Program
Kenya DNS Forum
KENIC, the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for .ke, will host the Kenya DNS Forum on 4 October 2022, Kenya’s National Domain Name System (DNS) Day, at Emara Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi. The Kenya DNS Forum is an open event for stakeholders in the domain name industry. The event will bring together representatives from the information and communications technologies (ICT)/DNS sectors, local and international policymakers, global registries for ccTLDs, domain name registrars, and registrants to discuss the growth of the DNS ecosystem and its impact on technology. The theme for this year’s DNS Forum is cybersecurity.
Click here for the agenda of Kenya DNS Forum.
| TIME | PROGRAM | SPEAKERS |
| 7.30 am – 8.30 am | Opening Ceremony The Opening Ceremony will feature an address by representatives from the partner organizations that form the Africa DNS Forum. The session will be led by the local host and will culminate in the official opening of the forum. |
Opening Ceremony Master of Ceremony: Speakers: Official Opening: |
| 9.45 am – 10.00 am |
Keynote The keynote will address the role of various stakeholders in the DNS ecosystem in Africa and highlight their potential contributions, as well as propose ideas on how to diversify the ecosystem. |
Promoting a Diverse DNS Ecosystem in Africa Lucky Masilela, Chief Executive Officer, Registry Africa |
| 10.00 am – 10.30 am | Break | |
| 10.30 am –11.50 am |
Session 1 This panel of pioneers will provide institutional and personal perspectives on the journey of the Africa DNS Forum through the years. The panelists will look at the early days of the forum, successes, failures over the 10 years, and areas for improvement. |
Reflections on the Africa Domain Name System Forum Over the Past 10 Years Moderator: Molehe Wesi, Chief Executive Officer, .za Domain Name Authority Kevin Chege, Director, Internet Development Internet Society |
| 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM |
Session 2 This session will provide insight and perspective on the readiness of the African DNS marketplace and industry to benefit from emerging technological, business, and marketing trends. |
Emerging Issues in the African DNS Landscape Moderator: Biyi Oladipo, Vice Chairman, country code Name Supporting Organization Neil Dundas, Chief Executive Officer, DNS Africa | Technical trends Session 1 and 2 Audio Recording – EN |
| 1.00 PM – 2 PM | Lunch Break | |
| 2.00 PM – 3.00 PM |
Session 3 This panel will provide insight on the prevailing legal, regulatory, privacy, and human rights issues, as well as the registrant rights and responsibilities in relation to domain names in Africa as compared to rest of the world. |
Policy and Regulatory Updates Moderator: Dr. Paulos Nyirenda, CEO, Malawi Network Information Centre Oluniyi Ajao, Managing Director, Web4Afrika | Legal Updates |
| 3.00 PM – 4.00 PM |
Showcases The session will share experiences and best practices from various national- and regional-level initiatives worth learning from. |
National and Regional Showcases Moderator: Yaovi Atohoun, Stakeholder Engagement and Operations Director, ICANN Andreia De Brito, .PT Legal Advisor, LUSNIC Session 3 and Showcase Audio Recording – EN |
| Coffee Break | ||
| Gala Dinner Special 10-Year Anniversary Celebration | ||
| TIME | PROGRAM | SPEAKERS |
| 9.00 am – 10.00 am |
Session 1 This panel will explore and highlight the existing challenges facing cross-border transactions in Africa, especially the DNS industry, and also propose potential remedies that could support a more efficient cross-border DNS business– from both a business-to-business and busines-to consumer perspective. |
The Financial Sector in Africa and Its Impact on the Domain Name System Moderator: Bob Ochieng, Stakeholder Engagement Senior Manager, ICANN Igor Ciza, CEO, Afriregister / Cross Border Registrar |
| 10.00 am – 10.30 am | Break | |
| 10.30 am –11.50 am |
Session 2 This session will explore Africa’s youth involvement in the DNS. It has always been said that more than 65% of the African population is youth. To what extent are they participating in the DNS Industry? What has been their experience? What else can be done and by whom to ensure the DNS industry can fully leverage the youth potential? |
Youth and the DNS Moderator: Grace Ingabire, Chief Executive Officer, RICTA Molehe Wesi, Chief Executive Officer, ZA Domain Name Authority (ZADNA) Jasper Mangwana, President, Internet Society Zimbabwe Chapter Rose Gohue, Benin Women DNS Academy |
| 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM |
Session 3 This session will explore emerging trends in so far as innovation of the DNS is concerned within the African Continent and beyond. |
Promoting Innovation in the DNS Ecosystem in Africa Moderator: Simon Balthazar, Principal ICT Officer, Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority Yazid Akanho, Technical Engagement Senior Specialist, ICANN | African ccTLDs name servers resilience Eduardo Alvarez, Director, Technical Services Operations, ICANN | EAI Survey Tool – a tool for ccTLDs to measure UA-readiness Mark Elkins, Chief Executive Officer, POSIX Systems |
| 1.00 PM – 2.00 PM | Lunch Break | |
| 2.00 PM – 3.00 PM |
Afternoon Session 1 This session will look at the Africa DNS Forum’s future outlook. After 10 years of the DNS Forum, what is our expectation for the next 10 years? What business and technical plans, adjustments, and policies should the industry plan for? Where do you want to be 10 years from now? |
Looking into the Future Moderator: Adiel Akplogan, Vice President of Technical Engagement, ICANN Rosemary Koech Kimwatu, Board Member, KeNIC | Legal and Regulatory Perspective Lucky Masilela, Chief Executive Officer, the .za Central Registry (ZACR) | Business Perspective Alan Barret, Board of Directors, ICANN |
| 3.00 PM – 4.00 PM |
Closing Session During the closing session, the host for the next forum will be formally announced. This will be the final session that will provide an opportunity to appreciate the local host and other players who made this year’s forum a success. |
Closing Session Moderator: Joel Karubiu, Chief Executive Officer, KeNIC Ali Hadji Mmadi, President, AfTLD Mouhamed Diop, Chaiman, AfRegistrar Pierre Dandjinou, Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement, ICANN |