APNIC EC Election -- Learn more about our Endorsed Candidates.
APNIC EC Election -- Learn more about our Endorsed Candidates.
NRS ENDORSED CANDIDATES - APNIC EC Election
LU HENG - NRS endorsed candidate
VIVIAN PARIS - NRS endorsed candidate
APNIC "Asia Pacific Network Information Centre", is the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for the Asia Pacific region, making sure to provide Internet number resources (IPv4, IPv6, and ASNs) to its members. APNIC is a membership-based organization that provides Internet addressing services to the Asia Pacific region.
Current Problems
However, one might start noticing that APNIC has been deviating from its original proper course in serving the members of the Asia Pacific Region over the years to the extent that one might have the impression that APNIC is being abused by a certain group of individuals with vested interests.
The reason is that APNIC seems to fall under one man’s control, Paul Wilson. It is managed by only ONE director sitting on the board, made answerable to only ONE shareholder with only ONE share allotted and paid up, assisted by ONE secretary and that ONE person is none other than Paul Byron Wilson the man himself. While the observations we gather are far from casting aspersions as to the impartiality and legitimacy of a one-man show company being entrusted with a such huge responsibility in championing the interests of all users within the Asia Pacific Internet Region, one can’t help but question why would such an organization which self-proclaims to be a non-profit one, decides to be solely run by a single man, clearly with a vested interest, with no proper check and balance in place.
That is why Number Resource Society is hoping to steer things back on track and assert new changes and structural reforms into the system by endorsing fresh faces and injecting new blood into the organization with the end goal in mind to regain control of APNIC for its rightful stakeholder-it’s members and make it great and whole again; to make it a reliable and trusted organization that member could trust and rely upon.
Your candidates have pledged to:
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Reduce membership fees by 30 percent.
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Reaffirm community lead spirit with one world, one internet.
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Be a strong voice for businesses.
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Restructure APNIC operation.
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Ensure the executive team of APNIC are held accountable to members.
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Ensure A free market, where businesses are free to run unhindered.
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Re-incorporating APNIC with relocation to Singapore, and make APNIC carbon neutral by 2030.
NRS Endorsed Candidates
"NRS and its members have the same objective and it supports and encourages all of its members to act towards the unlimited, free and accessible internet for all. Nonetheless NRS is also an independent non-profit organisation that acts independently. Whatsoever it decides, condones, acts and behaves towards a certain decision and/or actions are unrelated to its members as well as the candidates"
An experienced multinational executive who champions a community, bottom-up approach
APNIC Election
How to Vote in the next APNIC EC election?
STEP 1. Visit https://my.apnic.net/
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Please screenshot this voting receipt in in full and send to apnic@nrs.help for accurate record keeping and prevent election fraud, thank you very much!
FAQs
1. What is Number Resource Society and who are the independent candidates NRS are endorsing?
NRS is campaigning on restoring the community led bottom up governance to ensure that the voices of the community and business’ such as yours are heard clearly. We believe that businesses like yours need a strong voice.
2. How can I vote in the APNIC Election?
To vote in the APNIC EC election, you can use the independent online voting service provider, BigPulse. The voting process is conducted entirely online and paper forms are no longer available. To vote, you must be a Member Corporate Contact, Contact with voting rights, or a duly-appointed proxy. Please follow these steps to vote: ● Log in to MyAPNIC using two-factor authentication and click the "Vote Now" link on the dashboard. ● Use the online ballot form to select the candidates of your choice and hit the "Next" button to complete your selection. ● On the confirmation page, hit the "Submit" button to confirm your ballot submission, or "Back" to make any changes. Please note that online voting is only open during specific dates, which can be found on the relevant conference page.
3. Who can vote in the APNIC Election?
All APNIC Member Corporate Contacts, Contacts with voting rights and duly-appointed proxies, are allowed to vote in the APNIC EC election.
4. How do I know if I am a Corporate Contact or Contact with voting rights?
To check your contact type and rights in MyAPNIC, log in to your account and go to: Resource Manager Admin Contact Details Keep in mind that only Corporate Contacts can check the voting permissions of othercontacts.
5. How many votes am I entitled to?
The number of votes each APNIC Member is entitled to is based on their membership tier: ● Associate: 1 vote ● Very Small: 2 votes ● Small: 4 votes ● Medium: 8 votes ● Large: 16 votes ● Very Large: 32 votes ● Extra Large: 64 votes The BigPulse system will automatically display the number of votes you are entitled to. The new system does not allow for the "splitting" of voting entitlements, so please be aware of that. Each Member must submit a single online ballot with all of their votes in a single submission, while proxies must submit a separate ballot for each Member they represent.
