Expected Qualifications and Responsibilities

11 June 2025

Service on ARIN’s Board of Trustees requires an understanding of ARIN’s role and its relevance to the ongoing smooth functioning of the Internet.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

As a member of the ARIN Board of Trustees, responsible for the following:

1. Guide ARIN’s strategic direction and Mission
2. Oversee ARIN’s Policy Development Process and ensure that policies developed adhere to the process
3. Be accountable to the ARIN membership
4. Approve objectives and evaluate the performance of the President & CEO
5. Develop and approve ARIN’s strategic plan, operating plan, and annual budget
6. Oversee ARIN’s operating and fiscal performance
7. Regularly attend and participate in Board meetings and committee meetings

Serving as a Trustee is a significant time commitment. Trustee workload varies from year to year; however, an overview of time required is as follows:

1. Attend Board meetings generally held as follows:
   • January in-person meeting (1.5 days)
   • April ARIN Public Policy and Members Meeting (2.5 days)
   • August in-person strategic planning session (2 days)
   • October ARIN Public Policy and Members Meeting (2 days)
   • Other teleconferences, as scheduled (1-2 hours)
2. Board Committee work, generally held by teleconference, varies based on workload
3. Approximately 1-2 hours a week for Board work preparation and reviewing/responding to Board correspondence
4. Represent ARIN at 1-2 other Regional Internet Registry meetings (optional)
5. Attend 1-2 ARIN on the Road (AOTR) meetings (optional)
6. Attend governance meetings such as those held by the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) (optional/where needed)
7. Attend Caribbean meetings such as those held by the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO) and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) (optional)

Trustees will also need to have the requisite skills and background to effectively guide the organization. The following sections define the expectations.

Background/Skills Required

To satisfy its fiduciary duties, board members require a range of capabilities.

Scope of Understanding

There needs to be a solid understanding of:

1. ARIN’s mission and role in the Internet ecosystem.
2. the duties and responsibilities of Trustees, including a demonstrated understanding of, and ability to fulfill, board fiduciary duties.

This foundational understanding will be valuable in the pursuit of our principles and purpose.

Experience

The Board expects complementary exposure to challenges similar to ARIN’s in a Trustee’s oversight role. This includes:

1. 3+ years of board-related experience
2. Demonstrated leadership experience
3. Relevant board experience, to include an understanding of and experience with board governance in the not-for-profit and/or for-profit sectors
4. Experience in related industry sectors, e.g. Internet or Telecommunications
5. Experience dealing with legal or risk management situations
6. Experience with strategic planning for an organization with ARIN’s scope and size
7. Experience with and understanding of the Board’s oversight role with respect to risk management
8. Track record of prudent professional financial management

Senior Executive Experience

Trustees must exhibit good judgment.

Abilities

In addition to an awareness of Board duties in the context of ARIN’s purpose, and the requisite experience mentioned previously, there must be an appropriate ability to:

1. understand risks, opportunities, and external and internal issues that may affect ARIN.
2. listen and be open to others’ perspectives.
3. ask pertinent questions to help foster mutual understanding.
4. synthesize and build consensus.
5. articulate a point of view with objective reasoning.
6. exhibit financial literacy.
7. demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills, strong computer skills, and handle multiple tasks coupled with strong organizational skills.

The prerequisites of understanding, experience, and ability are essential qualities of the Trustee role.

Background/Skills Preferred

It is also desirable that Trustees have:

1. Advanced understanding of Internet governance and operations
2. Past participation and engagement within the ARIN community
3. Diversity of experience that reflects key sectoral, demographic, and geographic perspectives of the community
4. Understanding of the major technologies ARIN deploys and/or oversees
5. Understanding of the Regional Internet Registry system
6. Strong professional experience/qualifications in one or more of the following areas:
   • Areas of law related to ARIN’s business
   • Business strategy
   • Cybersecurity
   • Human resources management
   • Information technology management
   • Finance, accounting, and audit experience
   • Investment management and performance oversight experience

The oversight role the ARIN Board performs is a serious obligation and this document ensures a clear definition of the expected Trustee backgrounds for each to participate effectively.

Conflict of Interest and Eligibility

Trustees have a fiduciary obligation to ARIN and thus should consider, prior to applying, any relationships (business or personal) that may give rise to significant conflicts of interest (such that the Trustee would not be able to regularly execute their duties).

The ARIN Board has adopted a formal Nomination and Appointment Conflict of Interest List that precludes serving as a Trustee while serving in certain capacities at other Internet-related organizations.

ARIN Trustees are expected to be able to travel to ARIN Public Policy and Members Meetings and ARIN Board Meetings which are held throughout the ARIN Service Region. The timing of and location of these meetings is generally published well in advance. ARIN Trustees may also be invited to travel to meetings that are held internationally.

ARIN Trustees are not required to be representatives of ARIN member organizations.

ARIN is incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Trustees must be eligible to serve under state and federal laws.