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|linkedin  = [http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele Sophia Bekele]
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Ms. [[Sophia Bekele]] is an entrepreneur, business executive, ICT activist, and international policy adviser on ICT/Telcom to public and private enterprise.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Bekele Sophia Bekele, wikipedia.org]</ref><ref>[http://www.aitecafrica.com/user/view/Sophia+Bekele Aitec Africa]</ref>  She is the founder and CEO of [[CBS International]] and [[DotConnectAfrica]].<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>
Ms. [[Sophia Bekele]] is a business and corporate executive, an International entrepreneur, corporate governance & risk management specialist, international policy advisor on ICT, internet and development issues, and ICT & governance activist and a philanthropist. She has maintained a successful career track record spanning over a decade of constant professional activity working for Fortune 500 Companies and transnational business ownership/operation. Bekele has founded and run various International start-ups amongst them [[CBS International]] and [[DotConnectAfrica]] and implemented successful projects as well as launched companies into new markets.


She was also the founder and [[CEO]] of CBS International, a private California-based firm engaged in [[technology transfer]] to [[emerging economies]], and SbCommunications Network, an Ethiopian IT company.  In 2002 SbCNet was known for being successfully awarded a highly controversial bid for a government contract to build an integrated information network infrastructure for the [[Ethiopian Parliament]].  Bekele was also an elected member of the [[ICANN]] Council of the GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization), which advises on global internet policy. She has served on [[United Nations]]-sponsored committees, such as the [[UNECA]]-sponsored African Information Society Initiative (AISI), where she represents the private sector in discussions about the economic development of Africa. She is also involved with the creation of policies towards bridging the economic gap between Africa and other economies, through the use of [[Information and communication technologies]] (ICT).
Bekele was elected and served as a member of the ICANN Council of the GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization), advising on global internet policy and the policy development work on new generic Top Level Domain name.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/candidates-2013-11-13-en Sophia Bekele ICANN GNSO]</ref>  During her term at [[ICANN]], she has championed the IDN Policy Dialog for the international community. Concurrently, Bekele initiated the first African-run Registry for a .africa TLD, under DotConnectAfrica Trust, and run a successful 6-year “Yes2dotAfrica” global awareness campaign.<ref>[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/Governments-have-no-role-in-managing-gTLDs Governments have no role in managing gTLDs]</ref> <ref>[https://thereporterethiopia.com/index.php/living-and-the-arts/lifestyle/item/324-an-ethiopian-woman-fighting-for-africa-a-new-generic-top-level-domain An Ethiopian woman fighting for .africa, a new generic Top-Level Domain]</ref><ref>[http://blog.ud.com/2012/03/new-gtld-news-connecting-a-continent-with-africa/ New gTLD News: Connecting a Continent with .AFRICA]</ref>


== Early life and Family ==
Bekele is of Ethiopian descent but studied in the USA for her Bachelor's Degree in Business Analysis and Information Systems at San Francisco State University and earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in management Information Systems from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California.  She is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA, Certified Control Specialist (CCS), and Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT).  Bekele travels globally for her work and shuttles regularly between her residences in Walnut Creek, California and Africa, where she has a firm based in  business and family.<ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/prodigal-prodigy-cbs-international-sophia-bekele.pdf Prodigal prodigy K Kaufman]</ref> <ref>[http://www.ethiopianwomenunleashed.org/database/sophia-bekele-eshete/ Ethiopian Women Unleashed]</ref>
Bekele is the daughter of Ato Bekele Eshete Wolde Michael, a businessman who was engaged in various sectors of the Ethiopian economy, also a founder and Board Director of United Bank,S.C and United Insurance,S.C one of the first and largest Banks and Insurance institutions in Ethiopia <ref>[http://www.old.capitalethiopia.com/archive/2009/august/week4/interview.htm Exclusive Interview]</ref> and Sister Mulualem Beyene Engida, a medical nurse. She attended a private Catholic high school, then traveled to America to acquire her Higher education.
 
In 2013, Bekele was named Top <b><i>“50 Trailblazers – A future made in Africa”</i></b>, by the influential UK’s NewAfrican Magazine, an IC Publications group, <i>“Collector’s Edition”</i> which coincides with the continent’s 50th-anniversary celebrations of the African Union, and featured individuals <i>“who are realizing significant achievements in their specific field of endeavor” and who are “breaking ground, making Africa proud and propelling it into a future of great hope.”  </i><ref>[http://techmoran.com/juliana-rotich-jason-njoku-alex-okosi-sophia-bekele-barrack-obama-named-top-50-african-trailblazers-by-uks-newafrican-magazine/,Juliana Rotich, Jason Njoku, Alex Okosi, Sophia Bekele & Barrack Obama Named Top “50 African Trailblazers” By UK’s NewAfrican Magazine]</ref><ref>[http://aptantech.com/2013/07/dcas-sophia-bekele-named-among-50-african-trailblazers-by-newafrican-magazine/ DCA’s Sophia Bekele named among “50 African Trailblazers” by NewAfrican Magazine]</ref> <ref>[http://www.undpegov.org/node/6431 Africa: DotConnectAfrica's Sophia Bekele Named One of 50 African Trailblazers]</ref><ref>[ http://naijacelebritynews.blogspot.com/2013/08/top-50-african-trailblazers-by-uks-new.htm/, Top “50 African Trailblazers” By UK’s New African Magazine: Juliana Rotich, Jason Njoku, Alex Okosi, Sophia Bekele & Barrack Obama Named]</ref> <ref>[ http://www.kenyanews.net/index.php/sid/214959307/scat/c1ab2109a5bf37ecAfrica: DotConnectAfrica's Sophia Bekele Named One of 50 African Trailblazers by NewAfrican Magazine]</ref><ref>[http://issuu.com/icpubs/docs/na0513_combinedissue_lowres?e=6326645/2549184,A future made in Africa-50 Trailblazers under 50 MADE IN AFRICA!_New African page 59]</ref> Bekele was also named as one of the <i><b>“two leading ladies in Africa’s ICT sector”</b></i> by “Bloomberg TV”<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20131129_african_women_to_watch_sophia_bekele_on_bloomberg_tv/ "African Women to Watch" - Sophia Bekele on Bloomberg TV]</ref> and enumerated in “African Women to Watch” a  prime TV program,  that <i>“celebrates the most fearless, competitive and visionary African women of our time” </i>,  and explores <i><b>“the women working hard to close the gender gap and  shaping the continent’s social, political and economic landscape”</b></i>. The CIO East Africa in 2017 named her "Industry Trailblazer" and "Internet Governance Pioneer", recognizing her significant contribution in the ICT and DNS industry as well as in the Internet Governance terrain, where she has accomplished impactful work on internet policy and governance.<ref>[http://itbusinessdirect.com/miss-africa-seed-fund-announces-201617-grand-prize-winners/, #SheTechsAfrica: Miss.Africa Seed Fund Announces its 2016/17 Prize Winners]</ref><ref>[http://domainnewsafrica.com/dot-africa-founder-sophia-bekele-named-industry-trailblazer-internet-governance-pioneer-by-cio/, .Africa Founder Sophia Bekele Named Industry Trailblazer & Internet Governance Pioneer, by CIO]</ref>


== Career==
After coming to the US, she studied and acquired her [[Bachelor's Degree]] in Business Analysis and Information Systems at [[San Francisco State University]]. Recruited out of college by [[Bank of America]], she began working in [[information security]].<ref>[http://cbsintl.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/prodigal-prodigy-cbs-international-sophia-bekele.pdf Kaufman, K]</ref> She earned her [[Master of Business Administration]] (MBA) in management [[Information Systems]] from [[Golden Gate University]], also in San Francisco, California, which led to managerial positions with [[UnionBanCal Corporation]] and then [[PriceWaterhouseCoopers]].


==ICANN Work==
==ICANN Work==
Ms. Bekele was nominated to serve on [[ICANN]]'s [[GNSO]] policy board from 2005-2007, under the Chairmanship of [[Dr. Vinton Cerf]]. Elected by the [[NomCom]], Sophia was the first African to serve and hold a seat the GNSO. During her tenure, Sophia was instrumental in initiating policy dialogue over [[IDN]]s as well as the formation of an [[IDN]] working group. She was later credited for championing the inclusion of the global [[IDN]] community within this policy dialogue.<ref>[http://ictcreatives.com/component/k2/item/50-sophia-bekele-ethiopian-champion-of-the-dot-africa-initiative Enterprise Technology ICT Creatives]</ref><ref> [http://www.scribd.com/doc/35142308/ICANN-IDN-Language-Group-Recommendation-IDN-1#fullscreen:on, IDN Language group Recommendation]</ref><ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/44715292/IDRU-Endorsement-of-Dotafrica-for-DotConnectAfrica-DCA#fullscreen:on, IDRU Endorsement]</ref> As a result, Ms. Bekele was also nominated to chair ICANN's [[IDN Working Group]]. She was one of the co-authors of ICANN's IDN policy guidelines.<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>
Ms. Bekele was nominated to serve on [[ICANN]]'s [[GNSO]] policy board from 2005-2007, under the Chairmanship of [[Dr. Vinton Cerf]]. Elected by the [[NomCom]]<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-04nov05-en.htm, Nominating Committee Announces Final Selections for Key Leadership Positions within ICANN 4 November 2005]</ref>, Sophia was the first African to serve and hold a seat on the GNSO. During her tenure, Sophia worked and participated in the development of policy over the New gTLD programme for ICANN that which is now approved for implementation and saw the application of 1930 new gTLDs at ICANN<ref>[http://gnso.icann.org/en/search/icann-search/sophia%20bekele, GNSO Activities]</ref><ref>[http://gnso.icann.org/en/issues/vertical-integration/soi-vi-pdp-wg-01apr10-en#bekele, Vertical Integration Policy Development Process Working Group]</ref> <ref>[http://www.prlog.org/11222383-dotconnectafrica-open-letter-to-us-department-of-commerce.html, OPEN Letter to US Department of Commerce]</ref> <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1109084848076.html, DotConnectAfrica Welcome 2012 - The Year for new gTLDs]</ref>. Sophia was instrumental in initiating policy dialogue over [[IDN]]s as well as the formation of an [[IDN]] working group. Ms. Bekele initiated the formation of the AfriICANN grouping within [[ICANN]]


Ms. Bekele initiated the formation of the [[AfriICANN]] grouping within [[ICANN]].<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>
::<i> "I am most interested in the issues of emerging economies and the use of ICT and the growth of the Internet or lack thereof over these environments. Therefore, the policies developed by ICANN over issues governing the global Internet particularly domain names could determine the gap in the digital divide within these economies...I have also initiated and pursuing the efforts for a successful launch of the '.Africa' continental domain name project within ICANN and the global African community” <b>Sophia Bekele, Statement of Interest ICANN, 2005-2007</b></i> <ref>[http://mex.icann.org/node/4985, Statement of Interest]</ref>