6. When can I vote?
All voting by APNIC Members begins at least ten business days prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and ends before the afternoon session of the AGM begins. An email announcing the start of voting will be sent to all APNIC Members. However, proxy voters cast their votes on the morning of the AGM. Key dates and all necessary information will be provided on the relevant conference website.
7. I want to appoint a Proxy, how do I do that?
What if you don't want to vote and you would like to appoint a proxy? You can do this, but only if you are the Corporate Contact of a Member organization. As the Corporate Contact, you can appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf at the election by using your MyAPNIC portal. To do this, the Corporate Contact can submit the proxy appointment form through MyAPNIC. Once the form is submitted, both the appointed proxy and the Corporate Contact will receive a confirmation email.
MANIFESTO
Make Your Voice Heard
Number Resource Society (NRS) is campaigning to restore community-led bottom-up governance, to take back control of APNIC to ensure the community voice is heard clearly and not side-lined.
NRS believes that our core strength grows from the community we represent. We believe in a free, fair, and transparent election so all members across the continent can have a say in who represents them.
NRS simply believes that APNIC like any RIR should operate as an organization that works through a bottom-up system of accountability, where its grassroots members are involved in the discussion and the decision-making process.
In other words, an organization where all stakeholders can participate equally, and no one is excluded.
Taking Back Control
For far too long APNIC has been taken advantage of by a small group of individuals with vested interests.
Be it utilizing APNIC as their personal vehicle to try to enrich themselves or stifle innovation, competition, and engagement.
Reason is because APNIC seems to fall under one man’s control, Paul Wilson. It is managed by only ONE director sitting on the board, made answerable to only ONE shareholder with only ONE share allotted and paid up, assisted by ONE secretary and that ONE person is none other than Paul Byron Wilson the man himself. While the observations we gather are far from casting aspersions as to the impartiality and legitimacy of a one-man show company being entrusted with a such huge responsibility in championing the interests of all users within the Asia Pacific Internet Region, one can’t help but question why would such an organization which self-proclaims to be a non-profit one, decides to be solely run by a single man, clearly with a vested interest, with no proper check and balance in place.
That is why Number Resource Society is hoping to steer things back on track and assert new changes and structural reforms into the system by endorsing fresh faces and injecting new blood into the organization with the end goal in mind to regain control of APNIC for its rightful stakeholder-it’s members and make it great and whole again; to make it a reliable and trusted organization that member could trust and rely upon.
That is why Number Resource Society is endorsing candidates that aim to take back control of APNIC and lead the way in making APNIC accountable to its members and return to the bottom-up approach giving us all greater engagement with the policy-making process.
Returning to a bottom-up approach to policy making and engagement will result in better engagement for all members and will lead to greater transparency. It will stamp out mismanagement and misappropriation of funds and put a stop to the recent culture of closed doors and backroom deals that benefit the privileged few.
Your candidates
Number Resource Society is endorsing independent candidates from across the continent with a wide range of experience and skills. Each one supports six simple pledges.
Your candidates pledge to you to:
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Reduce membership fees by 30 percent.
-
Reaffirm community lead spirit with one world, one internet.
-
Being a strong voice for businesses.
-
Restructuring APNIC operation.
-
Ensuring the executive team of APNIC is held accountable to members.
-
A free market, where businesses are free to run unhindered.
-
Re-incorporating APNIC with relocation to Singapore, and make APNIC carbon neutral by 2030.
1)Reduce membership fees by 30 percent.
APNIC at its core operates a few hundred megabits database, a database small enough can fit into any modern USB stick. Yet, it requires over 20 millions dollars to run, and some members have to pay few hundreds thousands dollars a year in membership fees.
And it is doing all sorts of activities that most members have never heard of.
Yet again, the membership fee has been just raised more than 10% for members in 2023 alone.
We will reduce APNIC's budget and membership fees by at least 30% or more by restructuring APNIC and reducing overheads and costs, also relocation to Singapore means APNIC will be closer to majority of its member base, therefore the cost of travel will reduce considerably.
2)Reaffirm community lead sprit with one world, one internet.
