APNIC Invites Community to Final Listening Session on Diversity in Leadership

The Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), the non-profit organization that manages and distributes internet number resources like IP addresses for the region, is holding its third and final online listening session on increasing diversity in its community leadership. Scheduled for Tuesday, 11 August 2026, from 16:00 to 17:00 UTC+10 via Zoom, the session welcomes APNIC Members and any interested community participants to share their experiences and ideas.

These listening sessions were initiated at the direction of the APNIC Executive Council (EC), the body that oversees APNIC’s activities and strategic direction, to better understand what encourages or prevents people from stepping into community leadership roles. Leadership positions include serving on the EC itself or taking on other volunteer roles within the APNIC community. The consultation is exploring the sometimes-invisible barriers that can hinder broader participation, with the goal of building a stronger, more representative leadership pipeline.

Diversity here covers many dimensions relevant to community governance: gender, geography, professional background, skills, and level of experience, among others. The challenges around diversity in technical community leadership are not unique to APNIC; they are recognized as a shared issue across many internet governance and technical bodies worldwide. The listening sessions provide a structured yet open forum where participants can freely share their perspectives in a respectful and welcoming setting. APNIC EC representatives and staff will attend primarily to listen and learn, rather than to lead the discussion.

To protect participants and encourage candid input, all feedback collected will be handled with care. Any published findings will be reported only in aggregate form or after removing identifying details, so individuals cannot be singled out. Beyond the 11 August session, the consultation includes further channels: a dedicated online discussion group known as the Orbit mailing list, and a face-to-face consultation session at the upcoming APNIC 62 conference. APNIC encourages anyone with an interest in the healthy governance of the Asia Pacific internet to register and get involved.

A diverse and responsive system of internet governance directly supports a more resilient, fair, and secure global network, including the Domain Name System (DNS), the essential internet phonebook that translates domain names into IP addresses. When the communities that oversee critical internet resources reflect a wide range of voices and experiences, they are better equipped to craft policies that serve everyone. For readers who value a private, open internet, using an encrypted DNS service like AEU DNS helps shield your own online activity from prying eyes while these broader governance discussions continue to shape the internet’s future.