Dear APNIC Community,
I hope this message finds you well. Over the course of my more than 10 years of involvement within the APNIC community, I have had the privilege of witnessing its evolution. Regrettably, the "APNIC Secretariat" has transformed into what I perceive as a stagnant and bureaucratic institution, burdened by surplus personnel.
It is my genuine concern that a significant portion ? potentially 50% or more ? of our member's financial contributions is being allocated to staff salaries, reflecting a substantial cost to our community. In recent years, the organization has undergone rapid staff expansion, appear to be more personal than beneficial to the APNIC community members.
While the staff numbers have grown, the value of their contributions has not necessarily followed suit. For example, ?there are about 25 people have a "manager" title, and the Human Resources department, with an inexplicable 6 or 7 staff members for a company of only 100+ staff (https://www.apnic.net/about-apnic/team/), raises questions about their daily activities and the necessity of such a sizable team. Similarly, the "Product" department's output (https://www.apnic.net/insights), with around 30 employees, appears to be of minimal value, and the services that are critical to our members are seemingly neglected.
This redundancy extends across all departments at APNIC, leading to a proliferation of lengthy and fruitless meetings, interdepartmental conflicts, and internal disputes. Consequently, a substantial portion of the membership fees is being diverted to salaries rather than serving the best interests of the community.
Another cause for concern is the substantial annual expenditure on travel expenses, often seemingly used for unofficial vacations masquerading as work-related travel. Even during the COVID pandemic, the impact on APNIC's operations due to travel restrictions was minimal, highlighting the unnecessary nature of a significant number of business trips. The biannual APNIC Conference, in particular, raises questions about its lavishness and the presence of unrelated personnel, with unclear accountability for associated costs.
Moreover, the annual spending on software and hardware equipment requires greater transparency to ensure our members' funds are used judiciously.
As someone deeply invested in the APNIC community, I feel a sense of injustice as the member fees continue to rise while these issues persist. With the upcoming EC elections, I implore nominees to prioritize the community's well-being, addressing the pressing matters outlined above.
Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to positive changes that will benefit us all.
Sincerely
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