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Ms. [[Sophia Bekele]] is a business and corporate executive, an International entrepreneur, corporate governance & risk management specialist, international policy advisor on ICT, | Ms. [[Sophia Bekele]] is a business and corporate executive, an International entrepreneur, a corporate governance & risk management specialist, an international policy advisor on ICT, Internet, and development issues, an 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 has implemented successful projects and 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 | 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-level domain names.<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 ran 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> | ||
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 | 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. She 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> | ||
In 2013, Bekele was named Top <b><i>“50 Trailblazers – A future made in Africa”</i></b> | 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 to the ICT and DNS industry as well as to 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> | ||
==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]]<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-04nov05-en.htm, Nominating Committee Announces Final Selections for Key Leadership Positions within ICANN 4 | 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 November 4, 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 program for ICANN 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]] | ||
::<i> "I am most interested in the issues of emerging economies | ::<i> "I am most interested in the issues of emerging economies, 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 pursued 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> | ||
==Championing the International Domain Name (IDN) Policy== | ==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> | 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 was 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> | ||
Bekele successfully made the case at ICANN on behalf of the global IDN community. | 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 /> | ||
::<i>"Bekele was very influential in drafting the IDN policy guidelines | ::<i>"Bekele was very influential in drafting the IDN policy guidelines and 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 is 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> | ||
::<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 | ::<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 December 5 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, December 5 2010 by The International Domain Resolution Union]</ref> </i> | ||
::<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 | ::<i>"The call for such a 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 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 tireless 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> | ||
::<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> | ::<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> | ||
==Championing the [[.africa]] (dotAfrica) gTLD Project== | ==Championing the [[.africa]] (dotAfrica) gTLD Project== | ||
Following | Following the important experiences she gained from her work as a gNSO advisor to ICANN and the successful achievement of IDN work for ICANN and 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 a 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. They are widely captured on the Organization's website.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/dca-presentations, DCA Campaign Presentations and Speeches]</ref> | ||
Bekele | Therefore, Bekele was recognized and credited for her global campaign efforts by the worldwide internet community and various leading African and international media. As such, he 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 <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> | 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 | CIO East Africa called 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 | ::<i> ".. Governments have a role to play, especially regarding establishing 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 model by ICANN. Governments already have their two-code country-level top-level domains (cc TLDs), but they also have a role in endorsing 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 March 9 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. | 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 | 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 governmental objections 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 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. | ||
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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> | 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 | On August 14 2014, the panel also issued a precedence-setting ruling to accept DCA Trust's position on the IRP proceedings' procedural framework and terming its Declaration and the future Declaration on the Merits of the case as 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=== | ===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 | On July 9, 2015, the IRP independent review panel made its final ruling, which declared that both actions and inactions of the Board concerning 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, under 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> | ||
==Controversies== | ==Controversies== | ||
In October 2012, DCA published a press release saying | In October 2012, DCA published a press release saying their Wikipedia sites were willfully sabotaged. Entries on Wikipedia sites containing DotConnectAfrica, .africa, and Sophia Bekele <ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/ Sophia Bekele Professional 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. | ||
