[ripe-list] NomCom Volunteers and Selection

On 12 Dec 2019, at 11:28, Sasha Romijn wrote:

> Hello Daniel,
>> Of course it could have been more diverse if more people had offered 
>> to serve…
>>
> I find this a rather strange comment. This sounds like a way of 
> placing the responsibility for diversity in the NomCom, onto people 
> from underrepresented groups in our community. This is a sentiment 
> that I have seen before regarding the NomCom, from different people.
>
> Instead of placing that responsibility on those underrepresented 
> groups, I wonder what work was done in advance to identify possible 
> biases in the qualification process, what barriers may reduce 
> diversity in the NomCom, and how these biases and barriers were 
> accounted for in the policy?
>
> I’m aware it’s a bit late to change the policy. However, it is 
> similarly a bit late to raise concerns about diversity only after the 
> policy and call for volunteers is announced, and then the call does 
> not result in a diverse group. Especially if the limited diversity is 
> then explained as “if only more people had offered to serve”.
>
> Sasha


Sasha,

it is a very straightforward comment. My best estimate of the number of 
eligible people is 380. As NomCom chair I made announcements, talked at 
the community plenary and I canvassed. We made a lot of noise with the 
help of the excellent NCC comms people. Quite a number of other people 
helped with all that too. My hope was for roughly 25% of those eligible 
volunteering. In the end less than 10% did. I had hoped for more 
volunteers and for a more diverse set of volunteers; hence my comment. 
It was certainly not my intention to blame anyone for anything, nor was 
it my intention to raise concerns.

As you know the discussion about the process took several years. I am 
happy it concluded eventually. A number of people worked quite hard to 
make that happen. This process was as open, transparent and inclusive as 
possible. The issue of NomCom eligibility was discussed several times. 
Yet no-one made workable suggestions in that particular area when the 
proposal was on the table for several months. In the end my perception 
of the sentiment was “This is good enough for the first round. We’ll 
be pragmatic if we hit snags and we will improve it for the next 
round.” After this first run is complete, the NomCom will produce a 
report listing issues and hopefully presenting alternatives to address 
those.

Working within the current procedure, if you wish and the NomCom agrees, 
you could become an advisor to the NomCom, both for the purpose of 
bringing more diversity and for helping with that final report. How’s 
that?

Daniel