[Ncsg-discuss] SSC update

[Johan Helsingius]

The SSC meeting was December 8, not December 12 - apologies
for the error.

	Julf


On 11/12/2025 9:16 pm, Johan Helsingius wrote:
> Dear NCSG members,
> 
> The 2026 iteration of the GNSO Standing Selection Committee (SSC)
> that makes selection/appointment recommendations to the GNSO Council
> of candidates to things like review teams and other ICANN structures
> held its first meeting on December 12, with yours truly having been
> selected chair, and Vivek Goyal of BC as vice-chair. In addition to
> me, NCSG is represented by Pedro de Perdigão and Frank Anati, with
> Benjamin Akinmoyeje as alternate. In addition to the NCSG-appointed
> members, NCSG member Taiwo Peter Akinremi is also a SSC member in
> his role as ex-officio member representing GNSO Council Leadership.
> 
> Nominally the SSC only makes recommendations that are subject to GNSO
> Council approval, but it is extremely rare that the Council doesn't
> approve the SSC recommendations as-is (in fact I can't remember a single
> time it would have happened).
> 
> SSC selections are based on unanimous consensus, so some times a lot
> of negotiations might be needed, but usually the SSC just does a
> preliminary advisory poll, and accepts the result of the poll after
> a final consensus call by email.
> 
> There might (and has been) cases where the SSC isn't able to achieve
> full consensus. In that case the SSC will inform the GNSO Council, and
> explain why it hasn't achieved consensus.
> 
> The transcripts and recordings of SSC meetings, as well as the mailing
> list archives are normally public - none of the NomCom-like secrecy
> here. There might be some special situations when the SSC decided to
> keep some deliberations confidential, but in that case the SSC has
> to explain why they depart from the normal transparency.
> 
> Coming up on the task list of the SSC is the selection of the GNSO-
> appointed mentor for the fellowship program as well as the chair(s)
> for the DNS Abuse PDP WG or WGs, depending on decisions at the Council
> meeting later today.
> 
> Next meeting will be at the end of January.
> 
> If any of you have questions about the SSC, I am happy to try to answer
> them.
> 
> 	Julf