Sophia also initiated the first African-run bid for a [[.africa]] TLD, and is currently championing it across Africa under the non-profit, public-private partnership organization [DotConnectAfrica].<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org, DotConnectAfrica]</ref> Her organization has been endorsed by various prominent Pan-African organizations and African governments.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/dca-endorsements, DCA Endorsements]</ref>
==Championing the International Domain Name (IDN) Policy==
As a GNSO adviser to ICANN Bekele participated actively in policy development for IDNs and campaigned for the efforts to introduce IDNs in the ICANN policy dialog. She was later credited for championing the inclusion of the global [[IDN]] community within this policy dialogue and nominated to chair ICANN's [[IDN Working Group]]. She was one of the co-authors of ICANN's IDN policy guidelines.<ref>[http://ictcreatives.com/component/k2/item/50-sophia-bekele-ethiopian-champion-of-the-dot-africa-initiative Sophia Bekele, Ethiopian champion of the dot Africa initiative Enterprise Technology ICT Creatives]</ref><ref> [http://www.scribd.com/doc/35142308/ICANN-IDN-Language-Group-Recommendation-IDN-1#fullscreen:on, IDN Language group Recommendation]</ref><ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/44715292/IDRU-Endorsement-of-Dotafrica-for-DotConnectAfrica-DCA#fullscreen:on, IDRU Endorsement]</ref> <ref>[http://nomcom.icann.org/candidate-bios-2005.htm GNSO-IDN-WG, IDN Chair Nomination, Oct 2006]</ref><ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele Bekele co-author of ICANN's IDN policy guidelines, Recommendations]</ref>


'''Championing the International Domain Name (IDN) Policy'''<br />
Bekele successfully made the case at ICANN on behalf of the global IDN community.  In a written Testimonial, the various leaders of the IDN group gave her the following citations:<br />


As a gNSO adviser to ICANN Bekele participated actively in policy development for IDNs and campaigned and championed the efforts to introduce IDNs in the ICANN policy dialog. Bekele successfully made the case at ICANN on behalf of the global IDN community.  In a written Testimonial, and on behalf of the group<br />
::<i>"Bekele was very influential in drafting the IDN policy guidelines as well as developing a framework for leading a language group.  This required contentious and controversial matters with complicated political and commercial implications and interests. Ms Bekele strongly advocated and further went on to aggressively bring the voices of the global public of early adapters of IDN businesses and countries who implemented IDNs to the policy of ICANN" -<b>Mr. Yoav Karen, the then Member of the ICANN's President IDN Advisory Committee, Current ICANN gNSO Council member and Executive member of the IDRU.</b><ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/101440288/ICANN-IDN-Recommendation-DomainTheNet, Testimony of Sophia Bekele's IDN work at ICANN]</ref></i>


''"Bekele was very influential in drafting the IDN policy guidelines as well as developed a framework for leading a language group. This required contentious and controversial matters with complicated political and commercial implications and interests. Ms Bekele strongly advocated and further went on to aggressively bring the voices of the global public of early adapters of IDN businesses and countries who implemented IDNs to the policy of ICANN" ,'' <small>said Mr. Yoav Karen, then Member of ICANN's President IDN Advisory Committee, Current ICANN gNSO Council member and Executive member of IDRU.</small><ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/101440288/ICANN-IDN-Recommendation-DomainTheNet, Testimony of Sophia Bekel's IDN work at ICANN]</ref>
::<i> "..Ms. Bekele, as a former GNSO advisor to ICANN, you have worked hard and long to champion Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs). You have made the case within ICANN for a policy development process that will see IDNs in service of the world community. And you have done so successfully." - <b>David Allen Executive Director 05 December 2010, Internationalized Domain Resolution Union.</b> <ref>[http://www.scribd.com/dotafrica/d/44715292-IDRU-Endorsement-of-Dotafrica-for-DotConnectAfrica-DCA, ::Endorsement of Dotafrica (.africa) Initiative, 05 December 2010 by The International Domain Resolution Union]</ref> </i>


# "..Ms. Bekele, as a former gNSO advisor to ICANN, you have worked hard and long to champion Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs). You have made the case within
::<i>"The call for such Pan-African brand was largely initiated by Sophia Bekele who is no newcomer to spearheading new ways of thinking at ICANN. Years ago, her heroic efforts during her tenure as a newbie GNSO advisor to ICANN, in reversing the disastrous and misguided course that IDN policy took within ICANN at that time is now well documented and clearly attested to by the opposite direction in which the IDN portion of the new GTLD process at ICANN has since gone as bespeaks a true visionary,  while she never been shy of controversy, under her stewardship DCA for the past 5 years continued with unflagging effort to promote the cause and need for  .africa gtld. The Tireless campaign for .Africa has earned DCA respects in the ranks of internet technology movers and shakers" -<b> Dr. Subbiah, Chairman iDNS.net Intl, Ex Stanford University, Co Inventor of IDN.</b><ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/SAB-Support-Letter_SubbiahS.pdf Support Statement by Subbiah ]</ref></i>
ICANN for a policy development process that will see IDNs in service of the world
community. And you have done so successfully.|source=-David Allen, Executive Director 05 December 2010, INTERNATIONALIZED DOMAIN RESOLUTION UNION,<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/dotafrica/d/44715292-IDRU-Endorsement-of-Dotafrica-for-DotConnectAfrica-DCA, Endorsement of Dotafrica (.africa) Initiative, 05 December 2010]</ref>. In recognition of her championing the cause of IDNs, the above global IDN group later organized under and organization, IDRU endorsed her DotAfrica  Initiative and gave the following citation in recognition of her significant contributions.
<br /> " 


'''Championing the DotAfrica [[.africa]] gTLD Project'''<br />
::<i>"During my acquaintance with Sophia, she was championing IDNs which I had previously implemented in March 1998...., Sophia pushed very hard for a policy dialog through the GNSO Board and finally through the ICANN Board, where we now have IDN policy formally ......I found Sophia to be a quick learner on new issues, persistent and courageous. She is a team player with integrity." -<b> Dr. Tin Wee Tan, Associate Professor, Dept of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, INTERNET HALL of FAMER</b><ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/SAB-Support-Letter_Tin-Tan-Wee.pdf Dr. Tin Wee Tan, Associate Professor Recommendation]</ref></i>


Following her successful achievement of IDN work for ICANN and for the global internet community,  Bekele re-started the DotAfrica initiative following the important experiences gained from her work as gNSO advisor to ICANN. Bekele  made a clear case for a DotAfrica ([[.africa]]) gTLD for Africa within ICANN and also the global Internet Community on behalf of the global African and Pan-African constituency.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:EWBJVYdjy14J:www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/bekele-to-dengate-thrush-18jan11-en.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiuCAe7lIoCYxEwAc5Yu41rx2HvANtGY1LRavobL5r9wHrUKdj1xkZvECp7eQG1GI953IIVHfL_OXu-TfiqGAJA5ZPmXpkHFIal7qWavTkCuEMcA4w2KPcEu5PvA6ILizMOJb8D&sig=AHIEtbSsbKdUSWMD9IZ8rBrUyxvNbW581w, Open Letter to US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA) making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD]</ref>,<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/11150099-dotconnectafrica-statement-to-icann-public-forum-cartegena-colombia.html, Open Letter to US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA) making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD]</ref> ,<ref>[https://par.icann.org/files/paris/Paris-ICANNPublicForum-25JUN08.txt, The .Africa project announced at public forum in Paris, France]</ref>, <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1104224678384.html, Open Letter to US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA) making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD]</ref>,<ref>[http://forum.icann.org/lists/5gtld-guide/msg00108.html, DCA statement to ICANN public forum, Colombia]</ref>.  She soon led the [[.africa]] initiative under a successful venture [[DotConnectAfrica]]  organization, a non-profit, non partisan self start-up, and traveled throughout the various African countries and globally speaking and advocating the benefit of adapting to a .AFRICA (pronounced as ‘DotAfrica’) Top Level Domain name (TLD) for the African Continent. Her most significant accomplishment so far for the [[.africa]] gTLD project is undertaking and sustaining a successful global campaign, energizing it and giving it global momentum and raising its Pan-African and International profile to a position of relevance, and introducing it to the Pan-African inter-governmental organizations – the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) and getting them to endorse it.<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/31565131/African-Union-AU-Endorsement-of-DotConnectAfrica, The dotafrica Project initiative, August 8, 2008]</ref> , <ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/31566444/Economic-Commission-for-Africa-ECA-Endorsment-of-DotConnectAfrica, Testimony of Sophia Bekel's IDN work at ICANN]</ref>.  Bekele's presentations, speeches and publications used for this global campaign and promotional work to create awareness of the .africa TLD are chronicled on the Organization's website.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/dca-presentations, DCA Campaign Presentations and Speeches]</ref>
==Championing the [[.africa]] (dotAfrica) gTLD Project==
Following her important experiences gained from her work as gNSO advisor to ICANN and successful achievement of IDN work for ICANN and for the global internet community,  Bekele started the DotAfrica initiative. Bekele  made a clear case for a DotAfrica ([[.africa]]) gTLD for Africa within ICANN and also the global Internet Community on behalf of the global African and Pan-African constituency.<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/47087667/A-Preliminary-Case-for-Africa-gTLD-Open-Letter-to-NTIA-US-Department-of-Commerce-by-DotConnectAfrica, Open Letter to US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA) making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD]</ref>,<ref>[http://www.prlog.org/11150099-dotconnectafrica-statement-to-icann-public-forum-cartegena-colombia.html, DotConnectAfrica  Statement to ICANN public forum Cartegena Colombia]</ref> ,<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1104224678384.html, The .Africa project announced at public forum in Paris]</ref>,<ref>[http://forum.icann.org/lists/5gtld-guide/msg00108.html, DCA statement to ICANN public forum, Colombia]</ref>.  She soon led the [[.africa]] initiative<ref>[http://www.ssinformer.com/ssinformer-old/business_news/Africa/eastern/ethiopia/corporate/2009/december/11/eth_bus_corp_12_11_09_001.html, ‘ .Africa’ domain name to position Africa’s Web Industry]</ref>. under a successful venture [[DotConnectAfrica]]  organization, a non-profit, non-partisan self start-up, and traveled throughout the various African countries and globally speaking and advocating the benefit of adapting to a .AFRICA Top Level Domain name (TLD) for the African Continent. Her most significant accomplishment so far for the [[.africa]] gTLD project is undertaking and sustaining a successful global campaign, under a “Yes2dotafrica” theme, energizing it and giving it global momentum and raising its Pan-African and International profile to a position of relevance, and introducing it to the Pan-African inter-governmental organizations – the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) and getting them to endorse it.<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/31565131/African-Union-AU-Endorsement-of-DotConnectAfrica, The dotafrica Project initiative, August 8, 2008]</ref> , <ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/31566444/Economic-Commission-for-Africa-ECA-Endorsment-of-DotConnectAfrica, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Endorsement of DotConnectAfrica]</ref>.  Bekele's presentations, speeches and publications used for this global campaign and promotional work to create awareness of the .africa TLD are chronicled by the international and local media and the internet widely and captured on the Organization's website.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/dca-presentations, DCA Campaign Presentations and Speeches]</ref>


