2024 Board of Trustees Elections: Call for Nominations

The Call for Nominations is closed.

The Internet Society (ISOC) supports and promotes the development of the Internet as a global technical infrastructure, a resource to enrich people’s lives, and a force for good in society. Its Board of Trustees provides strategic direction, inspiration, and oversight to advance the Internet Society’s mission.

The Opportunity

In 2024, the Internet Society’s chapters will be asked to elect one member to the board, organization members will be asked to elect one member to the board, and the IETF will be asked to appoint two members to the board following the process documented in RFC 3677. The successful candidates will be expected to participate in a board orientation program after the elections, and all will begin their three-year terms on the board at the start of the Annual General Meeting, currently scheduled for 21-22 June 2024.

About Us

The Internet Society is a global charitable organization advocating for an open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy Internet for everyone. It has 87 organization members, 126 chapters and special interest groups, and over 100,000 individual members that play a role in driving the mission and work of the organization. The Internet Society is also the corporate home of the IETF and other Internet-related bodies who together play a critical role in ensuring that the Internet develops in a stable and open manner. With offices in Washington, DC, USA and Geneva, Switzerland, the Internet Society currently has an operational budget of over USD 39 million.

The Internet Society Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance of the organization, and its authority is derived from the organization’s by-laws and policies. The composition of the board includes 13 voting Trustees, four (4) of whom are elected by Internet Society organization members, four (4) elected by Internet Society chapters, four (4) selected by the IETF following the process documented in RFC 3677, and up to three (3) selected by the board. The Procedures for Selecting Trustees are available online. The Internet Society President and CEO serves ex-officio as a non-voting 14th member of the board. Currently, the Internet Society Trustees also serve as members of the Internet Society Foundation’s board.

Time Commitment

Trustees are expected to commit the time necessary to perform regular board and committee business and this can be quite substantial. Trustees are also expected to allocate time to prepare for and participate in meetings and calls.

• Board Meetings*: usually three physical meetings per year that are two days in length plus travel time. These meetings are often co-located with IETF meetings, or other Internet events to reduce Trustees’ travel and time away from home.
• Planning Retreat*: usually one per year over two and a half days plus travel time.
• Conference Calls: monthly informal meetings by videoconference.
• Committees: participation in at least one committee. The amount of time required varies by committee, with most meeting by videoconference at least once between regular board meetings.
• Email Correspondence: a significant amount of board work is carried out via email discussions, polls and surveys throughout the year.

Eligibility Statement

Candidates should carefully review the Trustee Job Description, which outlines the responsibilities of the board and individual trustees and specific qualifications, to confirm they can meet all stated requirements and are eligible to submit a nomination.

The Board of Trustees aims to be as representative of the many cultures and communities around the world that it can. In this light, nomination of candidates from Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, younger candidates, women, and those with the lived experience of disability are encouraged to apply.

Any potential conflicts of interest that may exclude some nominees will be explored.

*Meetings for 2024 are currently planned as a mix of virtual and physical; all physical meetings will have a hybrid component. Trustees are encouraged to make every effort to attend physical meetings in person. Reimbursement for travel to board meetings and retreats is provided to Trustees who request it. The Internet Society does not provide other compensation for board service. For additional information, see the FAQs about Internet Society Board service.

Nomination Form and Deadline

Self-nominations and third-party nominations are welcome. Nominations should be sent to the Nominations Committee using the online form by the deadline: Friday, 15 December 2023 at 15:00 UTC. Please be sure to include a Statement of Interest and a resumé or narrative biography.