ICANN - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
ICANN - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
05/28/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/28/2026 09:49
ICANN Announces the Passing of Board Member Alan Barrett
It is with great sadness that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announces that Alan Barrett, member of the ICANN Board of Directors, passed away on 28 May 2026 following a diagnosis of late-stage cancer.
Barrett was a longtime member of the Internet governance community, beginning in the early 1990's when he was involved in setting up the first Internet connection for South African universities. He is credited with creating co.za zone, and was instrumental in the formation of the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC), the Regional Internet Registry for Africa, and was later appointed CEO of AFRINIC, serving in that role from 2015 to 2019.
"We are profoundly saddened by Alan's passing," said Tripti Sinha, ICANN Board Chair. "Alan contributed wisdom, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to our mission in all our discussions. We are grateful for his extraordinary service and friendship, and he will be greatly missed."
Barrett was selected to represent the Address Supporting Organization on the ICANN Board in 2021 and again in 2024. Most recently, he served as Co-Chair on the Board Caucus for the New Generic Top-Level Domains Program 2026 Round.
ICANN extends its deepest condolences to Alan's wife Kerry, his family, and many friends around the world.
An online memorial will be planned. In the meantime, Alan's family requests privacy during this difficult time.
About ICANN
ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address - a name or a number - into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.
ICANN - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers published this content on May 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 28, 2026 at 15:49 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]