The | The biography of her website captured the information from Wikipedia <ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/biography/ Sophia Bekele Biography]</ref> | ||
==CBS International== | ==CBS International== | ||
Ms. Bekele founded [[CBS International]], a private corporation | Ms. Bekele founded [[CBS International]], a private corporation that aims to transfer technology to emerging economies. The company also consults on Systems Integration, Internet solutions, Business Process Engineering, implementation of Corporate Strategy and governance, Sarbanes Oxley compliance initiatives, and public policy on ICT/telecom. It is based near Silicon Valley, California. | ||
CBS International also set up SbCommunications Network, an Ethiopian IT company. | 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> | ||
Ms. Bekele and her company CBS International have also assisted various | Ms. Bekele and her company, CBS International, have also assisted various US 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 Seidman LLP, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLB), and Genentech Corp (Gene).<ref>[http://www.ethiopianwomenunleashed.org/database/sophia-bekele-eshete/ Ethiopian Women Unleashed Mary-Jane Wagle; Betel Bekele (August 2012)]</ref> | ||
==DotConnectAfrica (DCA)== | ==DotConnectAfrica (DCA)== | ||
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’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 Pan-African organizations in Africa, such as UNECA, the African Union, and the global public. She then received endorsements from both organizations in 2008 and 2009, respectively, as well as the global IDN working group for her DotAfrica Initiative. Currently, Bekele focuses on .africa, a new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) for the African geographic name she initiated during her appointment at ICANN. The project will be introduced and delegated for operation under ICANN’s new gTLD program. | ||
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 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 regularly. To learn more about DCA's work, its organizational structure, partnerships, and locations, please refer to [[DotConnectAfrica]] | ||
==Speakings and Writings== | ==Speakings and Writings== | ||
Sophia is regularly invited to speak on international | Sophia is regularly invited to speak on international forums to present her work in technology transfer. She 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> | ||
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 | 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> | ||
==Other Endeavors and Leadership Positions== | ==Other Endeavors and Leadership Positions== | ||
With registered successes in ICT project delivery, Bekele has been elected and served on | With registered successes in ICT project delivery, Bekele has been elected and served on several 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 reflecting Africa's ICT position communicated to various global forums such as the G8 DOT Force, ECOSOC, the UN Task Force, the World Economic Forum, and NEPAD initiatives. She has since continued to use this identifying framework for future ICT projects and activities 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<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> | 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> | ||
==Domain Industry Advocacy== | ==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 | 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> | ||
Watch Sophia Bekele | 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. | ||
{{#ev:youtube|OfjOAtv-fMs}} | {{#ev:youtube|OfjOAtv-fMs}} | ||
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#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>, | #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>, October 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 named 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 | ||
# DotConnectAfrica, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.prlog.org/10916169-dotconnectafrica-lauched-its-official-africa-campaign-at-the-aitec-ict-summit.html,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]</span>, | # DotConnectAfrica, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.prlog.org/10916169-dotconnectafrica-lauched-its-official-africa-campaign-at-the-aitec-ict-summit.html,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]</span>, September 11, 2010 | ||
# Bekele, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.prlog.org/10918770-dotconnectafrica-provides-keynote-address-for-aitec-east-africa-ict-summit.html, Ms.Sophia Bekele, provided a Keynote address for AITEC Summit during the opening panel discussions.html]</span>, Sep 11,2010 | # Bekele, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.prlog.org/10918770-dotconnectafrica-provides-keynote-address-for-aitec-east-africa-ict-summit.html, Ms.Sophia Bekele, provided a Keynote address for AITEC Summit during the opening panel discussions.html]</span>, Sep 11,2010 | ||
# DotConnectAfrica, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.prlog.org/10603396-dotconnectafrica-registered-maximum-success-in-east-africa-as-the-voice-was-echoed-globally.html, DotConnectAfrica registered maximum success in East Africa as the voice was echoed globally.html]</span>, April 06, 2010 | # DotConnectAfrica, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.prlog.org/10603396-dotconnectafrica-registered-maximum-success-in-east-africa-as-the-voice-was-echoed-globally.html, DotConnectAfrica registered maximum success in East Africa as the voice was echoed globally.html]</span>, April 06, 2010 | ||
# Policy Development,<span class="plainlinks">[http://gnso.icann.org/issues/vertical-integration/soi-vi-pdp-wg-01apr10-en#bekele, Statement of Interest (SOI) Members of the Vertical Integration Policy Development Process Working Group]</span>, April, 01, 2010 | # Policy Development,<span class="plainlinks">[http://gnso.icann.org/issues/vertical-integration/soi-vi-pdp-wg-01apr10-en#bekele, Statement of Interest (SOI) Members of the Vertical Integration Policy Development Process Working Group]</span>, April, 01, 2010 | ||
# Public Forum announcement, <span class="plainlinks">[http://209.85.135.132/search?q=cache:_ggg5llDmloJ:nbo.icann.org/meetings/nairobi2010/transcript-public-forum-11mar10-en.txt+dotconnectafrica&cd=102&hl=en&ct=clnk, African Union | # Public Forum announcement, <span class="plainlinks">[http://209.85.135.132/search?q=cache:_ggg5llDmloJ:nbo.icann.org/meetings/nairobi2010/transcript-public-forum-11mar10-en.txt+dotconnectafrica&cd=102&hl=en&ct=clnk, African Union endorsement of ".Africa" and urging for ICANN to expedite process for TLDs]</span>, Nairobi, March,11,2010 | ||
# DotConnectAfrica, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org, African Union endorsed the domain name ".Africa" to DotConnectAfrica org]</span>, Addis Ababa, February 18, 2010 | # DotConnectAfrica, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org, African Union endorsed the domain name ".Africa" to DotConnectAfrica org]</span>, Addis Ababa, February 18, 2010 | ||
# Policy Development,<span class="plainlinks">[https://st.icann.org/data/workspaces/icann-ppsc/attachments/pdp_team:20090319130415-1-29988/original/PDP%20Team%20SOI%20(19%20Mar%2009).pdf, Statement of Interest (SOI) for the Policy Development Process Steering Committee-Policy Development Team]</span>, March 19, 2009 | # Policy Development,<span class="plainlinks">[https://st.icann.org/data/workspaces/icann-ppsc/attachments/pdp_team:20090319130415-1-29988/original/PDP%20Team%20SOI%20(19%20Mar%2009).pdf, Statement of Interest (SOI) for the Policy Development Process Steering Committee-Policy Development Team]</span>, March 19, 2009 | ||
# Internet Governance, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.ggu.edu/events/display/retrieve_event.do?id=1080 Internet | # Internet Governance, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.ggu.edu/events/display/retrieve_event.do?id=1080 Internet Governance & Policy Divide]</span>, San Francisco, March 10, 2009 | ||
# Public Forum announcement, <span class="plainlinks">[https://par.icann.org/files/paris/Paris-ICANNPublicForum-25JUN08.txt Continuing interest in the work of ICANN, IDNs and DotAfrica]</span>, Paris, June 25, 2008 | # Public Forum announcement, <span class="plainlinks">[https://par.icann.org/files/paris/Paris-ICANNPublicForum-25JUN08.txt Continuing interest in the work of ICANN, IDNs and DotAfrica]</span>, Paris, June 25, 2008 | ||
# Farewells, <span class="plainlinks">[http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:HRW3HUz_xI4J:losangeles2007.icann.org/files/losangeles/LA-PublicForum2-1NOV07.txt+%22Sophia+Bekele%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=128&gl=uk 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...]</span>, ICANN Public Forum, Part 2 Thursday, 1 | # Farewells, <span class="plainlinks">[http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:HRW3HUz_xI4J:losangeles2007.icann.org/files/losangeles/LA-PublicForum2-1NOV07.txt+%22Sophia+Bekele%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=128&gl=uk 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...]</span>, ICANN Public Forum, Part 2 Thursday, November 1 2007 | ||
# DotAfrica, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/jpacomments2007/jpacomment_069.pdf DotAfrica�s position on JPA -National Telecommunications and Information Administration]</span>, NITA, Los Angeles, California, Feb 2008<br> | # DotAfrica, <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/jpacomments2007/jpacomment_069.pdf DotAfrica�s position on JPA -National Telecommunications and Information Administration]</span>, NITA, Los Angeles, California, Feb 2008<br> | ||
# AfriICANN-discuss, <span class="plainlinks">[https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/africann/2007-November/000542.html A debate on dot.africa]</span>, Nov 2007<br> | # AfriICANN-discuss, <span class="plainlinks">[https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/africann/2007-November/000542.html A debate on dot.africa]</span>, Nov 2007<br> | ||
| Line 119: | Line 119: | ||
# Aftld-Discuss [AfriICANN-discuss], <span class="plainlinks">[https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/africann/2007-October/000481.html Who is DotAfrica?]</span>, Nov 2007<br> | # Aftld-Discuss [AfriICANN-discuss], <span class="plainlinks">[https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/africann/2007-October/000481.html Who is DotAfrica?]</span>, Nov 2007<br> | ||
# ICANN IDN, <span class="plainlinks">[http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:wG_X_WpQ6e0J:www.bitkom.org/files/documents/ICANN_Final_Report_08_08_2007(1).pdf+sophia+bekele+icann&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=39&gl=uk GNSO Final report]</span>, Oct 2007<br> | # ICANN IDN, <span class="plainlinks">[http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:wG_X_WpQ6e0J:www.bitkom.org/files/documents/ICANN_Final_Report_08_08_2007(1).pdf+sophia+bekele+icann&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=39&gl=uk GNSO Final report]</span>, Oct 2007<br> | ||
# AfriICANN-Discuss, <span class="plainlinks">[http://lists.aftld.org/pipermail/aftld-discuss/2007-October/000183.html Dot Africa�s position on fast tracking of IDN ccTLD]</span>, Oct 2007<br> | # AfriICANN-Discuss, <span class="plainlinks">[http://lists.aftld.org/pipermail/aftld-discuss/2007-October/000183.html Dot Africa�s position on fast-tracking of IDN ccTLD]</span>, Oct 2007<br> | ||
# GNSO IDN, <span class="plainlinks">[http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dd884d5b_7fhsskb Comments in Response to the ccNSO-GAC Issues | # GNSO IDN, <span class="plainlinks">[http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dd884d5b_7fhsskb Comments in Response to the ccNSO-GAC