Photo of William Sylvester

Sylvester, William

This nominee has

17

statements of support.

Affiliation: Addrex, Inc.

Nomination Committee Evaluation: Qualified

Candidate Speech

Nominee Questionnaire

1. Board of Trustees Qualifications and Responsibilities

Please review the ARIN Board of Trustees Expected Qualifications and Responsibilities thoroughly. Please describe, providing specific details, any barriers you foresee to your fully meeting those qualifications and undertaking those responsibilities. A Trustee’s responsibilities have usually required about 5-10 hours per week.

I am prepared to provide the necessary time to represent the community members in excess of the minimum required hours in addition to time required to read and research relevant materials and documents as needed to execute the duties of a member of the Board of Trustees.

2. Conflicts of Interest

a) Please disclose any conflicts of interest you may have, real or perceived, that would impact your ability to perform your duty as a member of the ARIN Board of Trustees. (If no conflicts, please enter “N/A”)

As an employee of a company dealing with IPv4 transfers, I would be cognizant of issues that might benefit my employer or myself personally and recuse myself for those votes.

b) How do you propose to resolve any conflicts identified in (a)? (If no conflicts identified, please enter “N/A”)

If any conflict were to be identified real or perceived I would recuse myself to maintain the propriety of the board.

c) Are you currently eligible to serve on the Board of Trustees according to the Conflict of Interest Requirements and the eligibility requirements?

Yes

d) If not currently eligible, describe how you will become eligible to serve, if elected (i.e., “If elected, I will resign from the position of ____________  before 31 Dec 2022”). If currently eligible, please enter “N/A”.

N/A

3. Education

a) Please list any degree(s) you received, the institution and the date issued.

  • Quantic School of Business and Technology, Executive Masters of Business Administration, November 2018.

b) Please list any professional designations, certifications, or development education (non-degree) and the dates completed.

  • VeriSign Executive Training
  • Pragmatic Institute Product and Marketing

4. Employment and Experience

a) Please provide the name of any company or organization you currently are employed by, or from which you receive directly or indirectly a material portion of your compensation. Please describe the business of each such entity, your current title, and the office address of the organization.

Addrex, Inc., IPv4 Marketplace, Executive Vice-President, 505 Huntmar Park Dr, Ste 220, Herndon, VA 20170.

b) Please refer to the ARIN Board of Trustees Guidance to the 2022 Nomination Committee in answering this question: Please describe your relevant professional experience and expertise and explain how this background will make you an effective trustee.

My experience dates back to the 1990s where I was employed by Network Solutions on the InterNIC project working in the Network Registration group. This was the predecessor organization to ARIN that was divested in 1997 to form ARIN. My extensive experience in core Internet infrastructure both working with IPv4 and domain names uniquely qualifies me to provide both the technical perspective and the leadership to support the organizations members.

Attach a resume, curriculum vitae, or other biography highlighting your experience most relevant to the duties of the ARIN Board of Trustees. (PDF, DOC, DOCX files only)

https://arin-elections.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/sylvester_resume.pdf

You may also optionally include additional web links to external websites (e.g., social media), though not as a substitute for your biography. One URL per line.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamsylvester/

5. Governance Experience

a) Please identify any boards on which you currently serve that carry fiduciary duties, whether at a for-profit or non-profit organization. Please note how long you have served and what offices, if any, you have held.

I have participated and been a member of the Board of Directors for the following organizations for multiple years each;

  • Addrex, Inc. Board of Directors
  • Denuo, Inc. Board of Directors
  • Agile Broker, Inc. Board of Directors

b) Please identify any other boards on which you have served in the past 10 years that are not included in answer to (a), listing your dates of service.

N/A

c) What is the role of ARIN’s Board of Trustees?

To perform the fiduciary responsibilities of the organization while guiding the organization towards a stable future while  adopting ethical, legal governance, and financial management policies, as well as ensuring the organization has resources to further its purpose and mission.

d) How does your past governance experience prepare you to help fulfill that role by serving as an ARIN Trustee?

I understand the fiduciary responsibilities of a board member including the duty of care, duty of loyalty, and duty of obedience. 

Additionally, providing inputs into the organization’s culture, strategic focus, effectiveness, and financial sustainability. I also see board members as representatives to the global Internet community and as advocates for issues important to the future of the organization.

