2021 Council elections
Election results
On Thursday 29 July 2021, elections were held at InternetNZ's online AGM. Below are the results of the elections.
Final election results - independently verified by Grant Thornton.
The successful appointments are:
- President: Joy Liddicoat.
- Vice President: Jay Daley
- Council member (three year term): Richard Hulse
- Council member (one year term): Jeff Montgomery.
2021 Council nominations
Nominations for the 2021 Council elections opened on 3 June 2021 for President, Vice President and TWO ordinary Council Members. The President, Vice President and first ordinary Council Member positions were for a three-year term (ending at the AGM in 2024); the second Council Member position was for the balance of the term, for one year (ending at the AGM in 2022) as per the provisions of Schedule 2 of the InternetNZ Constitution.
Nominations closed on 9th July 2021. Voting opened on 15 July 2021.
The Returning Officer received the following nominations:
For information on the nominations process, voting, constitutional amendments, rules and guidelines, please see the Council elections page.
President
Hīria Te Rangi
Why are you interested in the role you have been nominated for?
Tēna rā tātou katoa,
I te taha o toku Nanny,
Ko Hikurangi te Maunga,
Ko Waiapu te Awa,
Ko Mangahanea te Marae,
Ko Ngati Porou te Iwi.
I te taha o toku Papa,
Ko Tongariro te Maunga,
Ko Tongariro te Awa,
Ko Hirangi te Marae,
Ko Ngati Tūwharetoa te Iwi.
Ko Hīria Te Ata Te Rangi Kaiamokura ahau.
After deep korero with whānau, I have decided to stand for President of te Ipurangi o Aotearoa / InternetNZ with Jay Daley as Vice President.
We believe that while te Ipurangi o Aotearoa has extraordinary potential, it's only through a major reset that we can achieve that potential.
The reset we want to see is a te Ipurangi o Aotearoa that:
- delivers visible output instead of building capacity,
- serves the people and communities of Aotearoa instead of chasing business diversification,
- sets its policy through an ongoing korero with members instead of behind closed doors,
- derives its legitimacy and authority from a broad membership base not the spending power of .nz revenue,
- focuses on the real world benefits and harms of the Internet not 1990's principles,
and most of all, an InternetNZ that knows what it has to do, instead of repeatedly reviewing its strategy.
What skills and experience would you bring to the role?
We will reorientate the InternetNZ Council to encompass the reality of what is happening on the Internet today and as such support our CEO and the executive team to be able to meet that need. But we also need to set higher expectations of our ELT because now more than ever the people of Aotearoa need us to do the things we said we would do. An Internet for good, an Internet for all.
The way we will achieve this reset is with refocusing te Ipurangi o Aotearoa on:
- Engaging as an equal with members, related organisations, community groups and iwi;
- Being highly visible, speaking to Aotearoa whenever its leadership is needed;
- Producing a high level of output, reflecting the large staff and high organisational spend
- Actively recruiting a diverse and engaged membership;
- Recognising its own part in perpetuating the misdeeds of colonisation and takes a lead in decolonisation of the Internet;
- Advocating for an Internet that genuinely is for all; and
- Achieving the potential that we all know it is capable of.
The changes we are proposing are not for the faint of heart, they're going to be deep and difficult and the work won't be without its pitfalls. But it is work that we need to do, otherwise Internet NZ will continue to tread gently on issues both internal and external that have been plaguing us for at least the last 4 years. When right now, Aotearoa needs us to be strong, step forward and lead.
No reira, tenā ra koutou, tenā ra koutou, tenā ra tātou katoa.
Hīria
Joy Liddicoat
Why are you interested in the role you have been nominated for?
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa
I am deeply committed to InternetNZ Te Ipurangi o Aotearoa. The role of President is to Chair the Council and ensure the Chief Executive delivers on strategy set collectively by Council. We have the most diverse group of Councillors in InternetNZ history, all experts in their fields. As President I will not bring preconceived ideas, but will instead listen, understand perspectives and develop consensus. Navigating change successfully needs experience, especially as we move through a critical registry replacement project. I have the skills, maturity and intellect for this role, which needs a calm, measured approach with the ability to bring together all points of view. My extensive legal career in human rights and technology means that I understand the complex environment in which the Internet operates. Whether issues of domain name policy, data governance, machine learning, disinformation, or regulation of algorithms and extremist online content, a critical, human rights approach is needed. A human rights lens will also be vital as InternetNZ develops its role in supporting an Internet for Good,. Now is a time for strong hearts, steady hands, and level heads. My considered approach, empathy and care of people are the qualities that InternetNZ needs to support and lead this work.
