Minutes of a Meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)
Held Virtually on September 19, 2024
Attendance:
Board of Directors: Liza Aboud, Colleen Arnold, Gwen Beauchemin (Vice-Chair), Don Bowman, Graeme Bunton, Matthew Gamble, Jill Kowalchuk (Chair), Samantha Ventresca, Rob Villeneuve, Michael Zahra
Board Advisors: Byron Holland, John Demco
Corporate Secretary: Brigitte LeBlanc-Lapointe
Regrets: Anne Butler, Eric Hill
Guests: Sanita Alias, Adam Eisner, Jon Ferguson, Jane Fulford, Charles Noir, Paula Panetta, Deanna Young
1. Call to Order & Approval of Agenda
The meeting was called to order by the Vice-Chair at 1:37pm ET on September 19, 2024.
IT WAS MOVED by Liza Aboud and SECONDED by Rob Villeneuve that the agenda be approved as presented.
Motion passed unanimously.
1.2 Conflict of Interest Disclosure
There were no conflicts of interest declared in relation to the meeting items.
2. Approval of Minutes
IT WAS MOVED by Colleen Arnold and SECONDED by Graeme Bunton that the minutes of the meetings on July 24, 2024 and August 6, 2024 be approved as presented.
Motion passed unanimously
(with M. Gamble abstaining in
respect of the July 24, 2024 minutes).
3. CIPAC Terms of Reference
IT WAS MOVED by Liza Aboud and SECONDED by Michael Zahra that the draft Community Investment, Policy and Advocacy Committee Terms of Reference, as recommended by the Governance Committee, be approved as presented.
Motion passed unanimously.
J. Kowalchuk joined the meeting and resumed the role of Chair.
4. FY26-28 Strategic Plan
Building on the strategic planning work undertaken by Staff and the Board, the Vice-Chair noted that the Strategic Planning Advisory Group had met multiple times and was supportive of the draft FY26-28 strategic plan being tabled.
The Chief Executive Officer thanked Staff and the Strategic Planning Advisory Group for the work on the draft FY26-28 strategic plan (the “Strategic Plan”). He noted that the Strategic Plan represents an evolution of CIRA’s last strategic plan, building on investments made over the past several years in the cyber, community investment (now known as Net Good), and policy and advocacy spaces, together with a renewed focus on promoting .CA in new market segments and opportunities for CIRA to further strengthen its position in registry services by leveraging the momentum from its partnership with SIDN. The Strategic Plan will guide CIRA through its next growth phase with a view of ensuring its continued success.
There was lengthy discussion and questions from the Board in respect of the Strategic Plan on matters such as staffing, Net Good efforts, the interplay between the Strategic Plan and annual budget, risk to CIRA, cybersecurity solutions, growth targets and the general evolution of the plan based on the Strategic Planning Advisory Group’s contributions.
IT WAS MOVED BY Micheal Zahra and SECONDED by Gwen Beauchemin that CIRA’s draft FY26-28 Strategic Plan be approved as presented.
Motion carried
(D. Bowman opposed)
A. Eisner, J. Ferguson, C. Noir, P. Panetta & D. Young withdrew from the meeting.
5. In camera session
The board held an in-camera discussion.
L. Aboud withdrew from the meeting.
B. Holland withdrew from the meeting.
6. In camera session (Directors only)
The board held an in-camera discussion.
7. Conclusion of Meeting
IT WAS MOVED by Samantha Ventresca and SECONDED by Rob Villeneuve that the meeting of the Board be concluded.
Motion passed unanimously.
The Chair concluded the meeting at 3:25 pm ET.