6. Understanding of ARIN’s role in the Internet governance ecosystem

a) What is ARIN’s role in the Internet governance ecosystem?

ARIN is one of five global Internet registries and a member of the Number Resource Organization (NRO). ARIN serves as the directory service of the North American IPv4 numbers and related number resources. This includes technical and policy aspects that interface with ICANN, other RIRs, the United States Government, and the Internet community globally.

b) Describe any past experience or involvement with ARIN or other Internet governance bodies.

Chair of the accountability task force for the RIPE Community, Co-chair of the Database Working Group for the RIPE Community.

Various panels for ARIN and NANOG meetings. Contributor to policy discussions.

7. Board Discussion Topics

a) Risk Oversight and Management

i) Understanding and overseeing organizational and environmental risk is an important responsibility of Trustees. What do you see as potential risks to the organization, and which are newer risks that have emerged more recently?

Risks of the legal situation with AFRINIC, the RIR/NRO commitments to support other RIRs financially could become a burden upon ARIN and other registries were this legal situation be determined that AFRINIC has certain liability. The security and stability of the system is dependent upon all RIRs to be rational and financially stable. Governance of the Internet including sanctions like the situation in Ukraine and it’s impacts against Russia. This is also relevant for other sanctioned countries. Elements of Internet governance that might include multiple State actors, the ITU/United Nations, and other governing bodies that might attempt to influence the ARIN community and organization.

ii) How should the Board best discharge its responsibilities regarding risk oversight and management?

The Board should establish a risk matrix. This would include identifying strategic, financial, and governance risks. These risks would either be managed within relevant committees of the board or within the main board directly. The purpose would be to identify and manage any risks that could materially impact the operations of the organization or otherwise threaten the sustainability of the organization.

iii) How will you contribute to strengthening risk oversight and management at ARIN?

 I would propose conservative methods to identify, inventory, and regularly review risks. To appropriately take action to protect the organization or proactively resolve risks with a specific method to measure and manage all organizational risks.

b) Strategy

i) Supporting and reviewing the strategic direction identified by ARIN’s management, in consultation with its membership, is an important responsibility of Trustees. Based on your understanding of ARIN’s current strategic plan and the environment in which it operates, what opportunities or challenges do you foresee for the organization?

The organization continues to see number blocks transfered to other RIRs, some of the transfers are the result of unfavorable legal terms or other issues that companies choose to manage their resource in other regions. I see that the legal and technical frameworks need to provide value for companies to keep their resource in the ARIN registry this includes RPKI, Registration Service Agreements, and overall services. This is essential to maintain the stability of the organization and the financial health for the future.

ii) How might these challenges and opportunities influence current or future strategic plans?

These issues will require a detailed review of services, pricing, and legal terms to best meet the needs of the organizations membership and the global Internet community. Many of these will require difficult discussions to manage risk, sustain financial health, and provide industry leadership to maintain the organization into the future.

iii) Please explain how your background and experience would help in addressing what you believe are ARIN’s greatest challenges.

I have a clear understanding of where the organization has come from, where the organization is today, and a reasonable understanding of the direction the organization is headed in the future. With my extensive industry experience, I believe I can support the Board and the membership to identify and manage the organizations greatest challenges. This will include a solid understanding the business, legal, and technical landscape and providing the feedback and leadership to navigate all issues facing the organization.

17 responses

  1. I support William’s candidacy. He has a breadth of knowledge and perspectives that will serve the board well. He understands the technical aspects as well as he does the business concerns.

  2. Job Snijders

    I’d like to express support for William’s candidacy for the ARIN Board of Trustees. William has an excellent track record of providing the community with patient and thoughtful leadership.

  3. Nancy Carter

    I am happy to support William Sylvester’s candidacy for the Board of Trustees. William has complementary skills, experience, and background to those that currently exist on the Board of Trustees. These attributes will add to the diversity on the Board, and can only serve to add to the richness of discussions and decisions.
    His application clearly demonstrates a depth of governance experience, and better yet, understanding. I know him to be highly principled and ethical, and I believe that he would be an asset to the Board of Trustees.
    Please consider supporting William when casting your vote.

