auDA ends exclusive negotiations with AusRegistry...

[DomainNames]

One of my most read articles on Domainer was this one from September 2015: "Follow The Money"

I've just read it again, and noticed there was a comment there from Gavin Collins (Crazy Domains). Why is that relevant? He was recently appointed "by recommendation" to replace Kartic (Melbourne IT) as a Supply Class Director of auDA. He's definitely not biased is he? He wants to increase "growth" in the .au market - even if it is forced and artificial.

After the well documented published issues people and auDA had with Crazy Domains it was a shock they made it onto the auDA Board they way they did..... or can we expect such shocks as standard now? FOLLOW THE MONEY

 

[DomainNames]

auDA BUYS austregistry? why build it when you can buy it.

Over the last 17 years we already paid for the Ausregistry infrastructure and so did auDA.. they should give anything they have back to auDA so it can be used!... Some at Ausregistry got rich.. they should all move on completely now....That includes leaving the auDA Board and auDA Committees ASAP. I am sure their role will be quickly filled by someone auDA chooses...and we will be advised when they are ready...

 

[snoopy]

He stood for election in 2015, and came last.

Votes (by proxy and in person)

Gavin Collins – 3 votes

James Deck – 4 votes

George Pongas – 18 votes

Kartic Srinivasan – 17 votes

Elected: George Pongas and Kartic Srinivasan
​

I have to wonder why they didn't tap Angelo Giuffrida from Ventra IP / Synergy to fill the position instead of Gavin? He was the unlucky "Supply" candidate in November 2016 (just 5 months ago). Friends in high places perhaps?

Do we know how these appoints are made, some type of board vote or something? Ditto for the appointment of independant directors?

 

[DomainNames]

Do we know how these appoints are made, some type of board vote or something? Ditto for the appointment of independant directors?

How can someone with 3 votes only previously be put onto the auDA Board? Seriously?
Comments from any Board members here why you allowed or made this happen?

 

[DomainNames]

He stood for election in 2015, and came last.

Votes (by proxy and in person)

Gavin Collins – 3 votes

James Deck – 4 votes

George Pongas – 18 votes

Kartic Srinivasan – 17 votes

Elected: George Pongas and Kartic Srinivasan
​

I have to wonder why they didn't tap Angelo Giuffrida from Ventra IP / Synergy to fill the position instead of Gavin? He was the unlucky "Supply" candidate in November 2016 (just 5 months ago). Friends in high places perhaps?

mmm There seems to be an issue around how people get jobs and some board roles with auDA. I wonder if this person ever got some answers...
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/au_domain_administration_ltd_aud

 

[Cooper Mills DomainLawyer]

Do we know how these appoints are made, some type of board vote or something? Ditto for the appointment of independant directors?

Snoopy, very simple, third party recruitment firm undertook a recruitment exercise, interviewed numerous candidates and made a recommendation to the board. The announcement is here.

 

[neddy]

Snoopy, very simple, third party recruitment firm undertook a recruitment exercise, interviewed numerous candidates and made a recommendation to the board. The announcement is here.

Good to see that you're following this thread Erhan.

There is no question that Gavin brings supply class experience to the table - but so would many other people. Why not go back 5 months in time and look at the last election result? Angelo Giuffrida made the effort to stand for election, and also attended the AGM in person. Gavin did neither. Imo, Gavin was put in place partly because of his friendships with certain other Directors.

What disappoints me more than anything though is the appointment of Dr. Michaella Richards (in October 2016) as replacement for Miguel Wood (Demand Class). Miguel exited quickly after serving only 8 months of his 2 year term; and so a replacement was sought. One name that was suggested to both you and Stuart Benjamin (Chair of auDA) was that of Shane Moore. I know you like Shane - and that you rate him - but when the recruitment person finally around to interviewing him (he had to be nudged to do so), Shane was made to feel inferior because he didn't have a tertiary education (amongst other things).

I have nothing against Michaella - she has a notable background in her chosen field. But what experience does she have in relation to domain names - and the issues that currently confront registrants?

Just as Gavin brings supply class experience to the table, Shane would have brought demand class experience in spades. And that is definitely what is needed on the auDA Board. As Shane said on Domainer: "My whole professional life revolves around domain names, websites and digital marketing."

Let's have some consistency in decision making. Please.

 

[Lemon]

But what experience does she have in relation to domain names - and the issues that currently confront registrants?

+1
At least Miguel Wood was elected by the MEMBERS to represent MEMBERS

Dr. Michaella Richards
WHO? WHY?

 

[Bacon Farmer]

Maate, who chooses the recruitment firm and briefs them ;-) ;-)

 

[DomainNames]

Snoopy, very simple, third party recruitment firm undertook a recruitment exercise, interviewed numerous candidates and made a recommendation to the board. The announcement is here.

Erhan, auDA is not transparent or following proper good governance no matter how it tries to appear to tick the boxes, dot the i 's or cross the t's.

The facts are Crazy Domains was the subject of serious issues and auDA actions. Gavin when he stood for the auDA Board got only 3 votes, other jobs have been filled with people who are friends or associates or who have NO domain name experience at all nor have they often improved their knowledge to that of other more suitable people. There are serious issues around allocation of past tenders, contracts, suppliers etc,

Please comment on this which has been brought to my attention. Is it factual?:

"Check out Amy Helme from Helme Consulting on linkedin who did the INDEPENDENT market research into .au.
Compare her employment history with that of Helen Hollins from auda who engaged her as an Independent consultant. Independent consultant ???

