The Executive Council (EC) of the Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) has released its highly anticipated Stage 1 report detailing community consultations aimed at increasing diversity within the organization’s leadership pipeline. The comprehensive document captures initial insights gathered from stakeholders across the region over a multi-month period, setting the stage for broader structural and governance evaluations moving forward.
The release marks a significant milestone in an ongoing initiative launched earlier this year. In June, APNIC announced the commencement of a formal community consultation process designed to gather diverse perspectives, identify existing barriers to participation, and inform potential future initiatives that would support a broader and more inclusive leadership pipeline across the Internet community.
Stage 1 of the consultation process was conducted entirely online over a two-month period, running from June to August. To ensure broad participation and capture a wide array of viewpoints, the APNIC Secretariat hosted three open listening sessions. These interactive virtual sessions were complemented by a structured community survey and ongoing discussions across the organization’s community mailing lists, providing multiple avenues for stakeholders to voice their opinions.
According to the newly published report, the consultation drew active participation from 49 individuals representing 21 distinct economies across the Asia-Pacific region. The participant pool reflected the diverse ecosystem that APNIC serves, bringing together APNIC Members, National Internet Registries (NIRs), Network Operator Groups (NOGs), and various other active members of the broader technical and operational community.
Crucially, the consultation framework approached the concept of diversity through a wide-ranging lens. Rather than focusing on a single demographic metric, the discussions considered diversity broadly, encompassing gender representation, geographic distribution, professional background, specialized technical expertise, and personal lived experience. This multi-faceted approach allowed participants to highlight structural hurdles that might otherwise go unnoticed in narrower organizational reviews.
Key themes emerging from Stage 1
Following the conclusion of the initial listening sessions and survey collection periods, organizers synthesized the feedback into three broad, overarching themes that capture the primary challenges and aspirations of the APNIC community regarding leadership roles.
The first major theme centered on leadership pathways. Participants emphasized a widespread need for clearer, more transparent information regarding what community leadership roles entail. Specifically, community members expressed a desire for better documentation outlining specific responsibilities, election processes, expected technical or governance skills, and practical pathways for how individuals can become involved in leadership positions. Many respondents noted that without a clear roadmap, stepping into a leadership role can feel intimidating for newcomers who lack prior institutional familiarity.
The second theme addressed election barriers within the regional internet governance structure. Stakeholders engaged in candid discussions surrounding incumbent advantages, complex voting dynamics, and the unique hurdles faced by candidates hailing from less-represented economies. Overcoming geographic isolation, resource constraints, and the dominance of established networks emerged as critical conversational points, as participants sought ways to level the playing field for emerging leaders from developing or smaller economies.
The third overarching theme focused on the practical realities of time and support. Community leadership within organizations like APNIC requires a substantial, ongoing commitment of time and energy. Participants pointed out that successful involvement frequently depends heavily on robust professional, personal, and employer support systems. Without backing from employers who recognize the value of regional internet governance participation, many qualified professionals find it difficult to dedicate the necessary hours to fulfill leadership duties effectively.
In direct connection to these challenges, participants put forward several constructive suggestions for future initiatives. Recommendations included developing clearer candidate information packages, establishing stronger mentoring programs, creating targeted leadership development initiatives, and examining governance best practices used by other prominent international and regional organizations, such as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), auDA, and the New Zealand Network Operators Group (NZNOG).
Share your views at APNIC 62
With the publication of the Stage 1 findings, the consultation process is now transitioning directly into its next phase. The Stage 2 consultation is scheduled to take place live during the upcoming APNIC 62 conference in Mumbai, India.
Organizers have set aside a dedicated session for the community to discuss the report’s findings, debate potential solutions, and offer further input. The session is scheduled for Wednesday, 9 September 2026, from 18:00 to 19:00 in the local UTC +5:30 time zone. APNIC leadership has strongly encouraged conference attendees to participate in person, while also ensuring that remote participation options remain available for community members joining from other parts of the world.
Following the conclusion of the Mumbai discussions, the APNIC Secretariat plans to synthesize the findings from both Stage 1 and Stage 2 into a comprehensive final report. This final document will then be presented to the APNIC Executive Council for formal review and consideration of next steps regarding potential policy and structural initiatives.
The finalized report and subsequent EC considerations are scheduled to be shared with the wider community following the conclusion of the Executive Council’s end-of-year meeting. In the meantime, community members are encouraged to review the published Stage 1 report and engage in the ongoing dialogue as APNIC works toward fostering a more inclusive and representative leadership future.
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