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Photo of Chris Tacit

Tacit, Christian

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This nominee has

33

statements of support.

Affiliation: Tacit Law

Nominee Classification: Well Qualified

Candidate Speech

Nominee Questionnaire

1. ARIN 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 do not foresee any barriers to my ability to meet, fully the undertakings and responsibilities of a Trustee.

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”)

I do not have any conflicts of interest that would impair or impact my ability to perform my duty as a member of the ARIN Board of Trustees.

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

N/A

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 2023”). If currently eligible, please enter “N/A”.

N/A

3. Education

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

  • B. App. Sc. (Electrical Engineering), University of Waterloo, 1981
  • LLB., University of Ottawa, 1987
  • MBA, University of Ottawa, 1987

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

  • P. Eng., Ontario, 1983
  • Trademark Agent, Canada, 1991
  • Barrister & Solicitor, Ontario, 1987
  • Barrister & Solicitor, Alberta, 2005
  • Barrister & Solicitor, Northwest Territories, 2009
  • Barrister & Solicitor, Nunavut, 2009
  • Barrister & Solicitor, British Columbia, 2017
  • Q. Arb., Canada, 2022

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.

Christian S. Tacit, Barrister & Solicitor o/a Tacit Law

I am the founder of Tacit Law, a boutique law firm that provides a broad range of legal services to clients in the information technology, communications, regulated industries, and broader commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors. The address of the law firm is P.O. Box 24210, R.P.O. Hazeldean, Kanata, Ontario, K2M 2C3

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.

I have significant governance expertise, having served on the boards of ten corporations, eight of which are not-for-profit, and having been an officer of a number of them, including secretary and/or chair. In these capacities I have helped to lead a number of organizations through strategic planning cycles, business transformations and the adoption of enhanced risk management frameworks.

I also have a well-rounded understanding of the RIR ecosystem, having been a member of the ARIN community for eleven years and having served on the ARIN Advisory Council for nine of those years.

I am also a leader and entrepreneur, running a law firm with a total staff of eight people.

My training and background in law also makes me a good Trustee candidate, as does my experience in the Internet and telecommunications sectors, and my work in both governance and advisory capacities with not-for-profit organizations.

I believe that I posses all of the mandatory attributes to be a good Trustee, as well as many of the recommended and highly recommended ones. I would approach being a Trustee with intellectual rigor, curiosity, interpersonal sensitivity, an attitude of service of a diverse community, and a sense of humor.

The current focus on the recruitment of candidates with legal, strategic planning and government relations backgrounds aligns very well with some of my major areas of experience.

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) Remove any personal contact information (postal address, email, and/or phone number) from your resume/CV, as it will be posted publicly as part of the candidate information.

https://arin-elections.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/tacit_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.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cst001/

Twitter: @ctacit

5. Governance Experience

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

None at the moment.

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.

  • Board Member, Ottawa Humane Society (including Chair)  – 2010 to 2016
  • Board Member, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario        – 2011 to 2016
  • Board Member, Ottawa Health Sciences Centre Inc – 2011 to 2016
  • Board Member, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute – 2013 to 2015
  • Board Member, Toronto Internet Exchange Community (including Chair and Secretary) – 2014 to 2016
  • Board Member, Internet Society Canada Chapter (including Vice-Chair and Secretary) – 2014 to 2016
  • Secretary, Internet Society Canada Chapter – 2014 to 2016
  • Board Member, VeloMetro Mobility Inc. (including Chair and Secretary) – 2015 to 2019
  • Board Member, Vancouver Internet Exchange (including Secretary) – 2015 to 2021
  • Board Member, National Capital Internet Exchange (including Chair) – 2018 to 2021

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

My accumulated governance experience has helped me hone  both my governance skills overall (especially in strategic planning, business transformation and risk management), as well as to become a better listener and more sensitive to the excellence in governance inherent in board diversity.

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

I have been a member of the ARIN Community for 11 years and have been a member of the ARIN Advisory Council for 9 years.

7. Aside from any governance experience, describe your specific skills, background, and/or areas of expertise you believe will assist the Board in carrying out its duties.

I have a significant background in the Internet and telecommunications sectors, the not-for-profit sector and advocacy, as well as technical, business and legal skills, all of which are valuable in carrying out the duties of a Trustee.

33 responses

  1. Earl Thomas

    I would like to show my support for Chris Tacit’s nomination to the ARIM Board of Trustees. Chris and his crew have always done a great job for us

  2. Sherif Elkhouly

    I have worked with Chris for a number of years and have found him to be very thoughtful in his approach to law and policy making. He has tremendous insight into the telecom industry and has been a trusted counsel for telecom market participants for years. I have no doubt that Chris will be an asset to the ARIN Board of Trustees as he has been on the Advisory Council and the many Boards that he serves and advises.

  3. Sharon Miko

    I strongly support Chris’s nomination to the ARIN Board of Trustees. Chris provided exceptional support to the Ottawa Humane Society as a Board member, including as Chair of the Board. He was always reasoned and calm and has an ability to cut through to the essence of issues to work toward solutions. His professionalism and critical thinking helped to bring alignment on divisive issues in support of the organization’s mission. In more recent years, I have relied on and appreciated his excellent support of the OHS on legal issues. Chris is a strong asset to any organization he serves.