In the midst of change, some things also need to stay the same: our core business in the coming year is to replace our 20 year old registry and modernise our .nz rules. As President I will ensure the success of the new .nz rules which, for the first time, include a principle related to participation of Māori in .nz. Once completed, these two changes will enable us to strengthen community support, including our annual $1 million grants programme.
As President I will not be operationally focused. As a governing body Council has one employee: the Chief Executive. I will ensure Council sets clear strategy and, with proper accountabilities in place, let the Chief Executive get on with the job, moving flexibly as appropriate.
What skills and experience would you bring to the role?
I have a strong track record of leadership, innovation and the courage to make change. In 2017 I believed it was time to upgrade InternetNZ’s operating model so that we could be more innovative and better respond to whatever challenges lay ahead. The wisdom of this foresight was apparent in the calibre of InternetNZ’s response to the Christchurch terrorist attacks in 2019, the subsequent Christchurch Call and, in 2020, our response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
I have never shied away from difficult governance issues at InternetNZ, whether the introduction of new privacy protections in our registration policy, the organisational restructure, or reducing the size of Council and adding independent directors.
I have actively encouraged a diversity of Council voices. When I ran as Vice President there were only 2 women on the then 12 member Council. In 2021, there were 6 out of 11, including 3 wahine Maori. There is more work to be done, for example, to bring Pasifika and other voices to our work and as President I will lead this important work.
As President I will support our new focus on Te Tiriti. I’m proud to have been an inaugural member of Council’s Māori Engagement Committee, supported the appointment of a Chief Advisor Māori in 2020 and the newly established Māori Design Group. While Council has yet to settle on the pace of change, there can be no doubt of the direction we are heading. I want to ensure the new Group’s success, taking care not to pre-empt their much needed advice and guidance.
Outside of InternetNZ, I have worked in community, public and corporate sectors both here and overseas. I currently chair the Rule Foundation, New Zealand’s leading rainbow community charity. I would love the opportunity to bring my experience as a funder to deepen thinking about our extensive grants and related strategy.
I seek the opportunity to lead InternetNZ Council through the next period of growth and believe I have the knowledge of where InternetNZ is and where it needs to go to successfully fulfil the role and responsibilities of the President. If elected President I will work constructively with whomever the membership elects to Council and will do so in the spirit of the whakataukī gifted to InternetNZ in 2017:
Kua rāranga tahi tātou he whāriki ipurangi mō āpōpō
Together we weave the mat, in terms of the Internet, for future generations.
Robyn Kamira
Why are you interested in the role you have been nominated for?
Good governance is an enabler—we cannot achieve meaningful things without excellent governance. Let me give you an example. In 2015, I coordinated ‘Mitimiti on the Grid’ to break connectivity barriers—to get fibre into one of the most isolated Māori communities in the country where no Telco would go. We added a femtocell for local cell coverage, got free and fast speed Internet access, and ran workshops for locals to manage their network. According to Chorus, it was the first RBI-1 connection in the country. It’s still going strong after 6 years.
Locals will say the project changed their lives. They are now safer when floods and slips lock them in with no access to emergency services. More people now come “home” to visit and they stay longer due to the connectivity. Small businesses can access online markets, products and services. And, they re-engage whānau around the world to help stoke the home fires.
‘Mitimiti on the Grid’ was considered a trail-blazer at the time and contributed to the current marae connectivity programmes we see today. The marae Trust re-shaped its decision-making processes to help bring it to fruition. Along with telco sponsors, InternetNZ also helped this project. Twice.
It was a perfect convergence of good governance and enablement. This kind of governance is strategic, trusted and trusting, and inter-generational in its thinking.
I want to be part of a team unafraid to robustly challenge itself—and that will still help projects like these happen even when its wounds are gaping. Measurable, tangible, inclusive, self-determining and life-changing.
