candidates is now posted. Applications should be received before 21 March 2017 (23:59 UTC), and final selectees should be announced by early September 2017.

If you are interested in suggesting someone for one of the leadership positions click here.

Send all comments/questions to: nomcom2017@icann.org.

For more information about the NomCom, see http://nomcom.icann.org/.

The NomCom encourages redistribution of this Invitation for Statements of Interest and Suggestions for candidates to anyone who you think might be interested in being a candidate or nominating a candidate, provided that it is transmitted in its entirety, without any changes. The NomCom encourages translation of this Invitation and grants permission to distribute a translation to anyone who you think might be interested in being a candidate or nominating a candidate, provided that: (1) any distributed translation includes the full text of the Invitation in English in its entirety, without any changes; and (2) a copy of the translation with the identity and contact information for the translator is sent to NomCom at nomcom2017@icann.org.

Contents

  1. PTI, the corporation
  2. Important Opportunities to Contribute to this Global public private partnership
  3. Characteristics and High Qualifications Sought via the NomCom Process
  4. Criteria, Core Values and Timing for Positions to be Filled by NomCom
  5. Position Roles, Eligibility Factors, and Time Commitments
  6. NomCom Process and Background
  7. How to suggest a candidate for consideration
  8. Statement of Interest – Candidate Applications

 

  1. PTI, the corporation

    PTI was formed in 2016 and is a not-for-profit public benefit corporation that operates exclusively to carry out the purposes of ICANN by performing the IANA functions on behalf of ICANN. It shall operate to the maximum extent feasible in an open and transparent manner and consistent with procedures designed to ensure fairness. PTI shall treat the IANA functions with equal priority and make decisions by applying documented policies consistently, neutrally, objectively, and fairly, without singling out any particular customer for discriminatory treatment. It shall respect the diversity of customers of the IANA functions and shall provide service to its customers in conformance with technical norms and in support of the global security, stability and resilience of the Domain Name Systems (DNS). (See https://pti.icann.org/bylaws#article3) PTI performs the IANA functions pursuant to a series of contracts with ICANN.

  2. Important Opportunities to Contribute

    The NomCom invites the participation of the Internet community in its ongoing process for selection of well qualified, accomplished individuals to serve as Directors on the PTI Board. The following seats are to be filled in the 2017 NomCom process:

    • Board of Directors (two seats)

    Those selected by the NomCom will work with accomplished colleagues from around the globe to address the Internet's technical coordination issues and related policy development matters within diverse functional, cultural, and geographic dimensions.

    Those selected will make an important public service contribution and gain useful experience and perspective. Placing the broad public interest ahead of any particular interests, they will help ensure the stability and security of the Internet.

    Those selected to serve as PTI Directors will serve without compensation but can receive travel expense reimbursement where authorized.

    The whole Internet community benefits from the commitment and efforts of the many individuals who participate in ICANN and PTI. The ICANN community respects and appreciates this dedicated contribution of time, energy and effort.

    We invite both:

    1. Suggestions of persons who should be considered for the PTI Board positions; and
    2. Applications from persons wishing to be considered for them. The NomCom looks upon all Applications equally.

    For full consideration suggestions should be submitted promptly and Applications Request forms should be received no later than 21 March 2017 at 23:59 UTC.

  3. Qualifications Sought

    The NomCom seeks women and men who have demonstrated the maturity, experience, knowledge, and skills to handle the tasks and make the judgments involved in fulfilling these important leadership roles.

    The NomCom seeks persons of the highest integrity and capability with experience and talents for problem solving, policy development, and decision-making involving diverse perspectives regarding how best to accomplish the mission and responsibilities of ICANN and PTI. Those selected in the NomCom process will also be expected to place the public interest of the global Internet ahead of any particular interests.

    The NomCom selectees are expected to be knowledgeable about the environment in which ICANN and PTI operate and the technical functions for which ICANN and PTI are responsible.

