Jia Rong Low becomes APNIC’s new director general

Jia Rong Low becomes APNIC’s new director general is profiled by BTW Media because published evidence links it to internet infrastructure, governance, operational dependencies, or market visibility.

• Jia Rong Low has been appointed as the new director general of APNIC, effective October 2024, bringing with him experience from his time at ICANN.
• The APNIC Executive Council appointed him for his collaborative approach and regional and global Internet experience, whic h they say will be instrumental in addressing the community’s challenges and advancing APNIC’s mission.

OUR TAKE
Jia Rong Low, formerly vice president and managing director of ICANN’s Asia Pacific office, has been named as the next director general of APNIC, set to assume his role in October 2024. He takes over from Paul Wilson who resigned from the role after 25 years. Wilson was acclaimed as being a major influence in the development of the internet in the APAC region, but was also criticised for running the Registry as a one-man show. Low will have to avoid the missteps made by Wilson if his role is to be a smooth one.
-Rae Li, BTW reporter

Also read: What is APNIC? Inside the backbone of Asia’s internet

What happened

Jia Rong Low, after an 11-year tenure at ICANN, has been selected as the incoming director general of APNIC, the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre, effective October 2024. His leadership experience, particularly as the vice president and managing director of ICANN’s Asia Pacific office, was cited as allowing him to guide APNIC through its future challenges. Jia Rong’s tenure at ICANN is marked by significant contributions to the Asia Pacific Internet community, the establishment of key partnerships with stakeholders, government bodies, and regional institutions, and his service on the Public Technical Identifiers (PTI) Board of Directors.

The APNIC Executive Council has expressed confidence in Jia Rong’s ability to lead the organisation, citing his deep involvement in regional and global Internet initiatives, collaborative leadership style, and commitment to inclusivity as essential qualities for addressing the complex issues facing the Internet community. Jia Rong will officially join APNIC at APNIC 58 in Wellington, New Zealand where he will engage with the community before officially starting his role in October.

Also read: What to understand about APNIC IPv6 addresses?

Also read: Paul Wilson resigns as Director General of APNIC

Why it’s important

Jia Rong Low’s appointment as director general of APNIC is significant because it brings a new face to the organisation after previous incumbent Paul Wilson’s resignation. Low’s time at ICANN, where he was deeply involved in Internet governance and policy-making, along with his service on the PTI Board of Directors, has equipped him with the expertise to tackle the complex challenges facing the Internet community in the Asia Pacific region. His track record of fostering partnerships and promoting a stable, open, and secure Internet aligns with APNIC’s mission to support the development of the Internet in the region.

The transition is also important because it will hopefully bring continuity and stability for APNIC, after 25 years of rule from a single incumbent, Paul Wilson. Wilson resigned amid accusations of bullying behaviour and running the Registry ‘like a dictatorship’. Jia Rong’s experience and dedication to inclusivity ensure that APNIC will hopefully serve its diverse membership effectively.