A new Presidency offers the opportunity to re-set our pathways while maintaining what is already good about InternetNZ – and I believe there is a lot of good. However, there are challenges (there always will be, right?) and further, we are in challenging times. What should this mean for us?
The other candidates capture it perfectly. They speak boldly to the opportunity for a reset and ask for more determined efforts. Next, we may ask who is best placed to lead this?
While many voters tend to support incumbents for continuity, I’d ask you to bring at least one new person to the table. Sometimes, we need fresh perspectives, and different conversations and solutions—and I know that attempting that from the edge is difficult.
So, here we all are, a paddle in each of our hands, each one representing our unique talents, skills and intentions. Today, I wish to be seated at the back of the waka holding the hoe-tere, the steering paddle, and encouraging the paddlers in front of me to bring their collective abilities and passion towards our destinations.
Ko wai ahau e tu atu nei i mua ia koutou? Ahatia he uri ahau no Te Rarawa iwi, he uri hoki no nga iwi katoa o Tai Tokerau, me nga iwi o Aerana. Tena ko koutou nga mema, nga hau e wha o Aotearoa me te Ao whanui. Who is this standing before you? While I am primarily a descendent of Te Rarawa, I am also a descendant of most of the Far North Iwi—and also a descendant of a Dubliner, who in the 1880s sought new adventures and found them here. My acknowledgements to you, the members, and those from the four winds, Aotearoa and the world.
What skills and experience would you bring to the role?
I’ve seen mana-enhancing leadership demonstrated many times by people who can move others to action for a lofty cause. I also believe that sound decisions relating to InternetNZ’s more technical and commercial remits is necessary.
I may not have all the attributes but I do know the combined wisdoms of Councillors and members is precious and need to be given proper hearing. I’m a consultative person who will listen intently to the needs of people before lending my voice to theirs—or alternatively challenging them. I’m quiet in my nature and firm in my resolve. I’m focused, considered and clear.
I cross three sectors easily—IT, Māori and telecommunications—and have held several governance roles in all three. Currently, I‘m Deputy President of the Institute of IT Professionals and a member of the Māori Economic Development Advisory Board. I have extensive Iwi / tangata whenua networks and hold a degree in Computer Science and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Information Systems—all of which enables me to look under the hood.
I’ve been in the telco space for over ten years and have built relationships with all the NZ-based telecommunications companies and organisations, and have connections with well-regarded international telecommunication experts—all of whom I am sure will continue to help me navigate this space. I’m a member of the Māori Spectrum Working Group and the Interim Māori Spectrum Commission, both in conversations with central Government and our Telco colleagues on topics that will impact us for decades.
Underneath all that blow and bluster, I’m a seasoned roll-your-sleeves-up information technology consultant who’s delivered 100’s of IT projects through my company ‘Paua Interface’, now careering towards its third decade [www.pauainterface.nz]. Recently, I initiated ‘Tech Masterclass Aotearoa’, offering short industry courses to help small organisations de-risk their IT projects [www.pauainterface.nz/techmasterclassaotearoa]. I co-founded drone tech company ‘Incredible Skies’ four years ago and am on the pathway to train 200 Māori to be CAA certified professional drone pilots [www.incredibleskies.nz/dronetrainingscholarships].
I regularly meet at central Government level and with Ministers on various topics and am comfortable expressing the needs of my sector and communities either as a conduit for sharing information, or where necessary as an advocate.
Vice President
Jay Daley
We believe that while te Ipurangi o Aotearoa has extraordinary potential, it's only through a major reset that we can achieve that potential.
The reset we want to see is a te Ipurangi o Aotearoa that:
- delivers visible output instead of building capacity,
- serves the people and communities of Aotearoa instead of chasing business diversification,
- sets its policy through an ongoing korero with members instead of behind closed doors,
- derives its legitimacy and authority from a broad membership base not the spending power of .nz revenue,
- focuses on the real world benefits and harms of the Internet not 1990's principles,
- and most of all, an Internet NZ that knows what it has to do, instead of repeatedly reviewing its strategy.
We will reorientate the InternetNZ Council to encompass the reality of what is happening on the Internet today and as such support our CEO and the executive team to be able to meet that need. But we also need to set higher expectations of our ELT because now more than ever the people of Aotearoa need us to do the things we said we would do. An Internet for good, an Internet for all.
