[bestbits] Call for nominations for civil society representatives for the IGF Multistakeholder Advisory group (MAG)

Mon Sep 29 08:08:28 EDT 2014

I believe Mattew Shears will bring a wealth of experience to the IF
process and support his nomination to the MAG.

On 29/09/2014, Matthew Shears <mshears at cdt.org> wrote:
> Hi Jeremy, all
>
> Below please find my personal statement in support of my MAG nomination.
>
> Name: Matthew Shears
>
> Nationality and country of residence: UK
>
> Gender: Male
>
> I have been an active member of Best Bits and advocated for civil
> society interests since the Baku meeting of the IGF.   I helped
> contribute to civil society preparatory work for the WCIT and to civil
> society coordination on the ground in Dubai.  My engagement in ITU
> related activities of concern to civil society continued at the WTPF,
> where I participated in the work of the Independent Expert Group and the
> WTPF itself (and gave the closing civil society statement
> <http://www.itu.int/en/wtpf-13/Documents/statements/wtpf-13-cdt-closing-en.pdf>).
>
> I have participated in UNESCO's multi-stakeholder review of the WSIS+10
> and in the ITU's WSIS+10 MPP process alongside a small number of civil
> society representatives, working hard to retain references to human
> rights, people centered and inclusive governance, multi-stakeholderism,
> access and other issues of central importance to civil society (I also
> spoke to these issues in my statement
> <http://www.itu.int/wsis/implementation/2014/forum/inc/ps/doc/PolicyStatementsSessionOne-C/Mr.Matthew_Shears.pdf>
>
> at the WSIS+10 HLE).  I participated in the Best Bits preparatory work
> for NETmundial, leading on the Best Bits human rights principles
> submission
> <http://content.netmundial.br/contribution/internet-governance-principles-and-human-rights/107>,
>
> and participated actively in the event itself helping to shape civil
> society's engagement.   I am also involved in the work of the Freedom
> Online Coalition.
>
> I have been a MAG member before, from 2006 - 2008 (when I was with the
> Internet Society), and wish to return to the MAG as I firmly believe
> that the IGF must evolve, be strengthened and ensure that its mandate is
> renewed in 2015.  I believe that civil society's voice needs to be
> strengthened in the MAG, and the aspirations of all stakeholders in the
> MAG emboldened.   I will work to ensure that civil society in the MAG is
> coordinated and vocal in support of its goals for the IGF.
>
> I have actively participated in five of the nine IGFs, most recently the
> IGFs in Baku, Bali and
> Istanbul<https://cdt.org/blog/reflections-on-the-internet-governance-forum-in-istanbul/>.
>
> I have also participated in the regional Africa IGFs in Cairo and
> Nairobi, and IGF USA this past summer.   I have attended most of the
> recent preparatory sessions for the IGF and am familiar with the
> operating mechanisms of the MAG.  As someone who has worked in this
> space from the WSIS Tunis phase (2005), I am very familiar with and have
> worked with many stakeholder representatives in the IGF and elsewhere.
> I would also bring this experience to build common purpose across
> stakeholders to help achieve civil society's goals and to take the IGF
> forward.
>
> Additional detail:
>
> Matthew Shears leads the Center for Democracy and Technology's Global
> Internet Policy and Human Rights (GIPHR) activities. A UK national,
> Matthew has extensive experience in Internet and telecommunications
> policy and governance in the non-profit, public and private sectors.
>
> Matthew has worked for the public relations firm Hill and Knowlton in
> New York, the United States Mission to the European Union in Brussels,
> AT&T Europe as their Regional Director for International Public Affairs,
> broadband satellite start-up Teledesic as European Affairs Director and
> Cisco Systems as the Government Affairs Director for Europe, Middle East
> and Africa.
>
>  From 2005 through 2009, Matthew was the Internet Society's Public
> Policy Director, responsible for building the global policy team and
> representing the organization during the Tunis phase of the WSIS, at ITU
> Telecom World and at the Internet Governance Forum. From 2006-2008 he
> was a member of the UN Secretary General's Advisory Group on Internet
> governance.
>
> Matthew received his MSc in European Studies from the London School of
> Economics and his BA in International Affairs from George Washington
> University.
>
>
> Many thanks!
>
> Matthew
>
>
> On 9/27/2014 10:03 AM, Jeremy Malcolm wrote:
>> So far I believe we have these candidates to put forward into the
>> process:
>>
>> * Avri Doria
>> * Lea Kaspar
>> * John Dada
>> * Matthew Shears
>> * Ephraim Percy Kenyanito
>>
>> Before we close on September 30 this is a last call for any final
>> nominations.  Can I also please ask those who haven't already done so
>> to send (me, or the list) a statement addressing the criteria?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> On Sep 18, 2014, at 8:21 PM, Jeremy Malcolm <jmalcolm at eff.org
>> <mailto:jmalcolm at eff.org>> wrote:
>>
>>> This is a call for nominations for civil society representatives for
>>> the IGF Multistakeholder Advisory group (MAG).
>>>
>>> This nomination process in 2014 will be run across several civil
>>> society coalitions, including Best Bits, IGC, APC, Diplo, NCSG, and
>>> Just Net Coalition. You are welcome to nominate through any of the
>>> above groups. Nominations close on Tuesday, September 30
>>>
>>> If you wish to nominate via Best Bits, or you have been nominated and
>>> wish to accept, please do so either on list or by email to
>>> jmalcolm at eff.org.
>>>
>>> Please include in your nomination, the nominee's name, country of
>>> residence and nationality, and gender. Please also specifically
>>> address each of the selection criteria below, giving us examples and
>>> evidence of how the nominee meets each of the individual selection
>>> criteria.
>>>
>>> CRITERIA
>>>
>>>   * Past record of active engagement as part of civil society groups
>>>     working on internet governance issues, acting or speaking out
>>>     assertively on behalf of public interest concerns.
>>>   * Willingness and commitment to consult with and report back to CS
>>>     networks (including beyond those focused on internet governance
>>>     where appropriate) on MAG discussions.
>>>   * Previous attendee at IGF at a global or regional level.
>>>   * Willing, available and able to participate effectively and
>>>     constructively in the MAG deliberations.
>>>
>>> Existing MAG members seeking CSCG endorsement should also follow this
>>> process.
>>>
>>>
>>> Nominations must close on Tuesday, September 30. The list of
>>> candidates endorsed by CSCG will be published no later than October 16.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Jeremy Malcolm
>>> Senior Global Policy Analyst
>>> Electronic Frontier Foundation
>>> https://eff.org
>>> jmalcolm at eff.org
>>>
>>> Tel: 415.436.9333 ext 161
>>>
>>> :: Defending Your Rights in the Digital World ::
>>
>> --
>> Jeremy Malcolm
>> Senior Global Policy Analyst
>> Electronic Frontier Foundation
>> https://eff.org
>> jmalcolm at eff.org
>>
>> Tel: 415.436.9333 ext 161
>>
>> :: Defending Your Rights in the Digital World ::
>>
>>
>>
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>
> --
> Matthew Shears
> Director - Global Internet Policy and Human Rights
> Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT)
> mshears at cdt.org
> + 44 771 247 2987
>
>

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