[council] Dr Liz Williams to act as Senior Policy Advisor pro viding advice to Olof Nordling

[Grant Forsyth]

Dear Bruce, Kurt and Council
This announcement concerns me from a process point of view.
As I understand it, the GNSO is the policy council for ICANN. Our role is to
develop policy proposals for adoption by the Board of ICANN. As such, we are
the main "clients" of ICANN's policy support staff. Thus we must be actively
involved in setting the job description for and appointing a suitable
candidate to head up policy development in ICANN.
The GNSO Council has for some time been seeking staff support for its policy
development function. This was addressed  initially with the President's
appointment of Paul Verhoef. Subsequently other policy support staff were
appointed. The Council provided a "job description" for the policy function.

I do not understand the statement:
"Due to the variety of duties associated with the new position and the
transition, it is anticipated that Dr. Williams appointment will extend for
nine to twelve months"

This role is too important not to be filled immediately. With no reflection
on Liz William's capabilities, I can not see why ICANN, with the involvement
of the Council, can not make an appointment, utilising an open and
transparent appointment's process, within 60 to 90 days.

My suggestion and request is that:
- Paul Twomey appoint one of his senior staff to work with the GNSO Council
to recruit a new Senior Vice President, Policy
- Council appoint a small committee (say 3 people?) to work with the senior
ICANN staff member on the appointment's panel
- an open and transparent international search be undertaken to fill the
position of Senior Vice President, Policy
- the appointment's committee be tasked with making a recommendation of
appointment to the President within 90 days.

I look forward to your and fellow Councillor's response to my request and
getting this process underway without any further delay.

Regards





Grant Forsyth
Manager Industry & Regulatory Affairs
TelstraClear
Cnr Taharoto & Northcote Roads
Private Bag 92143
AUCKLAND
ph +64 9 912 5759
fx + 64 9 912 4077
Mb 029 912 5759 


-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Tonkin [mailto:Bruce.Tonkin at melbourneit.com.au]
Sent: Saturday, 25 June, 2005 14:55
To: council at gnso.icann.org
Subject: [council] Dr Liz Williams to act as Senior Policy Advisor
providing advice to Olof Nordling


 

-----Original Message-----
From: Kurt Pritz [mailto:pritz at icann.org] 
Sent: Saturday, 25 June 2005 10:33 AM
To: Bruce Tonkin; 'Chris Disspain'; hpholen at tiscali.no
Subject: Liz Williams Announcement

LIZ WILLIAMS

ICANN is pleased to announce that Dr. Williams will be providing
consultancy services in the area of policy development. In this regard,
Dr. Williams will act as Senior Policy Advisor providing advice to Olof
Nordling, Manager Policy Development Coordination. The Senior Advisory
role is a full-time, temporary position intended to bridge the time
necessary to hire and install the new Vice President, Policy Development
Support who will be replacing Paul Verhoef. Due to the variety of duties
associated with the new position and the transition, it is anticipated
that Dr. Williams appointment will extend for nine to twelve months. Dr.
Williams is expected to begin work on
1 July and attend the upcoming ICANN meeting in Luxembourg.

Dr. Williams brings long term experience in the ICANN environment across
the ccTLD, registry and registrar constituencies. She is a former .auDA
Board Director and Deputy Chair of the Board and has worked in North
America, the Mekong and in the South Pacific on internet governance and
telecommunications issues. She specialises in developing regulatory
structures, policy development and compliance and institutional
strengthening. She has a doctorate in information technology and law on
the globalisation of regulation and the domain name system and a masters
in communication on regulating the Internet and privacy protection.  Dr.
Williams will work primarily from the ICANN office in Brussels.

Please refer question to Kurt Pritz at the information below.

Sincerely,


Kurt Pritz
ICANN
4676 Admiralty Way, #330
Marina del Rey, California
USA

+1.310.301.5809 (office)
+1.310.400.4184 (mobile)