The way we will achieve this reset is with refocusing te Ipurangi o Aotearoa on:
- Engaging as an equal with members, related organisations, community groups and iwi;
- Being highly visible, speaking to Aotearoa whenever its leadership is needed;
- Producing a high level of output, reflecting the large staff and high organisational spend;
- Actively recruiting a diverse and engaged membership;
- Recognising its own part in perpetuating the misdeeds of colonisation and takes a lead in decolonisation of the Internet;
- Advocating for an Internet that genuinely is for all; and
- Achieving the potential that we all know it is capable of.
The changes we are proposing are not for the faint of heart, they're going to be deep and difficult and the work won't be without its pitfalls. But it is work we need to do, otherwise InternetNZ will continue to tread gently on issues both internal and external that have been plaguing us for at least the last 4 years. When right now, Aotearoa needs us to be strong, step forward and lead.
What skills and experience would you bring to the role?
My current role is IETF Executive Director, the IETF being the premier global Internet standards body, developing open standards through open processes. My previous roles have included running my own Internet consultancy, the CEO of the .nz registry, CTO of .uk and various technical roles. On the governance side I’ve been on the board of .PIR (.org) and interim CEO for a stint, on various volunteer boards, a school board and I am on the board of the charity Whare Hauora along with Hiria Te Rangi and ex-councillor Amber Craig. Internationally, I’ve been active in ICANN and related organisations for many years, including serving on a key appointed security advisory committee.
I learnt my governance skills from the excellent board chairs that I have either reported to as CEO or supported as a board member. These skills are well enough developed that I took the lead in resetting the board governance framework for PIR, a US$100m not-for-profit. I am one of those board members that understands the role of a governing body as supporting and managing the CEO to deliver the strategy of the organisation, not to try and do it itself. I believe a board works best when there is a culture of mutual support and respect, free and open communication, and strong consensus.
If you elect me as Vice President then I would use my governance skills and Internet knowledge to fully support the President, Council and Executive Leadership Team.
Richard Hulse
Why are you interested in being an InternetNZ Councillor?
Vice President (or Councillor)
I’m offering to serve in the role of Vice President this year because, after two terms as a Councillor, I now have enough organisational context and experience to step up to this important role.
It’s absolutely paramount that as governors we not lose sight of the fact that InternetNZ needs to operate in a sustainable manner so that the organisation can continue to provide core services such as the DNS and registry, while also increasing grants, work on our Treaty partnership, and still be around to serve future generations.
Internet for All, and Internet for Good must also remain at the core of InternetNZ’s work, but we need to do much more work to translate these into real outcomes. As with all our work, this must be sustainable.
InternetNZ has been through a lot of change in the last four years, including a simplification of the organisation’s structure, and a change in the way Council operates. Council has moved away from operational involvement, and appointed two independent directors so that we can focus on governing effectively with a strategic focus. These two changes were made to make the organisation more focussed and nimble, something we saw in action during the Christchurch Call, and during the pandemic.
More recently, InternetNZ has also embarked on a project to replace the registry platform, update the .nz policy framework, and grow partnership with Māori through the formation of our Māori Design Group (which I discuss more below).
Completing the registry replacement is central to the smooth operation of .nz, while the .nz policy update, which is being done in tranches, will create the framework for a safer internet for all New Zealanders.
Of equal importance is InternetNZ’s work to realign the strategy with the intent of Te Tiriti o Waitangi so that operational outcomes are equitably focussed.
In that regard, I am very excited about supporting and accelerating the journey to realign strategy with the intent of Te Tiriti o Waitangi at the next review of the strategy in August. I am even more excited about the establishment of a Māori Design Group that will collaborate with council and staff, and this is a significant step forward and a milestone in the history of InternetNZ.
I strongly believe that continuity and stability of governance are critical at this time, so that existing relationships can be strengthened, and momentum is not lost as we focus on work that results in real systemic change.
I, and others, would have liked to see change happening more quickly in some areas, although in the last few years we’ve had the Christchurch attacks, Christchurch Call, and Covid-19 to deal with, and this has required us to reorient multiple times, and unfortunately slowed progress in some areas.
All in all, InternetNZ can, and must, use our independence and credibility to bring about change.
What skills and experience would you bring to the role?
