Candidate Statement -- Philip Sheppard

Candidate Philip Sheppard

(I) A description of the candidates qualifications as required by ICANN's bylaws; http://www.icann.org/general/archive-bylaws/bylaws-28feb06.htm#VI

Section 3. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF DIRECTORS

"Accomplished persons of integrity, objectivity, and intelligence, with reputations for sound judgement and open minds, and a demonstrated capacity for thoughtful group decision-making";

In my career I have worked with the oil company Shell, the consultants Ernst & Young, and more recently for a European trade association. Each of these roles has helped improve my skills in making sound judgement and in group decision making in a multi-cultural environment. I am also one of thirteen board members of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) and I am the President elect 2007. IPRA represents the PR profession globally with some 1000 members world-wide. The Board is diverse with current representatives from Malaysia, Turkey, Egypt, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, UK and the US. One of its public interest campaigns is for media transparency - to remove the corruption endemic in certain countries where paid-for editorial is standard. IPRA was a participatory organization in the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). I am also a freeman of the Merchant Taylors' Company of the City of London which was established in 1503 and is now engaged primarily in charitable works.

ICANN is a multi-layered and multi-dimensional organisation, thus presenting challenges of complexity. I have a keen analytical sense and am able to grasp complex problems and then distinguish and communicate the key elements. I am a natural and experienced consensus builder who is able to work with others in order to build a position around an issue, while factoring in the ideas and views of the relevant group. It is my belief that such skills are essential when dealing with the issues facing ICANN - where the policy essence risks being drowned out by the technical or commercial issues.

"Persons with an understanding of ICANN's mission and the potential impact of ICANN decisions on the global Internet community, and committed to the success of ICANN";

I have been involved with ICANN since 1999, first as a member of the Business Users Constituency (representing small and large commercial users) and now as an elected representative to the GNSO. I served two terms of office as DNSO Names Council chairman and chaired issue task forces on review and on structure. In 2002 I participated in the Board's Dot Info Country Names Discussion Group (ICNG) and was appointed to the Board's assistance groups developing recommendations on structure and a policy development process for the GNSO and later for the country code name supporting organization (CCNSO). In 2003 I chaired the GNSO Council committee on new gTLDs. In 2004 I chaired the dot net re-delegation subcommittee and in 2004 I served on the President's Committee on the WIPO II request. I currently serve on the GNSO task forces considering new gTLDs and new registry services.

"Persons who will produce the broadest cultural and geographic diversity on the Board consistent with meeting the other criteria set forth in this Section";

I am British. There are currently no ICANN Board members of British nationality. The majority of my professional work experience has been outside the UK and has included a significant amount of time in the Middle East and continental Europe. A career move brought me to Brussels, Belgium where I currently hold the position of public affairs manager for an association representing both multi-national organisations and national associations of small and large companies throughout western, central and eastern Europe. In this role I work daily with different nationalities both within my own organization and in my professional public affairs work with the European Commission, members of the European Parliament, and with the ministries of national governments. I travel frequently to national European capitals and to Geneva. The focus of this work is the maintenance of a liberal legal climate where innovation can flourish and includes the important strategy of encouraging the use of self-regulation as an alternative to law.

"Persons who, in the aggregate, have personal familiarity with the operation of gTLD registries and registrars; with ccTLD registries; with IP address registries; with Internet technical standards and protocols; with policy-development procedures, legal traditions, and the public interest; and with the broad range of business, individual, academic, and non-commercial users of the Internet";

My time spent in ICANN since 1999 gives me this familiarity: first as a member of the then Names Council in 1999, subsequently as Names Council chairman (2001 — 2002), and currently as a GNSO council member.

"Persons who are willing to serve as volunteers, without compensation other than the reimbursement of certain expenses";

I am so willing.

"Persons who are able to work and communicate in written and spoken English"

I have English mother tongue. (I also work in French.)

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(II) "An explanation how the candidate would represent the interests of all Internet stakeholders"

I am standing for the Board, to act in the best interests of ICANN and not for any one constituency. My background on the DNSO/GNSO Council, with its diversity of interests, serves as a strong background for the diversity of interests dealt with by the Board. As the elected member from the GNSO I will additionally seek to ensure GNSO policy receives the right level of attention, weight and understanding by the Board, as well as bringing specific GNSO minority views to the fore where these are relevant to the Board's collective decision making.

(III) "A list of priorities which the candidate would like to achieve during a potential term on the ICANN Board".

a) Competition. To remind the Board whenever necessary of its responsibility to increase competition at the registry level.

b) A listening Board. To ensure the Board listens to and understands ALL the policy before it, not just how policy has been presented to it via the staff filter.

c) Resources for policy. To fight for the appropriate level of resources to support the policy development work of all supporting organisations including the necessary challenges of interaction with other bodies such as the Government Advisory Committee.

d) Enhancing trust. To ensure Board decision making takes into account the effect of decisions on public and community trust; including issues of improving effective compliance.

e) Pending resolutions. To call for a short-term appraisal of GNSO resolutions sent to the Board that are pending consideration such as the request for the publication of new registry contracts prior to adoption.

f) Budget balance. To ensure Board decisions on the ICANN budget have the appropriate balance between financial stability for the ICANN secretariat and fairness in collection mechanisms.

g) Value for money. To ensure that Board decisions on the ICANN budget put in place mechanisms to ensure the efficient use of funds, so that budget increases translate directly into better services and greater efficacy. In short, to work towards a community perception that ICANN is delivering value for money.

h) Feedback. To ensure the GNSO gets the best ever feedback about Board activities, agendas and decisions by both endeavouring personally to do this in the short-term, and medium term to ensure resources are in place for this to be standard practice to the benefit of all supporting organisations and the community. This should include feedback from Board and President's committees.

(lV) "A conflicts and disclosures statement whether s/he has invested in or received any compensation from an entity engaged in transactions with ICANN (including but not limited to a registrar, registry, or applicant to run a registry) over the past 12 months; if so, whether that investment or compensation relationship exists today; if so, how the candidate plans (if selected for the ICANN Board) to comply with the conflicts policy summarised above; the types of issues coming before the Board on which the candidate believes s/he would be disqualified from voting due to the conflicts policy".

I have no such conflicts and fully expect to be able to participate in all the decision making of the Board.

(V) "Disclosures"

I have no relevant disclosure to make. (I am currently one of three elected Business Constituency representatives to the GNSO Council. If elected I will resign this position. During the election process itself I have stepped down from the GNSO Council and an alternative BC representative has been assigned).