Dear NCSG Friends and Colleagues,

I am sending this email to formally inform you all of my decision to resign from representing the NCSG on the GNSO Council, as I have accepted an employment offer from ICANN. I applied for an open position for Policy Manager that was posted on icann.jobs shortly following ICANN 57 in Hyderabad. I was notified that I was selected for the open position on 20 January, and was formally offered the position of Policy Manager earlier this week. I will be joining the GNSO policy support team, which many of you, having worked closely with policy staff on the GNSO Council and various GNSO working groups and committees, are familiar with.

It has been a genuine pleasure and immense privilege working with you all over the past years in furthering non-commercial interests within the gTLD policy space. I’ve learnt a great deal since first joining the NCSG, have made amazing friends here, and have generally really enjoyed working with you all. There are a number of you (you know who you are) who have gone to considerable lengths to mentor me when I first engaged in the GNSO’s policy development work, and for that, you will have my eternal gratitude.

Currently, I am representing the NCSG on the GNSO Council, and as per the NCSG’s charter regarding elected Councillors, am also a member of the NCSG’s Policy Committee. I’m confident that the NCSG Executive Committee will capably replace me, and ensure that non-commercial representation on the GNSO Council is not compromised in any way.

Effective immediately, I will no longer be able to serve the NCSG in the capacity of a Council representative, and will work with the NCSG and NCUC executive committees to terminate my membership in both groups. Having said that, I look forward to continuing to work with you all, and the broader GNSO and ICANN community in my new capacity. I will, as always, be available to be of any assistance I can be. I’ve grown to hold the policy support team’s professionalism and integrity in very high esteem over the years, and am proud to now join them. I’m very excited about continuing to contribute to the GNSO’s mission alongside them and all of you.

My heartfelt thanks to you all.

Amr