I am standing for President of InternetNZ at a time when the organisation is facing some important challenges.

The Internet is increasingly central to the economic, social  and cultural heart of our global and national activities.  The central rationale governing the work of InternetNZ ‘an uncapturable Internet’ has never been more relevant as the Internet world increasingly clashes with pre-Internet systems and norms. 

One current issue is copyright, but content filtering, access guarantees, and the right to free speech, will all surface over the next few years as points of debate and policy divergence.  Social networking is already raising a whole new set of moral and personal security and privacy issues.

Nor will the more technical aspects of the Internet world become less urgent:  the need to find an accommodation with a rationed addressing space through encouraging the adoption of IPv6; the challenge and opportunity afforded by a hugely expanded domain name space, the need for continued technical cooperation between competing interests over, for example, peering arrangements, and the need for FTTH all highlight the need for a commercially disinterested, informed and independent voice.

When I stood for the position of Vice President in 2007, I noted that it was a time of some uncertainty about the future of the organisation.  That has proved to be all too true.  While InternetNZ continues to perform at a high level and is a recognised and highly respected contributor to the policy debates around broadband and Internet issues, we have had to face up to some problems with our organisation over the past six months.

Three years ago we set out with the best of intentions to reform the governance structures of InternetNZ.  We recognised the need for  a more professional approach; we had moved beyond the point where volunteer efforts were adequate to ensure that our voice would be heard.  At the same time, restructuring needed to preserve the nature of InternetNZ as a membership-based organisation.  Somewhere along the line we missed the boat:  we took what we believed was the best professional advice and made best efforts to implement that advice but somehow we went off the rails.  Concerns were expressed by a number of our members that placing a Board between Council and the staff would result in less input from members to the directions and policy of InternetNZ.  I am not sure that this did in fact happen.  But our experiment with an Executive Board failed.

InternetNZ is in excellent financial shape and is fortunate in being able to assist other groups who share our interest in a vibrant, secure and innovative Internet:  Netsafe, Hectors World, the 20/20 Communications Trust, the Liz Dengate Thrush Trust.  We have a wide range of interests that we are in a position to make a difference with:  the IPv6 Steering Group, the Cyberlaw fellowship, and many others.  We must ensure that we continue to use our funding responsibly and effectively.  I am very keen to see the Digital Opportunities Trust established but this may need to wait until our other structural issues are dealt with.

Since March, I have headed up a subcommittee of Council which has employed an acting CEO and assisted Richard in working out a better way forward:  a governance structure more suited to the rather unique nature of our organisation and one which draws more effectively upon the talents of the people within it.  Any proposed changes will need to be fully consulted with members.  We have some distance to go but I am optimistic that we will get there.  

So there are some important and perhaps difficult challenges ahead for the new Council.  I look forward, with your support, to serving InternetNZ as President and leader of the Council at this important time.

Relevant biographic details in brief

Currently Senior Specialist Advisor with the IT and Telecommunications Policy Group of the Ministry of Economic Development, work including NZ broadband, and Internet governance. Proudly a non-financial member (Fellow) of InternetNZ. Previously Chair of the .nz Oversight Committee. Past and present Councilor and currently Vice President.