Barbara: "I am a mathematician. I guess this influences the way I see the world and the way I work. Despite the fact that logic is important to me, I am not a well-structured person. :)

Barbara: "It started gradually. First I became more involved in CENTR, and then I started to attend ICANN public meetings. But I have to admit: I struggled. ICANN seemed so complicated and I was reflecting on whether or not I belonged. I became a working group member of the ccNSO Meetings Programme Committee, to understand ICANN better. After I while I took on the role of MPC chair."

Barbara: "Yes, I do! The country code Name Supporting Organisation is where I belong. This is where ccTLDs from all over the world meet, share best practices, and learn from each other. And even small understaffed ccTLDs like ours benefit from this global cooperation. One of the things that I appreciated so much, was the pre-pandemic networking. It is a pity we have not been able to meet in person for such a long time."

Barbara: "I very much like the diversity within the MPC. We are a group of people from all over the world, with different backgrounds, cultures and points of view. Together we try to offer a programme that is relevant to ccTLD managers. There is no "one size fits all", and the MPC is the perfect example! That being said, my time and resources are limited, and I do not intend to continue in my role as MPC chair forever. I am hoping a new generation feels comfortable soon to take over the reins.

When I think about the ccNSO, I do appreciate that the ccNSO never judges. There is no right or wrong. I am however disappointed about the fact that within the ICANN environment, ccTLDs seems to be often overlooked. We all know ccTLDs are governed by local legislation and rules, but that does not mean that we are completely disconnected from the rest of the world. Legislative initiatives often impact gTLDs and ccTLDs alike, and efforts to interfere in that area should not negatively impact ccTLDs. ICANN is a multi-stakeholder organisation, and ccTLDs play a very important role. A closer collaboration between ICANN org and the Regional Organisations such as CENTR when it comes to legislative aspects would benefit all."

Barbara: "It's all about best practice sharing, and learning from each other. If I am struggling with a certain aspect that impacts my registry, the ccTLD News Session often offers valuable insights: what approaches did my colleagues adopt? Is my registry the only one struggling with X or Y? What are others doing differently, what are the similarities? And why is that good or bad? The ccTLD News Sessions are the perfect opportunity to hear the latest news from the global ccTLD community, and to share success stories. When putting together the programme of the ccTLD News Sessions, the MPC tries to have a truly global approach, and to make sure voices from the various regions are being heard."

Barbara: "With the ICANN public meetings being virtual only, the ccNSO consulted with the ccTLD community on how to plan for those meetings. ccTLDs preferred to have a shorted programme, with a limited number of sessions relevant to ccTLD managers. Organising the ccTLD News Sessions prior to the start of ICANN71 gives us more flexibility: we can organise sessions at different times, to address the timezone challenges ccTLD representatives have. Since people no longer need to travel to remote parts of the world, it is a perfect opportunity to invite more people to attend the sessions, even those that typically do not participate in ccNSO meetings. You do not need to register in advance to attend the ccTLD News Sessions and they are open to all interested. In case you missed out on something: recordings become available shortly after the meeting."

Barbara: "By focusing the 2 upcoming sessions on two very hot topics for ccTLD managers, the MPC hopes to offer an interesting programme that allows ccTLDs to hear the latest news from colleagues from all over the globe, and to share best practices. The MPC is proud that presenters from all different regions are represented in the ccTLD News Sessions.

On Wednesday, 26 May, the session will focus on the regulatory demands, related to security, that ccTLDs have to deal with. What are those demands and how do they impact ccTLD operations?

The session on Thursday, 27 May has DNS Abuse as a main topic. What categories of DNS Abuse do the ccTLDs identify? Which detection methods do they use? What type of enforcement methods - if any - did they adopt?"

Barbara: "I strongly encourage ccTLDs to attend the ccTLD News Sessions. If you cannot attend live, listen to the recordings. Let us know if you have suggestions on what to focus on next. Also, have a look at the ccNSO programme at ICANN71 on the ccNSO website, keep an eye out for the announcements by the ccNSO Secretariat, and join us at ICANN71!