The Internet Society Namibia Chapter was officially launched in November 2017 as a not-for-profit association with a mission to promote the development of policy of the Internet as a global technical infrastructure, a resource to enrich people’s lives, and a force for good in society.
The Internet Society Namibia Chapter membership is free for all and represent the extensive multistakeholders within the internet in the Namibia Ecosystem. It is independent and only serves along the interests of the internet policy and development.
It is governed by a board of Directors representing the different stakeholders of the Internet Ecosystem in Namibia.
THE INTERNET
What is the Internet?
While it may seem like a simple question, defining the Internet isn’t easy. Because unlike any other technology, the Internet can be whatever we make it. We can shape it. We can mold it. But most importantly, we can use it to connect people, communities, and countries around the world.
How it works
Unlike the telephone network, which for years in most countries was run by a single company, the global Internet consists of tens of thousands of interconnected networks run by service providers, individual companies, universities, governments, and others. Open standards enable this network of networks to communicate. This makes it possible for anyone to create content, offer services, and sell products without requiring permission from a central authority.
TO BECOME A MEMBER
OUR AIM
- to serve as a focal point for cooperative efforts to promote the internet as a positive tool for social development for all in Namibia
- to unite different internet players in Namibia
- to create awareness on issues related to the development of Internet in the Country
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES
OUR OFFICERS
Anna Amoomo
President/Chairperson
Josaphat Tjiho
Vice- President
Josaphat is a human rights and youth advocate on social and internet related issues with over five years experience.
He is one of the founding directors of Internet Society Namibia Chapter and chairperson of the Namibian Internet Governance Forum working group. His main focus is on digital inclusion, ICT policy and human rights issues.
To name but a few, Josaphat has represented Namibia and has been part of international events and summits on internet and human rights related issues such as the Africa Network Information Center (AFRINIC)-Mauritius, TechCamp-Zambia, Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa-Ghana as well as the Global Internet Governance Forum-Germany. Beside the internet society, Josaphat serves as a youth facilitator for the Media and Information Literacy Learning Initiative (MiLLi) and currently also serve on the working group on “Internet for Social Cohesion”.
Currently he also serves on the Board of the Namibia United States Alumni Association (NUSAA) as well as the Bethold Himumuine Primary School board. Josaphat is engaged in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) a United Nation mechanism where UN member states review other UN member states on issues of Human Rights. He is also the 2019 Mandela Washington Fellow.
Pahukeni Kangayi
Treasurer
Pahukeni is thrived by how Information Technology can be implemented in organizations and communities to bring about convenience and efficiency.
She holds a B.IT Business Computing from Namibia University of Science & Technology. She creates content over the internet through her blog https://ordinariwomen.blogspot.com/?m=1.
Feminism, Information and utilizing the Internet and Technological Tools are some domains she finds interesting and actively participants in. Furthermore, she is determined to lead the Internet Society Namibia Chapter with accountability and acceleration.
Frieda Lukas
Secretary/Coordinator
Frieda is certain that her passion lays significantly in providing sustainable solutions for challenges in the ICT for Development and Public Policy fields.
She holds a Bachelor of Communication Honours Degree and a Bachelor Degree in Journalism and Communication Technology from the Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST).
She is purposefully immersed in transformation and breaking barriers- both personal and professional. Frieda has a passion for online protection , internet governance and is keen on public policies in the ICT sector.
Frieda has represented Namibia internationally on different programs such as: AFRINIC Fellow during the 2018 Africa Internet Summit (Dakar-Senegal) and the first Africa Geospatial Data and Internet Governance conference held in Accra-Ghana in 2019.
She enjoys working with the youth. Frieda mentored about 5 youth across the globe in youth engagement in the internet governance space with Digital Grassroots in 2018 and 2019.
OUR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Outreach & Publicity Committee Convener
Chapter Development Committee Convener
Technology Committee Convener
ICT Policy Committee Convener
Logistics Committee Convener
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alisa Amupolo
Alisa Amupolo is a business leader in communications industry with a goal to unearth innovative ways to make connections easier and more sustainable through robust ICT infrastructures. In March 2016, she became the CEO of PowerCom, a 100% subsidiary of Telecom Namibia, which provides telecommunications towers, rooftops and 3rd party colocations services to a range of clients. As the company’s CEO, Alisa’s responsibilities include overseeing a team of young, dynamic and vibrant personnel; developing and implement the strategy to ensure sustainability, motivating the team to reach their goals and targets; and implementing the board’s strategic resolutions and most importantly driving the organizational performance culture.
Prof Anicia Peters
Prof Anicia Peters is the Pro Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation & Development ). She completed her PhD and MSc degrees in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) at the Virtual Reality Applications Centre (VRAC) at Iowa State University in the USA. Her undergraduate degrees are from the Polytechnic of Namibia. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Oregon State University. In 2012, she was awarded as a Google Anita Borg Scholar in the United States in addition to several accolades in Namibia and the USA. She has extensive tech work experience in industry, government and academia both in Namibia and the USA. Anicia was featured in Namibia’s Who’s Who for 2017. She is honoured as one of 10 African Women in Technology Rolemodels across Africa.
Gabriel Nhinda
Gabriel Tuhafeni Nhinda, is an academic that has interests in the technology space. His specific interests being cybersecurity, user experience design as applied to digital inclusion initiatives and general ICT policy. He brings more than 10 years experience in the ICT sector. Gabriel holds a Master of Science from the University of Mannheim, a Bachelor of Information Technology from the Polytechnic of Namibia (now Namibia University of Science and Technology). Gabriel also serves as the Namibia Chapter representative to the Internet Society Chapter Advisory Council as well as vice convener of the Technology committee within out Chapter.
Leonard Iimene
Leonard Imene is a member of ISOC Namibia Chapter and a coordinator of the NBII Mobile Lab, which serves as a hub for research, knowledge and innovation within technology space and mobile applications in Namibia. Events hosted at the NBII Mobile Lab includes programming competitions (hackathons), software development trainings, mobile applications development projects and other related peer learning and networking events. The stakeholders include IT students, IT professionals from industry, civil society, government and academia. The initiative grew from an average of 5 members in 2013 to a current 600+ members, of which 38% are women. More than 120 mobile application prototypes have been developed by local youths through the NBII Mobile Lab in collaboration with local and international partners and sponsors. Leonard’s strength is in project and co-creation space management.
Paul Rowney
Paul Rowney is social entrepreneur with over 30 years’ experience of ICTs. Throughout his career Paul has shown innovation and thought leadership and is now specialising in digital and financial inclusion. Paul’s work experience includes a decade with the United Nations and over 20 years in the private sector.
In his personal capacity Paul is a founding director of the MyDigitalBridge foundation, an Namibian not for profit organisation that implemented Africa’s largest TV White Space trial in 2014, a founding director of the ICT Professionals Association of Namibia, advisory council member to the Alliance 4 Affordable Internet (www.a4ai.org), board member of the Africa ICT Alliance (www.aficata.org), board member of the ISOC Namibia chapter, and represents the Africa ICT Alliance on the UN Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group on Internet Governance.
Lamech Amugongo
Karin Amukugo
Isack Hamata