Thanks DNT

[Simon Johnson]

Thanks to all the DNT members who attended the SGM. It's good to catch up with some familiar faces and meet new members. For those that couldn't attend or missed out on part of the livestream, I'd like to make a few points:

1. auDA is a membership based organisation (whether some people like it or not).
2. I believe it's critical the industry provide feedback to the auDA Board around their expectations and the actions and performance of the Board.
3. I believe that auDA must act in the public interest, as the custodian of a public asset, the Australian DNS.

The industry raised many valid points (none of which are news to me). At a high level, I believe members are very concerned about a broad range of issues:

• Communications;
• Transparency and consultation;
• Publishing of Board minutes;
• Code of Conduct;
• Direct registration;
• Registry;
• Changes to policy (e.g.: auto-renewal);
• Board performance;
• Board appointments;
• Board and staff travel;
• Operational issues such as staff turnover;
• Various statements made in auDA newsletters;
• Risk of uncertainty in the marketplace.

These are just issues that I've captured personally; it’s not a list from the SGM. It’s also no secret that auDA members want both reform and stability in the namespace. I’m determined to:

• Fix all of the issues identified above;
• Drive growth in the .au namespace and encourage investment;
• Get rid of bureaucratic red tape such as Change of Registrant fees;
• Partner with the channel (Registrars through to Resellers) and support them to promote .au over everything else;
• Bring best practice security and risk management to the namespace;

While I'm going to make an effort to keep the DNT community up to date, please understand that:

1. I’m just one Director on a Board with a diversity of views. Not all Directors will support my point of view.
2. As a Director, I have obligations in regards to confidentiality.
3. I’m not a full-time, paid staff member of auDA, so answering questions on DNT isn’t my day job.
4. I also have a life and other work commitments, so I may not respond to your questions as quickly as you would like.

I hope many of you understand where I’m coming from. Yesterday I made a commitment to post, so when I say I’m going to do something (it’s not political spin), I’ll do it.

S

 

[robert]

Hi Simon,

Much respect to an auDA Director for finally understanding the best way to engage with members is to actually pop your head up where some of the "more passionate members" actually "hang out".

I'm sure fellow members who practically live on DNTrade will reply and treat you (and other directors who choose to post here) with professionalism and respect.

This is a good first step forward since the meeting yesterday.

Let's see if we can keep it up and get to the core of the current and upcoming dramas (especially the impending .AU direct registration storm that is brewing!)

 

[findtim]

well said simon, i too am determined to continue my work for the australian online community as a whole, auda member or not.

tim

 

[Simon Johnson]

pop your head up where some of the "more passionate members" actually "hang out".

While I've been on here for nearly 8 years (12+ years on DNF), I haven't really been posting anything online since closing my blog after joining the auDA Board. auDA needs passionate members who genuinely care about .au, so I'm more than happy to chat.

I'm sure fellow members who practically live on DNTrade will reply and treat you (and other directors who choose to post here) with professionalism and respect.

I sincerely hope so.

Let's see if we can keep it up and get to the core of the current and upcoming dramas (especially the impending .AU direct registration storm that is brewing!)

Yes - absolutely. There appears to be a number of storms Robert. I understand that there are many different opinions on DNT, so obviously members won't agree on everything. Point being, it's one thing to say I'm listening, it's another thing altogether to make a change and act. So here I am. Thanks for taking the time to reply Robert.

 

[eBranding.com.au]

Thanks for the detailed post Simon. It's encouraging to see you engaging with auDA members (and other stakeholders) in the DNTrade community.

 

[DomainNames]

Thanks to all the DNT members who attended the SGM. It's good to catch up with some familiar faces and meet new members. For those that couldn't attend or missed out on part of the livestream, I'd like to make a few points:

1. auDA is a membership based organisation (whether some people like it or not).
2. I believe it's critical the industry provide feedback to the auDA Board around their expectations and the actions and performance of the Board.
3. I believe that auDA must act in the public interest, as the custodian of a public asset, the Australian DNS.

The industry raised many valid points (none of which are news to me). At a high level, I believe members are very concerned about a broad range of issues:

• Communications;
• Transparency and consultation;
• Publishing of Board minutes;
• Code of Conduct;
• Direct registration;
• Registry;
• Changes to policy (e.g.: auto-renewal);
• Board performance;
• Board appointments;
• Board and staff travel;
• Operational issues such as staff turnover;
• Various statements made in auDA newsletters;
• Risk of uncertainty in the marketplace.

