The APNIC Elected Leaders series celebrates the journeys and contributions of individuals who have stepped up to serve in volunteer leadership roles, helping to advance Internet operations across the Asia Pacific region. Through their stories, we hope you’ll gain insight into what motivates them, feel more connected to our community, and be inspired to get involved and help shape the future of the Internet.
When APNIC Members re-elected Joy Chan as Chair of the Cooperation Special Interest Group (SIG) at APNIC 60, they reaffirmed a leadership approach grounded in inclusion, technical depth, and community dialogue.
Joy currently serves as Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Taiwan Network Information Center (TWNIC), where her work covers cybersecurity and Internet governance. Her career spans research, operations, and large-scale service delivery, including leadership roles at the Institute for Information Industry and in engineering. Across these roles, she has focused on building resilient systems and, more recently, protecting the integrity of the Internet itself. Her journey into the Internet industry reflects this evolution.
“I actually started in backend architecture — diving deep into systems operations and software development. Back at Yahoo!, I was responsible for service resilience and scalable operations across the Asia Pacific region, which taught me that the Internet is not just code; it’s a living, breathing infrastructure that people depend on every second,” she says.
“What inspires me today is the shift from building that infrastructure to protecting it. I love seeing how that infrastructure touched real lives. Today, what keeps me going is the ‘human side’ of those systems. At TWNIC, I’ve moved from building the pipes to helping protect the spirit of the Internet — ensuring it stays open and resilient for everyone.”
From infrastructure to community
Joy’s introduction to the Internet community followed a technical path, but her engagement with the APNIC community was shaped by its participatory model.
“There’s something really special about a community where the best idea wins, regardless of where it comes from,” she says, pointing to the value of the bottom-up, consensus-driven approach.
Her experience across corporate engineering, research, and public-interest work informs how she approaches policy and governance. She describes this as a ‘dual-lens’ perspective — balancing forward-looking analysis of emerging risks with the practical realities of operations. In the Asia Pacific region, where levels of digital development vary widely, she emphasizes that policy must remain inclusive and adaptable.
Facilitating dialogue across boundaries
Since first taking on a leadership role, Joy has helped guide discussions on issues ranging from routing security and Internet jurisdiction to sustainable infrastructure and the evolution of Internet governance frameworks. Her work has also extended into multistakeholder platforms such as the Taiwan Internet Governance Forum (TWIGF), where she has supported inclusive participation across sectors.
For Joy, the most meaningful aspect of this journey is not the topics themselves, but the process. “There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a room full of people with completely different views eventually finding common ground,” she says.
This facilitation role becomes especially important when discussions involve sensitive or complex issues. Her approach is to anchor conversations in shared technical understanding. “If we can agree on the technical ‘what’, it becomes much easier to navigate the political or social ‘how’.”
The role of the Cooperation SIG
Joy sees the Cooperation SIG as a critical bridge between the technical world of IP addresses and the broader digital society.
“It is the space where we discuss how technical decisions intersect with public issues like policy, law, and social impact,” she explains. “It ensures that the APNIC community isn’t operating in a vacuum but is actively engaged with governments and other stakeholders to protect a unified Internet.”
Joy highlights the importance of open forums that bring diverse perspectives together, as well as the role of partnerships between public, private, and non-profit communities in shaping a more resilient Internet.
Creating space for participation
A consistent theme in Joy’s work is the need to actively advance inclusion. “Inclusion is a verb — you have to actively work at it,” she notes. Creating environments where newcomers feel as confident as experienced operators is central to that effort.
She points to the value of intergenerational exchange: “The younger generation brings so much energy and fresh thinking… while the ‘veterans’ provide the historical context. When you get those two groups talking with each other instead of at each other, that’s where the magic happens.”
For those new to the APNIC, her advice is direct: “Don’t be intimidated by the jargon… listen first, ask ‘why’ often, and don’t be afraid to share your unique perspective. The Internet benefits from diversity; your experience as a user, a student, or a local operator is just as valid as that of a seasoned engineer.”
She also encourages practical steps: “Jump into a ‘Policy 101’ session — they are designed specifically to be friendly and easy to follow. Or just find someone like me during a coffee break and say hi! We love seeing new faces. Following the mailing lists is also a great way to ‘lurk’ and learn the rhythm of the community before you dive in.”
Leadership as service
Joy notes that one of the best ways to build the skills needed for elected community leadership is to start small — volunteering as a scribe or session moderator helps newcomers learn how the forum works and gain confidence in the process.
“Leadership in this community is about service, not status. Developing a reputation for fairness, patience, and deep knowledge of the Policy Development Process (PDP) is the best foundation for a future Chair.
She also emphasises the evolving role of community leadership. “The biggest challenge is being a ‘neutral gardener’,” she says. “You have to make sure the conversation stays healthy, everyone gets enough sunlight (time to speak), and no one overpowers the rest. It’s a big responsibility to ensure the process stays fair and transparent, even when the topics get a bit heated.”
Looking ahead
Joy’s vision is clear: Sustained cooperation is essential to preserving an open and globally connected Internet.
“Beyond technical security, the community must lead the way in ensuring that emerging technologies like AI are developed within a multistakeholder framework that respects user rights and regional stability. Maintaining an interoperable Internet will require our constant vigilance and cooperation,” she says.
“My hope is that our region can lead by example, showing that cooperation is the only way to keep the Internet global, open, and safe for everyone.”
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.