Cross-posting to the Victorian Linux list in case anyone isn't subscribed to the national list. --K. --- Hi everyone, With thanks to Brianna Laugher for making us aware of this initiative, we wanted to promote the opportunity to become an Australian Internet Governance Forum Ambassador to the Linux and Open Source Community in Australia. The Australian Internet Governance Forum, curated by auDA, has been run for the last few years as an open, collaborative workshop promoting and facilitating discussion on the key topics driving the future of the internet. The 2013 event will be held in Melbourne on 16th-17th October. This year's topics include gTLDs, rights of children online, legal rights and cybercrime and several others. Linux Australia is proud to be working in partnership with auDA and intends to provide financial support (subject to Council approval) to the event, with the specific aim of assisting diversity of representation at the forum. The Forum is specifically looking for Ambassadors to lead discussions on areas of internet governance in which they are passionate, have an interest and in which they could convene a panel of subject matter experts to lead and contribute to debate and workshops. A small number of Ambassadors will be chosen to represent Australia at the global Internet Governance Forum in Bali later in the year. Doubtless this is a fantastic opportunity! If you're interested, please make contact with Paul Szyndler at auDA (CC'd) - and further details are in the press release copied below. With kind regards, Kathy --- auDA launches 2013 Australian Internet Governance Forum and “auIGF Ambassadors” initiative By Paul Szyndler, 6 May 2013 No Comments » .au Domain Administration Ltd (auDA), manager of Australia’s “.au” namespace, is proud to announce the launch of the 2013 Australian Internet Governance Forum (auIGF). The auIGF brings together stakeholders from industry, government, academia and the not-for-profit sector to discuss Internet-related issues, exchange ideas and best practices, and help shape the future of the Internet in Australia. The event will be held on 16 and 17 October 2013 at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne. Its main themes will be: • Legal frameworks and cybercrime • The role of the Internet in breaking down national, social and cultural borders • Children and the Internet – rights and protections • New generic Top Level Domains (new gTLDs) – consumer choice or consumer constraint? To ensure that the auIGF is relevant and responsive to the needs of the Australian community, organisers are seeking the input of stakeholders to identify the Internet-related issues that matter most to them. The organisers are specifically seeking contributions from individuals and organisations that are willing to commit the time, expertise and effort to propose and develop workshops on any topic that relates to both their own area of interest and the broad goals of the auIGF. These “auIGF ambassadors” will be exclusively responsible for developing an auIGF workshop, inviting and confirming local and international speakers, and developing a brief report on the outcomes and discussion topics of the session. Ambassadors will also need to be available to attend the global IGF in Bali between 21 and 25 October, to contribute the outcomes of domestic discussions to relevant workshops and panel discussions and report back on those sessions. Although this will be an unpaid role, auDA will provide funding to cover the travel and accommodation of ambassadors for both the auIGF and global IGF. To nominate as an ambassador, interested parties should send a brief (no more than 1000 words) application to auigf@auda.org.au by 31 May 2013. The application should include: a brief personal Curriculum Vitae and, if appropriate, description of the organisation the ambassador works for / represents; contact details for two referees; a detailed statement regarding the proposed workshop, including an explanation of how the session relates to the goals of the auIGF and is of interest to the broader Australian community; a summary of the panellists and speakers that would be invited to participate, including the current linkages and contacts of the applicant that would reasonably facilitate the successful engagement of these invitees; and a statement of commitment to delivering upon the stated requirements expected of an auIGF ambassador. For further information, email auigf@auda.org.au. -- Kathy Reid Secretary Linux Australia secretary@linux.org.au http://linux.org.au Linux Australia Inc GPO Box 4788 Sydney NSW 2001 Australia ABN 56 987 117 479