[cooperation-wg] Nomination of co-chair of Cooperation WG

	Dear members of the RIPE Cooperation Working Group,

On 17 Oct 2013, at 10:38, Maria Häll wrote:

> As you all know Patrik Fältström has stepped down as co-chair of the Cooperation Working Group.
> As remaining co-chair I would like to nominate Niall O'Reilly as new co-chair of the WG.
> Niall will present himself on the list shortly.

	That seemed to draw a flurry of other nominations, which I see as a healthy sign.
	I feel privileged that Maria nominated me, and congratulate the other nominees on
	seizing the initiative to self-nominate.

	It's time that I introduced myself too.

	As some of you will know already, I work in the IT Services Unit at University College
	Dublin (Ireland's largest university).  I have been engaged in the RIPE Community since 
	1990 [1] and have been Chair or Co-Chair in two RIPE Working Groups which are now no
	longer active: TLD [2] and ENUM [3].  I am familiar with the RIPE Policy Development
	Process, both from the oversight side and, more recently, as a policy proposer.

	While responsible for the IE top-level domain, I was one of the co-founders of CENTR,
	which grew from the work of the RIPE TLD WG.  I am still involved in the TLD scene, as
	a member of AFNIC's Scientific Council [4].

	I see the Cooperation WG, and especially item 3 of its Charter [5], as having growing
	significance, reflecting the increasing attention which civil society is now having 
	to give to the impact of the technology which RIPE once had to promote and foster.   

	I look forward to Maria's "suggestions how to move fwd" with choosing co-chairs for
	the WG and, whatever the outcome, will be glad to support the leadership of the WG
	in any way I can.

	Best regards,
	Niall

   [1]	http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-meetings/ripe-3/attendee-list
   [2]	http://www.ripe.net/ripe/groups/inactive-working-groups/tld
   [3]	http://www.ripe.net/ripe/groups/wg/enum
   [4]	http://www.afnic.fr/en/expertise/r-d/a-scientific-council-open-to-the-internet-community-2.html
   [5]	http://www.ripe.net/ripe/groups/wg/coop