  4. MArgo Craig Garrison

    It is my pleasure to support Chris’s nomination to the Board of Trustees of ARIN. For two years, I had the pleasure of serving on the Executive of the Board of Directors of the Ottawa Humane Society when Chris was Chair of the Board. Chris was steadfastly dedicated to the mission of the organization and brought his extensive and broad-ranging skills and professionalism to his role as Chair. Chris was well respected for his ability to bring consensus to sometimes and not unexpected disparate views related to animal welfare, while consistently advancing the goals of the organization. In my view, Chris would be an exceptional addition to any Board.

  5. Bryce Healey

    I had the pleasure of working with Chris as a fellow board member with the Ottawa Humane Society. Chris brought to the table what you would expect from any board member: professionalism, positivity, passion for the topics at hand, and insights from their area of expertise. Where Chris truly excelled was the ability to both listen to the various perspectives and then clearly and concisely share aspects that were not previously considered. As a result, Chris quickly gained the respect from his fellow board members as a valued member of the Board. Chris would be an incredible addition to any Board.

  6. Charles Barker

    I strongly recommend Chris for the Arin Board of Trustees. Chris has served as outside general counsel for us for many years. His knowledge of telecommunications and IP policy is outstanding as he has represented us in both of these areas. Chris’s addition to this Board would be an excellent value to Arin.

  7. Alastair MacLeod

    Having worked with Chris throughout the merger of ORION, the Ontario high speed research and education network, and GTAnet, the Greater Toronto Area high speed research and education network, I am very happy to support his nomination for the ARIN Board of Trustees. Chris is insightful, thoughtful, collegial and has a wealth of knowledge that would directly benefit the ARIN Board.

  8. Rob Contaldi

    I support Chris Tacit. He is an exceptional character and has helped my business numerous times in the past. Very professional individual.

  9. Robert Osterhout

    Chris and I worked on the board of the Ottawa Humane Society including his time as chair of the Board. Chris was an excellent leader who grasped the issues quickly and fully while listening to and taking advice from the other members of the board. He worked very well with the Executive Director of the Ottawa Humane Society and treated him with the dignity and respect due to someone whose full time job was to run the Society. Chris was liked and admired by all the board members and we were sorry to see him leave when he completed his 6 year terms on the Board of Directors. The Ottawa Humane Society does have term limits for all board members of 6 years. I believe that ERIN would be enhanced by his presence on the Board of Directors and would make an excellent member of the board.

    Robert Osterhout
    20 October 2023 at 12:69 AM

  10. Jordan Deng

    Chris has been in telecom and ISP industry for many years. very knowledageable and proffessional. I support him to run into the election of the board of the trustees.

  11. joe power

    I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Chris, and I can attest to his exceptional expertise in internet law. His contributions to us re the CRTC have been outstanding, paving the way for a more transparent and equitable digital landscape in Canada.

    Having personally worked alongside Chris, I’ve witnessed his unwavering commitment to fairness and inclusivity in internet governance. He has a remarkable ability to bridge divides and find common ground, he will be a great asset for AIRN

  12. Matthew Wilder

    I have enjoyed working with Chris on the Advisory Council. He has a great attention to detail. I believe Chris has a lot to offer the board. Please consider casting your vote for Chris!

  13. Bill Payne

    Chris is an excellent choice for this role. His depth of knowledge and industry experience is highly sought after. Chris’s high degree of integrity and his approach to considering advice he gives would be a great asset to the ARIN board.

  14. Samer Bishay

    Chris is a wealth of knowledge on both engineering and regulatory aspects of our industry. he would be an invaluable addition to the ARIN team.

  15. Ian MacDonald

    I support Chris’s nomination to the Board of Trustees. He is qualified, capable and demonstrated expertise in creating, advising and managing policy and regulatory affairs within the telecommunications community.

  16. Shelley Robinson

    After working with Chris Tacit in different capacities over the last eight years I’m happy to support him for the Board of Trustees. From his role on the ARIN Advisory Council, the Internet Society Canada Chapter, the Ottawa-Gatineau Internet Exchange and in his wide-ranging work on behalf of independent internet providers I know Chris to be consultative, generous in sharing his knowledge and insights, and with the skills, experience and follow-through to thoughtfully deliberate on important issues while still moving things forward.

  17. Chris Woodfield

    I’ve worked with Chris for the entirety of my own tenure on the AC. He’s done a massive amount of intensive, thoughtful work as part of the NRPM working group, and has consistently brought thoughtful, meaningful perspectives to our policy process. He has my wholehearted support for a Board Of Trustees seat.

  18. Sandro Henriques

    I hold a strong conviction that Chris’s unwavering commitment and exemplary leadership qualities will undeniably yield a substantial positive influence on the ARIN organization. Through multiple interactions with Chris spanning several years, it becomes evident that his collaborative demeanor and unwavering diligence consistently characterize his approach to every task and responsibility.

  19. Bill Sandiford

    I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Chris and in personal and professional capacity for over 10 years.

