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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Jen and the GNSO Review Working Party,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Attached is the Final Report of the GNSO Review. The below announcement along with the Final Report will be posted on the ICANN website shortly. Richard Westlake will provide a brief overview of the Final Report at the <b>GNSO Review
Working Party meeting </b>scheduled for <b>Wednesday, 16 September 2015 at 14:00 UTC.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Please note that
<b>Section I: Report Summary</b> offers a useful overview of Westlake’s work, findings and recommendations, while the second document highlights changes in recommendations from the Draft Report to Final Report.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Thank you for your substantial work and support of this important project during the past 14 months. We look forward to a productive implementation planning phase.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Larisa<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Announcement: Independent Examiner Issues Final Report of Their Review of the Generic Names Supporting Organization</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Westlake Governance Limited ("Westlake Governance"), the independent examiner for the review of the Generic Names Supporting Organization ("GNSO") has issued its final report.
This marks an important milestone in ICANN's commitment to continuous improvement, accountability and transparency. After extensive consultation with the GNSO and the broader ICANN community, including a formal
<a href="https://www.icann.org/public-comments/gnso-review-draft-2015-06-01-en" target="_blank">
<span style="color:blue">public comment process</span></a> and ongoing engagement and participation of the
<a href="https://community.icann.org/x/X5LhAg" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">GNSO Review Working Party</span></a>, Westlake Governance formulated their conclusions.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Westlake determined that the GNSO has made good progress in implementing a Working Group model as the foundation for consensus work, in restructuring the GNSO Council and in improving
communications and coordination with the ICANN Board and other structures, among other improvements. Recognizing that organizational effectiveness is a process of continuous improvement, Westlake offer</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">s<span style="color:#333333">
36 recommendations in the areas of: participation & representation, continuous development, transparency and alignment with ICANN’s future.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">In preparation for the eventual implementation of Board-approved recommendations, the GNSO Review Working Party will provide their input on feasibility, focusing on prioritization
of recommendations and alignment of implementation with other improvements already planned or underway. The ICANN
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Board is expected to
<span style="color:#333333">take action on the findings and recommendations in the early part of 2016, after consideration of all community input.
</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">What is the significance of the GNSO Review?</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">The
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><a href="http://gnso.icann.org/en/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:blue">GNSO</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">
serves an important function – it is responsible for developing and recommending to the ICANN Board substantive policies relating to generic top-level domains.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Based on direction from the Board, the purpose of the Review was to evaluate organizational effectiveness of the GNSO in accordance with the ICANN-provided objective and quantifiable
criteria; acknowledge areas that are working well, identify areas that need improvement and propose needed changes. This review, like reviews of other structures within ICANN, is mandated by ICANN's
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.icann.org/en/about/governance/bylaws" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#0098D5">Bylaws</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">.
The </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/organizational-effectiveness-committee-2014-03-21-en" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:blue">Organizational
Effectiveness Committee of the Board</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"> (previously the Structural Improvements Committee) is responsible for review and oversight of policies relating to ICANN’s
ongoing organizational review process. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">“This Review is significant for a number of reasons. The process piloted several improvements, offering important lessons that will be incorporated into upcoming Reviews. The
Final Report comes at a time of pivotal change and transformation at ICANN. The Community’s views along with the examiner’s insights will inform and contribute to enhanced organizational effectiveness of ICANN structures and ICANN as a whole,” commented
Rinalia Abdul Rahim, Chair of the Organizational Effectiveness Committee.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"> </span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">How is the GNSO Community involved?</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">During the course of the last 14 months, Westlake Governance conducted research, analyzed data and evaluated effectiveness of prior review recommendations working closely with the
GNSO Review Working Party. The 20-member </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:blue"><a href="https://community.icann.org/x/X5LhAg" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">GNSO Review Working Party</span></a>
</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">representing the diversity of the GNSO Community was designated by the GNSO</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:red"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Council a<span style="color:#333333">s
a liaison between the GNSO, the Independent Examiner and the ICANN Board. Under the leadership of Jen Wolfe, this group has represented the voice of the GNSO community throughout the Review, in an effort that introduced several important Review process improvements.
</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">What does “continuous improvement” mean?</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">With Reviews as a tool to inspire a culture of continuous improvement, the GNSO Review Working Party will have a pivotal role in helping prioritize recommendations and ensuring
a shared understanding of what an “effective” or “successful” implementation would look like. The independent review process fostered diverse views on how GNSO should be structured for the future and these discussions are expected to provide useful input
into GNSO’s implementation work. Whether structural changes are needed and when such changes should be considered will be topics for discussion after the conclusion of the Review process, possibly during the implementation planning.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">GNSO Review by the Numbers</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><img border="0" width="624" height="369" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01D0EF9A.EE8B1A00" alt="cid:image002.png@01D0ECB1.7049B6B0"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Additional information</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">For additional information, please visit:
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:51.1pt;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/reviews/org/gnso" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#0098D5">GNSO Review web site</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:51.1pt;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><a href="https://community.icann.org/display/GR2/GNSO+Review+2014+Home" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#0098D5">GNSO Review Working Space</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:51.1pt;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><a href="https://community.icann.org/x/zbXhAg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:blue">Frequently Asked Questions & Answers for the GNSO Review</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:51.1pt;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><a href="http://gnso.icann.org/en/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#0098D5">GNSO web site</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15.1pt;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/reviews/org" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#0098D5">Organizational
Reviews Information</span></a></span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Larisa B. Gurnick<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Director, Strategic Initiatives<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mobile: 1 310 383-8995<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Skype: larisa.gurnick<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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