auDA Statement re Michaella Richards

[DomainNames]

https://www.auda.org.au/mailouts/auDA+Plain+Members+Email/Statement+by+the+auDA+Board+regarding+Dr+Michaella+Richards,+Non-Executive+Director
"
Statement by the auDA Board regarding Dr Michaella Richards, Non-Executive Director

7 August 2017"

The auDA Board is concerned about misinformation circulating about the process for appointing Non-Executive Director Dr Michaella Richards to the Board in 2016.

For the information of members, the facts are:

• auDA appointed global recruitment firm Intersearch Partners Australia (‘Intersearch’) to undertake an independent search and recruitment process for the demand class director vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Miguel Wood.
• This exercise was run concurrently with the search exercise for the Independent Director replacements, which were subsequently filled by Leonie Walsh and Sandra Hook respectively
• This process was conducted in a rigorous and professional manner under the code of the Recruitment and Consulting Services Association
• A detailed position description was developed identifying the skills which the auDA board believed were required on the board at that time, and was used as the basis of candidate assessment
• 31 candidates were approached and interviewed, including a number of demand class members and other candidates as recommended by a number of current auDA directors
• A final shortlist of 13 candidates were formally interviewed and referee checks were conducted
• Intersearch recommended to the auDA board that Michaella Richards be appointed to fill the demand class director vacancy having been interviewed by several Directors.

Intersearch and the Board considered Dr Richards the outstanding candidate given:

• her significant experience in innovation and technology policy
• her understanding of government, public procurement, and risk management
• her high level strategic capabilities

In addition, Dr Richards has undertaken a number of projects for government examining the relevance of ‘Brand Australia’ and the nation’s competitive advantage — including in the digital space. She is also a small business owner and entrepreneur. She owns and manages websites using both .com and .com.au domains.

Both Intersearch and the Board were fully aware of the fact that the CEO and Dr Richards had worked at the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources at the same time. This represented 18 months of Dr Richards’ seven years of service at the Department. This fact was considered immaterial to the appointment of Dr Richards.

In the period since her appointment, Dr Richards has been an exemplary contributor to auDA’s deliberations, and the Board supports her wholeheartedly."

 

[Bacon Farmer]

I'd like to see the detailed position description.

 

[snoopy]

She needs to resign, completely inappropriate appointment.

 

[DomainNames]

Should the highest number of auDA demand class members votes be considered for the demand class director role?

It would appear the auDA Board are "wholeheartedly" continously going 1 step forward and 2 steps backwards?

Is it really once again a 100% auDA Board decision and unanimous support as claimed in yet another after hours auDA Media statement?

 

[neddy]

I call absolute bulldust - and they haven't learnt a thing from last Monday's meeting.

I've done an article on Domainer complete with audio of Cameron Boardman who seems to have had an incredible / unexplainable memory lapse when it comes to admitting he actually interviewed Dr Richards for the position.

Also, listen to Erhan at about 4:40.

 

[neddy]

David Goldstein also followed up with a post tonight on DomainPulse.

 

[snoopy]

Should the highest number of auDA demand class members votes be considered for the demand class director role?

I like the idea of a fresh election personally in that situation.

See what you are saying though, the vote count is the type of information AUDA should be considering.

 

[Bacon Farmer]

It was incredibly rude for them not to tap Shane for the position. He was had significant voter support at the very last election.

Why wasn't the supply side vacancy handled the same way?

 

[snoopy]

Why wasn't the supply side vacancy handled the same way?

I think there has been a very low level of respect for demand class members. With supply side they have thought about a a supply related person that members may want whilst with demand side they just about appoint the person AUDA's "inner circle" wants.

Thankfully the vote is now changing a few things.

 

[Bacon Farmer]

"...She owns and manages websites using both .com and .com.au domains."

This gives the impression that she has multiple websites and multiple .com.au domains.

I could only find a single website duplicated on a .com.au and .com domain. Speaks volumes about her support for the .com.au domains. Will it be 3 domains when .au comes in?

Can we get some transparency on this from auDA? How many domains and or websites does she own / run?

It speaks to her suitablility as a "demand" class director.

 

[DomainNames]

Suggestion:

As a Demand Class member it would be nice for Demand Class Directors to contact all of the Demand Class Members on a more regular basis, introduce themselves and see what issues need representation to auDA and the auDA Board, provide updates back on progress or at least responses etc.

This way Demand Class members may feel more confident in the Demand Class Directors ability to fully and properly represent the Demand Class Membership and that they truly are there for the Demand Class interests and concerns.