Paul Wilson has signed a letter on behalf of APNIC with Number Resource Organisation (NRO), in which there seems to desperate attempts of seeking government control of RIRs by 1) affiliating RIR with inter-governmental organisations 2) seeking diplomatic immunity for the officials of RIRs to escape from community scrutiny, which the community firmly rejects.
NRS strongly opposes such action. The abandonment of the community-driven process will lead to uncertainty and backroom deals, turning the Internet into a place which only serves a few privileged people. The risks brought by such a drastic change to the Internet’s ecosystem and stability are tremendous.
Here at NRS, we deem it essential to reaffirm and preserve the community-led spirit of the Internet - the very first human creation which is devoid of racial, gender, and geographical differences. To have an Internet which is truly fair and transparent (One World, One Internet), it is a MUST to let the decisions be made by the real stakeholders of the Internet: the community, ISPs, telecoms, exchanges and end-users.
3)Being a strong voice for businesses
Listening to the needs of businesses is imperative as this will encourage innovation, participation and investment in the sector. It will also give business assurances that RIRs work with and for them. We will be their voice and reflect on their needs. They are the backbone of the internet. Businesses strive for certainty when policy is made, and certainty is what we will give to businesses.
We ensure all businesses are treated equally. We will provide an environment that allows all businesses to thrive with minimal
interference from APNIC by championing the free market and fair competition.
4)Restructuring APNIC operations
Restructuring operations and the way they are delivered enables quick decision- making and better coordination and communication among employees resulting in enhanced productivity. Implement operations efficiency, where needed and stop wasteful expenditure will be one of our top priorities.
5)Ensuring the executive team of APNIC are held accountable to members
The executive team is elected by members and works for members. To that extent members should have the right to voice their concerns if elected members or appointed officials are acting in a bad way. We will introduce checks and balances, where rules can be scrutinized. We will also introduce three term limits for elected officials. We will endeavor to be transparent and allow criticism to be given robustly by our members. We will dismiss any member of staff found to be acting unlawfully or not in the interests of members. (We will report to law enforcement authorities any member of staff found to be acting corruptly or attempting to circumvent the rule of
law.)
We will provide whistle-blowing protection to every member of staff or member who provides evidence of wrong doing.
We will ensure that APNIC treats all members equally regardless of race, religion, sexuality or geographical location.
6)A free market, where businesses are free to run unhindered
A free market is vital for businesses run efficiently and unhindered. If governments run or get control of RIRs they will most certainly encroach on the free market as government strive to control with rules and regulations that stifle investment, innovations and increase barriers to entry. APNIC and all RIRs should not be controlled by any government as it will inevitably lead to barriers to entry and less
competition. We will ensure that at the heart of APNIC is the principle of a free market. We will stop APNIC anti-competitive policies. We will ensure that APNIC represents all members equally.
7)Re-incorporating APNIC with relocation to Singapore, and make APNIC carbon neutral by 2030.
By re-incorporating APNIC to turn into a member based organisation, we make every member a true stakeholder in APNIC’s legal existence. So every member has rights to be part of its legal entity and therefore the EC are merely excusing at the members’ will.
And by relocating to Singapore, we make APNIC closer to the majority of its member base, and hence by reducing travel cost from Australia to most of Asian countries, we strive to make APNIC carbon neutral by 2030.
Sign up for more information and to meet your candidates at: https://www.nrs.help/apnic-election
REGIONAL CANDIDATES
MUHAMMAD KASHIF NAWAZ
A seasoned transformational leader.
With an excellent track record across multiple governance leadership roles, Mr. Kashif is a Mid-Executive with more than 25 years of experience in Telecommunications in competitive markets and a rapid technological environment change. He is skilled in building collaborative relationships at the highest levels of the Telco Industry with a proven record of accomplishment of delivering the highest performing standards.
Currently the Head, Government Relations & Corporate Affairs at Edotco in Pakistan for the last five years. Kashif has worked in the telecommunication branch of the Pakistan Army for over 25 years. He also worked in the private corporate sector since 2016 and worked as an adviser to NCOC (National Command and Operation center) during the pandemic for a year.
With his extensive knowledge of technology and the success in the business, Kashif's focus is to support APNIC members and the community to make the internet equal for all.
MASUD RANA
An accomplished expert in network and network development.
Mr Masud is a founding member and organizing secretary of IT Polly, the largest IT group of IT Business owners. He is also a joint secretary of Hytoshi Foundation and member of Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB).