Bekele therefore was recognized and credited for her efforts by the global internet community as well as various leading African and International media.   As such, she was mentioned in the Economist article as "leading the .africa initiative"<ref>[http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2010/09/rebranding_africa,Can "Africa" get a make over?]</ref>.  The Diplomat East Africa named her "Brains Behind .africa" <ref>[http://www.diplomateastafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=388:connecting-africa-towards-a-digital-africa&catid=36:latest,Connecting Africa, Towards a Digital Africa]</ref>.  
Bekele, therefore, was recognized and credited for her global campaign efforts by the global internet community as well as various leading African and international media. As such, was credited by the Economist as "leading the .africa initiative"<ref>[http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2010/09/rebranding_africa, Can "Africa" get a makeover?]</ref>.  The Diplomat East Africa named her "Brains Behind .africa" <ref>[http://www.diplomateastafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=388:connecting-africa-towards-a-digital-africa&catid=36:latest,Connecting Africa, Towards a Digital Africa]</ref>.  
Enterprise Technology Magazine called her "Sophia Bekele: Champion of .africa initiative" <ref>[http://ictcreatives.com/component/k2/item/50-sophia-bekele-ethiopian-champion-of-the-dot-africa-initiative,Sophia Bekele, Ethiopian champion of the dot africa]</ref>  
Enterprise Technology Magazine called her <i>"Sophia Bekele: Ethiopian Champion of .africa initiative"</i> <ref>[http://ictcreatives.com/component/k2/item/50-sophia-bekele-ethiopian-champion-of-the-dot-africa-initiative,Sophia Bekele, Ethiopian champion of the dot africa]</ref> The New African Uk, named her one of 50 African Trailblazers under 50, noting her successful six-year Yes2dotAfrica global awareness campaign for the Africa Top Level Domain Name.<ref>[http://www.equities.com/news/industrial/2013-05-12/1392076/a-future-made-in-africa50-trailblazers-under-50-made-in.story,Sophia Bekele, A future made in Africa-50 Trailblazers under 50 MADE IN AFRICA!_New African]</ref>  
CIO East Africa calling her views "controversial" on who should run gTLDs, saying "Sophia Bekele has been in the news if not for promoting DotConnectAfrica’s bid for the DotAfrica geographical gTLD for the past three years, then in a controversial statement about the same":<br />
CIO East Africa calling her views "controversial" on who should run gTLDs, saying "Sophia Bekele has been in the news if not for promoting DotConnectAfrica’s bid for the DotAfrica geographical gTLD for the past three years, then in a controversial statement about the same":<br />


::<i> ".. Governments have a role to play, especially regarding the establishment of an enabling and supportive environment for ICT initiatives to thrive. However, there is a role for everybody, and global Internet governance is currently based on a multi-stakeholder modeled by ICANN.  Governments already have their two-code country-level top-level domains (cc TLDs), but they also have a role to endorse geographical gTLDs.  The problem is that this power to endorse is often interpreted and extended to include overall sovereignty over the new gTLD. We believe this should not be the case since it is monopolistic and anti-competitive coupled with problems of lack of transparency and accountability...-<b>Sophia Bekele</b>, in an interview on 09 March 2012, for the main story of ''[[CIO East Africa]]'',</i> <ref>[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/Governments-have-no-role-in-managing-gTLDs Governments have no roles in gTLDs]</ref>."
Bekele currently oversees the [[.africa]] new gTLD initiative of DotConnectAfrica Trust.  As Executive Director of DCA Trust & CEO of DotConnectAfrica Registry Services Limited, she has led a multi-national team of experts to prepare and submit an application for the DotAfrica (.AFRICA) generic Top-Level Domain. [[DotConnectAfrica]] Trust (DCA Trust) has already submitted an application in May 2012 for the .AFRICA (pronounced as ‘DotAfrica’) geographic name string<ref>[http://gtldresult.icann.org/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1276;jsessionid=2500230032894FB8CB3F16550E33DF0Farchive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1110237447043,ICANN New gTLDs - Application Details]</ref> to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a U.S.-based non-profit organization that is overseeing the global Internet expansion project to introduce new generic Top-Level Domain Names (gTLDs) under the new gTLD Program.
During ICANN's new gTLDs initial evaluation of applications, Sophia Bekele’s organization DotConnectAfrica’s application passed all the evaluation criteria including Financial, Technical and Operational Capability Evaluation Panels, however, the application was stopped due to the governmental objections effected at the ICANN Beijing meeting. <ref>[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/dca-trust-takes-%E2%80%9C.africa%E2%80%9D-case-with-icann-to-independent-review-process-irp-panel DCA Trust takes “.africa” case with ICANN to Independent Review Process (IRP) Panel]</ref><ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201401221336.html DCA Trust Takes '.africa' Case With Icann to Independent Review Process Panel]</ref><ref>[https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/dca-v-icann-2013-12-11-en DCA Trust V ICANN]</ref>
DCA Trust then filed for an independent review of its application at the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (“ICDR”), the international arm of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) of its application in October 2013<ref>[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/top-stories/dca-trust-wins-first-round-against-icann-in-injunction-on-dotafrica-domain DCA Trust wins first round against ICANN in injunction on DotAfrica domain]</ref><ref>[http://www.humanipo.com/news/43884/dotafrica-launch-further-delayed-by-dotconnectafrica-injunction/ dotAfrica launch further delayed by DotConnectAfrica injunction]</ref> <ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/dca_receives_an_injunction_it_requested_in_its_irp_proceedings/ DCA Receives an Injunction It Requested in Its IRP Proceedings]</ref><ref>[http://domainnewsafrica.com/breaking-dotconnectafrica-wins-dotafrica-injunction-against-icann-in-first-new-gtld-irp-case/ Breaking: DotConnectAfrica wins .africa injunction against ICANN in first new gTLD IRP case]</ref><ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201405131325.html DCA Trust Wins First Round Against Icann in Injunction On Dotafrica Domain]</ref><ref>[http://tandaabiashara.com/tribunal-freezes-icann-processing-on-africa-independent-review-panel-rules-in-favor-of-dotconnectafrica/ Tribunal freezes ICANN processing on .africa: Independent Review Panel Rules in favor of DotConnectAfrica]</ref> disagreeing with ICANN Board decision which was called “unfair, discriminatory, and lacked appropriate due diligence and care” as well as “anti-competitive” to their application and organizational aspirations. 
DCA Trust won Round one in its case against ICANN for the ".africa" domain on May 12 2014 when the panel declared ICANN must immediately refrain from any further processing of any application for .africa.<ref name="DCAWins1">[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/top-stories/dca-trust-wins-first-round-against-icann-in-injunction-on-dotafrica-domain DCA Trust wins first round against ICANN in injunction on DotAfrica domain]</ref><ref name="DCAWinsh1">[http://www.humanipo.com/news/43884/dotafrica-launch-further-delayed-by-dotconnectafrica-injunction/ dotAfrica launch further delayed by DotConnectAfrica injunction]</ref><ref name="DCAWinsCle1">[http://www.circleid.com/posts/dca_receives_an_injunction_it_requested_in_its_irp_proceedings/ DCA Receives an Injunction It Requested in Its IRP Proceedings]</ref><ref name="DCAWinsdns">[http://domainnewsafrica.com/breaking-dotconnectafrica-wins-dotafrica-injunction-against-icann-in-first-new-gtld-irp-case/ Breaking: DotConnectAfrica wins .africa injunction against ICANN in first new gTLD IRP case]</ref><ref name="DCAWinsalla">[http://allafrica.com/stories/201405131325.html DCA Trust Wins First Round Against Icann in Injunction On Dotafrica Domain]</ref><ref name="DCAWinstand">[http://tandaabiashara.com/tribunal-freezes-icann-processing-on-africa-independent-review-panel-rules-in-favor-of-dotconnectafrica/ Tribunal freezes ICANN processing on .africa: Independent Review Panel Rules in favor of DotConnectAfrica]</ref>
On 14 August 2014, the panel also issued a precedence setting ruling to accept DCA Trust's position on the procedural framework of the IRP proceedings and also terming its Declaration and the future Declaration on the Merits of the case are binding on ICANN.<ref name="DCAPfCIO">[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/top-stories/panel-accepts-dca%E2%80%99s-position-on-procedural-framework-on-dotafrica-irp Panel accepts DCA’s position on procedural framework on DotAfrica IRP]</ref> <ref name="DCAPfalla">[http://allafrica.com/stories/201409110194.html Africa: Panel Accepts DCA's Position On Procedural Framework On Dotafrica IRP]</ref> <ref name="DCAPftDm">[http://www.thedomains.com/2014/08/16/irp-panels-declaration-of-the-irp-procedure-in-the-case-of-dotconnect-africa-trust-vs-icann/ IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure in the case of DotConnectAfrica Trust vs ICANN]</ref> <ref name="DCAPfdma">[http://domainingafrica.com/panel-interprets-declarations-as-binding-on-the-africa-irp-lectures-icann-on-core-accountability-implications/ IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure Panel interprets Declarations as binding on the .Africa IRP, Lectures ICANN on core accountability implications]</ref><ref name="DCAPfngt">[http://www.newsgtlds.com/2014/08/dotconnectafrica-update-irp-panel-rules.html DotConnectAfrica Update: IRP Panel Rules to Accept DCA's Position On Procedural Framework]</ref>
===Independent Panel ruled in favor of DCA Trust===
On July 9 2015 the IRP independent review panel made its final ruling which declared that both actions and inactions of the Board with respect to the application of DCA Trust relating to the .AFRICA gTLD was inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of ICANN and thus declared DCA Trust as the prevailing party of the DCA Trust Vs ICANN IRP<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/final-declaration-09jul15-en.pdf IRP Panel’s Final Declaration]</ref>. Further declared that ICANN is to bear, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3, paragraph 18 of the Bylaws, Article 11 of Supplementary Procedures and Article 31 of the ICDR Rules, the totality of the costs of this IRP and the totality of the costs of the IRP Provider. <ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/07/15/icann_dot_africa_review/ Unredacted: ICANN's hidden role in a fierce battle over .Africa rights]</ref><ref>[http://www.domainmondo.com/2015/07/dca-trust-irp-decision-icann-failed.html DCA Trust IRP Decision: ICANN Failed the Global Internet Community]</ref><ref>[http://ethioinfodesk.com/ethiopian-born-entrepreneur-sophia-bekele-wins-africa-domain-name-accountability-suit-against-icann/]</ref>  <ref>[http://www.ipjustice.org/digital-rights/icann-loses-independent-review-panel-decision-for-unfairly-treating-tld-applicants-improper-deference-to-governments/ ICANN Loses Independent Review Panel Decision For Unfairly Treating TLD Applicant & Improper Deference to Governments]</ref><ref>[http://domainnewsafrica.com/icann-loses-dotafrica-case-irp-panel-rules-favor-dca/ ICANN loses .Africa case: IRP panel rules in favor of DCA]</ref><ref>[http://cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/dca-trust-wins-.africa-irp,-icann-to-pay-over-kshs-60-million-in-costs DCA Trust wins .africa IRP, ICANN to pay over Kshs 60 million in costs]</ref><ref>[http://tandaabiashara.com/breaking-dotconnectafrica-trust-victorious-on-its-challenge-of-icann-board-over-dotafrica/ Breaking: DotConnectAfrica Trust victorious on its challenge of ICANN Board over .africa]</ref><ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201507141174.html East Africa: DCA Trust Wins .Africa IRP, ICANN to Pay Over Kshs 60 Million in Costs]</ref><ref>[http://www.bna.com/review-panel-chides-n17179933491/ Review Panel Chides ICANN Board, Government Reps]</ref>


# ".. Governments have a role to play, especially regarding the establishment of an enabling and supportive environment for ICT initiatives to thrive. However, there is a role for everybody, and global Internet governance is currently based on a multi-stakeholder modeled by ICANN. Governments already have their two-code country-level top-level domains (cc TLDs), but they also have a role to endorse geographical gTLDs.  The problem is that this power to endorse is often interpreted and extended to include overall sovereignty over the new gTLD.  We believe this should not be the case since it is monopolistic and anti-competitive coupled with problems of lack of transparency and accountability...|source=-Sophia Bekele, in an interview on 09 March 2012, for the main story of ''[[CIO East Africa]]'', <ref>[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/Governments-have-no-role-in-managing-gTLDs,Governments have no roles in gTLDs]</ref>."
==Controversies==
In October 2012, DCA published a press release saying that their Wikipedia sites willfully sabotaged. Entries on Wikipedia sites containing DotConnectAfrica, .africa, and Sophia Bekele <ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/ Sophia Bekele Proffesional website].</ref>,were modified. According to the press release, some information that had been unmodified for over five years was removed from Wikipedia and replaced by new versions where DCA's involvement with .africa, DCA's working history, and Bekele's credentials were downplayed.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/2012/10/sabotage-of-our-wikipedia-sites/ Sabotage of Our Wikipedia Sites]. Published 2012 October 1. Retrieved 2012 November 13.</ref> The Press Release states this was done by DotConnectAfrica's opponents on .africa controversies.


