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Executive Director's Report to Council 28/10/05

Firstly please accept my apologies for not having completed the promised monthly ED Report and Project Reports at September month end, but in my defence the issues occurring in Geneva at the time probably were of greater priority. As our staff numbers come up to budget, we will have no excuses in the future.

COUNCILLOR COMMUNICATIONS

In previous discussions it was recognised that Councillors often faced difficulties in accessing the Internet while travelling on InternetNZ business, and methods of reimbursement for Internet and Cellphone calls were cumbersome.

After investigation, Vodafone appears to have suitable products to satisfy our needs, including the provision of 3G data cards and the TeamTalk cellphone plan. Councillors are still providing information to enable a TeamTalk plan to be negotiated, but as this item will result in net cost savings, I intend to continue negotiations with Vodafone and implement any suitable plan with sufficient cost savings.

With regard to the 3G cards, Vodafone are offering the cards for free, along with a 250Mb per month data limit, for $79 per month per card. A number of councillors have indicated the card would be most useful on these terms. It is recommended that councillors would be bound to the following conditions of use:

  1. That the card remains the property of InternetNZ and be returned upon the councillor ceasing to hold office, or ceasing to require the connectivity
  2. That any excess data charges that cannot be justified as legitimate InternetNZ business be met by the councillor who incurred the charges

My recommendation to Council below is based on the acceptance of these conditions. Furthermore, if Council approve, it would be my intention to seek further discount or benefit from Vodafone before entering into an agreement with them.

I am also working with John Vorstermans with a view to enabling some ISP type services on our network, including an outgoing email server for @internetnz.net.nz email addresses, and possibly extending to website hosting etc.

At the last Council meeting while "in committee" the issue of taxi cards for councillors was discussed but no resolution recorded. I seek guidance from Council as to a decided course of action.

DELEGATED AUTHORITY

The Executive Director is expected to operate within budget and within legal requirements. Specific delegations include:

  • Staff : Executive Director to employ and manage staff as required
  • Media : Executive Director authorised to make statements to the media, and to respond to media inquiries
  • Financial:
    • Executive Director delegated to authorise any specified budget items
    • Executive Director delegated to authorise unbudgeted items up to $5,000 per item, providing total InternetNZ expenses remain within budget, and the item is, in the Executive Directors opinion, closely aligned to InternetNZ's Strategic and Business objectives
    • Executive Director to operate the budget as required, to effectively fulfil the obligations established in the Strategic Plan and the Business Plan
    • Expenses : President or Treasurer to authorise any personal reimbursements requested by the Executive Director

RENOVATIONS

Renovations enlarging the office space have been completed and the larger space appreciated by the staff, but noted that further staffing will impact on this space.

STAFFING

Susi Fookes is settling in well and proving to be an extremely valuable asset to InternetNZ. I will be embarking on an advertising / recruitment campaign within the next 2 weeks, seeking a full time "geekish wonk" to bring our staff numbers up to a full contingent. It is still probable that we will need a part time Communications person in the near future.

ISPANZ

Jordan and I, along with the Treasurer, met with representatives from ISPANZ on Wednesday 19 October. ISPANZ appears to be emerging as a useful organisation, and as well as agreeing a constitution, have established membership structure and fees, and are in the process of establishing a number of Working Groups, many of which are technical subjects in common with InternetNZ, such as IPv6, ENUM Internet Code of Practice etc.

As part of our encouragement to ISPANZ we have offered pro bono secretarial / administrative services to ISPANZ, and have suggested we join the group as an Associate Member.

I would recommend Council also extends an offer to ISPANZ to take a"seat" on each of our technically focussed Task Forces and Working Groups, in further support of their organisation, and the useful aspects of communications and consultation with that group of stakeholders.

TCF WORKING GROUPS

InternetNZ has agreed to provide secretarial and mailing list support to the anti-spam and ENUM joint working groups.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIONER

Jordan and I met with Douglas Webb and key commission staff on 20 October, at their request. The meeting was very informal and informative, and usefully we have been advised that we are welcome to raise telecommunications regulatory issues with staff on an informal basis.

DAVID CUNLIFFE

I took the liberty of writing to the Minister on behalf of InternetNZ, congratulating him on his appointment to cabinet and reappointment to the technology and telecommunications portfolios. I am seeking an appointment for INZ to meet the minister shortly before the December council meeting, and request councillors who have issues they wish to have placed on the agenda for this meeting make contact with me within the next 2 -3 weeks.

.au REGISTRY TENDER

I have been participating on the Evaluation Panel established by auDA for the assessment of tenders in the .au registry tender process. This may require a 1 day trip to Melbourne in November, at auDA's expense.

RECOMMENDATIONS

  1. That the Executive Directors Report and monthly project reports be received.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT:

  1. That the Executive Director be authorised to enter into an agreement with Vodafone for the supply and use of sufficient 3G cards to satisfy the needs of Council and staff for remote Internet connectivity.
  2. That the Delegated Authority Policy for the Executive Director be adopted.
  3. That ISPANZ be invited to nominate a member, to participate in each of the technically focussed InternetNZ working groups or task forces.

NZCS / INZ JOINT MEMBERSHIP PLAN:

  1. That the joint membership plan be adopted.

WEBSITE / CMS:

  1. That the Website project report be received.
  2. That, to allow the completion of phase one of the website project and to provide for a review of InternetNZ's web strategy, the reallocation of funds within the communications sub-lines in the budget as outlined in sections d) and e) of the Website project report be agreed.

10th FLOOR LEASE:

  1. That Council agree in principle to the concept of the lease and empower the Executive Director to continue negotiations and to make final recommendations to the December meeting.
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