We farewell Jordan Carter

Jordan Carter has stepped down as InternetNZ's CEO. 

Jordan has dedicated 19 years to InternetNZ and nine of those as CEO. We are so grateful to have had his leadership, skills, guidance and passion throughout this time. He's given so much value to InternetNZ, and the entire industry. And New Zealand is better off for his contributions.

19 years is more than a lifetime on the Internet. At the dawn of the 2,000s many of the aspects of Internet access and use, that we are so familiar with today, were yet to be imagined.

• Internet connection was mostly via 56k dial up modems.
• There were less than 100,000 domain name registrants in .nz.
• InternetNZ still operated Domainz and there was no market competitive shared registry service.
• There were no macronised vowels recognised in .nz for Te Reo Māori.
• There was no local dispute resolution system for domain name disputes.

Jordan well understood the foresight of those who created the domain name system which continues to support the Internets growth and development.

InternetNZ has a very small but important role to play in this wider network. For nearly two decades, Jordan has helped shape some of the vital infrastructural initiatives that have enabled Internet uptake across the country and the economy. These included unbundling of telecommunications networks, a competitive, well-serviced registrar market, the creation of a local domain name dispute resolution system, all while the .nz registrations have grown to more than 750,000. 

Jordan was at the forefront of these policy and regulatory debates: supporting membership discussions in the policy advisory group and amplifying these to great effect. Some more recent examples of outstanding achievements include accompanying the Prime Minister to Paris for the Christchurch Call, the constant push for digital equity and the roles he plays on the international stage in ICANN, APNIC and other spaces.

Jordan has left incredibly big shoes to fill.

I am so happy that Andrew Cushen, InternetNZ's interim CEO is doing such a great job, stepping up now. Andrew is moving InternetNZ forward. He is leading our consultation on the refreshed strategy and new annual plan that sets out InternetNZ's commitments and mahi for the coming financial year.

He has finalised an organisational structure change that Jordan set in motion. This will help to give the wonderful staff focus and structure.

And he has supported the establishment of the Maori Design Group.

I know that Council is getting excited about the year ahead. Council moves out of strategy development mode and into monitoring and accountability mode as some big projects roll out this year.

And the primary project is the new registry which is the biggest project that InternetNZ has done since being established some 25 years ago. We will also see phase two of the .nz policy review project.

I want to thank Jordan for setting up such a fantastic team, all working to make the Internet a better place in Aotearoa. With our grants, awards, sponsorships and partners.

Looking ahead, we will be recruiting a new Chief Executive, and maintaining a long term strategy for .nz. 

If we think about the changes of the last 20 years, it’s exciting to imagine and be part of shaping the next 20.

I hope some core things, which Jordan has helped instil within us, will remain the same: our free and frank advice on all matters Internet; operating world-class DNS services; hands-off regulation of content and the .nz market, and giving back to the local Internet community.

Joy Liddicoat
InternetNZ President