Ms. Bekele currently oversees the [[.africa]] new gTLD initiative of DotConnectAfrica Trust.  As Executive Director of DCA Trust & CEO of DotConnectAfrica Registry Services Limited, she has led a multi-national team of experts to prepare and submit an application for the DotAfrica (.AFRICA) generic Top-Level Domain. [[DotConnectAfrica]] Trust (DCA Trust) has already submitted an application in May 2012 for the .AFRICA (pronounced as ‘DotAfrica’) geographic name string to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a U.S.-based non-profit organization that is overseeing the global Internet expansion project to introduce new generic Top-Level Domain Names (gTLDs) under the new gTLD Program. <ref>[http://gtldresult.icann.org/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1276;jsessionid=2500230032894FB8CB3F16550E33DF0Farchive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1110237447043,ICANN New gTLDs - Application Details]</ref>.
The information from Wikipedia was captured by the biography of her personal website<ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/biography/ Sophia Bekele Biography]</ref>


Bekele is a firm believer and an advocate of the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance and often writes and is asked to speak on this and related subject.<ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1109793953303.htm, Open Letter to US Congress to Express Support in Defense of the Status Quo on Global Internet Governance Model and Reaffirmation of the Multistakeholder Process]</ref>, <ref>[http://www.circleid.com/members/5906, Featured Blogs]</ref>
==CBS International==
Ms. Bekele founded [[CBS International]], a private corporation with the goal of technology transfer to emerging economies. The company also consults on Systems Integration, Internet solutions, Business Process Engineering, implementation of Corporate Strategy & Governance, Sarbane Oxley compliance initiatives, public policy on ICT/telecom. It is based near Silicon Valley, California.


==Corporate Experience==
CBS International also set up SbCommunications Network, an Ethiopian IT company. In 2002 SbCNet was known for being successfully awarded a highly controversial bid for a government contract to build an integrated information network infrastructure for the Ethiopian Parliament.<ref>[http://cbsegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/auditor-says-parliament-award-improper.pdf Ethiopian Parliament Integrated Information Network Infrastructure]</ref>  
Sophia began her career working for multinational institutions in large financial/banking companies in Corporate America such as Bank of America, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi/Union Bank of California, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, as well as building various start-ups with international business portfolios. Most of Ms. Bekele's work is characterized with overseeing the control and security activities for technologies, auditing computer IT systems, evaluated new product & system services and recommending cost effective solutions, project management, client relationship, operational and business risk assessment, business process re-engineering, writing recommendation reports to Executive Management for operational improvements, and corporate good governance.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Bekele Sophia Bekele, wikipedia.org]</ref>  
=====CBS International=====
Ms. Bekele founded [[CBS International]], a private corporation with the goal of supporting technology in organizations working in emerging markets. The company's self-described mission is to: "Utilize our experience in consulting services in sales, software training, and provide our clients with a total systems solutions to help lower their cost and maximize efficiency in the delivery of quality products and services." CBS also consults on Business Process Engineering, implementation of Corporate Strategy & Governance & Sarbane Oxley compliance initiatives. It is based near Silicon Valley, California.


Currently, Ms. Bekele and her company assist various clients in public/private markets, primarily in corporate risk governance, including the recent Sarbanes-Oxley , GAAP & PCAOB and IT governance. Internationally, Sophia also consults on Milennium Challenge issues including anti-corruption, democratic governance, free market economics, and the development of internet and ICT infrastruture and regulatory policy.<ref>[http://cbsegroup.com/main.html?src=%2F85001%2F88022.html#1,0 CBS International]</ref>
Ms. Bekele and her company CBS International have also assisted various U.S. Clients in the public/private markets, primarily in corporate governance and risk management areas, including the recent Sarbanes-Oxley ACT, GAAP & PCAOB. In these areas, her selected clients have included OnScreen Technologies, Inc. (OTC), Intel Corp. (Nasdaq) BDO Sieldman LLP, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLB), Genentech Corp (Gene).<ref>[http://www.ethiopianwomenunleashed.org/database/sophia-bekele-eshete/  Ethiopian Women Unleashed Mary-Jane Wagle; Betel Bekele (August 2012)]</ref>


=====DotConnectAfrica=====
==DotConnectAfrica (DCA)==
Ms. Bekele also founded [[DotConnectAfrica]]. She is responsible for creating the foundations for running a viable non-profit with public/private partnership model, that is going to have a sustainable future with the project initiatives that it undertakes. The flagship projects which invoked the initialization of the organization is the "dotafrica" (.africa) Top Level Domain Name, which is to be the Continental Domain name to register Africa's businesses and other entities that are of concern to Africa.
Bekele’s recent venture is the establishment of the [[DotConnectAfrica]] Trust and DotConnectAfrica Registry Services Limited, which is well-known for its successful six-year Yes2dotAfrica global awareness campaign for the .Africa Top Level Domain Name.  Bekele made a clear case for a DotAfrica (.africa) gTLD for Africa within ICANN and introduced it to the PanAfrican organizations in Africa such as UNECA and African Union and the global publics. She then received endorsements from both organizations in 2008 and 2009 respectively, and the global IDN working group for her DotAfrica Initiative.  Currently, Bekele's focus is on the .africa – a new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) for the Africa geographic name that she initiated during her appointment at ICANN. The project will be introduced and delegated for operation under ICANN’s new gTLD programme.


Currently, Ms. Bekele's responsibilities include identifying opportunities and risks for delivering the company’s services as a web-based business, including identification of competitive services, opportunities for innovation, and assessment of marketplace obstacles and technical hurdles to the business success; Identify technology trends and evolving social behavior that may support or impede the success of the business; and Evaluate and identify appropriate technology platforms (including web application frameworks and the deployment stack) for delivering the company’s services.<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>
To successfully drive this vision and strategy, DCA has assembled a high-profile Global Strategic Advisory Team comprised of technology analysts and visionaries, Internet domain industry experts, entrepreneurs, business executives and leaders in various sectors and walks of life, to provide strategic guidance and input to the work of DCA on a regular basis.  To learn more on DCA's work, its organizational structure, partnerships and locations,  please refer to [[DotConnectAfrica]]


=====Other Endeavors=====
==Speakings and Writings==
She is a Alumni Board Member of the Golden Gate University, Founder and Board Member of [[ISOC]] San Francisco Bay, a former board member of Information Systems and Control Association ([[ISACA]]-SF), advisory member to the World Affairs Council of Contra Costa County, and adviser to United Nation Agencies, where she serves as expert advisor on ICT policy for various UN Agencies Boards and committees, including UNECA (Economic commission for Africa), UNPAN, UNGAID.<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>
Sophia is regularly invited to speak on international fora to present her work in technology transfer and has been credited for bringing powerful advanced information technology to the developing world, with long-standing initiatives to bring the internet to Africa. She spoke as one Africa Diaspora Leader panelist at the GES-Global Tech Entrepreneurship Summit in Silicon Valley, USA organized by USAID and White house State Dpartment<ref>[http://urb.im/blog/sas/150724 African tech entrepreneurs building bridges with Silicon Valley]</ref> <ref>[http://itbusinessdirect.com/ethiopian-entrepreneur-sophia-bekele-spoke-ges-panel-san-francisco/ Ethiopian Entrepreneur Sophia Bekele spoke on #GES Panel in San Francisco]</ref>, delivered a trending Keynote at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business <ref>[http://itbusinessdirect.com/top-ict-diva-sophia-bekele-trendsets-at-uc-berkeley-haas-school-of-business-heralding-mobile-technology-is-the-future-of-the-internet/ Top ICT DIVA Sophia Bekele Trendsets at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, heralding “Mobile technology is the future of the internet”]</ref>, delivered a keynote address at the City University of New York (CUNY) 2014 Young African Leadership Symposium; <ref>[http://tandaabiashara.com/keynote-sophia-bekele-rallied-yals-new-york-saying-push-to-change-africa/ KeyNote: Sophia Bekele rallied YALS New York saying “P.U.S.H to Change Africa”]</ref> <ref>[http://itbusinessdirect.com/sophia-bekeles-p-u-s-h-to-change-africa-keynote-won-the-yals-at-cuny-new-york/ Sophia Bekele’s “P.U.S.H to Change Africa” KeyNote Won the YALS in New York]</ref> spoke on Digital Innovation in Africa and moderated a high-level panel on US-Africa Relations in Gabon; <ref>[http://vimeo.com/96423312 Innovation and US-Africa Relations, NYF Africa in Gabon]</ref> <ref>[http://itbusinessdirect.com/new-york-forum-africa-2014-bekele-moderates-a-high-level-panel-on-usafrica/ United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on ICT in New York on ICT]</ref> presented a keynote remark for the ITU International Girls day in 2014 in Addis Ababa; <ref>[http://www.africasciencenews.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&id=1181:internet-bridging-the-gender-gap&Itemid=116  Internet bridging the gender gap]</ref>  spoke at the Yale University on 'Africa: Economic Development Through Technology'; <ref>[http://www.yaapd.org/sankofa54-2013/speaker-biographies/ Re-imagining Africa: a closer look at Autonomy, Identity and Perspective.]</ref> spoke as member of a high-level panel on ICT at the United Nations General Assembly in New York; <ref>[http://www.un.org/webcast/prelease.htm United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on ICT in New York on ICT]</ref>    spoke at ITU “ConnectAfrica” Heads of State submit in Kigali Rwanda; <ref>[https://appablog.wordpress.com/2007/11/13/compte-rendu-du-sommet-connect-africa-de-kigali/ International Telecommunication Union (ITU's) “ConnectAfrica” Heads of State submit in Kigali]</ref>  panelist at " I don't know how to CEO" at Stanford University California alongside founders and executives of Pandora, YouTube, Gmail, and Yahoo featuring people that have made great impact!; <ref>[http://events.stanford.edu/events/187/18767/ “I Don't Know to CEO: Inspiration at Every Milestone”]</ref>  speaker at "Rebranding Africa" with African Leadership Retreat in South Africa; <ref>[http://africa2point0.org/web/index.php/en/component/k2/item/125-leadership-retreat-2010-re-evaluation-of-the-state-of-africa "Re-Branding Africa", Africa 2.0 Africa Leadership Retreat]</ref>  Panelist on "How to build a Top Level Domain Community" in Munich, Germany; <ref>[http://newdomains.org/panelists/sophia_bekele How to build a Top Level Domain Community]</ref>  and a KeyNote address at the "Launch of the DotAfrica East African campaign" during the annual AITEC East Africa Summit" <ref>[http://www.aganoconsulting.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/Programme-East-African-ICT-Summit-NEW1.pdf Launch of the DotAfrica East African campaign]</ref> <ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/speaking/ Selected Speaking Sessions]</ref>


