GNI Seeks New Independent Chair for Board of Directors

January 26, 2024  |  News

The Global Network Initiative (GNI), a growing alliance of information and communication technology (ICT) companies, human rights and press freedom groups, investors, and academic institutions from around the world, seeks a new independent chair for its Board of Directors. Current Independent Board Chair David Kaye has announced his intention to step down during the first quarter of 2024.

Background on GNI

GNI promotes respect for freedom of expression and privacy rights in the face of government demands to hand over user data, remove content or restrict communications and in the context of a constantly evolving geopolitical, technological, policy and regulatory landscape. Its membership presently includes 25 academics; 17 companies; 38 NGOs; and 10 investors.

Since GNI’s launch in 2008, its membership has been committed to the GNI Principles on Freedom of Expression & Privacy, which together with the more detailed Implementation Guidelines for companies, provide a framework for responsible business conduct in the ICT sector. This framework also serves as the basis for GNI’s unique assessment process. GNI’s accountability focus is complemented by its wide-ranging learning and policy initiatives as it deepens its impact among its participants and widens its influence with other stakeholders, especially governments and international institutions.

GNI has the potential to leverage these platforms to become even more influential in protecting and advancing freedom of expression and privacy. Meeting today’s global challenges to human rights depends on ongoing efforts to extend GNI’s reach to other companies across the sector as well as to new participants and stakeholders, especially in the Global Majority. Success also requires expanding GNI’s funding to strengthen its capacity and impact.

A highly dynamic and engaged GNI team is led by Executive Director Jason Pielemeier, while its Board of Directors is responsible for the strategic direction and fiduciary operations of the initiative. The Board is composed of ten representatives from companies, five from civil society organizations, three from the academic community, two from the investor community, an Independent Chair, and a Vice-Chair (the latter drawn from one of the non-company constituencies). Each board member also designates an alternate board member from within its organization or constituency.

Independent Chair Position Description

The Independent Chair will work closely with the GNI Board, Executive Director and staff, participants, and other stakeholders to strengthen GNI as a global force for freedom of expression and the right to privacy across the ICT sector.

Internally, the Independent Chair will guide the GNI Board’s discussions, deliberations and decisions while listening to and facilitating participation by all members. They will balance diverse constituencies and perspectives with the goal of forging consensus and encouraging action. The Chair should reflect and reinforce GNI’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, especially as the organization seeks to extend its reach to Majority World countries. The Chair will also play a critical role as the organization implements decisions taken during its recent strategic review.

Externally, the Independent Chair, together with the Executive Director, is the face and voice of GNI with governments, international institutions, and other stakeholders and audiences. The Chair will demonstrate a command of GNI’s issues and objectives related to freedom of expression and privacy rights in the ICT sector, in order to represent GNI effectively at select major public events and private meetings. The Chair, whatever their geographical background, will promote GNI’s diversity as they represent this increasingly global multistakeholder initiative. The Chair will also engage directly in high-level efforts to expand GNI’s funding base and to encourage new companies to become members.

The Independent Chair will be prepared through experience and expertise to fulfill these responsibilities and to apply these capabilities:

Responsibilities

• Guide governance of the Board consistent with the GNI Governance Charter and Board By-Laws;
• Chair meetings of the Board with the objectives of facilitating substantive discussion, reconciling different viewpoints, and reaching timely decisions based on consensus where possible;
• Balance the diverse perspectives of the different constituencies, organizations, and individuals on the Board and earn trust consistent with the multistakeholder composition and character of GNI;
• Uphold the GNI Principles of freedom of expression and the right to privacy in the ICT sector amidst the evolving global policy and technology landscape;
• Represent GNI and advocate its policy positions in public and private settings with governments and international institutions, companies, investors, civil society and academics, as well as members of the media;
• Support the inclusion of new participants across stakeholder groups with an emphasis on gaining global diversity and perspectives from Majority World countries;
• Reinforce development efforts to expand and diversify GNI’s funding from companies, foundations and governments in order to strengthen its capacity and impact;
• Help drive internal change and support the Executive Director and the staff’s implementation of recommendations adopted by the Board during its recent strategic review
• Lead other new initiatives, addressing challenges and opportunities in the organization’s second decade; and
• Work closely and collaboratively with the GNI Executive Director and staff.

Capabilities

• Proven leadership qualities and strategic vision for GNI’s future;
• Effective public speaking and communication skills in high-level public settings;
• Experience working with GNI’s stakeholder groups as well as government;
• Ability to listen and reconcile diverse perspectives to reach multistakeholder consensus;
• Sensitivity to multicultural diversity and global inclusion;
• Willingness to contribute to fundraising and organizational development;
• Credible expertise on issues of human rights, freedom of expression and the right to privacy issues in the ICT sector; and
• Familiarity with relevant standards and developments in the business and human rights arena.

Practical Considerations for the Role

• The expected time commitment varies according to several factors. The Independent Chair may expect to devote an average of five to ten hours weekly to the role. In the weeks leading to Board Meetings, that may expand to ten to fifteen hours. Moreover, the Independent Chair’s amenability to external representation – conference and webinar participation, for instance – may expand the time, depending on the Chair’s interest.
• The Independent Chair will serve for a three-year term, renewable for a second and final three-year term (for a maximum of six years).
• The GNI Board has typically met at least three times per year in person for one to two full days in different locations, with additional deliberations scheduled as necessary. This changed during the pandemic, facilitated by the rise of remote-meeting technology, and the next Board will consider reducing in-person meetings to twice annually. The Independent Chair (and Vice Chair) co-chair the Executive and Management Committee, which meets on an as-needed basis.
• All necessary travel-related expenses will be reimbursed. The role is currently not compensated but a reasonable honorarium may be possible in certain circumstances.
• GNI’s working language is English and other languages are useful.

GNI is actively considering candidates and anticipates selecting a finalist in April of 2024. If you are interested in being considered for this position, please contact [chairsearch] at globalnetworkinitiative.org.