The issue remains about Supply class also registering in Demand class to sway Demand and overall membership vote numbers, policy etc.

Not that I am saying it has occurred but we would not want to see Supply put in their puppet for Demand Class Director or even auDA or auDA Board place a person into Demand Class without both proper Demand Class voting and majority Demand Class support.

 

[findtim]

Demand Class Directors to contact all of the Demand Class Members on a more regular basis

i think i am fully informed of all your desires and issues as i read everything, also answer any phone call to me, or email directly to me alone ( not an email broadcast which needs to be dealt with at board level )

as simon pointed out and i agree there are just some questions we can not answer, just because you ask them doesn't mean legal we can answer them.
i know the cira have free membership, a campaign portion of their website etc
i know you want free cor
i know you don't want .au
i know you want board re-placements to go a member vote
i know you want to give elected board directors a $50k pay increase

but i'll state again, i will not break board confidentiality and thats just IT, so give up on it please.
and if that means you vote me out then please have the intention to be my replacement so i can ask the same of you.
tim

 

[DomainNames]

i think i am fully informed of all your desires and issues as i read everything, also answer any phone call to me, or email directly to me alone ( not an email broadcast which needs to be dealt with at board level )

as simon pointed out and i agree there are just some questions we can not answer, just because you ask them doesn't mean legal we can answer them.
i know the cira have free membership, a campaign portion of their website etc
i know you want free cor
i know you don't want .au
i know you want board re-placements to go a member vote
i know you want to give elected board directors a $50k pay increase

but i'll state again, i will not break board confidentiality and thats just IT, so give up on it please.
and if that means you vote me out then please have the intention to be my replacement so i can ask the same of you.
tim

Hi Tim, At this stage I will supporting for Ned and Shane at the next election. I also support Nicole Murdoch if she lodges her interest for Supply Class Director. All are excellent candidates with real long term Domain Name Industry experience in various areas ( real supply and demand issues, agendas, knowledge, public candidate statements what they stand for as auDA Board candidates etc).

 

[snoopy]

Hi Tim, At this stage I will supporting for Ned and Shane at the next election. I also support Nicole Murdoch if she lodges her interest for Supply Class Director.

Hear, hear!

 

[DomainNames]

https://auda.org.au/mailouts/auDA+Plain+Members+Email/Call+for+Nominations+for+Demand+Class+Director

"Call for Nominations for Demand Class Director

16 August 2017

The auDA Board is seeking nominations, including from its demand class membership, for the Demand Class Director casual vacancy resulting from the resignation of Dr Michaella Richards.

As the policy authority and industry self-regulatory body for the .au domain space, auDA plays a key role in ensuring the stability and security of the .au name space. The auDA Board is committed to delivering positive outcomes for the millions of people who rely on the .au domain space, its membership, and its staff.

Membership of auDA is not strictly necessary for nominees seeking to become Directors. In accordance with clause 19.7 of auDA’s Constitution, the auDA Board may appoint a Director in the event of a casual vacancy. The successful candidate will be appointed for the balance of Dr Richard’s term, which expires at the 2017 AGM.

Applicants with demonstrated company director experience are particularly encouraged to nominate. Applicants will need to submit to a probity process, including police checks and a bankruptcy search.

Nominations highlighting applicant suitability can be sent to Di Parker, Company Secretary of auDA, at di.parker@auda.org.au.

The closing date for applications is 4.00pm Monday 21 August 2017.

For more information, please contact di.parker@auda.org.au "

​

 

[DomainNames]

Demand class Domain Name Industry experience please!

 

[neddy]

Dr Michaella Richards has resigned. Casual Vacancy announced for her position.

That means person appointed only gets 3 months - but it does put them in the box seat for the next term.

As I've written on Domainer today, I hope Shane Moore applies.

 

[snoopy]

VOTE SHANE

Agree, Shane should be taking his rightful seat at the table and if AUDA reject him again he will simply be voted in by AUDA members at the AGM!

 

[DomainNames]

I do hope Shane has a chance based on the actual last votes counted and his Candidate statements made. He seems to have real working knowledge of the the Domain Name Industry which MUST be a minimum moving forward for auDA Board.

 

[findtim]

we are doing it the right way, whilst noting your suggests from the sgm.
if we were to appoint anyone without a due process you wouldn't/shouldn't like it, true?
you'll notice it isn't a long drawn out process with applications closing monday 4pm.

i honestly think you need to give us a tick on this one and then we can work towards accessing the suggested alternatives.

tim