    The NomCom shall nominate two persons not employed by either ICANN or PTI as Directors to the PTI Board pursuant to and in accordance with Article 8, Section 8.1 of the ICANN Bylaws and must not be "interested persons". An "interested person" is:

    • any person compensated by ICANN or PTI for services rendered to ICANN or PTI within the previous 12 months (other than any reasonable compensation paid to a Director as a Director), whether as a full- or part-time employee, independent contractor, or otherwise or
    • any brother, sister, ancestor, descendant, spouse, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law or father-in-law of such person.

    The two persons nominated by the NomCom will serve alongside three PTI Board members selected by ICANN.

    The NomCom will apply the criteria and terms of eligibility defined in the ICANN Bylaws and PTI Bylaws to develop a pool of qualified candidates (see Section D below). In selecting from this candidate pool, the NomCom will also take into account additional considerations related to the specific roles to be filled and will support implementation of ICANN's Mission and Core Values, including its commitment to seek and support broad functional, geographic, and cultural diversity of the Internet at all levels of policy development and decision-making. The NomCom encourages wide participation in this process, and is grateful for the valuable input it will receive from those who nominate themselves or others for the positions available.

  4. Criteria and Timing for Positions to be Filled by NomCom

    Criteria

    The NomCom will use the criteria for selection of the two PTI Directors contained in Article 5, Section 5.2.3 of the PTI Bylaws. These criteria are:

    1. Accomplished persons of integrity, objectivity, and intelligence, with reputations for sound judgment and open minds, and a demonstrated capacity for thoughtful group decision-making;
    2. Persons with an understanding of PTI's purposes and the potential impact of the PTI's decisions on the global Internet community, and committed to the success of PTI;
    3. Persons who, collectively, have executive management, operational, technical, financial and corporate governance experience;
    4. Persons who, in the aggregate, have personal familiarity with the operation of generic top-level domain name registries and registrars; with country code top-level domain name registries; with IP address registries; with Internet technical standards and protocols; with policy-development procedures;
    5. and Persons who are able to work and communicate in written and spoken English.

    The NomCom welcomes and encourages participation from all members of the global Internet community. Although candidates should be able to both work and communicate well in English, there is no requirement that English be the candidate's first language.

    Additional Qualifications

    The NomCom will also use the following qualifications for the selection of PTI Directors.

    • No official of a national government or a multinational entity established by treaty or other agreement between national governments may serve as a Director. The term "official" means a person who (a) holds an elective governmental office or (b) is employed by such government or multinational entity and whose primary function with such government or entity is to develop or influence governmental or public policies.
    • No person who serves in any capacity (including as a liaison) on any Supporting Organization Council (as used in the ICANN Bylaws) or Advisory Committee (as used in the ICANN Bylaws) shall simultaneously serve as a Director of the Corporation.
    • No person who serves on the Nominating Committee in any capacity shall be eligible for nomination by any means to any position on the Board.
    • No person who serves on the EC Administration (as used in the ICANN Bylaws) while serving in that capacity shall be considered for nomination or election to the Board, nor serve simultaneously on the EC Administration and as a Director.
    • The Nominating Committee Directors must not be, and for at least the previous three years, must not have been, (a) an employee of ICANN or the Corporation, (b) a director of ICANN, or (c) an external consultant or advisor retained by ICANN (either directly in his or her individual capacity or indirectly as an employee of an organization retained by ICANN).
    • In carrying out its responsibility to nominate the Nominating Committee Directors for election by the Member, the Nominating Committee shall seek to ensure that the Board is composed of Directors who, in the aggregate, display diversity in geography, culture, skills, experience and perspective, by applying the criteria set forth in the PTI Bylaws Article 5, Section 5.2 and Section 5.3.

    In filling these positions, the NomCom will be seeking to provide PTI with members of the Board who reflect the global diversity of the Internet community and the wide range of technical, commercial and public interest, activities that are impacted by the Domain Name System.

