At-Large Board Working Group Report on Nominating Committee (BWG-NomCom) Workspace

 

For information about this PC, please click here 

• Comments Forum

Brief Overview

ICANN is posting for public comment the report prepared by the Board Working Group on Nominating Committee (BWG-NomCom). The Board welcomes input from the community on the BWG-NomCom report as the recommendations in the BWG-NomCom report have potential effects on the NomCom structure.

Comment Period: 21 Aug 2014 - 21 Oct 2014 23:59 UTC

Reply Period: 22 Oct 2014 - 13 Nov 2014 23:59 UTC

Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose

The Board Working Group on Nominating Committee (BWG-NomCom) formed in February 2014, was charged with performing the review called for in Recommendation 10 of the Nominating Committee Review Finalization Working Group, addressing issues of the size and composition of the Nominating Committee (NomCom), as well as the related issues of NomCom's recruitment and selection functions. The BWG-NomCom prepared a report that includes 15 recommendations. Pursuant to its Charter, the report was presented to the Structural Improvements Committee (SIC). After review of the report, the SIC recommended the Board approve the report be posted for public comment.

The Board has not yet considered the recommendations in the BWG-NomCom report and directed the report be posted for public comment. If there is any disagreement with the BWG-NomCom recommendations, community members are encouraged to include within their comments alternative ideas of how to reach the objectives set out in the report. The Board will carefully weigh and consider the community's inputs once the public comment cycle and the open session in Los Angeles are complete.

Section II: Background

See Above

Section III: Relevant Resources

BWG-NomCom Report [PDF, 215 KB]

Revised Charter of the BWG-NomCom can be found here [PDF, 90 KB]

27 March 2014 Board resolution – Composition and Scope of the Board Working Group on Nominating Committee: https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/resolutions-2014-03-27-en#2.a

Section IV: Additional Information

Staff Contact

Larisa Gurnick, Director Strategic Initiatives

larisa.gurnick@icann.org

 

FINAL VERSION TO BE SUBMITTED IF RATIFIED

The final version to be submitted, if the draft is ratified, will be placed here by upon completion of the vote. 

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FINAL DRAFT VERSION TO BE VOTED UPON BY THE ALAC

The final draft version to be voted upon by the ALAC will be placed here before the vote is to begin.

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FIRST DRAFT SUBMITTED

The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the proposed recommendations submitted by the Board Working Group on Nominating Committee (BWG-NomCom) regarding size and composition of the Nominating Committee (NomCom), as well as recruitment and selection functions.

The report contains innovative recommendations, such as the delegative voting process, which promotes deliberation and consensus building within the organizations represented in the NomCom.   It also improves parity among the various interests that make up the ICANN community.

The changes in the member composition provide a welcome modification that enhances diversity. 

ALAC supports a staggered 2-year and term limit for its members included in Recommendation #9.   However it should clearly state that, in addition to allowing the NomCom to remove any member by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of its members, the appointing organizations may also remove any of its NomCom representatives according to their rules and procedures. The report needs to be specific on transition rules from the old structure to the new one. For example, are groups allowed to re-appoint someone who has already served 1 or 2 year?

ALAC embraces Recommendation #10 regarding expanding the scope outside of the ICANN community for the selection of the NomCom Chair as this will expand the pool of qualified candidates. 

The rationale on the removal of the Chair-Elect provided in Recommendation #12 has merit but the potential for a chair being appointed with no previous ICANN NomCom experience could lead to instability. ALAC recommends to, instead of eliminating the Chair-Elect, revise the current NomCom procedures to provide surety of selection of the Chair-Elect to the Chair position at the conclusion of the Chair-Elect’s term.

The interim chair process included in Recommendation #12 needs to be clarified and specific to avoid misunderstandings. For example, the pool of “delegation heads” is a term that is not defined anywhere in the report and it should be.  Also, the use of “could” implies that the appointment of an interim Chair is an optional action in case of unforeseen vacancy in the Chair position. This should be mandatory. Otherwise it could lead to instability also.