Bikram Shrestha

Nominee details

Title: Mr.
Name: Bikram Shrestha
Position: President
Organization: Nepal Internet Foundation; Watch nominee video

Bikram-Shrestha

Biographical info

Education/qualifications

1. Academic Background:

Master of Business Studies (MBS)
Institution: Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Year of Graduation: 2004
Thesis: e-Commerce in Commercial Bank of Nepal

2. Specialized Training & Certifications:

Internet Governance and Policy Development (various npIGF, APNIC, APrIGF, IGF & ICANN programs)
Cybersecurity awareness and capacity building workshops (regional and global)
Leadership and community development programs in ICT and Internet.

3. Professional Qualifications and Certifications:

3rd Global Conference of Maipu at Chengdu 2008, China.
6th Mobile Commerce Summit ASIA 2013 at Clarke Quay, Singapore
VISA Security Summit, Asia Pacific 2016 at Phuket, Bangkok
Mastercard Payments Summit 2019, Innovation NXT, 4-5 Sept 2019, New Delhi.
Asian Chapters Workshop and INET at Colombo, Sri-Lanka, 2011
Chapter Workshop & Conference: Meeting at the Crossroads: Imagining the Future Internet, GlobalINET 2012 at Geneva, Switzerland.
ICANN45 International Public Meeting at Toronto, Canada
ICANN46 Meeting at Beijing, China.
ICANN48 International Public Meeting, at Buenos Aires, Argentina as a fellow, Mentor
ICANN50 International Public Meeting, at London, UK.
ICANN54 International Public Meeting, at Dublin, Ireland, as fellow, Alumni
ICANN57 AGM Public Meeting, at Hyderabad, India as APRALO Member
ICANN58 Community Forum, Public Meeting, at Copenhagen, Denmark as a fellow, Coach.
ICANN60 Annual General Meeting, at Abu Dhabi, UAE
ICANN62 Policy Forum, Public Meeting, at Panama City, Panama.
ICANN66 Annual General Meeting, at Montréal and The North American School of Internet Governance from Nov 1-2, 2019.
Expert Group Meeting by UN on “The Future of Digital Government for Sustainable Development in LDCs, SIDs and LLDCS” at Incheon Korea, 2019.
ICANN75 Annual General Meeting at Kuala Lumpur from September 17 to 22, 2022

Experience and involvement in APNIC activities

I have been an active participant and contributor to operators, regulators, R&E Network, ccTLD, SANOG, APSIG, APrIGF, APNIC, APRICOT, ISOC, and ICANN meetings and conferences for over a decade; I am currently serving as co-chair of the Cooperation SIG. Over the past several years, I have consistently supported and contributed to the APNIC conference from APNIC45 to APNIC59 till today, and I am going to participate in APNIC 60 Da Nang, and this is the 16th meeting I am attending.

I have also been involved in national and regional Internet Governance Forums (IGF, APrIGF, and NepalIGF) and have actively promoted capacity building and newcomer engagement in the APNIC community, ensuring that voices from developing economies like Nepal and South Asia are represented. I have consistently engaged in Policy SIG sessions and the policy development process, providing perspectives from Nepal and the South Asian region and supporting discussions on Internet number resource management, IPv6 deployment, and Internet governance.

As the founder and president of Nepal Internet Foundation, past president of the ISOC Nepal Chapter, vice chair of NepalIGF, and president of the Lions Club of Cyber World, I bring a wealth of experience to this role. Advisor to the biggest ICT award in Nepal and keynote speaker in the APAC community network exchanges program. Professionally, I am Head of Retail Deposit/Priority Banking and the formal information security officer, digital banking head at Sanima Bank. My involvement in Cooperation SIG allows me to leverage my expertise, local, regional, and global networks, and energy to further the SIG's objectives. I bring over a decade of professional experience in policy advocacy, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and financial technology. I have worked at the intersection of technical, governmental, and civil society communities, fostering collaboration and inclusive participation in Internet-related policy development.

My experience spans working with diverse stakeholders, including the private sector, government, civil society, international organizations, and academia. This broad perspective uniquely positions me to elevate the Policy SIG to new heights. I believe that my balance of technical, managerial, and leadership skills, along with my deep experience and understanding of the challenges faced by the SIG, enables me to approach these issues holistically. My involvement in community building, policy discussions, and multi-stakeholder engagement will enable me to facilitate balanced, transparent, and consensus-based Policy SIG sessions. I am committed to strengthening SIG as a platform where diverse views can shape practical and effective Internet policies that benefit the entire Asia Pacific Internet community.

