Public Comment
Uniform Board Member Integrity Screening Process
Open Date
2 March 2018 23:59 UTC
Close Date
17 April 2018 23:59 UTC
Staff Report Due
1 May 2018 23:59 UTC
Brief Overview
Purpose: This public comment proceeding seeks community input on the recommendation that Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees that do not currently employ a due diligence integrity screening process similar to the Nominating Committee adopt the proposed Uniform Board Member Integrity Screening Process [PDF, 43 KB] to conduct due diligence on the candidates selected to serve on the ICANN Board.
Current Status: Each of the nominating groups (the ASO, ccNSO, GNSO, At-Large Community and Nominating Committee for Board Directors, and the GAC, IETF, SSAC, and RSSAC for Board Liaisons) employ community-specific processes to select ICANN Board Directors and Board Liaisons in accordance with the ICANN Bylaws. The Nominating Committee, the At-Large Community, and the ASO have each incorporated an external screening process, facilitated by ICANN organization, to review selectees prior to finalizing their selection process. On 2 November 2017, the ICANN Board passed Resolution 2017.11.02.33 directing the President and CEO, or his designee(s), to develop a proposal paper for public comment calling on ICANN's Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees that do not currently employ a due diligence integrity screening process to seriously consider utilizing an integrity screening process similar or identical to the Nominating Committee process to screen both voting Directors and non-voting Liaisons.
Next Steps:
- The ICANN Board will include the proposed Screening Process as a discussion topic during the Board's sessions during ICANN 61 with the Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees that do not currently use the integrity screen process facilitated by ICANN org.
- Upon completion of the public comment proceeding, ICANN organization will consider the comments submitted and prepare a report of public comments.
Section I: Description and Explanation
The proposed Uniform Board Member Integrity Screening Process [PDF, 43 KB] sets out recommendations for the Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees that do not currently employ a due diligence integrity screening process to adopt the proposed Uniform Board Member Integrity Screening Process [PDF, 43 KB] to conduct due diligence on candidates selected to serve on the ICANN Board. This is not intended to modify the other selection criteria applied by any of the Board member-selecting groups to their process. Instead, this would create a uniform requirement that any individual selected to serve on the Board should: (1) pass through the relevant SO/AC/liaison selection process; and (2) also pass through a screening review regarding their fitness to meet the fiduciary duties required of Board members.
Section II: Background
Under the Empowered Community processes, the ICANN Board and each of its members are held more accountable for their actions. Each of the nominating groups (the ASO, ccNSO, GNSO, At-Large Community and Nominating Committee for Board Directors, and the GAC, IETF, SSAC, and RSSAC for Board Liaisons) employ community-specific processes to select ICANN Board Directors and Board Liaisons (collectively, Board members) in accordance with the ICANN Bylaws.
The Board and the community have discussed the need to ensure that prospective Board members are adequately vetted to ensure that each is willing and able to perform the fiduciary and general obligations of service, and capable of upholding the reputation and credibility of the Board. The Nominating Committee, the At-Large Community, and the ASO each currently incorporate an external screening process, facilitated by ICANN Org, to screen prospective Board members prior to finalizing their selection process. Among other things, this external process includes review and as verification of CVs, criminal record checks, professional license verifications, media coverage, etc. Other SO/AC/liaison groups that select ICANN Board members have not asked ICANN Org to facilitate such external screening and it is uncertain if these bodies do any such reviews on their own accord.
Screening prospective Board member, including through interviews, reference checks and external screening, reflects generally accepted good practices and contributes to seating Board members with high levels of integrity. While conducting such due diligence cannot prevent future bad acts, it does give a level of confidence of the integrity of members at the time of seating. This is important in upholding the credibility of the Board.
On 2 November 2017, the ICANN Board passed Resolution 2017.11.02.33, directing the President and CEO, or his designees, to develop a proposal paper to be posted for public comment calling on relevant SO/ACs Committees to consider screening both voting Directors and non-voting Liaisons uses processes similar or identical to the processes utilized by the Nominating Committee. The Board recommends the adoption of robust screening for all prospective members of the ICANN Board. This is not intended to modify other community-specific selection criteria and processes applied by any of the Board member-selecting groups. Instead, this would call for a uniform requirement that the Board should only be comprised of those who: (1) pass through an individual selection process; and (2) also pass through a screening review regarding their fitness to meet the fiduciary duties required of Board members.
Comments Closed
Report of Public Comments