==Education==
She has been involved in public affairs commentary and continues to write articles on technology for development, [[Internet Governance]], [[Cybersecurity]], regional economic integration, good governance, business and politics; that have been published in different newspapers, journals and Internet websites <ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/writing/ selected articles/presentations]</ref>
Ms. Bekele holds an MBA in Management Information Systems (MIS) from Golden Gate University, San Francisco and a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Systems from San Francisco State University. She is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Control Specialist (CCS), and Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT).<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>


==Writing==
==Other Endeavors and Leadership Positions==
With registered successes in ICT project delivery, Bekele has been elected and served on a number of United Nations initiatives, such as the UN-ICT Taskforce and UNECA-sponsored African Information Society Initiative (AISI) and East African Representative to the African Regional Network (ARN), UNGAID, and UNPAN, where she represents the private sector in discussions about the economic development of Africa.<ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/leadership/ Sophia Bekele Leadership]</ref> <ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/groups/nomcom/2005/candidates Nominating Committee | Biographical Information on the Nominees 2005]</ref> <ref>[http://www.ethiopianwomenunleashed.org/database/sophia-bekele-eshete/ Ethiopian Women Unleashed]</ref> The African Information Society Initiative (AISI) advised the UN Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on building a new information society for Africa.  The ATAC formulated policy and provided policy guidance and direction especially on how to reduce the digital divide between the developed countries of the West and Africa.  During this period of her appointment to the African Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC)<ref>[http://repository.uneca.org/bitstream/handle/10855/18475/Bib-36363.pdf?sequence=1, report of the meeting of partners for information and communication]</ref> by H.E. K.Y. Amoako, then Executive Secretary of the UNECA,  Bekele co-authored the 'Common Position for Africa's Digital Inclusion'<ref>[http://repository.uneca.org/bitstream/handle/10855/3069/Bib-25591.pdf?sequence=1, Common Position for Africa's Digital Inclusion]</ref>, which was developed in response to the ECA Conference of Minister's Resolution 812 (XXXI)<ref>[http://www.uneca.org/pages/812-xxxi-implementation-african-information-society-initiative-aisi, 812 (XXXI). Implementation of the African Information Society Initiative (AISI)]</ref>. The 'Common Position' was a blueprint that reflected Africa's ICT position communicated to various global forums such as the G8 DOT Force, ECOSOC, the UN Task Force, World Economic Forum, NEPAD initiatives, etc. She has since continued to use this identifying framework for future ICT projects and activities that are geared towards building a 21st-century e-enabled society in Africa.


Bekele has written articles and editorials on issues concerning technology for development, [[good governance]], regional [[economic integration]], [[politics]], and [[Internet Governance]] that is of global public interest and Africa. <ref>[http://cbsintl.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/editorial-archives CBS International Webpress: selected articles/presentations]</ref>
Bekele is also a co-founder and Executive Board Member of Internet Society Chapter (ISOC) San Francisco Bay<ref>[http://www.sfbayisoc.org/founding-members/, Founding Members ISOC San Francisco Bay]</ref> and was elected and served for two tenures as Alumni Board member of Golden Gate University. Bekele was a former Board Member of ISACA (Information Systems and Control Association), and a steering committee member to the World Affairs Council, Contra Costa. Bekele has also served as an Ambassador to various Rotary Clubs, where she has earned the recognition of a Paul Harris Fellow for her contributions.<ref>[http://www.ethiopianwomenunleashed.org/database/sophia-bekele-eshete/ Ethiopian Women Unleashed]</ref>


Selected works include:
==Domain Industry Advocacy==
Bekele's early advocacy work on New gTLDs and the Domain Industry, in general, can be attested through the tireless presentations, speeches and publications used as part of the global campaign and promotional work to create awareness of the .africa TLD; and are chronicled by the international and local media and the internet widely, and captured on the Organization's website <ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/writing/ selected articles/presentations]</ref>


* <ref>[http://circleid.com/posts/the_empire_fights_back/ The Empire Fights Back]</ref>
Watch Sophia Bekele, discuss the domain industry during the African development Bank (ADB) annual meeting at Abidjan capital of Ivory Coast for the Movers & Shakers of Africa hosted by Jeff Koinange, former CNN Africa host and now at K24 <ref>[dotafrica.tv/movers-and-shakers/]</ref> a Leading TV station in Kenya.
*<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/2012_the_year_of_the_new_gtld_program_and_the_year_to_support_icann_part_ii The Year of the New gTLD Program and the Year to Support ICANN - Part II]</ref>
{{#ev:youtube|OfjOAtv-fMs}}
* <ref>[http://cbsintl.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/good-governance-by-sophia-bekele.pdf A Cornerstone of Democracy: Good Governance (editorial)]</ref>
* <ref>[http://cbsintl.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/free-flow-of-ideas-a-cornerstone-of-democracy-for-reporter-sophia-bekele.pdf Free flow of ideas - a cornerstone for democracy (editorial)]</ref>
* <ref>[http://cbsintl.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/bet-jounal-ggu-ict-article-by-sophia-bekele.pdf Not only a vision, a common vision]</ref>
* <ref>[http://cbsintl.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/yes-justice-has-been-served-ethiopian-herald-sophia-bekele-ethiopia.pdf Yes, Justice has been served! (editorial)]</ref>
* <ref>[http://www.fresnorotary.org/view_page.asp?nodeid=33&parentid=0&moduleid=1 , The Solar Cooking story of Fresno]</ref>


==External Links==
==External Links==
#The Africa MIGworks event Addis ‐ Ababa, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.africanncommunity.org/index.php/events/mig-addis/agenda , The development of the DNS industry and business in Africa]</span>, 6 ‐8 March 2013
#Open letter to Congress, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120607_dca_letter_to_congress_defense_of_status_quo_internet_governance, Sophia Bekele wrote an open letter to congress to defend status quo of internet governance]</span>, July 13, 2012
#Open letter to Congress, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120607_dca_letter_to_congress_defense_of_status_quo_internet_governance, Sophia Bekele wrote an open letter to congress to defend status quo of internet governance]</span>, July 13, 2012
#Application to ICANN, <span class="plainlinks">[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1110164398209.html, DCA Trust has applied to ICANN for the ".Africa" Geographic name]</span>, June 05, 2012
#Application to ICANN, <span class="plainlinks">[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1110164398209.html , DCA Trust has applied to ICANN for the ".Africa" Geographic name]</span>, June 05, 2012
#Defending Multi Stakeholder model, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.circleid.com/posts/the_empire_fights_back, Bekele writing on Internet Governance:]</span>, April 5, 2012
#Defending Multi Stakeholder model, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.circleid.com/posts/the_empire_fights_back , Bekele writing on Internet Governance:]</span>, April 5, 2012
#DotConnectAfrica Welcome 2012 - The Year for new gTLDs,<span class="plainlinks">[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1108994717375.html, Welcome 2012 - The Year for new gTLDs - Yes2dotAfrica Campaign]</span>, Jan 14, 2011
#DotConnectAfrica Welcome 2012 - The Year for new gTLDs,<span class="plainlinks">[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1108994717375.html, Welcome 2012 - The Year for new gTLDs - Yes2dotAfrica Campaign]</span>, Jan 14, 2011
#DotConnectAfrica to ICANN,  DCA's Executive Briefing Note following, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.prlog.org/11712380-dotconnectafrica-executive-briefing-note-at-the-icann-42-public-forum-meeting-at-dakar-senegal.htm, Executive Briefing Note at the ICANN-42 Public Forum Meeting at Dakar, Senegal]</span>, Oct 23, 2011
#DotConnectAfrica to ICANN,  DCA's Executive Briefing Note following, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.prlog.org/11712380-dotconnectafrica-executive-briefing-note-at-the-icann-42-public-forum-meeting-at-dakar-senegal.htm, Executive Briefing Note at the ICANN-42 Public Forum Meeting at Dakar, Senegal]</span>, Oct 23, 2011
#Champion of .africa, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.ictcreatives.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=6&tmpl=component&format=raw&Itemid=10, Sophia Bekele names as Champion of the .africa initiative,]</span>, June, 21, 2011
#Champion of .africa, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.ictcreatives.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=6&tmpl=component&format=raw&Itemid=10, Sophia Bekele named as Champion of the .africa initiative,]</span>, June, 21, 2011
#Thank you Note, <span class="plainlinks">[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1105909073700.html,Sophia Bekele thankful for support and encouragement of the .africa initiative ]</span>, June 11, 2011
#Thank you Note, <span class="plainlinks">[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1105909073700.html,Sophia Bekele thankful for support and encouragement of the .africa initiative ]</span>, June 11, 2011
#Open letter to NTIA-US Department of Commerce,  <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.prlog.org/11222383-dotconnectafrica-open-letter-to-us-department-of-commerce.html, Sophia Bekele sent an open letter to the NTIA making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD]</span>, Jan 20, 2011
#Open letter to NTIA-US Department of Commerce,  <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.prlog.org/11222383-dotconnectafrica-open-letter-to-us-department-of-commerce.html, Sophia Bekele sent an open letter to the NTIA making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD]</span>, Jan 20, 2011
Line 121: Line 128:
# GNSO IDN <span class="plainlinks">[http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg03256.html Regarding IDN Working Group membership issues]</span>, Mar 2007<br>
# GNSO IDN <span class="plainlinks">[http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg03256.html Regarding IDN Working Group membership issues]</span>, Mar 2007<br>
# ICANN IDN, <span class="plainlinks">[http://gnso.icann.org/meetings/transcript-IDN-wg2-23jan07.pdf IDN Working Group]</span>, Jan 2007<br>
# ICANN IDN, <span class="plainlinks">[http://gnso.icann.org/meetings/transcript-IDN-wg2-23jan07.pdf IDN Working Group]</span>, Jan 2007<br>
# GNSO-IDN-WG, <span class="plainlinks">[http://forum.icann.org/lists/gnso-idn-wg/msg00036.html IDN Chair Nomination]</span>, Oct 2006<br>
# GNSO-IDN-Working Group, <span class="plainlinks">[http://forum.icann.org/lists/gnso-idn-wg/msg00036.html IDN Chair Nomination]</span>, Oct 2006<br>
# ICANNwiki, <span class="plainlinks">[http://icannwiki.org/Image:SophiaBekeleCaricature.jpg ICANNWiki Caricature]</span>, Wellington New Zealand, Mar 2006<br>
# ICANNwiki, <span class="plainlinks">[http://icannwiki.org/Image:SophiaBekeleCaricature.jpg ICANNWiki Caricature]</span>, Wellington New Zealand, Mar 2006<br>
# DotConnectAfrica's Website,<span class="plainlinks">[http://dotafrica.blogspot.com/ dotconnectafrica.org - African's Map on Digital Inclusion]</span>, Mar 2006<br>
# DotConnectAfrica's Website,<span class="plainlinks">[http://dotafrica.blogspot.com/ dotconnectafrica.org - African's Map on Digital Inclusion]</span>, Mar 2006<br>
# GNSO IDN, <span class="plainlinks">[http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg02233.html On IDN dialog - a debate with John C. Klensin]</span>, Mar 2006<br>  
# GNSO IDN On IDN dialog - a debate with John C. Klensin, <span class="plainlinks">[http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg02233.html On IDN dialog - a debate with John C. Klensin]</span>, Mar 2006<br>  
# ICANN, <span class="plainlinks">[http://nomcom.icann.org/candidate-bios-2005.htm Nominating Committee | Biographical Information on the ...]</span>, Nov 2005<br>
# ICANN, <span class="plainlinks">[http://nomcom.icann.org/candidate-bios-2005.htm Nominating Committee | Biographical Information on the ...]</span>, Nov 2005<br>
# ICANN NomComm <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-04nov05.htm ICANN | Nominating Committee Announces Final Selections for Key leadership positions...]</span>, Vancouver, Canada Nov 2005<br>
# ICANN NomComm <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-04nov05.htm ICANN | Nominating Committee Announces Final Selections for Key leadership positions...]</span>, Vancouver, Canada Nov 2005<br>
Line 134: Line 141:
# Del Rey Studios "A New Hope" <span class="plainlinks">[http://icannwiki.org/Episode_4_-_%22A_New_Hope%22 the idea of 'ICANN The Movie' was born]</span>! Mar 2007<br>
# Del Rey Studios "A New Hope" <span class="plainlinks">[http://icannwiki.org/Episode_4_-_%22A_New_Hope%22 the idea of 'ICANN The Movie' was born]</span>! Mar 2007<br>
# TWiNic, <span class="plainlinks">[http://ianewswatch.twnic.net.tw/twnic_php/shownews.php?id=2005110401&cat=catelog_news_international_organization_monitor_list, NomComm announcement - Sophia Bekele]</span>, Nov 2005<br>
# TWiNic, <span class="plainlinks">[http://ianewswatch.twnic.net.tw/twnic_php/shownews.php?id=2005110401&cat=catelog_news_international_organization_monitor_list, NomComm announcement - Sophia Bekele]</span>, Nov 2005<br>
# JPNic,<span class="plainlinks">[http://nic.ad.jp/ja/topics/2005/20051109-01.html  NomComm announcement -Sophia Bekele]</span>, Nov 2005<br
# JPNic,<span class="plainlinks">[http://nic.ad.jp/ja/topics/2005/20051109-01.html  NomComm announcement -Sophia Bekele]</span>, Nov 2005