In terms of relevant experience, I have served primarily on the Audit & Risk committee for the last six years. The last three were as vice-chair, and most recently as chair. I was also on the subcommittee that restructured the org, and have been on the auditor review panel (selecting a new auditor), the CEO performance review committee, and the appointments committee for our independent councillors.
These positions have required a high degree of empathy, excellent relationship and negotiation skills, and the ability to work with others to develop a shared understanding of problems. Building consensus is part of Internet NZ’s DNA and culture, and I believe it is a critical skill for a Vice-President.
I do like to work behind the scenes, in a relational way, to build consensus and get things done. I don't mind if that work goes under the radar; I'm just happy to see a good result.
With the change of Vice-President and President at this election, I think this is also a time to have a fresh look at how those two roles work with the CEO, council, and our new Māori advisory panel, and I think I am ideally placed for this given the relationships I have built up over the last six years.
I am proud to say that you, the membership, have provided InternetNZ with one of the most diverse Councils (Boards) of any New Zealand organisation, and I have enjoyed being part of that. I am standing independently to give you the choice to decide the makeup of the next council, and I commit to working with the President and rest of Council to further the objects of the society.
As I have said, I’d like to move into the role of Vice-President, and I believe I am ready. But I am also standing for council. Either way, I wish to remain on council as I have a lot still to contribute, so please give me both ticks!
I look forward to continuing to serve you, and the community, in this important role.
Sarah Lee
Why are you interested in the role you have been nominated for?
Ko Matawhaura tōku maunga
Ko Rotoiti tōku moana
Ko Ngāti Rongomai tōku hapū
Ko Te Arawa tōku iwi
Ko Sarah Lee tāku ingoa
Tehei mauri ora!
Tēnā koutou katoa,
I am delighted to have been nominated for Vice President by Joy Liddicoat, (Ipurangi Aotearoa/InternetNZ's current Vice President) in the 2021 elections. I believe I have the experience, heart and skills required for this leadership role and have much to offer the incoming President and the strategic direction of the organisation.
We are living in uncertain times, COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the way we live, work and play. Lock-down underscored our day-to-day reliance on the internet and amplified existing inequities like access and affordability. Along with the many new challenges created by this global pandemic, we are grappling with racially-motivated online hate and abuse, terrorists using the internet to glorify their violence and sophisticated digital disinformation campaigns seeking to undermine COVID immunisation programmes and derail democracy.
The internet is central to these issues. There are communities in need of our support more than ever before. If Ipurangai Aotearoa/InternetNZ is to achieve our vision of an internet for good and an internet for all we need experienced and skilled leaders. As Vice President I will play an integral part of keeping the waka steady as we navigate these unchartered waters, while working collectively with the President and Council to maintain focus on the strategic horizon.
With two and a half terms on Council, I bring a depth of experience and knowledge of the organisation to the Vice President role, and am a well-respected member of Governance. I am known for my warmth and empathy, my honesty and integrity, qualities Ipurangi Aotearoa/Internet NZ and the communities we serve, would benefit from.
Overall the organisation is in good shape and waka is heading in the right direction. Council recently commissioned an independent review to check in on our progress in achieving the goals we set ourselves when we restructured the organisation. Three years ago we, Council, could not have predicted how important being a more agile and connected organisation would become. We continue to reap many of the anticipated benefits.
Steering the waka is our exceptional Group CE Jordan Carter, who has capably led the organisation through a very tumultuous few years. He is supported by a high-performing team, who are undertaking some large and complex projects, including the registry replacement. This being at the core of what we do, it’s important we maintain the course with stability and collective focus to ensure its success.
An area close to my heart is our Māori engagement mahi, where we are gaining serious traction since recruiting Raniera Albert as Chief Advisor, Māori. Raniera brings a wealth of matauranga Māori and is greatly respected in the Māori world. He is in the process of establishing a high-level Māori Design Group that will significantly boost Ipurangi Aotearoa/InternetNZ’s capacity to engage and partner with Māori in an authentic and meaningful way.
In the ccTLD world we are leading the way in indigenous matters and as Vice President, I will be better positioned to support this mahi from a Governance level.
