GNSO Council | Generic Names Supporting Organization

Last Updated: 21 January 2020

Group photo of the GNSO Council

The 21 members of the Council govern policy development in the GNSO. Stakeholder Groups appoint 18 of its members. For voting purposes, the Council has two houses, like the US Congress or the British Parliament. The Contracted Parties House holds the Registries and Registrars Stakeholder Groups, while the Non-Contracted Parties House holds the Commercial and Non-Commercial Stakeholder Groups. ICANN's Nominating Committee appoints three Council members, two of which are voting members assigned to each House. The third appointee is an advisor to the Council as a whole. The Council also includes formally appointed but non-voting Liaisons and Observers from other groups within ICANN. This elaborate system provides checks and balances so no single interest group can dominate the Council.

GNSO Structure

Maarten Simon (SOI) ccNSO liaison – EU liaison

GNSO Council
Keith Drazek (SOI) Chair – NA (AGM 2020) ***

Erika Mann (SOI) – NCA – EU (AGM 2020)

Cheryl Langdon-Orr (SOI) - ALAC Liaison - AAPAC

Contracted Party House {6+1}
Pam Little (SOI) Vice-Chair – AP (AGM 2021)

Tom Dale (SOI) – AP (AGM 2021

Non-Contracted Party House {12+1}
Rafik Dammak (SOI) Vice-Chair – AP (AGM 2020)

Carlton Samuels (SOI) – LAC (AGM 2021)

Registries Stakeholder Group {3}

Registries

Keith Drazek (SOI) - NA (AGM 2020)
Sebastien Ducos (SOI) – AP (AGM 2021)
Maxim Alzoba (SOI) – EU – (AGM 2020)

Registrars Stakeholder Group {3}

Registrars

Pam Little (SOI) – AP (AGM 2021)
Greg DiBiase (SOI) - NA (AGM 2021)
Michele Neylon (SOI) - EU (AGM 2020)

Commercial Stakeholder Group {6}

Business
Intellectual Property
Internet Service Providers

Commercial and Business Users

Marie Pattullo (SOI) – EU (AGM 2021)
Scott McCormick (SOI) – NA – (AGM 2020)

Intellectual Property Interests

John McElwaine (SOI) - NA (AGM 2021)
Flip Petillion (SOI) – EU – (AGM 2020)

Internet Service and Connection Providers

Philippe Fouquart (SOI) – EU (AGM 2020)
Osvaldo Novoa (SOI) – LAC (AGM 2021)

Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group {6}

Non-Commercial Users
Not-for-Profit Operational Concerns Constituency

Rafik Dammak (SOI) - AAPAC (AGM 2020)
Elsa Saade (SOI) – NA – (AGM 2020)
Tatiana Tropina (SOI) – EU (AGM 2021)
Martin Silva Valent (SOI) – LAC (AGM 2020)
Farell Folly (SOI) – EU (AGM 2021)
James Gannon (SOI) – EU (AGM 2021)

Legend

{} Voting

[] Non-Voting

* Non-Voting Liaison – Counted as a Member

** Observer – Not Counted as a Member

*** The GNSO Council Chair is elected for a one year term

AGM = Annual General Meeting

Regions

AF = Africa
NA = North America
EU = Europe
LAC = Latin America/Caribbean
AAPAC = Asia/Australia/Pacific