Nominee statement

I have been involved with the Internet industry since 1999, started a startup ISP in my native place Hetauda, and actively participated with the community in various roles and responsibilities. Currently co-chair of Cooperation SIG APNIC, I have been participating from APNIC 45 and ICANN 45 onwards as a voluntary contribution for more than 15 years in number resource policy and domain name policy at APNIC and ICANN. I am familiar with the bottom-up approach to the global policy-making process at ICANN as the formal vice chair of NPOC-ICANN, which I have been engaged in for several years. It is a great honor to be nominated for the position of Policy SIG Chair at APNIC 60. "Think Global, Act Local" has always been my guiding principle. I have been actively involved in enhancing Internet governance, digital inclusion, and technical community development in Nepal and throughout the Asia Pacific region.

I am committed to continuing this approach, ensuring that we bridge global insights with local actions to enhance the policy development process (PDP), awareness, and capacity-building efforts within the SIG. I have observed that while many of the challenges facing the Internet are universal, their impacts are often more pronounced in underdeveloped and developing regions. I believe my experience and deep understanding of these challenges can help Policy SIG work more effectively with in the APNIC community, Together, we can develop and guide policymakers and decision-makers towards realizing the immense value of an open and accessible Internet for all.

I bring a unique blend of community leadership and professional management experience. I have been actively involved in APNIC and APRICOT, where I participated in Policy SIG sessions. I had the opportunity to lead and host regional and national Internet governance forums (NepalIGF and APrIGF) in Nepal and advocate for the active participation of youth, civil society, and underrepresented economies.

If elected as Policy SIG Chair, I will focus on:

Facilitating open and transparent policy discussions that ensure equal opportunities for all community members.
Encouraging greater participation from developing economies and new contributors to strengthen inclusivity.
Bridging multi- stakeholders including operators, policymakers, regulators, and civil society to build consensus and practical policy outcomes.
Promoting capacity building and knowledge sharing so that emerging communities can meaningfully contribute to the APNIC Policy Development Process (PDP).

I believe that the Policy SIG is at the heart of APNIC’s mission to support an open, stable, secure, and accessible Internet. With your trust and support, I will work to make the SIG an even more inclusive and collaborative platform for shaping the future of Internet policies in our region.

Nominated by

Name

INTERNET EXCHANGE NEPAL (NPIX)

Reason for nomination

Mr. Bikram Shrestha’s extensive ICT background and skills position him exceptionally well for the role of Policy SIG-Chair for APNIC, a role that requires deep knowledge and understanding of ICT policy, regulator law and circular requirements, digital awareness, capacity building, and regional cooperation. In the days to come, Bikram's main motto as chair will be "Think Global, Act Local." Shrestha will continue to contribute a unique perspective from local, regional, and global perspectives, enhancing policy and SIG diversity in all aspects related to the distribution of Internet technical and non-technical law and policies, awareness and capacity building, and Internet challenges and opportunities.

Mr. Shrestha, with more than 25+ years of experience in the ICT industry, has a strong foundation in internet technology and digital networking. His leadership in policy advocacy and capacity building has been evident in his roles as president of Nepal Internet Foundation, Lions Club of Kathmandu Cyber World, and head of retail deposit and priority banking at Sanima Bank Ltd. He has also led the first Nepal IGF and npSIG, demonstrating his ability to lead complex initiatives. Shrestha's extensive network of national, regional, and global organizations, including CAN Federation, npNOG, SANOG, APRALO, APSIG, APrIGF, APRICOT, Internet Society, ICANN, and Global IGF, fosters regional cooperation and understanding. His creative and innovative approach, rooted in music and arts, is valuable for problem-solving and fostering innovative thinking. His commitment to inclusion and development is evident in his jury and advisory member roles.

Shrestha’s comprehensive experience, coupled with his strategic and innovative approach, makes him a strong candidate to contribute effectively as a Policy SIG-Chair. His background ensures that he brings a balanced perspective, essential for driving the Policy SIG’s objectives forward and fostering a collaborative environment within the APNIC and ICT community. We believe he will facilitate transparent, inclusive, and consensus-driven policy discussions that reflect the needs of diverse stakeholders across the Asia Pacific region.

Internet Exchange Nepal fully supports his candidacy and strongly endorses him to serve the community as Policy SIG Chair.

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