ICANN Fellowship

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the global body responsible for coordinating unique Internet identifiers such as domain names and IP addresses. While .nz is a distinct country code top-level domain (ccTLD), it doesn’t exist in isolation. It operates as part of a wider global infrastructure.

Events like ICANN’s policy forums—most recently ICANN83—bring together the international multi-stakeholder community to work on keeping the Internet open, secure, and resilient. By attending and actively contributing, we help ensure that .nz is informed, connected, and represented in global Internet governance conversations.

Supporting Emerging Internet Leaders: The ICANN Fellowship Program

One way ICANN fosters participation from across the world is through its Fellowship Program. Established in 2007, this initiative offers financial support, mentorship, and training to individuals interested in Internet policy and governance.

The program has two main goals:

• Diversity: Strengthening representation from all regions and sectors within ICANN’s multi-stakeholder model.
• Capacity building: Developing future leaders in technical, policy, and governance areas that support the Domain Name System (DNS) and the Internet’s stability.
  

Fellows gain access to structured learning, mentorship, financial support, and opportunities to engage with the ICANN community over time. A fellow can be granted a maximum of three ICANN fellowships. Applying for a second or third fellowship requires demonstrating continued engagement within the ICANN community.

My ICANN Fellowship Journey

As Head of Technical and Relationships, my role involves driving trust and safety in the .nz domain space, representing the Domain Name Commission (DNC) in strategic and technical forums, and managing key internal and external relationships. I have participated in the Fellowship Program three times—each experience building on the last.

Fellowship #1: Discovering the Ecosystem

My first ICANN fellowship, in August 2013, was a deep dive into the unfamiliar. Guided by a mentor and supported by structured training, I:

• gained a foundational understanding of ICANN’s multi-stakeholder model and the role of the DNS (Domain Name System).
  

• attended cross-community sessions and working group briefings.
  

• learned to navigate the acronyms, cultures, and policy debates that make up the ICANN community.
  

Fellowship #2: Strengthening Connections

By my second fellowship, in October 2014, I had already begun contributing to Internet governance conversations. This time, I arrived with a clear purpose: to bridge the gap between global Internet policy discussions and local needs. Highlights included:

• Actively participating in sessions and discussions, gaining insights into the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) Stewardship Transition which involved moving the stewardship of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions from the US Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to the global multistakeholder community to maintain the open and global nature of the internet by supporting the multistakeholder model of internet governance. It was critical to listen and see stakeholders' needs to ensure that ICANN would be more representative of the diverse global community and more accountable to its users.
  

• Building peer networks across regions and areas of expertise.
  

Fellowship #3: Deepening Engagement

My third fellowship in 2025 at ICANN83 (where 40 fellows were selected from 33 countries to participate in the Policy Forum in Prague) recognised my consistent engagement and growing contribution to the community. I used the opportunity to:

• Deepen relationships with .nz authorised registrars and peer ccTLDs (country code top level domains) through in-person meetings.
  

• Explore trends and challenges impacting .nz and its stakeholders this includes DNS abuse mitigation and disruption, learning more about DNS blocking and blockchain domain names.
  

• Ensure DNC stays responsive to registrar needs and aligned with international developments through facilitating virtual and in person meetings, re-establishing the Registrar Advisory Group a stakeholder engagement forum, understanding any practical friction between the contractual agreements and the .nz rules from an implementation aspect and improving registrars understanding of the .nz rules to ensure best possible voluntary compliance outcomes.
  

Looking Ahead

With the knowledge acquired in the ICANN meetings, the exposure to the work of the ICANN community, the topics uncovered through mentoring, training across different areas of knowledge and skill building before, during, and after ICANN Meetings, I am now focused on applying my knowledge in new ways:

• Encouraging others to apply for the Fellowship Program and to explore the free courses on ICANN Learn.
  

• Getting more involved in the Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO), which represents the global community of country code domain managers. Ann is a member of the ccNSO Universal Acceptance committee. The main focus areas for the committee have been learning the drivers and barriers of Universal Acceptance readiness.
  

My journey reflects an ongoing commitment to global Internet governance. My contributions—both locally and internationally—help ensure that the DNC remains a trusted, well-informed, and engaged part of the global Internet ecosystem.

Message from the Commissioner

We congratulate Ann on this significant milestone and thank her for representing DNC and Aotearoa New Zealand on the global stage. Her experience reinforces the value of active participation in ICANN’s multi-stakeholder model and the critical role it plays in keeping the Internet open, secure, and resilient for everyone.