Guide to Board of Trustees Session Types:

• Closed Executive Session: Board members and staff only.
• Open to Observers Session: local and remote attendees are welcome to listen in.
• Open Forum Session: local and remote attendees are welcome to ask questions, provide input, and discuss with the board. 

Note: there were no Open Forum Sessions scheduled for this meeting.

Trustees Present:
Ramanou Biaou
Brian Haberman
Maureen Hilyard
Russ Housley
Sharon Kent
Victor Kuarsingh
Barry Leiba
Charles Mok
Kathleen Moriarty
Caleb Ogundele
Brian Trammell
Sally Wentworth (ex officio, non-voting)
Sagarika Wickramasekera

Staff Present:
Katie Bengaard, Senior Vice President of Strategy, Internet Society (ISOC)
Yogesh Khanna, Managing Director, ISOC
Ilona Levine, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, ISOC
Chris Locke, Managing Director, ISOC Foundation
Sae Park, Chief Financial Officer, ISOC
Lauren Terrell, Director of Governance, ISOC

Open to Observers Session

1. Welcome, Apologies, and Declarations of Conflict – Sally Wentworth

Ms. Wentworth called the ISOC Foundation Board of Trustees meeting to order in Open to Observers Session on Sunday, 26 July 2026 at 9:12 UTC.

No conflicts were declared.

2. Annual Election of Board Chair – Sally Wentworth

Pursuant to the Internet Society Foundation Bylaws, Ms. Wentworth presided over the election of the Chair of the Board of Trustees.

In prior expressions of interest, Mr. Haberman and Mr. Mok indicated their ability and willingness to serve. Mr. Mok, after a brief statement, withdrew his candidacy.

The board convened in Closed Executive Session at 9:13 UTC to deliberate and resumed business in Open to Observers Session at 9:17 UTC.

With 9 votes in favor, Mr. Haberman was elected Chair of the Internet Society Foundation Board of Trustees for the 2026-2027 term. Mr. Haberman assumed the office of Chair and presided over the remainder of the meeting.

3. Annual Election of Board Officers – Brian Haberman

Election of Treasurer

In a prior expression of interest, Mr. Kuarsingh confirmed his interest in serving as Treasurer.

The board convened in Closed Executive Session at 9:22 UTC and, after deliberations, resumed business in Open to Observers Session at 9:25 UTC.

The board elected Mr. Kuarsingh as Treasurer with 9 votes in favor.

Election of Executive Committee Members

Mr. Haberman presided over the election of additional Executive Committee members. In prior expressions of interest, Ms. Moriarty and Mr. Ogundele confirmed their interest in serving.

The board convened in Closed Executive Session at 9:27 UTC to deliberate and resumed business in Open to Observers Session at 9:34 UTC.

With each candidate receiving more than the required minimum of 7 votes, the board elected Ms. Moriarty and Mr. Ogundele to serve as additional members of the Executive Committee.

4. Appointment of Committee Chairs and Members – Brian Haberman

Resolution F2026-X: Appoint Chairs and Members of Committees of the Foundation Board
RESOLVED, that the Internet Society Foundation Board of Trustees makes the following appointments to committees of the Board for the 2026-2027 term:

Audit Committee
Chair: Kathleen Moriarty
Members: Ramanou Biaou, Brian Haberman, Maureen Hilyard, Russ Housley, Barry Leiba, Charles Mok, and Sagarika Wickramasekera

Compensation Committee
Chair: Brian Haberman
Members: Ramanou Biaou, Russ Housley, Barry Leiba, Kathleen Moriarty, and Caleb Ogundele

Executive Committee
Chair: Brian Haberman
Members: Victor Kuarsingh, Kathleen Moriarty, and Caleb Ogundele
Non-Voting, Ex-Officio Member: CEO

Finance Committee
Chair: Victor Kuarsingh
Members: Sharon Kent, Caleb Ogundele, and Brian Trammell
Non-Voting, Ex-Officio Member: CEO

Strategic Advisory Committee
Chair: Caleb Ogundele
Members: Ramanou Biaou, Maureen Hilyard, Sharon Kent, and Charles Mok The resolution passed unanimously.

5. Foundation Update – Chris Locke

Mr. Locke presented an update on the Foundation’s activities and operations for the second quarter of 2026. He reported that 94% of the Foundation’s success measures were on track and that operations remained broadly within budget.

The Foundation trained more than 18,000 people against an annual target of 11,000, driven largely by participation in self-paced online learning. The Foundation also raised approximately $2 million, meeting its annual revenue target. Key contributions included €1 million from Germany for the Common Good Cyber Fund and $275,000 from Apple and Google for encryption-related work. Four new organizational members joined: Akamai, Netnod, Ukama, and IPinfo.

Mr. Locke noted that some grant programs received application volumes exceeding prior levels by more than 200%. He also reported that global volatility continued to complicate event planning and fundraising. Priorities for the second half of 2026 included redesigning the 2027 Fellowship Program, developing blended-finance partnerships for connectivity grantees, and expanding anti-scam initiatives into the Middle East and North Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Mr. Locke also provided an overview of the Common Good Cyber Fund (CGCF), a grantmaking program supporting nonprofit organizations. The program focuses on critical cybersecurity infrastructure, protection for high-risk users, and a safer Internet for vulnerable communities. The first open call had an application period from 23 June through 4 August 2026. More than 580 people attended the related information session. The program offered two-year grants ranging from $100,000 to $300,000, with priority given to organizations in Global Majority regions.

Donors to the CGCF included Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Global Affairs Canada, the Internet Society, and the Netherlands. Mr. Locke explained that the CGCF’s governance structure separates strategic oversight, expert review, and grant approval.

Closed Executive Session

The board convened in Closed Executive Session at 10:10 UTC, at which time the following topics were discussed.

6. Upcoming Changes to the Foundation Strategic Advisory Committee – Chris Locke

Mr. Locke presented an update on upcoming changes to the Foundation Strategic Advisory Committee.

The board recessed at 10:15 UTC and resumed business in Closed Executive Session at 11:34 UTC.

7. CFO’s Report – Sae Park

Ms. Park presented the CFO’s Report.

8. Finance Committee Report – Victor Kuarsingh

Mr. Kuarsingh presented the Finance Committee Report.

At 12:23 UTC, the board reconvened in Open to Observers Session.

Open to Observers Session

9. Adjournment – Brian Haberman

With no further business, Mr. Haberman adjourned the meeting at 12:23 UTC.