Issues Report on IDN Issues]</span>, Aug 2007<br> | ||
# GNSO IDN, <span class="plainlinks">[http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:gR-kNaQSCtwJ:https://st.icann.org/alac/index.cgi/GNSO%2520IDN%2520WG%2520Final%2520Outcomes%2520Report%2520-%2520EN.pdf%3Faction%3Dattachments_download%3Bpage_name%3Dlisbon_documents%3Bid%3D20070322133647-0-22034+sophia Outcome Report of the GNSO IDN Working group]</span>, Mar 2007<br> | # GNSO IDN, <span class="plainlinks">[http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:gR-kNaQSCtwJ:https://st.icann.org/alac/index.cgi/GNSO%2520IDN%2520WG%2520Final%2520Outcomes%2520Report%2520-%2520EN.pdf%3Faction%3Dattachments_download%3Bpage_name%3Dlisbon_documents%3Bid%3D20070322133647-0-22034+sophia Outcome Report of the GNSO IDN Working group]</span>, Mar 2007<br> | ||
# At-Large policy, <span class="plainlinks">[http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/pipermail/alac_atlarge-lists.icann.org/2007q1/000277.html Policy matters for conference call agenda]</span>, Mar 2007<br> | # At-Large policy, <span class="plainlinks">[http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/pipermail/alac_atlarge-lists.icann.org/2007q1/000277.html Policy matters for conference call agenda]</span>, Mar 2007<br> | ||
Latest revision as of 23:57, 6 December 2024
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| Blog: | http://sophiabekele.com/writing/ |
| LinkedIn: |  Sophia Bekele
|
| Twitter: |  @sophiabekele
|
Ms. Sophia Bekele is a business and corporate executive, an International entrepreneur, a corporate governance & risk management specialist, an international policy advisor on ICT, Internet, and development issues, an 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 has implemented successful projects and 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-level domain names.[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 ran 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. She 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 to the ICT and DNS industry as well as to 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 program for ICANN 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, 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 pursued 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 was 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 and 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 is 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 December 5 2010, Internationalized Domain Resolution Union. [28]
- "The call for such a 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 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 tireless 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 the important experiences she gained from her work as a gNSO advisor to ICANN and the successful achievement of IDN work for ICANN and 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. They are widely captured on the Organization's website.[38]
Therefore, Bekele was recognized and credited for her global campaign efforts by the worldwide internet community and various leading African and international media. As such, he 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 called 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 establishing 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 model by ICANN. Governments already have their two-code country-level top-level domains (cc TLDs), but they also have a role in endorsing 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 March 9 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 governmental objections 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 August 14 2014, the panel also issued a precedence-setting ruling to accept DCA Trust's position on the IRP proceedings' procedural framework and terming its Declaration and the future Declaration on the Merits of the case as 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 concerning 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, under 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 their Wikipedia sites were 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 biography of her website captured the information from Wikipedia [77]
CBS International[edit | edit source]
Ms. Bekele founded CBS International, a private corporation that aims to transfer technology to emerging economies. The company also consults on Systems Integration, Internet solutions, Business Process Engineering, implementation of Corporate Strategy and governance, Sarbanes Oxley compliance initiatives, and 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 US 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 Seidman LLP, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLB), and 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 Pan-African organizations in Africa, such as UNECA, the African Union, and the global public. She then received endorsements from both organizations in 2008 and 2009, respectively, as well as the global IDN working group for her DotAfrica Initiative. Currently, Bekele focuses on .africa, a new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) for the African geographic name she initiated during her appointment at ICANN. The project will be introduced and delegated for operation under ICANN’s new gTLD program.
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 regularly. To learn more about 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 forums to present her work in technology transfer. She 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 several 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 reflecting Africa's ICT position communicated to various global forums such as the G8 DOT Force, ECOSOC, the UN Task Force, the World Economic Forum, and NEPAD initiatives. She has since continued to use this identifying framework for future ICT projects and activities 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.
