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    • About auIGF
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About auIGF

What is auIGF?

The Australian Internet Governance Forum (auIGF), formerly known as NetThing, is an annual event for the discussion of public policy issues pertaining to the internet in Australia. It is a multidisciplinary community, forged by the common will to increase understanding of Internet related issues but, most importantly, increase understanding of a diverse range of stakeholders’ views on these issues.


auIGF aims to provide a diverse and inclusive platform for the exploration of Australian technology policy issues, to mobilise Australians to collaborate on solutions, and to connect Australia to the regional and global Internet Governance Forums.


The auIGF is modelled on the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and is part of a global community of around 180 National & Regional IGF initiatives across the world.


Our Aim

At auIGF, our aim is to: 


  • build Australia’s internet community so that it includes a diversity of interests, experiences and views;
  • gather together that Australian multistakeholder community and hold interactive and participative Internet policy discussions;
  • have those policy conversations provide a foundation for robust and visionary government, industry and community decision making in Australia as well as giving Australia-based participants a strong basis for contributing to global policy making. 


How we're run

As a volunteer-run initiative, the auIGF relies entirely on the generous financial contributions of its sponsors and time of our hardworking community members.


The auIGF is an initiative of the Australian Internet community. It is housed within Internet Australia, and organised by a Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee (MSSC). The committee comprises individual volunteers and representatives from some key organisations in Australia’s Internet community, with secretariat support provided by the .au Domain Administration (auDA). 


We would like to acknowledge the contributions of the 2026 auIGF MSSC.


Chair:

  • Donna Austin


Individual Members:

  • Annaliese Williams (auDA) - Technical Community
  • Anne-Louise Brown (Akin Agency) - Private Sector
  • Caroline Greenway - User Community
  • Cheryl Langdon-Orr (Internet Australia) - Technical Community / Civil Society
  • Chris Buckridge - Technical Community
  • Christopher Hawker (Internet Australia) - Technical Community
  • Gabriel Nugen (APNIC) - Technical Community
  • Holly Raiche - Civil Society
  • Jelina Haines (Catalyst Now) - Academic Community
  • Joyce Chen (APNIC) - Technical Community
  • Keith Besgrove (ACCAN) - Civil Society
  • Melody Bendindang (APNIC) - Technical Community
  • Oshoke Sam Igonor (University of Tasmania) - Academic
  • Simon O'Toole (Dreming Machines)
  • Sophia Joo (Internet Association of Australia) - Technical Community
  • Susan Beetson (UQ) - Academia
  • Terry Sweetser (IEISI.ORG) - Private Sector
  • Alexar Pendashteh (Linux Victoria) - Technical Community


Organisational Members:

  • Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) - Technical Community
  • .au Domain Administration (auDA) - Technical Community / Secretariat
  • Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts - Government
  • Identity Digital Australia - Technical Community


What is Internet Governance?

Internet Governance refers to the development of shared principles, standards, and processes that support the Internet to operate seamlessly across the world. 


No single organisation or government controls the Internet. As it’s a global infrastructure, the rules, policies and standards that govern it are developed globally through a multistakeholder approach.  This means governments, technical experts, civil society, industry and other groups all contribute to discussions and decisions about the Internet develops.


Internet governance is a complex ecosystem, comprising many different organisations, each with a distinct role in helping the Internet to run smoothly.


If you’d like to know more about Internet governance, how it works and who is involved, the Internet Society has helpful resources:

  • Who Makes the Internet Work: The Internet Ecosystem - Internet Society
  • Why the Multistakeholder Approach Works - Internet Society
  • Internet Governance Online Course - Internet Society


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