[Ncsg-discuss] Candidate Statement NCUC EU Rep

[Ekue Farell Folly]

Below is my candidate statement,

1. Why do you want to serve on the EC?
I seek to serve on the NCUC Executive Committee as the European representative because I believe Europe remains a strategically important region for advancing non-commercial user interests in ICANN; however, there is still significant room to deepen engagement, participation, and policy awareness across the region.

Having served ICANN in multiple capacities over the years as an ICANN Fellow, Fellowship Mentor, GNSO Councillor, NCSG Policy Committee member, Vice-Chair of the IDN EPDP, and participant in major policy development efforts, including the DNS Abuse Mitigation PDP Working Group and the SSAD Small Team Review, I have gained a strong appreciation for the importance of informed, organized, and proactive non-commercial participation.

I want to use that experience to strengthen outreach in Europe, help onboard and mentor new participants, improve regional engagement with universities, civil society, digital rights communities, and technical stakeholders, and ensure that European non-commercial voices remain active and influential in ICANN policy discussions.

2. Brief biography of recent experience, associations, and affiliations relevant to serving on the Executive Committee
I am a cybersecurity expert and Internet governance professional currently based in Munich, Germany, with extensive international experience spanning technology policy, cybersecurity, telecommunications regulation, and digital governance.
Within ICANN, I have been actively engaged since 2016. My contributions have included serving as:

* ICANN Fellow and later ICANN Fellowship Mentor
  * GNSO Councillor representing the Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group
  * Vice-Chair of the Internationalized Domain Names (IDN) EPDP
  * Member of the NCSG Policy Committee
  * Participant in the DNS Abuse Mitigation PDP Working Group
  * Participant in the SSAD Small Team Review
  * Contributor to onboarding and mentorship efforts for newer community members
  My broader background includes leadership roles in telecommunications regulation, national ICT strategy, international public-sector digital transformation initiatives, and cybersecurity advisory functions across multiple regions.

3. Relevance of personal/professional experience and conflicts of interest
My experience combines ICANN policy leadership, technical expertise, and community engagement.

Through roles as GNSO Councillor, NCSG Policy Committee member, Vice-Chair of the IDN EPDP, and participation in major ICANN policy processes, I have developed a strong understanding of ICANN’s policy ecosystem, governance processes, and stakeholder dynamics.

Professionally, my background in cybersecurity, digital governance, and telecommunications provides a relevant technical perspective on issues such as DNS abuse, privacy, digital trust, and Internet resilience.

I also bring experience in mentoring and international stakeholder engagement, which aligns well with NCUC’s outreach and membership development goals.

Regarding conflicts of interest, there are none.


4. Time commitment/availabilityI can commit approximately 8–10 hours per week, with flexibility to contribute more during ICANN meetings or intensive policy periods.

I am generally able to attend online meetings and intend to participate in ICANN in-person meetings whenever feasible.
5. Communication with membership
Transparent and consistent communication is essential.
I would keep members informed through concise updates on EC activities, relevant policy developments, and regional outreach initiatives, while remaining accessible through community channels.

6. Future of NCUC / policy priorities
NCUC’s role will become increasingly important as ICANN policy intersects more with broader digital governance, cybersecurity, privacy, and digital inclusion issues.
To remain effective, NCUC should continue expanding participation, strengthening outreach, and maintaining strong policy engagement.

Areas that deserve continued attention include DNS abuse, registration data governance, privacy, IDNs and universal acceptance, multilingual access, and the protection of non-commercial Internet users’ rights.

NCUC should continue being both a strong policy voice and an accessible community that attracts and supports new contributors.

Best regards.


FF

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