    Timing

    By 1 July 2017, the NomCom expects to make its final selections of two Directors to the PTI Board.

  5. Position Roles and Time Commitments

    Position: PTI Board of Directors

    Number of Seats: Two

    Those persons selected by the NomCom will fill Seat 1 and Seat 2 on the PTI Board for the following terms per the PTI Bylaws. [Article 5, Section 5.5.1.1 and 5.5.1.2]

    • One NomCom PTI Director shall sit in Seat 1 – two year term. The initial term for this Director shall begin upon the election of Directors at the ICANN annual meeting in 2017 and end at the conclusion of the ICANN annual meeting in 2019 and every third year thereafter.
    • One NomCom PTI Director shall sit in Seat 2 – three year term. The initial term for this Director shall begin upon the election of Directors at the ICANN annual meeting in 2017 and end at the conclusion of the ICANN annual meeting in 2020 and every third year thereafter.

    The NomCom will use the Selection Criteria for Directors, set forth in the Bylaws, for these positions.

    Pursuant to the current Bylaws, PTI Directors will not be compensated for services rendered to PTI as Directors, except that Directors shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses (including travel) incurred solely in connection with their work on the Board. [See Article 5, Section 5.16].

    The current composition of the PTI Board of Directors is available here: https://pti.icann.org/pti-board-of-directors

    Time Commitment

    The basic responsibilities of a PTI Director requires a commitment of time which when averaged out over the year, could reach 10-15 hours each month. The time spent in these basic responsibilities is preparing for and participating in telephonic Board meetings throughout the year. There is a regular flow of information requiring attention on a fairly consistent basis. Directors may also spend additional time in connection with their work on Board Committees, of which there is a currently one (Audit), a commitment that could vary in relation to their role as Chair or Member of the Committee. Based on current workflow, the 10-15 hour/month commitment is inclusive of Committee participation.

  6. The NomCom Process and Background

    Process

    Central to the NomCom's process are the Applications received from individuals who agree to be considered for service in any of the open positions.

    Individuals interested in participating in the NomCom's PTI Board application process must submit a Candidate Application Request form to initialize the application process and complete an online Application (pro-forma Statement of Interest). 

    To begin the application process, Candidate Application Request forms must be submitted by 23:59 UTC on 21 March 2017.

    NomCom staff will acknowledge receipt of all Candidate Application Request forms submitted and provide detailed instructions on how to complete a personalized and dedicated Application form to those individuals that submitted a Candidate Application Request form.

    In order to be considered a Candidate for selection by the NomCom, the individual's personalized online Application must be completed by 23:59 UTC on 30 March 2017. Individuals that do not complete their personalized online application by 30 March 2017 will not be considered for selection by the NomCom.

    The NomCom will begin its review of Candidate information contained in the completed Application shortly after it is received and confirmed to have all the required information.

    The NomCom will evaluate Candidates in a fair and consistent manner, considering the Application, references, interviews as needed, consultations, and third-party information sources. While doing so, it will adhere to its Code of Conduct, which includes procedures regarding Confidentiality and Conflicts of Interest.

    To ensure open and frank communication with the NomCom, we have paid particular attention in our procedures to safeguarding confidentiality. Specifically, under our procedures all NomCom members will safeguard all internal NomCom communications concerning Candidates and treat them as strictly private, confidential, and for the use of the immediate committee members and NomCom staff only, without exception.

    NomCom members will not disclose outside of the Committee the identities of Candidates under consideration by the NomCom, nor any discussions about them, unless both the Candidate and the NomCom as a whole have given explicit authorization to disclose the information. Nor will the NomCom disclose the identity of those who suggested candidates or whether a specific candidate has been suggested. For more information about the procedures NomCom members follow regarding security and confidentiality of information, please refer to the Code of Conduct agreed by all members and the NomCom's Procedures.