He completed his Diploma in Electrical Engineering from Sylhet Polytechnic Institute in 2005, and courses on MTCNA and FTTH Network and dedicated himself to Internet Services, eventually establishing many Internet Businesses.
As a highly experienced expert in IP, Internet and cybersecurity, he served many Bangladeshi small businesses and is a specialist on FTTH. Being the sole proprietor of Unique Net for the last 10 years Mr. Masud has been serving his community through it and also taught many young entrepreneurs on businesses related to internet in Bangladesh IT industry.
He served as Head of Network Administer at Fibernet Communication Ltd and has been working in information communication technology (ICT) for more than 15 years. Mr. Masud wants to develop internet-related economies in the underdeveloped countries of Asia. His mission is to support APNIC by implementing a bottom-up system of accountability where community members are involved in discussions and decision-making.
NRS - Campaigning for stronger RIR's
NRS MANIFESTO & ENDORSED CANDIDATES for APNIC EC ELECTIONS 2024
Number Resource Society members' work with and support the work of all RIRs. NRS members are endorsing candidates for APNIC 2024 who share our priorities:
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A strong champion for community - led bottom-up governance.
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Ensure the executive team of APNIC is held accountable to members.
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Ensure that APNIC membership funds are well spent and managed.
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Support APNIC to become carbon neutral by 2030.
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Champion a free market, where businesses are free to run unhindered.
For the 2024 APNIC EC elections NRS are endorsing:
MANIFESTO
Our priorities:
A strong champion for community - led bottom-up governance.
RIRs are nothing without us, the community. We support candidates who champions for us all. It is essential that we have voices on the EC who represent the entire community. NRS believes that APNIC like any RIR should operate as an organization that works through a bottom-up system of accountability, where its grassroots members are involved in the discussion and the decision-making process.
Ensure the executive team of APNIC is held accountable to members.
As Asia-Pacific's RIR APNIC have significant responsibilities. It is essential that our representatives hold the secretariat to account with tough but fair questioning. We want to see regular updates from our EC members showing how they have held the Director and other senior officials accountable for their decisions.
Ensure that APNIC membership funds are well spent and managed.
RIR's should be appropriately funded to ensure that they can function professionally. EC members must be the voice of members - who pay to keep our RIR system functioning. But it is essential that all members better understand how and why their money is spent. Our EC members must scrutinize every dollar spent and ensure that the executives can justify their expenditure.
Support APNIC to become carbon neutral by 2030.
As members of the global community, RIR's should do more to show their commitment to the global environment. The internet will play a huge role in reducing global carbon emissions and it is essential that all RIR are seen to commit to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. APNIC has to be at the front on this - particularly because of the size and scale of the operation and NRS members want to see EC members push the secretariat to publish their plan for becoming carbon neutral.
Champion a free market, where businesses are free to run unhindered.
A free market is vital for businesses run efficiently and unhindered. If governments run or get control of RIRs they will most certainly encroach on the free market as government strive to control with rules and regulations that stifle investment, innovations and increase barriers to entry. APNIC and all RIRs should not be controlled by any government as it will inevitably lead to barriers to entry and less competition. We support candidates who want to ensure that at the heart of APNIC is the principle of a free market and who are committed to stopping anti-competitive policies.
Our vision
Number Resource Society continues to campaign to restore community-led bottom-up governance, to take back control of APNIC to ensure the community voice is heard clearly and not side-lined.
It is essential that all APNIC members exercise their right to vote to have your voice heard. As the campaign progresses, NRS will monitor the pledges and priorities of all candidates and will make further recommendations as voting open.
NRS Endorsed Candidates
For the 2024 election campaign, NRS members are endorsing candidates they believe best serve the membership as a whole. NRS candidates believe these candidates are the best chance to shape a better future for APNIC:
Kam Sze Yeung
A Seasoned Expert in Computer Science & Technical Networking
Mr. Kams Sze Yeung is a Principal Network Architect with Akamai Technologies, a leading enterprise specializing in cloud computing, security and content delivery services headquartered in the United States with over 10,000 employees.
He obtained his Bachelor of Science from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and completed his Master of Computer Science from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2001. He devoted his career to Internet-related services.
In addition to being a highly skilled Network Architect, Mr. Kams served as a successful IP, System, and Network Engineer for over 12 years with many other businesses in Hong Kong, including the renowned multinational company Equinix, Pacnet, and Asia Netcom. He also successfully managed and supervised a team of network engineers for network design and infrastructure deployment.
