Fundraising and financial sustainability are critical challenges for any organisation. Once funding is secured, the challenge shifts: organisations must engage new donors or investors, scale operations, and adapt to project-based financing with agility and foresight. The establishment of the APNIC Foundation in 2016 and the Asia Pacific Internet Development Trust (APIDT) in 2020 addressed these challenges head-on, creating a long-term funding model to support Internet development across the Asia Pacific. APIDT — a landmark USD 400 million endowment — represents a generational investment in digital capacity, regional resilience, and inclusive growth.

I played a key role in shaping the cooperative frameworks that underpin both APNIC and its Foundation. This included navigating complex legal, governance, and diplomatic dimensions — aligning donor intent with operational independence, forging strategic partnerships, and ensuring transparent, accountable stewardship of funds. These efforts continue to support initiatives in technical training, policy development, community leadership, and multilateral collaboration across more than 56 economies.