Amy Helme
Associate
Lippincott
January 2007 – December 2009 (3 years)

Helen Hollins
Business Development, Marketing and PR Management EMEA
Lippincott, Brand Strategy and Design Consultancy
Dates Employed 2007 – 2009
Employment Duration 2 yrs"​

________
auDA and the auDA Board has shown that it often fills jobs, contracts, board positions with people they know....This is NOT transparent and NOT good governance and it needs to stop

https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/au_domain_administration_ltd_aud
____________________________________
ALL auDA jobs, contracts, roles, DISCLOSURES, minutes should be advertised publicly and also on the auDA website..

PUBLIC BOARD & GOVERNANCE https://cira.ca/about-cira/board-and-governance
PUBLIC JOBS https://cira.ca/grow-your-career-cira
PUBLIC BOARD MEMBER DISCLOSURES https://www.hkirc.hk/content.jsp?id=43#!/51
PUBLIC MINUTES https://cira.ca/about-cira/board-and-governance/meeting-agendas-and-minutes
PUBLIC TENDERS
FREE MEMBERSHIP https://cira.ca/membership
PUBLIC FORUMS FOR BOARD ROLES https://cira.ca/2016-campaign-forum

 

[neddy]

I haven't had so much activity on DNT for ages! This has got me all fired up again.

Just going back over some of my recent Domainer articles, this is what I said back on December 15, 2016 in "A Spanner In The Works?"

"auDA’s recent decision to backflip and enter exclusive negotiations with AusRegistry for a renewal of the existing Registry Agreement (instead of going out to tender as they previously committed to do) could be snuffed out in its infancy.

Why? Overnight I read that Neustar (effective owner of AusRegistry) has entered into an agreement to sell out to a private investment group in the USA."
​

It's worth reading the article - particularly the comments.

I think we should all send thank you notes to Golden Gate, because thanks to them, the auDA Board has arrived at possibly the best ongoing solution for the future of the .au space. Of course, auDA are going to try and spin it that this "about turn" was all their decision. You'd expect nothing less. The fact is, they probably had no option but to do what they have now done.

Regardless of how we got there, let's give auDA credit. Now all they have to do is make it happen before June 30 next year.

 

[DomainNames]

Sorry Ned, but auDA dropped the ball and they do not deserve applause.. especially when Ausregistry had long time auDA Board representation and could have in some known known something with proper full disclosures.

The fact is the Wholesale registry should have gone to proper full open RFT every time. MANY years ago it was open and even a public forum!

It should not have been rolled over giving certain people a windfall of over $100 million. Shameful transparency and not good governance or best practice for "Australian Critical Infrastructure".

The Department of Communications should take over both administration and run a secure wholesale registry.... auDA still has too many issues and thhey are not improving on transparency or processes.

They completely dropped the ball with egg on their face yet again.... now we risk auDA being taken over via stealth with previous wholesale registry people or... auDA growing into an even larger entity and more income to waste.

 

[neddy]

For anyone who hasn't listened to this short audio clip on Domainer, it's well worth it. It was recorded at the AGM in Sydney on the 28th November, 2016. At about 1:25 seconds, Cameron Boardman mentions critical infrastructure and possible FIRB (Foreign Investment Review Board) involvement in relation to any possible registry tender.

That's why the subsequent Golden Gate announcement in December blindsided them (and led us to the current situation). In my humble opinion.

http://www.domainer.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/recording-from-1-06-23.mp3

 

[Scott.L]

Snoopy, very simple, third party recruitment firm undertook a recruitment exercise, interviewed numerous candidates and made a recommendation to the board. The announcement is here.

I know, Directors need not be Members. But, Gavin Collins, Crazy Domains, ASX DN8 are not AUDA members: surely the auda board looks to its membership first.

 

[neddy]

"Web Address Registration" aka Crazy Domains is a Supply Class Member.

 

[ttfan]

What sort of pay are the board member on?

 

[DomainNames]

What sort of pay are the board member on?

It's not the pay it is the other benefits they often receive which is the main concern.

ausRegistry is on the Board - a contractor / a supplier. Their role in auDA Policy, Committee's, Pricing, pushing of the competing .au extension for their own financial benefit and the behaviour of others over the years both as auDA staff, suppliers and auDA Board Members is worthy of a Government Senate Hearing... Yes Government Senate Hearing.. this way all political parties get involved...

Be assured there is information already being provided & updated now to the Government on a more regular basis and action may be retrospective where warranted. The government often acts when the media & investigators also start's sniffing around....

luke.coleman@communications.gov.au

 

[ttfan]

Yes I appreciate that, but I'd still like to know how much they get payed.

 

[DomainNames]

Share you concerns or provide information:

The Minister for Communications Parliament House office can be contacted on 02-6277-7480
LUKE COLEMAN
Adviser
The Office of Senator the Hon. Mitch Fifield
Minister for Communications
Minister for the Arts
Manager of Government Business in the Senate
P: 02 6277 7480
M: 0414 728 720
E: Luke.Coleman@communications.gov.au
https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/internet

 

[Lemon]

surely the auda board looks to its membership first.

I have been a member for over 15 years, voted at the AGM every year, gone through all the generic and geographic auctions etc etc and still have no communication from them as a MEMBER of auda (one of 200). It sucks. And it has gotten worse in the last 6 months. What happened to build membership base, transparency, communication. It sucks