Throughout the past 20+ years, he has been participating and contributing to the technical and peering community in the Asia Pacific region, comprising APRICOT, APNIC, APF, KPF, Peering Asia, APrIGF, ISOC HK, ICANN, IETF, HKNOG, SGNOG, MyNOG, TWNOG, etc.
Thanks to his extensive experience in the field, he has been thoroughly involved with APNIC as an Executive Council member. Mr. Kams aims to to contribute to the development of APNIC, and generally, the overall evolution of the Internet, by accomplishing a fair and transparent enhanced system where the community members are safe, included, and valued.
Thomas Dragono
A Multi-Talented Vice Chair in Telecommunication Network & Software Development
Mr. Thomas Dragono currently occupies multiple esteemed Board and Senior Management roles, as a Board Advisor and Vice Chair with prestigious organizations operating in the sector of Telecommunication Networking and Information Technology. Namely, Kamar Entrepreneur Indonesia, DECIX Indonesia, and Asosiasi Penyedia Jaringan Telekomunikasi Indonesia.
He achieved a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering & Software Development from the University of California in San Diego, and a Master of International Business, Trade, and Law from Universitas Kristen Indonesia in 2023. He also completed a Diploma of Computer Science from Diablo Valley College, with high focus and interest in the Internet field.
Mr. Thomas co-founded and managed FiberStar for over 7 years and acted as the Vice Chair at FTTH Council Asia Pacific for 5 years. He also undertook the position of Chair of Cross-Institutional Partnership Committee with APJATEL, which operates as a Telecommunication Network Provider Association. He is passionate about technology adoption and strives to utilize it along with other new digital-related initiatives, aiming for a greater Internet future.
By virtue of his miscellaneous background and expertise in related fields of the internet, he has been actively participating in Internet governance events and discussions.
FAQ
1. What is Number Resource Society and who are the independent candidates NRS are endorsing?
NRS is campaigning on restoring the community led bottom-up governance to ensure that the voices of the community and business’ such as yours are heard clearly. We believe that businesses like yours need a strong voice.
2. How can I vote in the APNIC Election?
To vote in the APNIC EC election, you can use the independent online voting service provider, BigPulse. The voting process is conducted entirely online, and paper forms are no longer available. To vote, you must be a Member Corporate Contact, Contact with voting rights, or a duly appointed proxy.
Please follow these steps to vote:
● Log in to MyAPNIC using two-factor authentication and click the "Vote Now" link on the dashboard.
● Use the online ballot form to select the candidates of your choice and hit the "Next" button to complete your selection.
● On the confirmation page, hit the "Submit" button to confirm your ballot submission, or "Back" to make any changes.
Please note that online voting is only open during specific dates, which can be found on the relevant conference page.
3. Who can vote in the APNIC Election?
All APNIC Member Corporate Contacts, Contacts with voting rights and duly appointed proxies, are allowed to vote in the APNIC EC election.
4. How do I know if I am a Corporate Contact or Contact with voting rights?
To check your contact type and rights in MyAPNIC, log in to your account and go to: Resource Manager Admin Contact Details Keep in mind that only Corporate Contacts can check the voting permissions of other contacts.
5. How many votes am I entitled to?
The number of votes each APNIC Member is entitled to is based on their membership tier:
● Associate: 1 vote
● Very Small: 2 votes
● Small: 4 votes
● Medium: 8 votes
● Large: 16 votes
● Very Large: 32 votes
● Extra Large: 64 votes
The BigPulse system will automatically display the number of votes you are entitled to. The new system does not allow for the "splitting" of voting entitlements, so please be aware of that. Each Member must submit a single online ballot with all of their votes in a single submission, while proxies must submit a separate ballot for each Member they represent.
6. When can I vote
All voting by APNIC Members begins atleast ten days prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and ends before the afternoon session of the AGM begins. An email announcing the start of voting will be sent to all APNIC Members. However, proxy voters cast their votes on the morning of the AGM. Key dates and all necessary information will be provided on the relevant conference website.
7. I want to appoint a Proxy, how do I do that?
What if you don't want to vote and you would like to appoint a proxy? You can do this, but only if you are the corporate contact on a member organization. As the Corporate contact, you can appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf at the election by using your MyAPNIC portal. To do this, the Corporate Contact can submit the proxy appointment form through MyAPNIC. Once the form is submitted, both the appointed proxy and the Corporate Contact will receive a confirmation email.
