Candidate Statement
I want to make the world, and the internet, a better place. Reflecting on my first term on the CIRA board, I’m grateful for the opportunity to use my unique domain knowledge and expertise to meaningfully contribute to CIRA’s mission; adding context to the issues at play and asking hard questions.
I am currently Executive Director of NetBeacon, an organisation dedicated to reducing online harms, and have over fifteen years of leadership in the domain name industry, largely focused on online harms, Internet governance and public policy.
As well as being the current CIRA Vice-Chair and Chair of the Security and Stability Committee, I have also served as Chair of ICANN’s Registrar Stakeholder Group, Chair of the Internet Infrastructure Coalition, and helped found the Citizen Lab.
The internet is changing. Governments around the world are grappling with how to regulate it and the organizations that enable it. I’ve worked with governments on projects with global ramifications, national security agencies to combat terrorism, and civil society groups to preserve internet freedom. It is an important time to ensure CIRA has the experience and knowledge to navigate what’s ahead.
I would be honoured to continue contributing to a strong future for CIRA.
CIRA’s foundational mandate is to ensure that the .ca top-level domain remains a trusted resource by and for Canadians. It has been remarkably successful, with more than 3.4 million .ca registrations representing a vast amount of Canadian culture and commerce online. The Registry’s true value is providing an unambiguous expression of Canadian identity on the global Internet. As more of our lives move online, maintaining a trusted space that reflects Canadian values and signals Canadian-ness is increasingly important.
By partnering with SIDN to offer the Hello Registry platform to other top-level domains, CIRA leverages existing assets to generate new revenue with less additional effort. CIRA’s Cyberstack and related security offerings build on its deep DNS expertise to create valuable cybersecurity products while addressing a gap in the Canadian market with affordable, made-in-Canada solutions.
The Internet can connect a country as large as Canada, but many communities still need support to realize its benefits. CIRA’s NetGood grants can be transformative, and we should expand the program and increase awareness nationwide.
Few people in Canada have my depth of experience in the domain name ecosystem, and it would be deeply meaningful to continue to bring that experience to CIRA’s mission
As Executive Director of the NetBeacon Institute, I led my organization through the development of a new three year strategic plan. This process went through three phases.
First, we engaged in an unbound ideation activity to capture ambitious projects, and start our process with energy, optimism, and exciting potential activities. Next we worked through a prioritization activity, assessing our potential work against its impact, required resources, and timelines. Lastly we turned this output into an actionable plan, incorporating current and ongoing work.
The outcome has been a team that is aligned, with clearer priorities and a framework for assessing new activities and competing work as it arises. We’re able to check-in on our progress both week-to-week and quarter-to-quarter, adapt our plan where necessary, and identify more easily where an opportunity doesn’t quite fit.
Perhaps most importantly, the process was fun and brought our small team closer together.
First, there is increasing pressure on registries to verify registrants and take responsibility for how domains are used. CIRA will need to clearly articulate its approach to online harms and be prepared to explain complex decisions under heightened public scrutiny.
Second, the next round of new generic top-level domains presents both opportunity and competition. It creates growth potential for CIRA’s Hello registry services platform while also increasing pressure on .ca. Success will depend on supporting new and existing TLD operators while also maintaining .ca’s position in an increasingly crowded market.
AI adds further uncertainty. It may reduce direct website visits and the importance of domains, while also creating new opportunities for domain names and the DNS in identifying and authenticating AI agents. CIRA must remain adaptable as these changes unfold.
Lastly, Canadians are looking to keep themselves and their businesses safe from online harms, especially in an AI driven context. CIRA’s cybersecurity services have an important role to play but increasing awareness and adoption will have substantial challenges.
My experience in online harms, cybersecurity, domain name industry and policy, and Internet governance positions me well to help CIRA navigate these challenges, and I hope to continue contributing that perspective.