2021 Board of Trustees Elections: Call for Nominations

Nominations are now closed.

The Internet Society (ISOC) supports and promotes the development of the Internet as a global technical infrastructure, a resource to enrich people’s lives, and a force for good in society. Its Board of Trustees provides strategic direction, inspiration, and oversight to advance the Internet Society’s mission.

The Opportunity

In 2021, the Internet Society’s Chapters will be asked to elect one member to the board, Organization Members will be asked to elect two members, and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) will be asked to appoint two members.

With one exception, the term of office for new board members will be three years. One of the two Organization Member seats was recently filled on a temporary basis after the resignation of a Trustee originally elected for a three-year term in 2019. This seat will include a one-year term. The candidate in the Organization Members election who receives the highest weighted vote count will be seated for a full three-year term, and the candidate with the next highest weighted vote count will be seated for a one-year term.

All five successful candidates will be asked to participate in a board orientation program after the elections, and all will officially begin their terms during the Annual General Meeting, currently scheduled for July 31 – August 1, 2021.

About Us

The Internet Society is a global non-profit organization that champions the open Internet for everyone. It has nearly 100 Organization Members, more than 130 Chapters and Special Interest Groups, and nearly 75,000 individual members that play a role in driving the mission and work of the organization. The Internet Society is also the corporate home of the IETF and other Internet-related bodies who together play a critical role in ensuring that the Internet develops in a stable and open manner. With offices in Washington, DC, USA and Geneva, Switzerland, as well as regional bureaus throughout the world, the Internet Society currently has an operational budget of over USD 39 million.

The Internet Society Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance of the organization, and its authority is derived from the organization’s by-laws and policies. The composition of the board includes 12 voting Trustees, four (4) of whom are elected by the Internet Society Organization Members, four (4) elected by the Internet Society Chapters, and four (4) selected by the IETF following the process documented in RFC 3677. The Procedures for Selecting Trustees are available online. The Internet Society President and CEO serves ex-officio as a non-voting 13th member of the board. Currently, the Internet Society Trustees also serve as members of the Internet Society Foundation board.

Time Commitment

Trustees are expected to commit the time necessary to perform regular board and committee business and this can be quite substantial. Trustees are also expected to allocate time to prepare for and participate in meetings and calls.

  • Board Meetings*: two to three physical meetings per year that are two days in length plus travel time. These meetings are often co-located with IETF meetings, or other Internet events to reduce Trustees’ travel and time away from home.
  • Planning Retreat*: usually one per year over two days plus travel time.
  • Conference Calls: monthly informal meetings by videoconference.
  • Committees: participation in at least one committee. The amount of time required varies by committee, with most meeting by videoconference at least once between regular board meetings.
  • Email Correspondence: a significant amount of board work is carried out via email discussions, polls and surveys throughout the year.

Eligibility Statement

Candidates for Trustee will have demonstrable involvement in the Internet with deep understanding in at least two of the following areas:

  • Internet standards
  • Internet operations
  • Public policy for Internet and telecommunications
  • Internet development

Ideal candidates will also have a good understanding of the broader technology, policy, business and economic issues relevant to the Society.

The following qualifications are also highly desirable:

  • Vision for the role of the Internet Society
  • Demonstrated cultural competency
  • Previous board or leadership experience, especially in not-for-profit entities
  • Skills in organizational management, leadership and governance
  • Sound financial acumen, financial oversight and fund raising
  • The ability to identify relevant the Internet Society projects and attendant community engagement models
  • Demonstrated abilities as a long-term, strategic thinker
  • High ethical standards and integrity
  • Well-developed collaboration and consensus-building skills
  • Passion and energy for the role
  • Ability to read and understand a balance sheet
  • Ability to communicate effectively in English

The Board of Trustees aims to be as representative of the many cultures and communities around the world that it can. In this light, nomination of candidates from Africa, Asia Pacific, Central and South America; younger candidates; women and those with the lived experience of disability are encouraged to apply.

Any potential conflicts of interest that may exclude some nominees will be explored.

*At present, all meetings are conducted by teleconference. It is our expectation that we will revert to physical meetings when it is safe to do so. When that happens, reimbursement for travel to board meetings and retreats is provided to Trustees who request it. The Internet Society does not provide other compensation for board service. For additional information, see the FAQs about Internet Society Board service.

Nomination Form and Deadline

Self-nominations and third-party nominations are welcome. Nominations should be sent to the Nominations Committee using the online form by the deadline: Friday, 4 December 2020 at 15:00 UTC. Please be sure to include a Statement of Interest and a resumé or narrative biography.