GNSO Council | Generic Names Supporting Organization

Last Updated: 28 May 2018

GNSO Structure

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

Adebiyi Oladipo (SOI) ccNSO liaison – AF liaison

GNSO Council
Heather Forrest (SOI) Chair – AP (AGM 2018) ***

Erika Mann (SOI) – NCA – EU (AGM 2018)

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

Contracted Party House {6+1}
Donna Austin (SOI) Vice-Chair – AAPAC (AGM 2018)

Carlos Gutierrez (SOI) – EU (AGM 2019)

Non-Contracted Party House {12+1}
Rafik Dammak (SOI) Vice-Chair – AP (AGM 2018)

Syed Ismail Shah (SOI) – AP (AGM 2019)

Registries Stakeholder Group {3}

Registries

Keith Drazek (SOI) - NA (AGM 2018)
Rubens Kuhl (SOI) - LAC (AGM 2019)
Donna Austin (SOI) – AAPAC (AGM 2018)

Registrars Stakeholder Group {3}

Registrars

Pam Little (SOI) – AP (AGM 2019)
Darcy Southwell (SOI) - NA (AGM 2019)
Michele Neylon (SOI) - EU (AGM 2018)

Commercial Stakeholder Group {6}

Business
Intellectual Property
Internet Service Providers

Commercial and Business Users

Marie Pattullo (SOI) – EU (AGM 2019)
Susan Kawaguchi (SOI) – NA (AGM 2018)

Intellectual Property Interests

Paul McGrady (SOI) - NA (AGM 2019)
Heather Forrest (SOI) – AAPAC (AGM 2018)

Internet Service and Connection Providers

Philippe Fouquart (SOI) – EU (AGM 2018)
Tony Harris (SOI) - LAC (AGM 2019)

Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group {6}

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

Rafik Dammak (SOI) - AAPAC (AGM 2018)
Stephanie Perrin (SOI) – NA (AGM 2018)
Tatiana Tropina (SOI) – EU (AGM 2019)
Martin Silva Valent (SOI) – LAC (AGM 2018)
Arsene Tungali (SOI) – AF (AGM 2019)
Ayden Férdeline (SOI) – EU (AGM 2019)

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