    Note that because the NomCom will need to check references and consult selected third-party sources on a confidential basis before making its final selections, those wishing to be considered as Candidates are required to confirm this understanding of the confidentiality arrangements when they submit a Statement of Interest.

    When the NomCom has completed its selections, it will publish the identities of the Selectees. Statistical information, such as the size and nature of the candidate pool, will be published at the close of the process, as well as the NomCom's justification of the selected slate of appointees in light of the desirable skill sets. No other personally identifiable information will be publicized or retained after the selection process has been completed.

    It should be noted that this NomCom process differs from an election, although the goal is the same: to elicit the Internet community's participation in a thoughtful process leading to the selection of very well-qualified individuals to fulfill the specific roles of their positions.

    The NomCom's selections are final; no further approval or ratification will take place.

    While considerable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this Invitation, the NomCom reserves the right to make additions and corrections. If any changes are made, they will be posted on the 2017 NomCom webpage (https://www.icann.org/nomcom2017). The webpage, including announcements and answers to frequently asked questions, will be updated as the committee's work progresses.

    Background

    The NomCom operates independently from the ICANN Board, the PTI Board, ICANN's Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees. The functional and geographic diversity and independence of NomCom members enables and encourages it to select persons who are not beholden to any particular interests and are capable of representing the broader view of the Internet community.

    NomCom members act only on behalf of the interests of the global Internet community and within the scope of the ICANN Mission and the responsibilities assigned to NomCom by the ICANN Bylaws and PTI Bylaws.

    The NomCom seeks widespread participation, through submission of suggestions for candidates and Statements of Interest, to find the talent and experience needed for these roles, to inform the NomCom's decisions, and to generate the confidence and respect of the community for those whom the NomCom selects.

    Further information about the NomCom's origin, role, responsibilities, procedures, composition, and biographical information about its members have been placed on the NomCom webpage.

  7. How to suggest and encourage someone to become a candidate

    To enhance the Candidate pool from which the NomCom will choose selectees, we encourage you to suggest the name(s) of individuals whom we should invite to complete the Statement of Interest. Please note, however, that volunteering for positions is strongly encouraged: a suggestion is not compulsory in the NomCom process.

    To submit the name of someone you would like to suggest as a candidate, please (click here) and complete the online form. The form will be submitted to nomcom2017@icann.org.

    Names of people you wish to suggest as candidates should be received by the NomCom no later than 1 March 2017. The NomCom reserves the right to consider suggestions received after 1 March 2017, but makes no commitment to do so.

    The NomCom will contact by email all those for whom it receives such suggestions to request their submission of a Candidate Application Request form, but the NomCom will only consider and select individuals who have completed an Application.

    Candidate Application Request forms must be received by the NomCom no later than 21 March 2017.

  8. Candidate Applications

    To be considered for selection by the NomCom, a PTI Candidate Application Request form must be submitted no later than 23:59 UTC on 21 March 2017 and the personalized online Application must be completed by 23:59 UTC on 30 March 2017.

    Click (here) to access the online Candidate Application Request form.

    Please use these Notes to help you answer the questions in the personalized online Application. You should read the Notes carefully before answering.

    1. Satisfying eligibility and other selection criteria.

      See "PTI Leadership Positions" document for eligibility criteria and other selection factors. Describe how your work and other experience helps you meet the criteria for the position you are applying for. You may wish to describe how your previous experience is relevant to your candidacy.

    2. Familiarity with the Internet, its naming and addressing infrastructure and issues related to its security and stability, and other Internet technical functions coordinated by ICANN.

      The NomCom would like to know about your familiarity with the Internet's naming and addressing infrastructure, the DNS and other Internet technical functions coordinated by ICANN, both in technical and policy matters. Please describe any involvement with the operation of ccTLD, gTLD registries or registrars, IP address registries, or relevant DNS technical or policy development process, including Internet technical protocols and standards. Your answer should include details of any involvement with ICANN, its policy development processes including its creation and evolution, Supporting Organizations, Councils and Advisory Committees.