As Vice President I will advocate at a Governance level to:
- Continue to prioritise digital inclusion, ensuring an internet for all;
- Prioritise and increase understanding of Te Ao Māori at a Governance level; • Secure two dedicated Māori seats at the governance table;
- Establish a governance internship programme for Māori;
- introduce a Māori pou within our strategic framework, based on the aspirations of the Māori community, with input from our Māori Design Group; and
- Continue to be a considered, thoughtful organisation - one that reflects on the impact of the decisions it makes and seeks to learn and grow from them.
What skills and experience would you bring to the role?
I’ve been an active Councillor since being elected in 2014, serving 5 years on InternetNZ’s grants/funding panel and leading the establishment of Te Komiti Whakauru Māori, which I have chaired since its inception in 2016.
I am a values-driven person, passionate about social change, digital inclusion and Māori succeeding as Māori. My leadership style is participatory, applying acquired knowledge, influence and people skills to achieve results.
Establishing and maintaining relationships is my super-power, resulting in authentic and productive connections. I’m a big picture person with the ability to dig down into detail, and the ability to foster a learning-mind approach has contributed to my success as a leader of positive change.
I am equally comfortable operating on a Marae as I am at the boardroom table. I’ve established credibility with key stakeholders, while ensuring a Māori lens is applied to governance matters.
My relevant experience and skills include:
- Governance experience of 13 + years
- Community development leadership
- Cross-Government relationship management
- Human and resource management
- Senior roles within Iwi and Māori organisations
- Advanced communication skills
- Change management leadership
Council members
Jeff Montgomery
Why are you interested in being an InternetNZ Councillor?
Tēna tātou katoa te whānau ō Ipurangi Aotearoa
Ko Jeff Montgomery au
Nō Rangiora ahau, kei Poneke, kei Taratahi hoki au e noho ana
Ko au te Kairehita Matua – Whānautanga, Marenga, Mārenatanga
Ko tenei te mihi mahana kia koutou
My first involvement with InternetNZ was seven years ago when I spoke about our new, multi-agency, digital service - SmartStart (www.smartstart.services.govt.nz). Since then I have led delivery of NZ passports and citizenship – with both services now fully online. I am currently working on the full replacement of NZ's birth and death registries, taking a co-design approach that includes Māori data sovereignty aspirations, and to connect our registries to enable access to other government, and possibly iwi, services.
As well as being the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, my husband and I operate tourism and hospitality businesses – with 14 .nz domain names! More details – www.linkedin.com/in/jeffmontgomerynz
I am interested in being a Councillor because I can offer:
- Deep experience in the governance of registry systems to keep .nz safe and relevant.
- Passion for an accessible and inclusive internet – so everyone can access services.
- Fresh perspectives and diversity of thought.
What skills and experience would you bring to the role?
1. Keeping .nz safe and relevant
The future of InternetNZ relies on the success and ongoing relevance of .nz domains. Keeping .nz secure and relevant must be a key focus on the Council, especially as the registry system is replaced. Issues of data cleansing, data matching, security and privacy, data sovereignty and social licence, rules and policies, algorithms and APIs, and maintaining revenue streams are crucial for InternetNZ – just as for Births, Deaths and Marriages. I bring valuable experience to the Council as we replace the registry system by the end of 2022. As well as my local experience, I participate in a range of international forums when I contribute specialist registry knowledge, including as Chair of the Pacific Civil Registrars Network and the United Nations Asia-Pacific Steering Group for Civil Registration.
2. An accessible and inclusive internet - focused on people
We have seen through COVID the importance of the ‘Internet for All’. There is a digital divide for older, disabled or poor people in our communities. There is also a digital gap for many of our businesses. It is estimated that 39% of kiwi businesses do not have their own online presence. Some have failed as a result – such as my local butcher. InternetNZ has a role in addressing this gap. My career has focused on ensuring New Zealanders get the digital government services that they want, and deserve. I will bring this customer (and member) focus to the Council.
3. A fresh perspective and diversity of thought
As the statutory, independent Registrar-General and a small business owner reliant on the internet, I bring a different perspective to the Council. I deeply respect those with technical expertise - although this is not something I offer. My focus will always be the end users of the internet, ensuring that they have a strong voice. I will also listen to InternetNZ members and bring a diversity of thought to the Council. “Actions are as important as words” will remain my mantra. I am accessible to all InternetNZ members. Contact me with any suggestions or questions - I am on all the usual channels and really happy to meet in person.
