[governance] NomCom and conflicts of interest

[George Sadowsky]

Much of this discussion of conflict of interest 
seems unnecessarily confusing and naïve.

I suspect that almost everyone reading this list 
has come conflicts of interest to bring to the 
table, as well as sets of views and opinions 
formed by other present and previous 
associations.  Surely the representatives of 
business and government who are on the IGF 
Advisory Group have such potential conflicts as 
they participate.  In fact, they might be rather 
useless if there were no such potential conflicts.

The idea that civil society groups, or committees 
as was the case here should be free of potential 
conflicts is both counterproductive and 
unnecessary, as well as possibly prejudicial. 
What is important in dealing with conflicts of 
interest is not to use them as an exclusionary 
device, but to declare them very publicly at 
appropriate times and, when there is a clear 
conflict with respect to choices of individuals, 
recuse oneself appropriately.

I have posted more on this topic, and on the 
topic of civil society professionals, on Veni's 
blog:

    http://blog.veni.com/?p=486#comment-141053

I support his view, as well as the comments of Suresh and McTim on this list.

George Sadowsky


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