External Links[edit | edit source]
- The Africa MIGworks event Addis ‐ Ababa, , The development of the DNS industry and business in Africa, 6 ‐8 March 2013
- Open letter to Congress, Sophia Bekele wrote an open letter to congress to defend status quo of internet governance, July 13, 2012
- Application to ICANN, , DCA Trust has applied to ICANN for the ".Africa" Geographic name, June 05, 2012
- Defending Multi-Stakeholder model, , Bekele writing on Internet Governance:, April 5, 2012
- DotConnectAfrica Welcome 2012 - The Year for new gTLDs,Welcome 2012 - The Year for new gTLDs - Yes2dotAfrica Campaign, Jan 14, 2011
- DotConnectAfrica to ICANN, DCA's Executive Briefing Note following, Executive Briefing Note at the ICANN-42 Public Forum Meeting at Dakar, Senegal, October 23, 2011
- Champion of .africa, Sophia Bekele named as Champion of the .africa initiative,, June, 21, 2011
- Thank you Note, Bekele thankful for support and encouragement of the .africa initiative , June 11, 2011
- 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
- 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, September 11, 2010
- Bekele, Ms.Sophia Bekele, provided a Keynote address for AITEC Summit during the opening panel discussions.html, Sep 11,2010
- DotConnectAfrica, DotConnectAfrica registered maximum success in East Africa as the voice was echoed globally.html, April 06, 2010
- Policy Development,Statement of Interest (SOI) Members of the Vertical Integration Policy Development Process Working Group, April, 01, 2010
- Public Forum announcement, African Union endorsement of ".Africa" and urging for ICANN to expedite process for TLDs, Nairobi, March,11,2010
- DotConnectAfrica, African Union endorsed the domain name ".Africa" to DotConnectAfrica org, Addis Ababa, February 18, 2010
- Policy Development,Statement of Interest (SOI) for the Policy Development Process Steering Committee-Policy Development Team, March 19, 2009
- Internet Governance, Internet Governance & Policy Divide, San Francisco, March 10, 2009
- Public Forum announcement, Continuing interest in the work of ICANN, IDNs and DotAfrica, Paris, June 25, 2008
- 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, November 1 2007
- 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
- AfriICANN-discuss, A debate on dot.africa, Nov 2007
- AfrICANN-discuss, DotConnectAfrica's initiation of DotAfrica), Nov 2007
- Aftld-Discuss [AfriICANN-discuss], Who is DotAfrica?, Nov 2007
- ICANN IDN, GNSO Final report, Oct 2007
- 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
- GNSO IDN, Comments in Response to the ccNSO-GAC Issues Report on IDN Issues, Aug 2007
- GNSO IDN, Outcome Report of the GNSO IDN Working group, Mar 2007
- At-Large policy, Policy matters for conference call agenda, Mar 2007
- AfriIcann, Going forward with ICANN- The African Region Perspective, Mar 2007
- AfriICANN, ICANN - GNSo Policy update - presentation to African Group by Sophia Bekele, Lisbon, Mar 2007
- GNSO IDN, Outcome Report of the GNSO IDN WG, Mar 2007
- GNSO IDN Regarding IDN Working Group membership issues, Mar 2007
- ICANN IDN, IDN Working Group, Jan 2007
- GNSO-IDN-Working Group, IDN Chair Nomination, Oct 2006
- ICANNwiki, ICANNWiki Caricature, Wellington New Zealand, Mar 2006
- DotConnectAfrica's Website,dotconnectafrica.org - African's Map on Digital Inclusion, Mar 2006
- GNSO IDN On IDN dialog - a debate with John C. Klensin, On IDN dialog - a debate with John C. Klensin, Mar 2006
