When Cheryl Langdon-Orr began her learning journey with the Internet Society, she wasn’t a new learner in the traditional sense. With a career spanning decades in science, psychology, and international business and a history of shaping Internet governance through leadership in Australia’s Internet Society chapter, Cheryl has long been part of the global conversation on how the Internet evolves. Yet, despite her experience, she enrolled in course after course. Why? For Cheryl, learning is more than professional development; it’s a way to lead with credibility and care.
“I won’t recommend something I haven’t tried myself,” she says. That principle is what led her to complete multiple Internet Society courses on topics like digital footprints, encryption, and impact briefs, sometimes even retaking updated versions as the platform evolved. It’s also what underpins her broader philosophy as a leader in Internet governance: influence begins with understanding.
A Life of Leadership and Learning
A self-described “retired but overcommitted volunteer,” Cheryl has dedicated much of her post-career life to strengthening public interest advocacy in Internet policy. For over 25 years, she’s served on the board of Internet Australia, and she continues to be a force within ICANN’s policy development processes. Whether advising governments, mentoring early-career fellows, or sitting on selection panels for fellowships, she leverages her deep experience and continuous learning to shape meaningful conversations.
“Human networking goes alongside internetworking,” she says. “When I understand how people are trained, whether they’re regulators or telecom executives, I can engage more effectively in the rooms where decisions happen.”
One of those rooms is AUDA, Australia’s country code top-level domain (ccTLD) regulator. Cheryl recalls how Internet Australia was involved in shaping AUDA’s governance from its earliest days when the .au name server was still housed under a desk at a Melbourne institute. Today, she and her colleagues continue to ensure that Internet governance processes in Australia remain transparent, participatory, and accountable.
Courses like “How to Develop an Impact Brief” or “Internet Advocacy” may not directly change Cheryl’s career trajectory, she’s long since built that. But they do add to her representational toolkit.
Being able to quote Internet Society’s research or Pulse insights in consultations is just good practice. It strengthens the credibility of what we say in government and regulatory spaces.”
Mentorship and the Power of Shared Knowledge
Cheryl also sees learning as key to mentorship. “I currently mentor one of the Youth Ambassadors,” she shares. “And I’ve previously mentored Early Career Fellows. It’s not just about sharing experience, it’s about helping others find their path in this ecosystem.”
Cheryl’s ultimate advice to new learners? Two things: “Give it time. Just do it,” she says. “The impact of a course might take years to surface. But if the learning experience is solid, it will pay back in time.”
For Cheryl, the Internet has always been about connection, between people, between ideas, and across borders. Her story is a testament to what happens when we combine lifelong learning with a deep commitment to community. As the Internet continues to evolve, so too must the people shaping it, starting with how we learn and how we lead.
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Image © Berke Aksoz, © Issa Tuyishimire