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tatou katoa.
Kelly Buehler
Why are you interested in being an InternetNZ Councillor?
Kia ora koutou.
Born and raised in California, under the shelter of the Diablo Mountains, near the shore of the San Francisco Bay, as were my parents and their parents, my home of choice is Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington. My name is Kelly Buehler.
I’m standing for Councillor of Ipurangi Aotearoa / InternetNZ, supporting Hīria Te Rangi as President & Jay Daley as Vice President. Ipurangi Aotearoa is of huge importance to me personally, and I’m keen to help it achieve its potential.
I want to help Ipurangi Aotearoa deliver clear, tangible outputs and re-think its purpose in Aotearoa and the world. We must serve the people and communities of Aotearoa online, lifting us all as a country. Aotearoa has shown before that we can lead the world to a better, more equitable society.
If this is the Ipurangi Aotearoa / InternetNZ that you want to see then please consider voting for me.
What skills and experience would you bring to the role?
I bring a broad array of capabilities stemming from years of experience in successful business management, strategy, and transformation, including 20 years of board experience in the non-profit/ charity/ education sectors.
An experienced business consultant, an MBA, and certified Enterprise Architect, I operate comfortably at a strategic level, as well as drilling deep into details.
My previous term on the Ipurangi Aotearoa / InternetNZ council included:
- Chaired the membership committee;
- Led the organisational review;
- Appointed to the DNC Board Chair Selection Committee; and
- Appointed to the Grant Committee
On other boards, I have:
- Restructured Board and Governance frameworks,
- Formulated long-range organisational goals;
- Developed policy and position papers, in consultation with, or on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer;
- Evaluated and provided support to the CEO;
- Developed full organisational constitutions and documents;
- Defined the organisation's mission and purpose;
- Ensured effective organisational planning;
- Architected organisational and membership structures and created and updated mission and vision statements; and
- Prepared financial statements and was entrusted with the control and transfer of funds.
Please elect me as part of a team focussed on bringing an Ipurangi Aotearoa that:
- Engages as an equal with its members and other stakeholders;
- Is highly visible, unafraid to speak to Aotearoa when its leadership is needed;
- Actively recruits a diverse and engaged membership;
- Recognises its part in perpetuating the misdeeds of colonisation and takes a lead in decolonisation of the Internet;
- Advocates for an Internet that genuinely is for all; and
- Achieves the potential that we all know it can.
Richard Hulse
Why are you interested in being an InternetNZ Councillor?
Vice President (or Councillor)
I’m offering to serve in the role of Vice President this year because, after two terms as a Councillor, I now have enough organisational context and experience to step up to this important role.
It’s absolutely paramount that as governors we not lose sight of the fact that InternetNZ needs to operate in a sustainable manner so that the organisation can continue to provide core services such as the DNS and registry, while also increasing grants, work on our Treaty partnership, and still be around to serve future generations.
Internet for All, and Internet for Good must also remain at the core of InternetNZ’s work, but we need to do much more work to translate these into real outcomes. As with all our work, this must be sustainable.
InternetNZ has been through a lot of change in the last four years, including a simplification of the organisation’s structure, and a change in the way Council operates. Council has moved away from operational involvement, and appointed two independent directors so that we can focus on governing effectively with a strategic focus. These two changes were made to make the organisation more focussed and nimble, something we saw in action during the Christchurch Call, and during the pandemic.
More recently, InternetNZ has also embarked on a project to replace the registry platform, update the .nz policy framework, and grow partnership with Māori through the formation of our Māori Design Group (which I discuss more below).
Completing the registry replacement is central to the smooth operation of .nz, while the .nz policy update, which is being done in tranches, will create the framework for a safer internet for all New Zealanders.
Of equal importance is InternetNZ’s work to realign the strategy with the intent of Te Tiriti o Waitangi so that operational outcomes are equitably focussed.
In that regard, I am very excited about supporting and accelerating the journey to realign strategy with the intent of Te Tiriti o Waitangi at the next review of the strategy in August. I am even more excited about the establishment of a Māori Design Group that will collaborate with council and staff, and this is a significant step forward and a milestone in the history of InternetNZ.
