My candidate statement for NCSG Election

[Rafik Dammak]

 Hi all,

Please find below my candidate statement,

   - *Name, declared region of residence, gender and employment;*

Rafik Dammak
a Tunisian residing in Japan, Asia
Male
Software engineer working on colocation services (nothing to do with DNS :))

   - *Any conflicts of interest:*

none

   - *Reasons for willingness to take on the tasks of the particular
   position:  *

I will have the opportunity to serve NCSG as a GNSO councilor
representative for another term which will be my last since I will be term
limited:

   1. To keep advocating for NCSG positions  and non-commercial interests
   within GNSO council regarding policy development process : defending human
   rights such as privacy, freedom of expression, access to knowledge and
   create a balance with other interests.
   2. For that purpose, I did my best to keep NCSG membership informed
   about GNSO council activities and ICANN updates in general. I want also to
   emphasize about working and cooperating with other NCSG councillors to make
   us more  effective, coordinated. I was trusted by NCSG Policy Committee
   members to be chair for almost 1 year and half now. I worked with them to
   take the lead  on getting involved more volunteers and covering more public
   comments ensuring that NCSG participates in those ICANN policy processes
   beyond GNSO related issues.
   3. As councillor, I will keep focusing to help newcomers and those
   interested by policy to grasp more about ICANN and in particular GNSO
   functioning with regard to working group and policy development processes.
   I will also continue the work on the membership engagement through the NCSG
   monthly policy conference calls or topic webinar, regular GNSO council
   reports  and making those information more accessible and digestible.  This
   will be my last term and if I am elected and due my familiarity with
   council procedures and processes, I believe I can represent NCSG
   effectively, ensure continuity and prepare new leaders for future.
   4.  Focus on important policy issues such the current EPDP and ensure
   that we are effective. I play my role as support and coordinating NCSG
   efforts on different front, currently with our chair Farzaneh Badii (I will
   miss you Farzi!) and aiming to continue the same with the next chair.


   - *Qualifications for the position:*

I served NCSG interests in several roles and became aware about  our
members needs, expectations, the challenges facing us and still need to be
covered.

I participated in several working groups within ICANN on behalf of NCSG. I
was co-chair of  new applicant support working group , a cross working
group between GNSO and ALAC aimed to give support for new gTLD applicants
from developing countries. I was also the co-chair  the cross-community
working group on Internet Governance which covered IG topics from ICANN
standpoint. The group  was formed prior to Netmundial to connect ICANN to
UN  and other IG processes and keep the community informed. The group also
submitted many IGF workshops.

I am currently the liaison to the GNSO Review Working Group which just sent
its final deliverable. I was appointed recently as GNSO council liaison to
the EPDP team which monitor the discussion in that working group and report
to the council in regular basis. This EPDP or the Expedited Policy
Development  Process is aimed to come up with a new policy to replace the
temporary specification and get Whois complied with GDPR, one of the most
important policy issues in ICANN in recent years.

It  would my second term as councillor and I was also a councillor few
years ago. I am familiar with GNSO policies, processes and procedures,
following the changes happening there but also the challenges for many PDP
processes lately. I am also aware of the dynamics of the groups we have to
work with in GNSO and developed good relations with their leaders for many
years. As NCSG Policy Committee chair I hope to continue in such role if
needed to improve the work there and enhance NCSG policy capabilities.

I was NCSG and NCUC chair for 3 years now, doing the admin and
organizational work at stakeholder group and constituency level, liaising
with ICANN staff and leadership,  with other groups officers. That gave me
insight about members expectations, capabilities of NCSG as group and
familiarity with ICANN as structure.

I was appointed by NCPH to the GNSO council leadership, working with the
chair and CPH appointed vice chair.  In this role, as a  leader of GNSO,  I
had to consider various view points and work with the leadership to improve
GNSO as a whole. This leadership was one of the most productive in terms of
devoting ideas to improve policy making at GNSO. GNSO is  home of NCSG. Its
improvement directly affects NCSG interest and I was glad to be a part of a
process that set the stone for the betterment of GNSO processes and
successful policy along. I hope to get one more term as vice-chair to
continue the work done there.

 • *Statement of availability for the time the position requires:*
Yes, I am available and committing as GNSO councillor. That can be
confirmed by my attendance of GNSO council meetings, chairing the NCSG
Policy calls but also reporting and coordinating policy activities for
NCSG.

*  • The nominee’s statement may also include any other information that
the candidate believes is relevant: *

I may listed too many roles and activities to emphasize my work and I
assume that doesn't seem exciting or thrilling or inspiring. However, what
I care more about is representing NCSG and ensuring its sustainability. I
am practical and pragmatic due to my background. I cannot promise a lot for
the sake to get elected  because nobody can do everything by themself,
alone.
But  I can commit is continue the work, to be accountable, to try improve
things as much as possible and to be judged through my actions:
- Informing membership about policy discussion and involve them in the
discussion
- Expand the coverage of public comments for NCSG and encourage more people
to draft, improving our comments and monitor our inputs to be taken in
consideration.
- Preparing new leaders who will run for positions in future.

I am happy to respond to any question or inquiry.

Best Regards,

Rafik Dammak

@Rafik
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