    3. Contribution to PTI and its purpose.

      Please state clearly how you see yourself contributing to PTI and its purpose (PTI's purpose is defined in the Bylaws https://pti.icann.org/bylaws#article3). Please highlight your personal skills and experience that would be beneficial to the organization. You should mention specific past or current contributions in fields such as board experience, international relations, technical leadership, managerial skills, languages, etc., as well as goals for your contribution in the desired position.

    4. Conflicts of Interest.

      Please refer to the PTI Conflicts of Interest Policy (https://pti.icann.org/pti-board-of-directors). This document specifically addresses conflicts for PTI Directors, Officers and key employees. If you have had any relationship with an ICANN accredited registry or registrar (other than registering a domain name) or any organization that has been in dispute with ICANN, please describe that relationship here. Conflicts of interest are not necessarily disqualifying, since we anticipate that many experienced people may have such relationships.

    5. Selecting references.

      Candidates must ask the people they select as for their agreement to do so before the referees' names are submitted to the NomCom. Those agreeing to serve as references should know they will be asked by the NomCom to provide a reference and should understand the purpose of the reference and NomCom process. The NomCom will also provide the referees with the candidate's Application when requesting information from the referees. The NomCom recommends that Candidates choose their references carefully so the NomCom has a broad view of a Candidate's experiences and abilities.

      The NomCom will not consult as a reference anyone who is also a Candidate under consideration for the same position. The NomCom encourages Candidates to identify this issue for any potential references to avoid any collision of this type. Because of our confidentiality commitment, the NomCom will be unable to advise Candidates about another person's presence in the Candidate pool, therefore in the event of a collision between the Candidate and a referee, the NomCom will not be able to identify for you whether any specific references are unusable. The NomCom will, however, encourage any colliding references to consult with the affected Candidates to identify a potential need to submit a replacement reference.

    6. Due diligence and third party references.

      ICANN will employ a professional firm to conduct due diligence on selected nominees. Due diligence will be confidential and conducted according to global industry standards. In some circumstances the NomCom may ask a third party for additional reference information under a condition of confidentiality. If there is any person or persons you would like us not to contact for any third party checks, please let us know in your Application.

Domain Name System
Internationalized Domain Name ,IDN,"IDNs are domain names that include characters used in the local representation of languages that are not written with the twenty-six letters of the basic Latin alphabet ""a-z"". An IDN can contain Latin letters with diacritical marks, as required by many European languages, or may consist of characters from non-Latin scripts such as Arabic or Chinese. Many languages also use other types of digits than the European ""0-9"". The basic Latin alphabet together with the European-Arabic digits are, for the purpose of domain names, termed ""ASCII characters"" (ASCII = American Standard Code for Information Interchange). These are also included in the broader range of ""Unicode characters"" that provides the basis for IDNs. The ""hostname rule"" requires that all domain names of the type under consideration here are stored in the DNS using only the ASCII characters listed above, with the one further addition of the hyphen ""-"". The Unicode form of an IDN therefore requires special encoding before it is entered into the DNS. The following terminology is used when distinguishing between these forms: A domain name consists of a series of ""labels"" (separated by ""dots""). The ASCII form of an IDN label is termed an ""A-label"". All operations defined in the DNS protocol use A-labels exclusively. The Unicode form, which a user expects to be displayed, is termed a ""U-label"". The difference may be illustrated with the Hindi word for ""test"" — परीका — appearing here as a U-label would (in the Devanagari script). A special form of ""ASCII compatible encoding"" (abbreviated ACE) is applied to this to produce the corresponding A-label: xn--11b5bs1di. A domain name that only includes ASCII letters, digits, and hyphens is termed an ""LDH label"". Although the definitions of A-labels and LDH-labels overlap, a name consisting exclusively of LDH labels, such as""icann.org"" is not an IDN."