I strongly believe that continuity and stability of governance are critical at this time, so that existing relationships can be strengthened, and momentum is not lost as we focus on work that results in real systemic change.
I, and others, would have liked to see change happening more quickly in some areas, although in the last few years we’ve had the Christchurch attacks, Christchurch Call, and Covid-19 to deal with, and this has required us to reorient multiple times, and unfortunately slowed progress in some areas.
All in all, InternetNZ can, and must, use our independence and credibility to bring about change.
What skills and experience would you bring to the role?
In terms of relevant experience, I have served primarily on the Audit & Risk committee for the last six years. The last three were as vice-chair, and most recently as chair. I was also on the subcommittee that restructured the org, and have been on the auditor review panel (selecting a new auditor), the CEO performance review committee, and the appointments committee for our independent councillors.
These positions have required a high degree of empathy, excellent relationship and negotiation skills, and the ability to work with others to develop a shared understanding of problems. Building consensus is part of Internet NZ’s DNA and culture, and I believe it is a critical skill for a Vice-President.
I do like to work behind the scenes, in a relational way, to build consensus and get things done. I don't mind if that work goes under the radar; I'm just happy to see a good result.
With the change of Vice-President and President at this election, I think this is also a time to have a fresh look at how those two roles work with the CEO, council, and our new Māori advisory panel, and I think I am ideally placed for this given the relationships I have built up over the last six years.
I am proud to say that you, the membership, have provided InternetNZ with one of the most diverse Councils (Boards) of any New Zealand organisation, and I have enjoyed being part of that. I am standing independently to give you the choice to decide the makeup of the next council, and I commit to working with the President and rest of Council to further the objects of the society.
As I have said, I’d like to move into the role of Vice-President, and I believe I am ready. But I am also standing for council. Either way, I wish to remain on council as I have a lot still to contribute, so please give me both ticks!
I look forward to continuing to serve you, and the community, in this important role.
Alpana Roy
Why are you interested in the role you have been nominated for?
My profile as an internationally recognised scholar and legal practitioner in domain name law clearly demonstrates my sustained and genuine interest in the internet and domain name space.
I seek the role of Councillor to contribute my extensive knowledge and expertise in the regulation and proper functioning of the internet. I have written widely on the internet, including: domain name dispute resolution policies; best practices to ensure a stable, secure, reliable and open internet; factors which can compromise DNS security; promoting principles of competition, fair trading and consumer protection in the net space; ensuring organisations responsible for the administration of the internet are transparent and fully accountable. Please see my list of publications.
InternetNZ plays the pivotal role in ensuring that the internet in NZ is accessible and secure, and it would be a privilege for me to be able to apply my expertise to the policy work on internet issues faced in Aotearoa.
What skills and experience would you bring to the role?
I am currently Professor and Dean of Law at Te Piringa Faculty of Law at the University of Waikato. I have extensively published in law, and am a commissioned author for several major legal publishers, including Oxford University Press, Thomson Reuters, and LexisNexis. My book on Australian Domain Name Law has been widely acclaimed as the international authority in the area because it is the first authoritative study anywhere in the world to critically examine Australian domain name law. I also have several years of experience working as an academic and legal practitioner specialising in internet and IT law, corporate and commercial law, and intellectual property law.
Along with my considerable leadership and senior management experience outlined on my staff profile, I have the following personal skills and competence to offer InternetNZ as Councillor:
- Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to implement and maintain effective systems and processes in line with InternetNZ’s whakataukī, purpose, vision and values.
- Demonstrated and proven commitment to high ethical, personal and professional standards in all aspects of leadership and work.
- Outstanding experience and success in numerous senior leadership and governance roles in academia and legal practice.
- Demonstrated success in collaborative leadership skills, including a proven ability to create a culture of high performance and collegiality.
- Demonstrated international reputation in my field, including a significant research impact factor.
- Outstanding cross-cultural communication skills and the ability to work with a wide range of individuals and groups/ organisations to achieve objectives.
- Demonstrated understanding of the principles of anti-discrimination, equity, work health and safety and other relevant legislation, and the willingness and capacity to implement relevant policies when appropriate.
I look forward to contributing to the continuing success of InternetNZ should I be fortunate enough to be elected as Councillor.