- ICANN, Nominating Committee | Biographical Information on the ..., Nov 2005
- ICANN NomComm ICANN | Nominating Committee Announces Final Selections for Key leadership positions..., Vancouver, Canada Nov 2005
- ICANN, Sophia Bekele, Statement of Interest, Nov 2005
- ISOC, appointment to a founding member & board of directors of Internet Society, San Francisco (ISOC-SF), San Francisco, Ca, March 2009
- GGU, Internet Governance and the policy divide, San Francisco, Ca, March 2009
- IP Justice, New Domain Names (gtlds), Sao Paulo Brazil, Dec 2006
- Andrew Mack, Andy's Global View: In a world of .com and .org, why not .Africa?, Sept 2007
- Del Rey Studios "A New Hope" the idea of 'ICANN The Movie' was born! Mar 2007
- TWiNic, NomComm announcement - Sophia Bekele, Nov 2005
- JPNic,NomComm announcement -Sophia Bekele, Nov 2005
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Sophia Bekele ICANN GNSO
- ↑ Governments have no role in managing gTLDs
- ↑ An Ethiopian woman fighting for .africa, a new generic Top-Level Domain
- ↑ New gTLD News: Connecting a Continent with .AFRICA
- ↑ Prodigal prodigy K Kaufman
- ↑ Ethiopian Women Unleashed
- ↑ Rotich, Jason Njoku, Alex Okosi, Sophia Bekele & Barrack Obama Named Top “50 African Trailblazers” By UK’s NewAfrican Magazine
- ↑ DCA’s Sophia Bekele named among “50 African Trailblazers” by NewAfrican Magazine
- ↑ Africa: DotConnectAfrica's Sophia Bekele Named One of 50 African Trailblazers
- ↑ [ 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]
- ↑ [ http://www.kenyanews.net/index.php/sid/214959307/scat/c1ab2109a5bf37ecAfrica: DotConnectAfrica's Sophia Bekele Named One of 50 African Trailblazers by NewAfrican Magazine]
- ↑ future made in Africa-50 Trailblazers under 50 MADE IN AFRICA!_New African page 59
- ↑ "African Women to Watch" - Sophia Bekele on Bloomberg TV
- ↑ #SheTechsAfrica: Miss.Africa Seed Fund Announces its 2016/17 Prize Winners
- ↑ .Africa Founder Sophia Bekele Named Industry Trailblazer & Internet Governance Pioneer, by CIO
- ↑ Nominating Committee Announces Final Selections for Key Leadership Positions within ICANN November 4, 2005
- ↑ GNSO Activities
- ↑ Vertical Integration Policy Development Process Working Group
- ↑ OPEN Letter to US Department of Commerce
- ↑ DotConnectAfrica Welcome 2012 - The Year for new gTLDs
- ↑ Statement of Interest
- ↑ Sophia Bekele, Ethiopian champion of the dot Africa initiative Enterprise Technology ICT Creatives
- ↑ IDN Language group Recommendation
- ↑ IDRU Endorsement
- ↑ GNSO-IDN-WG, IDN Chair Nomination, Oct 2006
- ↑ Bekele co-author of ICANN's IDN policy guidelines, Recommendations
- ↑ Testimony of Sophia Bekele's IDN work at ICANN
- ↑ ::Endorsement of Dotafrica (.africa) Initiative, December 5 2010 by The International Domain Resolution Union
- ↑ Support Statement by Subbiah
- ↑ Dr. Tin Wee Tan, Associate Professor Recommendation
- ↑ Open Letter to US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA) making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD
- ↑ DotConnectAfrica Statement to ICANN public forum Cartegena Colombia
- ↑ The .Africa project announced at a public forum in Paris
- ↑ DCA statement to ICANN public forum, Colombia
- ↑ ‘ .Africa’ domain name to position Africa’s Web Industry
- ↑ The dotafrica Project initiative, August 8, 2008
- ↑ Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Endorsement of DotConnectAfrica
- ↑ DCA Campaign Presentations and Speeches
- ↑ Can "Africa" get a makeover?
