[Chapter-delegates] Q&A by Andrey Kolesnikov from Connect

[Hans Peter Dittler]

Forwarding from Connect all questions and answers by Andrey Kolesnikov

Election Statement:

Hello, my name is Andrey Kolesnikov.

My first internet experience goes back to Moscow spring in 1988 and I still carry amusement of the login prompt from another part of the world.

There was no revolution in my carrier. I slowly grew from network engineer to IT director, successful online media manager, telecom and technology evangelist for a number of NASDAQ companies, director of the largest national registry in Eastern Europe and became well known internet expert in Russia and CIS. Last year I came back to my roots as an engineer at RIPN.NET (http://ripn.net/). I sit on board in number of internet-related NGOs in Russia and ready to apply my technology, organizational, multicultural and networking skills to help ISOC achieve its mission as a trustee. I share ISOC's mission and values and will be happy to put my expertise to ISOC's needs.

I envision the following challenges for ISOC:

Firstly, an important mission to bring next billions online will require a hard work on reviewing ISOC's capacity, resources and adaptability to match the challenge, as well as identifying prospective allies and potential threats down the road.

With many states ready to crack down on encrypted communications, ISOC should take an uncompromised stance towards promotion of strong encryption and other means ensuring safe and secure internet.

While physical and online security concerns are exploited by some, including certain governments, to question appropriateness and relevance of the human-rights dimension of the Internet, ISOC should not succumb to the pressure and keep promoting an uncompromised stance with regard to observance of human rights in the Internet environment.

The advent of Internet of Things and its inevitable "Big Bang" will shake legal, cultural and business layers. ISOC needs to stay at the forefront of R&D efforts in support of the most advanced standards, practices, awareness-raising and educational activities to ensure their seamless and prompt adoption.

Question 1: Why do you want to be on the ISOC Board?
Recent developments worldwide and particularly in the developing countries have jeopardized the Internet's fundamentals and values. Today, more than ever, ISOC is in need of new ideas and possibility to ensure a great outreach to the most challenged communities. My credo is open and secure internet environment, which should be made available and affordable for all. I believe I am in possession of proven skills, expertise and time to work as a trustee. Importantly, I am in a right age to pursue the said goals and am well placed to reach out to various stakeholders with appropriate messages.

Question 2: What skills and experience would you bring?

As a practitioner, I have excelled in development and implementation of large-scale projects in regard to the Internet's critical infrastructure and its individual components.

Having led one of the biggest ccTLDs worldwide, I have gained experience in visualizing, developing and implementing policy agenda with account of a given community's legal and institutional framework.

As a communicator and negotiator with a well-developed ability to network in multicultural and multilingual environment, I have developed ability to reach out to and promote a meaningful dialogue with different stakeholders, including local communities and governments to ensure mutual understanding and consensus on fundamental issues.

As an actor on the international arena, I can help ISOC "go and spread the word" and tap into previously untapped forces to leverage the Society's efforts and ensure a more efficient pursuit of its mission.

As a trustee I will appropriately coach and advise on the strategic planning and provide input for the ongoing challenges.
Question 3: What specific challenges do you expect . . .?

I envision the following challenges which I believe should be addressed in the most consistent and forceful way:

- Firstly, an important mission to bring next billions online will require a hard work on reviewing ISOC's capacity, resources and adaptability to match the challenge, as well as identifying prospective allies and potential threats down the road.

- With many states being keen to question encrypted communications, ISOC should take an uncompromised stance towards promotion of strong encryption and other means ensuring safe and secure internet.

- While physical and online security concerns are exploited by some, including certain governments, to question appropriateness and relevance of the human-rights dimension of the Internet, ISOC should not succumb to the pressure and keep promoting an uncompromised stance with regard to observance of human rights in the Internet environment.

- The advent of Internet of Things and its inevitable "Big Bang" will shake legal, cultural and business layers. ISOC needs to stay at the forefront of the R&D efforts in support of the most advanced standards, practices, awareness-raising and educational activities to ensure their seamless and prompt adoption.

Alejandro has send this question to the chapters delegates list (copied from there):

What commitments do you make to continue in contact with Chapters and members in order to feed your positions as a Trustee, in case you are elected?

Dear Alejandro, dear colleagues,

As a founder of the Russian ISOC chapter, I am going to keep contributing to its operation and ensure its success story is shared with ISOC chapters and grass-roots activists in Russia and across other regions. It is only through ensuring meaningful feedback from the community and collecting local expertise and good practices that I would be able to determine and refine my stance on critical matters and give my work as Trustee an appropriate reality check.

Regarding second question about commitments to other parties and independence.  I believe I have no commitments which can affect my independence and compel me to act against the community's interests.  My present job is all about technical/research into network building and operation, as well as part time consultancy for start-ups, which appears to imply no conflict of interest, as far as ISOC is concerned. These responsibilities do not appear particularly time-consuming, either.

best regards,

Carlos has send a question to the chapter delegates list (copying from there):

What other responsibilities do you have now in another boards or institutions such us ICANN, RALOs, etc., that not only compromise your independency but compromise the amount of time you can dedicate to the ISOC Board?

Dear Carlos,

I sit on the Board of a small foundation which deals with research projects into Internet's advancement, improvement of the IPR framework in Russia and bringing it in line with good international practices. This is a pro bono job and implies one in-person meeting a month and reviewing and commenting on grant applications and research outcomes and findings. Typically, it takes between a half-year to a year to complete a research project, so at a peak time, there could be at a maximum two or three projects  to evaluate over the period of 14 to 21 calendar days, which can hardly affect my duties as Trustee, but help me stay updated on one of the most debated matters as far as the global and local IG agenda is concerned.

Hans Peter Dittler
CEO Braintec Netzwerk-Consulting
President ISOC.DE (Internet Society German Chapter e.V.)
Member of the Board of Trustees of the Internet Society

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