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
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{{reflist}}</div>


[[category: People]]
[[category: USA]]
[[category: USA]]
[[category: Ethiopia]]
[[category: Ethiopia]]
__NOTOC__
[[Category:Policy Advisors]]
[[Category:Private Sector - Domain Name Industry]]

Latest revision as of 15:30, 21 March 2022
Blog: http://whatidowhereido.blogspot.com/
LinkedIn:    Sophia Bekele
Twitter:    @sophiabekele

Ms. Sophia Bekele is a business and corporate executive, an International entrepreneur, corporate governance & risk management specialist, international policy advisor on ICT, internet and development issues, and ICT & governance activist and a philanthropist. She has maintained a successful career track record spanning over a decade of constant professional activity working for Fortune 500 Companies and transnational business ownership/operation. Bekele has founded and run various International start-ups amongst them CBS International and DotConnectAfrica and implemented successful projects as well as launched companies into new markets.

Bekele was elected and served as a member of the ICANN Council of the GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization), advising on global internet policy and the policy development work on new generic Top Level Domain name.[1] During her term at ICANN, she has championed the IDN Policy Dialog for the international community. Concurrently, Bekele initiated the first African-run Registry for a .africa TLD, under DotConnectAfrica Trust, and run a successful 6-year “Yes2dotAfrica” global awareness campaign.[2] [3][4]

Bekele is of Ethiopian descent but studied in the USA for her Bachelor's Degree in Business Analysis and Information Systems at San Francisco State University and earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in management Information Systems from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California. She is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA, Certified Control Specialist (CCS), and Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT). Bekele travels globally for her work and shuttles regularly between her residences in Walnut Creek, California and Africa, where she has a firm based in business and family.[5] [6]

In 2013, Bekele was named Top “50 Trailblazers – A future made in Africa”, by the influential UK’s NewAfrican Magazine, an IC Publications group, “Collector’s Edition” which coincides with the continent’s 50th-anniversary celebrations of the African Union, and featured individuals “who are realizing significant achievements in their specific field of endeavor” and who are “breaking ground, making Africa proud and propelling it into a future of great hope.” [7][8] [9][10] [11][12] Bekele was also named as one of the “two leading ladies in Africa’s ICT sector” by “Bloomberg TV”[13] and enumerated in “African Women to Watch” a prime TV program, that “celebrates the most fearless, competitive and visionary African women of our time” , and explores “the women working hard to close the gender gap and shaping the continent’s social, political and economic landscape”. The CIO East Africa in 2017 named her "Industry Trailblazer" and "Internet Governance Pioneer", recognizing her significant contribution in the ICT and DNS industry as well as in the Internet Governance terrain, where she has accomplished impactful work on internet policy and governance.[14][15]


ICANN Work[edit | edit source]

Ms. Bekele was nominated to serve on ICANN's GNSO policy board from 2005-2007, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Vinton Cerf. Elected by the NomCom[16], Sophia was the first African to serve and hold a seat on the GNSO. During her tenure, Sophia worked and participated in the development of policy over the New gTLD programme for ICANN that which is now approved for implementation and saw the application of 1930 new gTLDs at ICANN[17][18] [19] [20]. Sophia was instrumental in initiating policy dialogue over IDNs as well as the formation of an IDN working group. Ms. Bekele initiated the formation of the AfriICANN grouping within ICANN

"I am most interested in the issues of emerging economies and the use of ICT and the growth of the Internet or lack thereof over these environments. Therefore, the policies developed by ICANN over issues governing the global Internet particularly domain names could determine the gap in the digital divide within these economies...I have also initiated and pursuing the efforts for a successful launch of the '.Africa' continental domain name project within ICANN and the global African community” Sophia Bekele, Statement of Interest ICANN, 2005-2007 [21]

Championing the International Domain Name (IDN) Policy[edit | edit source]

As a GNSO adviser to ICANN Bekele participated actively in policy development for IDNs and campaigned for the efforts to introduce IDNs in the ICANN policy dialog. She was later credited for championing the inclusion of the global IDN community within this policy dialogue and nominated to chair ICANN's IDN Working Group. She was one of the co-authors of ICANN's IDN policy guidelines.[22][23][24] [25][26]

Bekele successfully made the case at ICANN on behalf of the global IDN community. In a written Testimonial, the various leaders of the IDN group gave her the following citations:

"Bekele was very influential in drafting the IDN policy guidelines as well as developing a framework for leading a language group. This required contentious and controversial matters with complicated political and commercial implications and interests. Ms Bekele strongly advocated and further went on to aggressively bring the voices of the global public of early adapters of IDN businesses and countries who implemented IDNs to the policy of ICANN" -Mr. Yoav Karen, the then Member of the ICANN's President IDN Advisory Committee, Current ICANN gNSO Council member and Executive member of the IDRU.[27]
"..Ms. Bekele, as a former GNSO advisor to ICANN, you have worked hard and long to champion Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs). You have made the case within ICANN for a policy development process that will see IDNs in service of the world community. And you have done so successfully." - David Allen Executive Director 05 December 2010, Internationalized Domain Resolution Union. [28]
"The call for such Pan-African brand was largely initiated by Sophia Bekele who is no newcomer to spearheading new ways of thinking at ICANN. Years ago, her heroic efforts during her tenure as a newbie GNSO advisor to ICANN, in reversing the disastrous and misguided course that IDN policy took within ICANN at that time is now well documented and clearly attested to by the opposite direction in which the IDN portion of the new GTLD process at ICANN has since gone as bespeaks a true visionary, while she never been shy of controversy, under her stewardship DCA for the past 5 years continued with unflagging effort to promote the cause and need for .africa gtld. The Tireless campaign for .Africa has earned DCA respects in the ranks of internet technology movers and shakers" - Dr. Subbiah, Chairman iDNS.net Intl, Ex Stanford University, Co Inventor of IDN.[29]
"During my acquaintance with Sophia, she was championing IDNs which I had previously implemented in March 1998...., Sophia pushed very hard for a policy dialog through the GNSO Board and finally through the ICANN Board, where we now have IDN policy formally ......I found Sophia to be a quick learner on new issues, persistent and courageous. She is a team player with integrity." - Dr. Tin Wee Tan, Associate Professor, Dept of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, INTERNET HALL of FAMER[30]

Championing the .africa (dotAfrica) gTLD Project[edit | edit source]

Following her important experiences gained from her work as gNSO advisor to ICANN and successful achievement of IDN work for ICANN and for the global internet community, Bekele started the DotAfrica initiative. Bekele made a clear case for a DotAfrica (.africa) gTLD for Africa within ICANN and also the global Internet Community on behalf of the global African and Pan-African constituency.[31],[32] ,[33],[34]. She soon led the .africa initiative[35]. under a successful venture DotConnectAfrica organization, a non-profit, non-partisan self start-up, and traveled throughout the various African countries and globally speaking and advocating the benefit of adapting to a .AFRICA Top Level Domain name (TLD) for the African Continent. Her most significant accomplishment so far for the .africa gTLD project is undertaking and sustaining a successful global campaign, under a “Yes2dotafrica” theme, energizing it and giving it global momentum and raising its Pan-African and International profile to a position of relevance, and introducing it to the Pan-African inter-governmental organizations – the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) and getting them to endorse it.[36] , [37]. Bekele's presentations, speeches and publications used for this global campaign and promotional work to create awareness of the .africa TLD are chronicled by the international and local media and the internet widely and captured on the Organization's website.[38]

Bekele, therefore, was recognized and credited for her global campaign efforts by the global internet community as well as various leading African and international media. As such, was credited by the Economist as "leading the .africa initiative"[39]. The Diplomat East Africa named her "Brains Behind .africa" [40]. Enterprise Technology Magazine called her "Sophia Bekele: Ethiopian Champion of .africa initiative" [41] The New African Uk, named her one of 50 African Trailblazers under 50, noting her successful six-year Yes2dotAfrica global awareness campaign for the Africa Top Level Domain Name.[42] CIO East Africa calling her views "controversial" on who should run gTLDs, saying "Sophia Bekele has been in the news if not for promoting DotConnectAfrica’s bid for the DotAfrica geographical gTLD for the past three years, then in a controversial statement about the same":

".. Governments have a role to play, especially regarding the establishment of an enabling and supportive environment for ICT initiatives to thrive. However, there is a role for everybody, and global Internet governance is currently based on a multi-stakeholder modeled by ICANN. Governments already have their two-code country-level top-level domains (cc TLDs), but they also have a role to endorse geographical gTLDs. The problem is that this power to endorse is often interpreted and extended to include overall sovereignty over the new gTLD. We believe this should not be the case since it is monopolistic and anti-competitive coupled with problems of lack of transparency and accountability...-Sophia Bekele, in an interview on 09 March 2012, for the main story of CIO East Africa, [43]."

Bekele currently oversees the .africa new gTLD initiative of DotConnectAfrica Trust. As Executive Director of DCA Trust & CEO of DotConnectAfrica Registry Services Limited, she has led a multi-national team of experts to prepare and submit an application for the DotAfrica (.AFRICA) generic Top-Level Domain. DotConnectAfrica Trust (DCA Trust) has already submitted an application in May 2012 for the .AFRICA (pronounced as ‘DotAfrica’) geographic name string[44] to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a U.S.-based non-profit organization that is overseeing the global Internet expansion project to introduce new generic Top-Level Domain Names (gTLDs) under the new gTLD Program.