- ↑ Africa, Towards a Digital Africa
- ↑ Bekele, Ethiopian champion of the dot africa
- ↑ Bekele, A future made in Africa-50 Trailblazers under 50 MADE IN AFRICA!_New African
- ↑ Governments have no roles in gTLDs
- ↑ New gTLDs - Application Details
- ↑ DCA Trust takes “.africa” case with ICANN to Independent Review Process (IRP) Panel
- ↑ DCA Trust Takes '.africa' Case With Icann to Independent Review Process Panel
- ↑ DCA Trust V ICANN
- ↑ DCA Trust wins first round against ICANN in injunction on DotAfrica domain
- ↑ dotAfrica launch further delayed by DotConnectAfrica injunction
- ↑ DCA Receives an Injunction It Requested in Its IRP Proceedings
- ↑ Breaking: DotConnectAfrica wins .africa injunction against ICANN in first new gTLD IRP case
- ↑ DCA Trust Wins First Round Against Icann in Injunction On Dotafrica Domain
- ↑ Tribunal freezes ICANN processing on .africa: Independent Review Panel Rules in favor of DotConnectAfrica
- ↑ DCA Trust wins first round against ICANN in injunction on DotAfrica domain
- ↑ dotAfrica launch further delayed by DotConnectAfrica injunction
- ↑ DCA Receives an Injunction It Requested in Its IRP Proceedings
- ↑ Breaking: DotConnectAfrica wins .africa injunction against ICANN in first new gTLD IRP case
- ↑ DCA Trust Wins First Round Against Icann in Injunction On Dotafrica Domain
- ↑ Tribunal freezes ICANN processing on .africa: Independent Review Panel Rules in favor of DotConnectAfrica
- ↑ Panel accepts DCA’s position on procedural framework on DotAfrica IRP
- ↑ Africa: Panel Accepts DCA's Position On Procedural Framework On Dotafrica IRP
- ↑ IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure in the case of DotConnectAfrica Trust vs ICANN
- ↑ IRP Panel’s Declaration of the IRP Procedure Panel interprets Declarations as binding on the .Africa IRP, Lectures ICANN on core accountability implications
- ↑ DotConnectAfrica Update: IRP Panel Rules to Accept DCA's Position On Procedural Framework
- ↑ IRP Panel’s Final Declaration
- ↑ Unredacted: ICANN's hidden role in a fierce battle over .Africa rights
- ↑ DCA Trust IRP Decision: ICANN Failed the Global Internet Community
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ ICANN Loses Independent Review Panel Decision For Unfairly Treating TLD Applicant & Improper Deference to Governments
- ↑ ICANN loses .Africa case: IRP panel rules in favor of DCA
- ↑ DCA Trust wins .africa IRP, ICANN to pay over Kshs 60 million in costs
- ↑ Breaking: DotConnectAfrica Trust victorious on its challenge of ICANN Board over .africa
- ↑ East Africa: DCA Trust Wins.Africa IRP, ICANN to Pay Over Kshs 60 Million in Costs
- ↑ Review Panel Chides ICANN Board, Government Reps
- ↑ Sophia Bekele Professional website.
- ↑ Sabotage of Our Wikipedia Sites. Published 2012 October 1. Retrieved 2012 November 13.
- ↑ Sophia Bekele Biography
- ↑ Ethiopian Parliament Integrated Information Network Infrastructure
- ↑ Ethiopian Women Unleashed Mary-Jane Wagle; Betel Bekele (August 2012)
- ↑ African tech entrepreneurs building bridges with Silicon Valley
- ↑ Ethiopian Entrepreneur Sophia Bekele spoke on #GES Panel in San Francisco
- ↑ Top ICT DIVA Sophia Bekele Trendsets at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, heralding “Mobile technology is the future of the internet”
- ↑ KeyNote: Sophia Bekele rallied YALS New York saying “P.U.S.H to Change Africa”
- ↑ Sophia Bekele’s “P.U.S.H to Change Africa” KeyNote Won the YALS in New York
- ↑ Innovation and US-Africa Relations, NYF Africa in Gabon
- ↑ United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on ICT in New York on ICT
- ↑ Internet bridging the gender gap
- ↑ Re-imagining Africa: a closer look at Autonomy, Identity and Perspective.
- ↑ United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on ICT in New York on ICT
- ↑ International Telecommunication Union (ITU's) “ConnectAfrica” Heads of State submit in Kigali
- ↑ “I Don't Know to CEO: Inspiration at Every Milestone”
- ↑ "Re-Branding Africa", Africa 2.0 Africa Leadership Retreat
- ↑ How to build a Top Level Domain Community
- ↑ Launch of the DotAfrica East African campaign
- ↑ Selected Speaking Sessions
- ↑ selected articles/presentations
- ↑ Sophia Bekele Leadership
- ↑ Nominating Committee | Biographical Information on the Nominees 2005
- ↑ Ethiopian Women Unleashed
- ↑ report of the meeting of partners for information and communication
- ↑ Common Position for Africa's Digital Inclusion
- ↑ 812 (XXXI). Implementation of the African Information Society Initiative (AISI)
- ↑ Founding Members ISOC San Francisco Bay
- ↑ Ethiopian Women Unleashed
- ↑ selected articles/presentations
- ↑ [dotafrica.tv/movers-and-shakers/]