Mili semlani

I am a tech, policy and business journalist. I have reported in and about the Asian region with work assignments in India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Singapore. Founder and Chair of Youth4IG, I aspire to build Asia's largest youth movement in Internet Governance. Its key goals include generating awareness and capacity building for youth to join the Internet governance ecosystem and continue to actively participate in the policy-making process. It is a home for youth in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC) to meet, share ideas, and contribute to the multi-stakeholder policy-making process for IG.

I have been involved in the IG space since 2014 as a youth ambassador (NetMission). That has also given me insights in recognizing and addressing barriers for youth to participate and stay engaged in regional, local and international forums as a youth ambassador and fellow at local and regional IG forums. My work with the IGF Secretariat on BPF Gender and Access also enhanced my knowledge and interest in topics related to gender and ICT with a special focus on how ICT can be used to fight gender issues in developing Asian economies. I worked with established lawyers, academic and technical experts to manage Internet governance projects with a multidisciplinary approach. Combining my skills as a journalist and content producer with my passion for public policy and interest in technology issues; it also gave me the ability to engage with various stakeholders of the multistakeholder process and formulate innovative programs to manage youth groups and volunteers leading change globally with a special focus on APAC.

I have been a fellow at APrIGF 2017 and 2019 and ICANN 63 and 66, inSIG 2018. Since then I am an active MSG member and co-chair of the Program Committee that organizes APrIGF. As a part of PC, I work on the sub-themes, main themes, and workshop guidelines, and program evaluation each year. I am a member of the Drafting Committee at MSG and worked on the Synthesis Document presented at IGF each year.

I am keen to develop my participation in the spheres of youth at ICT, women in IG and media development in IG.

Career History

Travel Daily Media/​ Editor

● Managing day-to-day operations and content for the digital magazine

● Managing a team of freelance and in house writers

● Monitoring social media updates, and advertiser content (sponsored)

● Plan the editorial calendar and strategy and seek innovative story ideas and formats.

United Nations​ IGF Secretariat/ Consultant

● Supported the process and served as the editor of the final outcome document for the 2017

Best Practice Forums on Gender and Access and Connecting and Enabling the Next Billion Phase 3(CENB-III).

Editec International​/Digital Media Editor, Singapore

● Managed editorial for print and digital editions of a B2B Food publication

● Liaised with media partners to enhance circulation

DestinAsian Media​/ Online Editor, Indonesia

● Design and content overhaul for the Asian luxury travel portal

● Planning and executing content, newsletters and social media updates, including reviews,

travel and lifestyle features to grow the digital readership.

Big Decisions​- A Newscorp Company/ Content Strategist, India

● Producing content features, newsletters, social media campaigns and data backed infographics

for personal finance education

● Developed and managed brand content, microsites for banking and financial services industry

● Lead the production of a video series on investing topics.

● Analyzing user behavior and using website data to enhance the user engagement

ICANN and Internet Governance Participation

I have been involved in the IG space since 2014 as a youth ambassador (NetMission), representing youth voice and strengthening youth digital rights. That has also given me insights in recognizing and addressing barriers for youth to participate and remain engaged in regional, local and international forums as a youth ambassador and fellow at local and regional IG forums. My work with the BPF Gender and Access at IGF also enhanced my knowledge and interest in topics related to gender and ICT with a special focus on how ICT can be used to fight gender issues in developing Asian economies. I am an active MSG member and co-chair of the Program Committee that organizes Asia Pacific's regional IGF. As a part of PC, I work on the sub-themes, main themes, and workshop guidelines, and program evaluation each year. I also lead the community-based workshop evaluation and selection.

Education

Hong Kong Baptist University​, Hinrich Scholar, MA International Journalism 2013-2014

Jai Hind College- Mumbai University,​ Bachelors in Mass Media (BMM), Journalism, 2008-2011 

Awards

Hinrich Foundation Global Trade Scholar, Sumitomo Scholar, KPMG Scholar, Youth Ambassador @ICANN49, Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) Fellow 2017, ICANN 63 Fellow, APrIGF Fellow 2019, ICANN 66 Fellow

Internet Governance Forum