During ICANN's new gTLDs initial evaluation of applications, Sophia Bekele’s organization DotConnectAfrica’s application passed all the evaluation criteria including Financial, Technical and Operational Capability Evaluation Panels, however, the application was stopped due to the governmental objections effected at the ICANN Beijing meeting. [45][46][47]

DCA Trust then filed for an independent review of its application at the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (“ICDR”), the international arm of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) of its application in October 2013[48][49] [50][51][52][53] disagreeing with ICANN Board decision which was called “unfair, discriminatory, and lacked appropriate due diligence and care” as well as “anti-competitive” to their application and organizational aspirations.

DCA Trust won Round one in its case against ICANN for the ".africa" domain on May 12 2014 when the panel declared ICANN must immediately refrain from any further processing of any application for .africa.[54][55][56][57][58][59]

On 14 August 2014, the panel also issued a precedence setting ruling to accept DCA Trust's position on the procedural framework of the IRP proceedings and also terming its Declaration and the future Declaration on the Merits of the case are binding on ICANN.[60] [61] [62] [63][64]

Independent Panel ruled in favor of DCA Trust[edit | edit source]

On July 9 2015 the IRP independent review panel made its final ruling which declared that both actions and inactions of the Board with respect to the application of DCA Trust relating to the .AFRICA gTLD was inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of ICANN and thus declared DCA Trust as the prevailing party of the DCA Trust Vs ICANN IRP[65]. Further declared that ICANN is to bear, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3, paragraph 18 of the Bylaws, Article 11 of Supplementary Procedures and Article 31 of the ICDR Rules, the totality of the costs of this IRP and the totality of the costs of the IRP Provider. [66][67][68] [69][70][71][72][73][74]

Controversies[edit | edit source]

In October 2012, DCA published a press release saying that their Wikipedia sites willfully sabotaged. Entries on Wikipedia sites containing DotConnectAfrica, .africa, and Sophia Bekele [75],were modified. According to the press release, some information that had been unmodified for over five years was removed from Wikipedia and replaced by new versions where DCA's involvement with .africa, DCA's working history, and Bekele's credentials were downplayed.[76] The Press Release states this was done by DotConnectAfrica's opponents on .africa controversies.

The information from Wikipedia was captured by the biography of her personal website[77]

CBS International[edit | edit source]

Ms. Bekele founded CBS International, a private corporation with the goal of technology transfer to emerging economies. The company also consults on Systems Integration, Internet solutions, Business Process Engineering, implementation of Corporate Strategy & Governance, Sarbane Oxley compliance initiatives, public policy on ICT/telecom. It is based near Silicon Valley, California.

CBS International also set up SbCommunications Network, an Ethiopian IT company. In 2002 SbCNet was known for being successfully awarded a highly controversial bid for a government contract to build an integrated information network infrastructure for the Ethiopian Parliament.[78]

Ms. Bekele and her company CBS International have also assisted various U.S. Clients in the public/private markets, primarily in corporate governance and risk management areas, including the recent Sarbanes-Oxley ACT, GAAP & PCAOB. In these areas, her selected clients have included OnScreen Technologies, Inc. (OTC), Intel Corp. (Nasdaq) BDO Sieldman LLP, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLB), Genentech Corp (Gene).[79]

DotConnectAfrica (DCA)[edit | edit source]

Bekele’s recent venture is the establishment of the DotConnectAfrica Trust and DotConnectAfrica Registry Services Limited, which is well-known for its successful six-year Yes2dotAfrica global awareness campaign for the .Africa Top Level Domain Name. Bekele made a clear case for a DotAfrica (.africa) gTLD for Africa within ICANN and introduced it to the PanAfrican organizations in Africa such as UNECA and African Union and the global publics. She then received endorsements from both organizations in 2008 and 2009 respectively, and the global IDN working group for her DotAfrica Initiative. Currently, Bekele's focus is on the .africa – a new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) for the Africa geographic name that she initiated during her appointment at ICANN. The project will be introduced and delegated for operation under ICANN’s new gTLD programme.

To successfully drive this vision and strategy, DCA has assembled a high-profile Global Strategic Advisory Team comprised of technology analysts and visionaries, Internet domain industry experts, entrepreneurs, business executives and leaders in various sectors and walks of life, to provide strategic guidance and input to the work of DCA on a regular basis. To learn more on DCA's work, its organizational structure, partnerships and locations, please refer to DotConnectAfrica

Speakings and Writings[edit | edit source]

Sophia is regularly invited to speak on international fora to present her work in technology transfer and has been credited for bringing powerful advanced information technology to the developing world, with long-standing initiatives to bring the internet to Africa. She spoke as one Africa Diaspora Leader panelist at the GES-Global Tech Entrepreneurship Summit in Silicon Valley, USA organized by USAID and White house State Dpartment[80] [81], delivered a trending Keynote at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business [82], delivered a keynote address at the City University of New York (CUNY) 2014 Young African Leadership Symposium; [83] [84] spoke on Digital Innovation in Africa and moderated a high-level panel on US-Africa Relations in Gabon; [85] [86] presented a keynote remark for the ITU International Girls day in 2014 in Addis Ababa; [87] spoke at the Yale University on 'Africa: Economic Development Through Technology'; [88] spoke as member of a high-level panel on ICT at the United Nations General Assembly in New York; [89] spoke at ITU “ConnectAfrica” Heads of State submit in Kigali Rwanda; [90] panelist at " I don't know how to CEO" at Stanford University California alongside founders and executives of Pandora, YouTube, Gmail, and Yahoo featuring people that have made great impact!; [91] speaker at "Rebranding Africa" with African Leadership Retreat in South Africa; [92] Panelist on "How to build a Top Level Domain Community" in Munich, Germany; [93] and a KeyNote address at the "Launch of the DotAfrica East African campaign" during the annual AITEC East Africa Summit" [94] [95]

She has been involved in public affairs commentary and continues to write articles on technology for development, Internet Governance, Cybersecurity, regional economic integration, good governance, business and politics; that have been published in different newspapers, journals and Internet websites [96]

Other Endeavors and Leadership Positions[edit | edit source]

With registered successes in ICT project delivery, Bekele has been elected and served on a number of United Nations initiatives, such as the UN-ICT Taskforce and UNECA-sponsored African Information Society Initiative (AISI) and East African Representative to the African Regional Network (ARN), UNGAID, and UNPAN, where she represents the private sector in discussions about the economic development of Africa.[97] [98] [99] The African Information Society Initiative (AISI) advised the UN Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on building a new information society for Africa. The ATAC formulated policy and provided policy guidance and direction especially on how to reduce the digital divide between the developed countries of the West and Africa. During this period of her appointment to the African Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC)[100] by H.E. K.Y. Amoako, then Executive Secretary of the UNECA, Bekele co-authored the 'Common Position for Africa's Digital Inclusion'[101], which was developed in response to the ECA Conference of Minister's Resolution 812 (XXXI)[102]. The 'Common Position' was a blueprint that reflected Africa's ICT position communicated to various global forums such as the G8 DOT Force, ECOSOC, the UN Task Force, World Economic Forum, NEPAD initiatives, etc. She has since continued to use this identifying framework for future ICT projects and activities that are geared towards building a 21st-century e-enabled society in Africa.

Bekele is also a co-founder and Executive Board Member of Internet Society Chapter (ISOC) San Francisco Bay[103] and was elected and served for two tenures as Alumni Board member of Golden Gate University. Bekele was a former Board Member of ISACA (Information Systems and Control Association), and a steering committee member to the World Affairs Council, Contra Costa. Bekele has also served as an Ambassador to various Rotary Clubs, where she has earned the recognition of a Paul Harris Fellow for her contributions.[104]

Domain Industry Advocacy[edit | edit source]

Bekele's early advocacy work on New gTLDs and the Domain Industry, in general, can be attested through the tireless presentations, speeches and publications used as part of the global campaign and promotional work to create awareness of the .africa TLD; and are chronicled by the international and local media and the internet widely, and captured on the Organization's website [105]

Watch Sophia Bekele, discuss the domain industry during the African development Bank (ADB) annual meeting at Abidjan capital of Ivory Coast for the Movers & Shakers of Africa hosted by Jeff Koinange, former CNN Africa host and now at K24 [106] a Leading TV station in Kenya.

Load video
YouTube

External Links[edit | edit source]

  1. The Africa MIGworks event Addis ‐ Ababa, , The development of the DNS industry and business in Africa, 6 ‐8 March 2013
  2. Open letter to Congress, Sophia Bekele wrote an open letter to congress to defend status quo of internet governance, July 13, 2012
  3. Application to ICANN, , DCA Trust has applied to ICANN for the ".Africa" Geographic name, June 05, 2012
  4. Defending Multi Stakeholder model, , Bekele writing on Internet Governance:, April 5, 2012
  5. DotConnectAfrica Welcome 2012 - The Year for new gTLDs,Welcome 2012 - The Year for new gTLDs - Yes2dotAfrica Campaign, Jan 14, 2011
  6. DotConnectAfrica to ICANN, DCA's Executive Briefing Note following, Executive Briefing Note at the ICANN-42 Public Forum Meeting at Dakar, Senegal, Oct 23, 2011
  7. Champion of .africa, Sophia Bekele named as Champion of the .africa initiative,, June, 21, 2011
  8. Thank you Note, Bekele thankful for support and encouragement of the .africa initiative , June 11, 2011
  9. Open letter to NTIA-US Department of Commerce, Sophia Bekele sent an open letter to the NTIA making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD, Jan 20, 2011
  10. DotConnectAfrica, spoke on way-forward on the contribution of the ".africa" name to an ICT enabled environment, and launched its "Yes to a .africa Campaign", at the AITEC ICT summit held in Nairobi, Kenya.html, Sep 11, 2010
  11. Bekele, Ms.Sophia Bekele, provided a Keynote address for AITEC Summit during the opening panel discussions.html, Sep 11,2010
  12. DotConnectAfrica, DotConnectAfrica registered maximum success in East Africa as the voice was echoed globally.html, April 06, 2010
  13. Policy Development,Statement of Interest (SOI) Members of the Vertical Integration Policy Development Process Working Group, April, 01, 2010
  14. Public Forum announcement, African Union endorsment of ".Africa" and urging for ICANN to expedite process for TLDs,Nairobi, March,11,2010
  15. DotConnectAfrica, African Union endorsed the domain name ".Africa" to DotConnectAfrica org, Addis Ababa, February 18, 2010
  16. Policy Development,Statement of Interest (SOI) for the Policy Development Process Steering Committee-Policy Development Team, March 19, 2009
  17. Internet Governance, Internet Governanace & Policy Divide, San Francisco, March 10, 2009
  18. Public Forum announcement, Continuing interest in the work of ICANN, IDNs and DotAfrica, Paris, June 25, 2008
  19. Farewells, ICANN Meeting...and had a lot of respect for, Cary Karp from registries, Mawaki Chango, noncommercial, Ross Rader, registrar, and Sophia Bekele, the NomCom appointee..., ICANN Public Forum, Part 2 Thursday, 1 November 2007
  20. DotAfrica, [http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/jpacomments2007/jpacomment_069.pdf DotAfrica�s position on JPA -National Telecommunications and Information Administration], NITA, Los Angeles, California, Feb 2008
  21. AfriICANN-discuss, A debate on dot.africa, Nov 2007
  22. AfrICANN-discuss, DotConnectAfrica's initiation of DotAfrica), Nov 2007
  23. Aftld-Discuss [AfriICANN-discuss], Who is DotAfrica?, Nov 2007
  24. ICANN IDN, GNSO Final report, Oct 2007
  25. AfriICANN-Discuss, [http://lists.aftld.org/pipermail/aftld-discuss/2007-October/000183.html Dot Africa�s position on fast tracking of IDN ccTLD], Oct 2007
  26. GNSO IDN, Comments in Response to the ccNSO-GAC Issues report on IDN Issues, Aug 2007
  27. GNSO IDN, Outcome Report of the GNSO IDN Working group, Mar 2007
  28. At-Large policy, Policy matters for conference call agenda, Mar 2007
  29. AfriIcann, Going forward with ICANN- The African Region Perspective, Mar 2007
  30. AfriICANN, ICANN - GNSo Policy update - presentation to African Group by Sophia Bekele, Lisbon, Mar 2007
  31. GNSO IDN, Outcome Report of the GNSO IDN WG, Mar 2007
  32. GNSO IDN Regarding IDN Working Group membership issues, Mar 2007
  33. ICANN IDN, IDN Working Group, Jan 2007
  34. GNSO-IDN-Working Group, IDN Chair Nomination, Oct 2006
  35. ICANNwiki, ICANNWiki Caricature, Wellington New Zealand, Mar 2006
  36. DotConnectAfrica's Website,dotconnectafrica.org - African's Map on Digital Inclusion, Mar 2006
  37. GNSO IDN On IDN dialog - a debate with John C. Klensin, On IDN dialog - a debate with John C. Klensin, Mar 2006
  38. ICANN, Nominating Committee | Biographical Information on the ..., Nov 2005
  39. ICANN NomComm ICANN | Nominating Committee Announces Final Selections for Key leadership positions..., Vancouver, Canada Nov 2005
  40. ICANN, Sophia Bekele, Statement of Interest, Nov 2005
  41. ISOC, appointment to a founding member & board of directors of Internet Society, San Francisco (ISOC-SF), San Francisco, Ca, March 2009
  42. GGU, Internet Governance and the policy divide, San Francisco, Ca, March 2009
  43. IP Justice, New Domain Names (gtlds), Sao Paulo Brazil, Dec 2006
  44. Andrew Mack, Andy's Global View: In a world of .com and .org, why not .Africa?, Sept 2007
  45. Del Rey Studios "A New Hope" the idea of 'ICANN The Movie' was born! Mar 2007
  46. TWiNic, NomComm announcement - Sophia Bekele, Nov 2005
  47. JPNic,NomComm announcement -Sophia Bekele, Nov 2005

