The APNIC Executive Council (EC) extends its sincere thanks to the community for its engagement and feedback during the recent consultation process on proposed changes to the APNIC By-laws. The insights shared in April 2025 have been invaluable in guiding our discussions and decisions. For background on the consultation, please refer to the following resources:
- APNIC EC consultation on by-law changes (APNIC Blog post)
- Share your thoughts on the proposed by-laws changes (APNIC Blog post)
- Proposed by-law reform 2025 (APNIC web page)
Extension of EC terms
Following careful consideration of the feedback received, the EC has decided to pursue the extension of EC terms from two years to three years. This adjustment aligns with industry standards and strengthens APNIC’s governance by promoting greater leadership stability, deeper accountability across multi-year planning cycles, and enhanced expertise in addressing the evolving needs and priorities of APNIC Members.
Introduction of term limits
The EC believes, however, further consultation is required on the proposal to introduce term limits. Specifically, we seek community input on the following key questions:
- Structure of term limits: Should EC members be limited to three terms with no possibility of re-election, or should they be eligible to seek re-election after a cooling-off period of one or two years?
- Application to current and former EC members: Should term limits apply immediately (allowing current terms to be completed), should there be a grace period (for example, one additional term), or should the limits apply only to terms served after the adoption of the new rules?
To facilitate this discussion, the EC will host a session at APNIC 60 in Da Nang, Viet Nam, on 11 September 2025. We encourage all APNIC Members and interested community members to attend this session, online or in person, and share their views.
In addition to consultation at APNIC 60, feedback and discussion are welcome on the APNIC-talk mailing list, where community dialogue continues to play a vital role in shaping APNIC’s governance.
The EC remains committed to ensuring that any changes to the by-laws are made transparently, inclusively, and in the best interests of the APNIC community. We look forward to continuing this important conversation in Da Nang.
Member vote
While the EC has decided to pursue the introduction of three-year terms, we have also agreed that no formal vote on this change will be held until it can be considered together with the proposal on term limits. The EC believes that both elements — term length and term limits — must be evaluated as a cohesive package to maintain balance between leadership continuity and renewal.
The views expressed by the authors of this blog are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of APNIC. Please note a Code of Conduct applies to this blog.