    Chris is extremely knowledgeable of ARIN and its mission. He knows how to work in a collegial manner with his counterparts and has been a valued member of the ARIN Advisory Council for many years. Chris possesses the skills and mindset that will make him an ideal member of the Board of Trustees.

    I will be casting a vote for Chris Tacit to join the Board of trustees and urge you to consider doing the same.

  20. Hayee Bokhari

    I know Chris for few years and I do not know any better fit for this job then Chris, he has comprehensive knowledge of telecom industry, and his experience will be an Asset for ARIN
    I fully support his nomination and encourage other members to support him

  21. Pat Evans

    As a client of Tacit Law, I wholeheartedly support Chris’s nomination to the ARIN Board of Trustees. In my experience he is a thoughtful, insightful and measured individual. His governance knowledge and insights are invaluable, and he is one of the fairest people I know. He always has something new and unexpected to add to the consideration of complex and important issues. He would be an asset to any Board, particularly one like ARIN to which he is so particularly well suited.

  22. John Stonier

    I first worked with Chris when he supported our upstart telecom company break the Canadian monopoly long distance telecom market in 1990 where he exhibited explemplary advocacy for our application in the face of the largest corporations in the country at the time. We’ve been associates in business, on a number of NFP and private boards, and good friends since them. Chris is a trusted advisor and advocate who consistently adds value to the organizations he serves.

  23. Alex Munter (Ottawa, Ontario)

    I first met Chris Tacit about 25 years ago and have seen him in action as a board member in different kinds of organizations – including a community-based agency and a University-affiliated teaching hospital. Chris is mission-driven, focuses on results and brings his considerable wealth of experience to the table. He’s an asset to any organization lucky enough to recruit him.

  24. Dale Brubacher-Cressman

    Chris chaired the board of a private for profit corporation of which I was also a board member. I found Chris to be a diligent, thorough and respectful leader. I believe he can make a strong contribution to the board of trustees.

  25. Brian Jones

    I support Chris for the Board of Trustees. I have worked on the Advisory Council and the NRPM working group with Chris and find him very knowledgeable in Internet policy matters and also a great pleasure to work with. His participation in the ARIN community over the years demonstrates his interest and commitment to issues germane to Internet policy.

  26. Gerry George

    While I have only known Chris in-person since becoming a member of the Advisory Council (AC), I have been aware of him for a long time previously, as a constant and active participant at ARIN meetings and also on the various mailing lists. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to ARIN and the community, from my observations over the many years, and particularly and more recently from our closer interaction during my time on the AC.

    Chris is very experienced in and has a fundamental understanding of the policy development and oversight space, having been involved in this for quite a long time, with a keen eye for detail and very conscientious. A familiar name around the ARIN circuit, Chris has served admirably and diligently in his role on the AC and I am of the opinion he would be exemplary as a Trustee on the Board.
    As such, I wholeheartedly support his nomination for the ARIN Board of Trustees.

  27. Owen DeLong

    I first met Chris at an ARIN meeting before his first run for ARIN AC. Chris has a great perspective on many things and has done significant good work in his time on the AC. I support his election to the ARIN board.

  28. Gus Reese

    I have worked with Chris on the Advisory Council this past year. Chris posses an intricate knowledge of the PDP, has a fantastic ability to bring new perspectives to policy proposals and I have enjoyed working him in my inaugural year on the Advisory Council. I fully support his nomination to the Board of Trustees.

  29. Alicia Trotman

    Chris is very knowledgeable in the Internet governance space and his work ethic is second to none. I have served with Chris on the ARIN AC for many years, Chris is known for his calm demeanor and his ability to view policies from various perspectives. Chris would be a asset to the Board of Trustees, I fully support his nomination.

  30. Kendrick Knowles

    Chris is a steadfast, competent and committed ARIN AC member. Chris shows dedication in what he does for the ARIN community and helped guide me as a new AC member. I know that he will excel in his new role on the Board of Trustees. I fully support this nomination.

  31. Anita Nikolich

    I’ve worked with Chris on the AC for over three years. Not only is Chris a wealth of knowledge about the telecom industry in general, he understands the ARIN policy development process inside and out and has a keen eye for exploring all sides of policy issues. Chris is extremely diligent in his approach while remaining helpful and open to feedback. I think he’d make an excellent addition to the Board of Trustees!

  32. Alison Wood

    Chris Tacit will be an incredible addition to the ARIN Board. I have served on the ARIN AC with Chris for many years. Chris has consistently brought a calm, professional perspective to the council. Chris is comprehensive, thorough and has a unique ability to solve issues in a positive and conscientious manner. His contributions to the ARIN community are consistently excellent and I look forward to seeing Chris on the BOT.

  33. Douglas Camin

    I support Chris’s nomination to the Board of Trustees. Chris has served admirably as a member of the Advisory Council and his extensive professional background and great demeanor bring careful consideration to bear on important issues with high attention to detail. He has been a valuable resource helping me understand how the AC works and provided important insight to help me get started in my first year. I would encourage members of the community to support Chris’s election to the Board in the upcoming election.

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.

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