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Sophia Bekele ICANN GNSO
  2. ↑ Governments have no role in managing gTLDs
  3. ↑ An Ethiopian woman fighting for .africa, a new generic Top-Level Domain
  4. ↑ New gTLD News: Connecting a Continent with .AFRICA
  5. ↑ Prodigal prodigy K Kaufman
  6. ↑ Ethiopian Women Unleashed
  7. ↑ Rotich, Jason Njoku, Alex Okosi, Sophia Bekele & Barrack Obama Named Top “50 African Trailblazers” By UK’s NewAfrican Magazine
  8. ↑ DCA’s Sophia Bekele named among “50 African Trailblazers” by NewAfrican Magazine
  9. ↑ Africa: DotConnectAfrica's Sophia Bekele Named One of 50 African Trailblazers
  10. ↑ [ http://naijacelebritynews.blogspot.com/2013/08/top-50-african-trailblazers-by-uks-new.htm/, Top “50 African Trailblazers” By UK’s New African Magazine: Juliana Rotich, Jason Njoku, Alex Okosi, Sophia Bekele & Barrack Obama Named]
  11. ↑ [ http://www.kenyanews.net/index.php/sid/214959307/scat/c1ab2109a5bf37ecAfrica: DotConnectAfrica's Sophia Bekele Named One of 50 African Trailblazers by NewAfrican Magazine]
  12. ↑ future made in Africa-50 Trailblazers under 50 MADE IN AFRICA!_New African page 59
  13. ↑ "African Women to Watch" - Sophia Bekele on Bloomberg TV
  14. ↑ #SheTechsAfrica: Miss.Africa Seed Fund Announces its 2016/17 Prize Winners
  15. ↑ .Africa Founder Sophia Bekele Named Industry Trailblazer & Internet Governance Pioneer, by CIO
  16. ↑ Nominating Committee Announces Final Selections for Key Leadership Positions within ICANN 4 November 2005
  17. ↑ GNSO Activities
  18. ↑ Vertical Integration Policy Development Process Working Group
  19. ↑ OPEN Letter to US Department of Commerce
  20. ↑ DotConnectAfrica Welcome 2012 - The Year for new gTLDs
  21. ↑ Statement of Interest
  22. ↑ Sophia Bekele, Ethiopian champion of the dot Africa initiative Enterprise Technology ICT Creatives
  23. ↑ IDN Language group Recommendation
  24. ↑ IDRU Endorsement
  25. ↑ GNSO-IDN-WG, IDN Chair Nomination, Oct 2006
  26. ↑ Bekele co-author of ICANN's IDN policy guidelines, Recommendations
  27. ↑ Testimony of Sophia Bekele's IDN work at ICANN
  28. ↑ ::Endorsement of Dotafrica (.africa) Initiative, 05 December 2010 by The International Domain Resolution Union
  29. ↑ Support Statement by Subbiah
  30. ↑ Dr. Tin Wee Tan, Associate Professor Recommendation
  31. ↑ Open Letter to US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA) making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD
  32. ↑ DotConnectAfrica Statement to ICANN public forum Cartegena Colombia
  33. ↑ The .Africa project announced at public forum in Paris
  34. ↑ DCA statement to ICANN public forum, Colombia
  35. ↑ ‘ .Africa’ domain name to position Africa’s Web Industry
  36. ↑ The dotafrica Project initiative, August 8, 2008
  37. ↑ Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Endorsement of DotConnectAfrica
  38. ↑ DCA Campaign Presentations and Speeches
  39. ↑ Can "Africa" get a makeover?
  40. ↑ Africa, Towards a Digital Africa
  41. ↑ Bekele, Ethiopian champion of the dot africa
  42. ↑ Bekele, A future made in Africa-50 Trailblazers under 50 MADE IN AFRICA!_New African
  43. ↑ Governments have no roles in gTLDs
  44. ↑ New gTLDs - Application Details
  45. ↑ DCA Trust takes “.africa” case with ICANN to Independent Review Process (IRP) Panel
  46. ↑ DCA Trust Takes '.africa' Case With Icann to Independent Review Process Panel
  47. ↑ DCA Trust V ICANN
  48. ↑ DCA Trust wins first round against ICANN in injunction on DotAfrica domain
  49. ↑ dotAfrica launch further delayed by DotConnectAfrica injunction
  50. ↑ DCA Receives an Injunction It Requested in Its IRP Proceedings
  51. ↑ Breaking: DotConnectAfrica wins .africa injunction against ICANN in first new gTLD IRP case
  52. ↑ DCA Trust Wins First Round Against Icann in Injunction On Dotafrica Domain
  53. ↑ Tribunal freezes ICANN processing on .africa: Independent Review Panel Rules in favor of DotConnectAfrica
  54. ↑ DCA Trust wins first round against ICANN in injunction on DotAfrica domain
  55. ↑ dotAfrica launch further delayed by DotConnectAfrica injunction
  56. ↑ DCA Receives an Injunction It Requested in Its IRP Proceedings
  57. ↑ Breaking: DotConnectAfrica wins .africa injunction against ICANN in first new gTLD IRP case
  58. ↑ DCA Trust Wins First Round Against Icann in Injunction On Dotafrica Domain
  59. ↑ Tribunal freezes ICANN processing on .africa: Independent Review Panel Rules in favor of DotConnectAfrica
  60. ↑ Panel accepts DCA’s position on procedural framework on DotAfrica IRP
  61. ↑ Africa: Panel Accepts DCA's Position On Procedural Framework On Dotafrica IRP
  62. ↑ IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure in the case of DotConnectAfrica Trust vs ICANN
  63. ↑ IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure Panel interprets Declarations as binding on the .Africa IRP, Lectures ICANN on core accountability implications
  64. ↑ DotConnectAfrica Update: IRP Panel Rules to Accept DCA's Position On Procedural Framework
  65. ↑ IRP Panel’s Final Declaration
  66. ↑ Unredacted: ICANN's hidden role in a fierce battle over .Africa rights
  67. ↑ DCA Trust IRP Decision: ICANN Failed the Global Internet Community
  68. ↑ [1]
  69. ↑ ICANN Loses Independent Review Panel Decision For Unfairly Treating TLD Applicant & Improper Deference to Governments
  70. ↑ ICANN loses .Africa case: IRP panel rules in favor of DCA
  71. ↑ DCA Trust wins .africa IRP, ICANN to pay over Kshs 60 million in costs
  72. ↑ Breaking: DotConnectAfrica Trust victorious on its challenge of ICANN Board over .africa
  73. ↑ East Africa: DCA Trust Wins .Africa IRP, ICANN to Pay Over Kshs 60 Million in Costs
  74. ↑ Review Panel Chides ICANN Board, Government Reps
  75. ↑ Sophia Bekele Proffesional website.
  76. ↑ Sabotage of Our Wikipedia Sites. Published 2012 October 1. Retrieved 2012 November 13.
  77. ↑ Sophia Bekele Biography
  78. ↑ Ethiopian Parliament Integrated Information Network Infrastructure
  79. ↑ Ethiopian Women Unleashed Mary-Jane Wagle; Betel Bekele (August 2012)
  80. ↑ African tech entrepreneurs building bridges with Silicon Valley
  81. ↑ Ethiopian Entrepreneur Sophia Bekele spoke on #GES Panel in San Francisco
  82. ↑ Top ICT DIVA Sophia Bekele Trendsets at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, heralding “Mobile technology is the future of the internet”
  83. ↑ KeyNote: Sophia Bekele rallied YALS New York saying “P.U.S.H to Change Africa”
  84. ↑ Sophia Bekele’s “P.U.S.H to Change Africa” KeyNote Won the YALS in New York
  85. ↑ Innovation and US-Africa Relations, NYF Africa in Gabon
  86. ↑ United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on ICT in New York on ICT
  87. ↑ Internet bridging the gender gap
  88. ↑ Re-imagining Africa: a closer look at Autonomy, Identity and Perspective.
  89. ↑ United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on ICT in New York on ICT
  90. ↑ International Telecommunication Union (ITU's) “ConnectAfrica” Heads of State submit in Kigali
  91. ↑ “I Don't Know to CEO: Inspiration at Every Milestone”
  92. ↑ "Re-Branding Africa", Africa 2.0 Africa Leadership Retreat
  93. ↑ How to build a Top Level Domain Community
  94. ↑ Launch of the DotAfrica East African campaign
  95. ↑ Selected Speaking Sessions
  96. ↑ selected articles/presentations
  97. ↑ Sophia Bekele Leadership
  98. ↑ Nominating Committee | Biographical Information on the Nominees 2005
  99. ↑ Ethiopian Women Unleashed
  100. ↑ report of the meeting of partners for information and communication
  101. ↑ Common Position for Africa's Digital Inclusion
  102. ↑ 812 (XXXI). Implementation of the African Information Society Initiative (AISI)
  103. ↑ Founding Members ISOC San Francisco Bay
  104. ↑ Ethiopian Women Unleashed
  105. ↑ selected articles/presentations
  106. ↑ [dotafrica.tv/movers-and-shakers/]

Generic Names Supporting Organization. Develops and recommends to the Board substantive policies relating to generic top-level domains and other responsibilities set forth in the Bylaws (ICANN Bylaws).

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