These are just issues that I've captured personally; it’s not a list from the SGM. It’s also no secret that auDA members want both reform and stability in the namespace. I’m determined to:

• Fix all of the issues identified above;
• Drive growth in the .au namespace and encourage investment;
• Get rid of bureaucratic red tape such as Change of Registrant fees;
• Partner with the channel (Registrars through to Resellers) and support them to promote .au over everything else;
• Bring best practice security and risk management to the namespace;

While I'm going to make an effort to keep the DNT community up to date, please understand that:

1. I’m just one Director on a Board with a diversity of views. Not all Directors will support my point of view.
2. As a Director, I have obligations in regards to confidentiality.
3. I’m not a full-time, paid staff member of auDA, so answering questions on DNT isn’t my day job.
4. I also have a life and other work commitments, so I may not respond to your questions as quickly as you would like.

I hope many of you understand where I’m coming from. Yesterday I made a commitment to post, so when I say I’m going to do something (it’s not political spin), I’ll do it.

S

Simon welcome back! Please get more active not only behind doors but on this forum.

I understand you posting but I do hope it not just because an election is coming up and you want to appear to distance yourself from the recently sacked / resigned auDA Chair.

One prominent Director has told me you have not been voting against all the recent issues so things need some clarity from you to prove you are doing things not just saying things here for votes.

I feel it was a slap in the face to members and many people at last election to not issue a candidate statement and to not state your position on the proposed competing extra .au extension.

Did you vote for the censoring of auDA documents etc? How about muting members right to speak out with the Changes to the Code of Conduct etc?

Directors must realise they will be put under scrutiny now more than ever. With 3 out of 4 Resolutions ruled "invalid" by auDA and auDA Board people are not happy and the auDA Chair going is not the end of the issues.

www.grumpy.com.au has a lot of valid points which still remain.
http://www.grumpy.com.au/background/

 

[Lemon]

It is refreshing to hear that you are willing to engage in conversation with members.

We heard from the board at the SGM, albeit through the chair, that they are willing to listen, unfortunately they had to be dragged into this position through an unprecedented S249 motion by the members as they have failed to listen to the members for a long time with many broken promises along the way. Now all eyes will be on the board to take some action quickly. Let us hope that the upcoming Policy Review Panel will not be an excuse by auDA to say they are taking action. We do not have 12 months to sit around waiting for change.

If the board truly did "listen" then I would expect the Code of Conduct to be revoked immediately and the reinstatement of 2017 minutes back on the website prior to the AGM and the long awaited Members Portal. I would also like to see a change in the Constitution regarding "Casual Vacancies" as the replacement of an elected Board Director by one nominated by the board was disrespectful to members and should never happen again.

 

[Shane]

Great post Simon.

 

[snoopy]

Thanks for posting Simon!

With both you and Tim posting on Auda issues here I think this will vastly improve communications with members.

 

[Simon Johnson]

Thanks for your comments. I will be writing to the auDA Board to propose resolutions relating to:

1. Reinstating the minutes.
2. Revoking the Code of Conduct immediately, consulting the members and putting it to a vote at the 2017 AGM;
3. Amending the auDA Constitution in relation to casual vacancies, enabling members to elect Directors (as opposed to Directors appointing people);
4. Amending the auDA Constitution to provide fixed term limits for Directors. The intent here is to stop people being elected over and over again (like auDA did in the past). I believe it should be set at 3 terms (6 years) and be retrospective when implemented.

This is just the start. Amending the auDA Constitution needs to go to the AGM and be voted on by members. For those who have asked what my position is, I hope this makes it crystal clear and puts an end to any speculation.

 

[snoopy]

That is excellent news Simon. Issue 3 certainly was another very big issue at the meeting and issue 4 sounds about right to me, in regards to 3 terms.

 

[Lemon]

This is certainly big news. It will be interesting to see how the board replies.
I think the proposed Resolution 4 is a very good idea as one of the issues with the "old auDA" was complacency.

The most dangerous thing a business can do is become complacent and, realising this, many are turning their attention to board ‘refreshment’ or renewal’: the extent to which company boards turn over their directors, limit board tenures, avoid stagnation and encourage diversity.

