Gerard de Graaf

Country:	Netherlands
Email:	gerrit.de-graaf[at]ec.europe.eu
Facebook:	[Gerard de Graaf Gerard de Graaf]

Gerard de Graaf is Head of Unit for the co-ordination of the Europe 2020 Strategy in the European Commission’s Secretariat-General, which is the service under the government of President Barroso. Besides Europe 2020 Strategy his unit also manages Digital Agenda, Innovation Union, an Industrial Policy for the globalisation age and a program called “New Skills for New Jobs”. He was appointed for this job in 2005. He is also Director in charge of Audiovisual, Media and Internet Directorate General of Information Society and Media.

Mr. Graaf does not approve ICANNs knew gTLD policy. He is of the view that there is a risk for violating European competition laws. At ICANN41, he and a UK GAC representative were constantly trying to convince ICANN to immediately approve EU policies in the new TLD program.

He lives in Netherlands with his wife and two children.

Career History

Mr. Graaf started his career in the private sector and then worked at the Secretariat-General of the Benelux Economic Union. Later in 1991 he joined the European Commission and worked on procurement policies, after some time he became private assistant to the Director-General. He was trade counselor at the Commission’s Delegation to the United States in Washington DC. From 2001 to 2005 Gerard de Graaf was Head of the Policy Unit in Directorate General Internal Market.

Participation

He is a representative of Management Board of ENISA. de Graaf is the new representative of European Comission on the GAC. He attended World Bank Knowledge Economy Forum IX in Berlin, Germany on May 6, 2010.

Education

Gerard de Graaf studied Social Geography and Regional Planning at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam and European Studies at the Catholic University in Leuven (Belgium).

Governmental Advisory Committee. Considers and provides advice on the activities of ICANN as they relate to concerns of governments, particularly matters where there may be an interaction between ICANN's policies and various laws and international agreements or where they may affect public policy issues (ICANN Bylaws).