  4. Remco Van Mook

    I support William for the Board of Trustees. His industry background if second to none, while at the same time he would bring a new perspective, and his commitment to the global RIR community goes back many years – putting in hard work for the community all over the world.

  5. Clara Wade

    William not only has decades’ worth of industry experience, but also a deep understanding of the RIRs’ responsibilities and ideas about how to overcome challenges. He is interested in constantly developing his knowledge of diverse cultures and takes the time to connect with everyone in the community, whether that is a long-time member or a newcomer. He is uniquely qualified to help the board navigate a particularly challenging period that requires global collaboration and coordination.

  6. Tina Morris

    I support Williams candidacy for the ARIN BoT, he has critical perspective and would add value to the Board.

  7. I support William’s candidacy to the board. I have worked with William on a number of IPv4 transfers and he has extensive knowledge of not only ARIN but also other RIR policies and regulations. He has also been a great advocate of IPv6 and RPKI adoption. I believe he will be an exceptional representative of the community as a member of the ARIN board.

  8. Evghenii Kosatii

    I would like to express my support for William’s candidacy. I have known him for many years and worked alongside him on numerous projects. William has an outstanding industry experience, leadership skills, and community support. ARIN board would greatly benefit from having William on the team to further improve great service to our community.

  9. William would be a great addition to the board. I’ve known him to be technically excellent and forthright in all business matters. William understands the needs of _all_ resource holders and ARIN’s unique position in the RIR space. He’s an excellent candidate and worthy of your support.

  10. Marlin Martes

    William is a well respected and thoughtful leader within the internet community. Within the few years I have known him, William has made a distinct impression as fair steward of the internet, supporting policies and diverse representation to evolve the community for the greater good. Furthermore, William is one of the few individuals willing to not only welcome new participants in to the internet community yet also serve as a guide to navigate the complex nature of IP space. I think William would make a wonderful addition as a member to the ARIN board.

  11. Claudia Bartz

    I have known William for many years, and he has always been a huge supporter of the ARIN community and the Internet as a whole. He has been one of the unknown Internet pioneers who has always maintained focus on the work without need for the recognition or praise. His pioneering work at the InterNIC lead to a more stable Internet infrastructure (including the setting up ARIN). He would be a valuable addition to the ARIN board to maintain balance within a volatile Internet governance environment that we experience today.

  12. William has been involved in the evolution of the internet and its core specifications and technologies for over 25 years. I have had the pleasure of working with and for him directly for several years during that stretch, so I have had first hand experience seeing how thoughtful, knowledgeable and visionary he is. I trust that his expertise of the IP space and personality would benefit the community significantly, making him a prudent choice for the ARIN board.

  13. Nick Nugent

    I have worked with William on multiple IPv4 matters involving highly complex terms and technical nuances. It is clear that he understands the IP space, including RIR administration. He would bring a valuable perspective to the ARIN board, and I support his candidacy.

  14. Amy Potter

    I think William would bring a much needed perspective to the Board. He has a deep well of institutional knowledge, but without having ever been an “insider.” I think he’ll bring much needed balance.

  15. I have known William Sylvester for most of his career of building The Internet. He is affable. He’s easy to work with and gets along well with others. He’s intelligent. He presents information,himself and his concerns in an articulate and respectful manner. He’s smart. He’s helped build some of the most important systems the Internet uses today as its foundation. He’s also innovative. He pioneered the global number resources transfer market. Billy brings a wealth of experience and know-how that the ARIN Board needs. He’s a well rounded candidate that should be elected. I highly recommend him for your vote!

  16. I strongly support William’s candidacy. He has a long-standing history of working with registries and network operators, promoting best practices, and is an expert in subjects such as IPv6 adoption and RPKI. I believe he would represent the community well as a member of the ARIN board.

  17. I support Williams candidacy. He has been part of the internet community for over 25 years and has supported many of the good things the internet currently runs on, such as RPKI and IPv6 adoption. I believe William to be an excellent candidate for the ARIN board.

All statements of support are held for moderation and subject to the Statement of Support Acceptable Use Policy. Comments without a full, complete name and email may not be approved for publication.
Moderation will be completed within one business day. If you have any questions, please let us know at elections@arin.net.