The IANA Stewardship Transition marked a historic moment in Internet governance—it was about securing the stewardship of the critical functions that make the Internet work safely and reliably at a global scale. These functions, central to the coordination of domain names, IP addresses, and protocol parameters, had historically been overseen by the U.S. Government. But from the early days of Internet privatization, there was a vision to transition this responsibility to a more international technical community.

This process shaped much of my professional trajectory across different continents and over 16 years. I first engaged in these discussions as part of the Mexican government’s delegation during the initial debates on Internet governance and the role of public authorities. Later, from ICANN’s Washington, D.C. office, I was directly involved in negotiating successive contracts and accountability frameworks with the U.S. Government—laying the groundwork for the eventual transition.

The final phase required not just diplomacy, but deep coordination with Internet technical communities. While at APNIC, I led regional mobilisation efforts across Asia-Pacific, ensuring that local voices shaped the global plan. This culminated in 2016 with the successful transition of IANA oversight to a global community-based structure—preserving the open, interoperable nature of the Internet.

From intergovernmental negotiations to regional engagement and institutional reform, my role in the IANA Transition reflects a sustained commitment to building inclusive, stable, and cooperative models of Internet governance.