Call for Nominations to the Public Interest Registry (PIR) Board of Directors

The Call for Nominations is closed.

The Internet Society is now accepting nominations for the Board of Directors of the Public Interest Registry (PIR) (the “PIR Board”). PIR’s business is to manage the international registry of .org, .ngo, .ong, .charity, .foundation, .gives, and .giving domain names, as well as three .org associated Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs).

In 2025, there are three positions opening on the PIR Board. The appointed directors will serve three-year terms, beginning mid-year in 2025.

About Public Interest Registry

PIR is a non-profit domain name registry, set up under U.S. law. More information about PIR. 

General Qualities for PIR Board Service

1. Passion and commitment to further PIR’s mission, which is to be an exemplary domain name registry and industry thought leader providing a trusted digital identity and serving as a valued resource to those working to improve our world.
2. Leadership skills, including the curiosity to inquire, patience to listen, respect and empower others, ability to think strategically, objectivity, integrity, and collaborative spirit to make sound decisions, and desire to serve and accountability to fulfill the responsibilities as a director.
3. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with cultural competency and humility given the global stakeholders with whom PIR engages.
4. Senior Executive or board level experience, with a demonstrated understanding of board functions, governance, roles, and responsibilities. This may be with a commercial entity or a non-profit entity.
5. Foundational understanding of financial statements.
6. Ability to communicate effectively in the English language.  While the PIR Board is a global board, all meetings and meeting materials are presented in English.

No official of a national government or a multinational entity established by treaty or other agreement between national governments may serve as a director. Any director or employee of ICANN or its other contracted parties is also barred as having a conflict of interest.

In general, candidates are expected to be proactive and forthcoming in disclosing potential conflicts of interest, for example, responsibilities to other participants in the domain name ecosystem or roles within the ICANN process (even volunteer roles). While the PIR Board often benefits from its members having experience in areas related to PIR’s work, it is essential for the PIR Board to avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest.

Specific Skills, Competencies, and Experience Sought

1. Financial and business acumen to understand PIR’s business model and appreciate how PIR Board’s decisions may impact the wider community (e.g., ESG), assess and manage relevant financial, operational, and broader risks, and support PIR’s continuing success.
2. Understanding of the challenges, operations, and goals of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) broadly and/or familiarity with U.S. tax and other laws impacting PIR.
3. Experience with technological aspects of the Domain Name System (DNS) space or the Internet more generally, including the Internet technical standards and protocols, online service delivery (e.g., emails, web hosting, cloud services), DNS security and stability functions, and the operations of gTLD and ccTLD registries and registrars.
4. Experience in or familiarity with cybersecurity, particularly with respect to small- and medium-sized entities and operating large, mission-critical databases.
5. Broad educational and/or professional experience outside of the domain-business area to ensure that PIR Board’s strategic vision remains broad and relevant to the global registrant community served by PIR.

Gender balance, geographic, cultural, and other forms of diversity will also be considered during the selection process.

Time Commitment

The time commitment expected of PIR Board members is significant, including approximately 15 full days per year for face-to-face (or equivalent virtual) meetings (not including travel time), regular conference calls (generally monthly), and daily email correspondence. Meetings will be held via teleconference, videoconference, and in person.

The PIR Board currently consists of seven voting members and is intentionally small. It is therefore important that nominees seriously consider their potential role as a director and the time commitment that this entails. In addition, some leadership roles and committees will require more attention.

The board-related time commitment includes:

1. Board Meetings: At least one virtual meeting of no more than a half day and three in-person meetings per year, typically of one and a half days. When in-person meetings are held, travel time must be budgeted as well. In the past, meetings have been held virtually, in the USA, or co-located with ICANN meetings that occur around the world.
2. Committee Meetings: Committee meetings are generally held quarterly and virtually.  Each board member will join about two committees.
3. Strategic Planning Retreat: One per year in conjunction with a board meeting, generally adding one day to that meeting.
4. PIR Advisory Council Meeting: Three virtual meetings and one in-person per year, generally one to two days. Except for the designated liaison to the PIR Advisory Council, the board’s participation in these meetings is optional.
5. Conference calls: As needed.
6. Email correspondence: As often as daily.

Compensation of Directors

Reasonable travel costs, in accordance with PIR’s travel and expense policies, are reimbursable.

Directors are eligible to accept compensation up to $30,000 USD per year, paid quarterly in arrears, as compensation for their services as a director; additional compensation is available for additional service to the PIR Board. Compensation for PIR Board service is not guaranteed and can be amended or abolished at any time, at the discretion of the PIR Board’s Compensation Committee or the Internet Society. Directors may of course decline to receive compensation.

How the Selection Process Works

Interviews will be conducted with short-listed candidates via videoconference and finalists must undergo a background check. The Internet Society Board of Trustees then selects new PIR Directors from the pool of nominees. This is expected to occur by April 2025, and all candidates will be contacted as appropriate once the selection process is complete.