According to the Institutional Shareholders Services’ (ISS) 2016-2017 Global Policy Survey of 120 institutional investors shareholders consider refreshment a vital issue. The survey found that directors’ tenure was the greatest cause for concern (68 per cent).

http://aicd.companydirectors.com.au...rmance/recent-research-insights-february-2017

 

[Scott.L]

Hi Simon, thanks for engaging the forum, Resolution 3 - casual vacancy is difficult to determine as it can change the composition of the board to reflect 'certain goals' during important decision making times; I think a visual skill matrix that members can 'tick box' (nonbinding vote) a pool of potentials (supply and Demand) is perhaps one of many ways to identify a preference.

 

[Lemon]

Hi Simon, thanks for engaging the forum, Resolution 3 - casual vacancy is difficult to determine as it can change the composition of the board to reflect 'certain goals' during important decision making times; I think a visual skill matrix that members can 'tick box' (nonbinding vote) a pool of potentials (supply and Demand) is perhaps one of many ways to identify a preference.

I agree that a skills matrix should play an important part in the determination of applicants to the auDA board.

I would like to see a published skills matrix be developed, with input from members, for Independent, Supply and Demand Class Board positions and potentially the chair, as each would have different requirements.
In the case of "elected" director positions/vacancies I would prefer that the potential candidates, who match the skills matrix, be put forward to the members and voted for accordingly.

I do agree with Simon that the Constitution would require an amendment regarding 'casual vacancies' as currently the board can appoint whoever they wish which in my opinion has the potential to cause a greater impact on the composition of the board and important decision making processes.

If a casual vacancy does occur (demand/supply), which is fairly rare, then a by-election should occur to fill the vacancy.

 

[Simon Johnson]

If a casual vacancy does occur (demand/supply), which is fairly rare, then a by-election should occur to fill the vacancy.

That's the intent of #4 and its happened multiple times while I've been on the Board.

That is excellent news Simon. Issue 3 certainly was another very big issue at the meeting

Thanks. I want to tackle these very big issues head on and resolve them.

 

[DomainNames]

Josh Rowe did an awesome interview tonight on 2GB. This story is getting bigger. A simple auDA SGM has not resolved the issues...Especially when auDA and the Board unanimously invalidated 3 out of 4 resolutions disallowing fair process for members to vote
http://www.2gb.com/show/money-news-with-ross-greenwood/

 

[joshrowe]

Here's the 2GB interview: http://www.2gb.com/podcast/revolt-at-au-domain-name-administrator/

 

[Lemon]

Thanks for your comments. I will be writing to the auDA Board to propose resolutions relating to:

1. Reinstating the minutes.
2. Revoking the Code of Conduct immediately, consulting the members and putting it to a vote at the 2017 AGM;
3. Amending the auDA Constitution in relation to casual vacancies, enabling members to elect Directors (as opposed to Directors appointing people);
4. Amending the auDA Constitution to provide fixed term limits for Directors. The intent here is to stop people being elected over and over again (like auDA did in the past). I believe it should be set at 3 terms (6 years) and be retrospective when implemented.

This is just the start. Amending the auDA Constitution needs to go to the AGM and be voted on by members. For those who have asked what my position is, I hope this makes it crystal clear and puts an end to any speculation.

Were these resolutions put to the board and can you give an indication if #3 & #4 will be implemented in any way.
With the minutes to be published I would expect some sort of reference to this in them. One would assume this topic would not be redacted in the minutes under the grounds of Security or Commercial in Confidence.

 

[Simon Johnson]

Were these resolutions put to the board

I made a commitment to write to the auDA Board on a number of issues and I've done that. Subsequently, auDA issued a statement.

can you give an indication if #3 & #4 will be implemented in any way.

To my knowledge auDA has made no announcements on these specific issues. As a Director, I'm bound by obligations relating to confidentiality and consequently I'm unable to comment.

With the minutes to be published I would expect some sort of reference to this in them. One would assume this topic would not be redacted in the minutes under the grounds of Security or Commercial in Confidence.

My personal opinion is that I don't believe items 1-4 would fall into these categories.

At the end of the day, I made a commitment at the SGM to engage here on DNT and discuss specific issues. I've done that in good faith.

 

[Bacon Farmer]

Job done. See you at election time in 2018.