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Somber mood as ICANN 66 opens in Montreal

Kevin Murphy, November 4, 2019, 17:56:48 (UTC), Domain Policy

The opening ceremony of ICANN’s 66th public meeting set a somber tone, as leaders bade farewell to recently departed and departing colleagues.
Outgoing chair Cherine Chalaby and CEO Göran Marby delivered eulogies respectively to senior vice president Tarek Kamel, and long-time industry/community participant, Don Blumenthal, both of whom died over the last several weeks.
Apparently choking up at one point, Chalaby described Kamel as a “good friend” and “great man” who “always made time for me, always encouraged me, and always advised me with great sincerity”.
Marby later announced that ICANN will create a new annual award, named after Kamel, which will honor “individuals significantly contributing to capacity building and creating diversity within our community”.
He also said that the dinner held by the CEO with the technical community at the end of every ICANN meeting will in future be named after Blumenthal, a long-serving member of the security community.
“His expertise, hard work and humor will be sorely missed,” Marby said.
Chalaby himself is leaving ICANN under less sad circumstances on Thursday, when the third and final of his terms comes to an end and he leaves the board of directors for good. He’s been on the board for nine years and chair for two.
Marby presented him with ICANN’s Leadership Award in recognition of his time served.
Chalaby will be replaced by Maarten Botterman.
ICANN 66 runs through Thursday in Montreal, Canada.

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