[ripe-list] Discussion on financial support for RIPE Chair

I too am inclined towards a variant of option 3.

- option 1 to me is simply too much heavyweight structure for a single-
  person role.

- option 2 I feel is exclusionary to otherwise well-matched candidates,
  and places the role at risk of capture by employer vested interests.

On 02/20/18 06:25, Malcolm Hutty wrote:

> Before leaping to conclusions, it might be worth kicking around
> ideas for how the risks identified in Option 3 might be mitigated.

Indeed, there ought to be models that would uphold the RIPE Chair's
autonomy and policy/editorial independence while still being funded by
the RIPE NCC. This might involve funding via long-term grant/endowment
commitments rather than annual budget revenue stream-derived salary,
fixed-term appointment, and/or other arms-length approaches along
Malcolm's suggestions.

It's very possible other organisations (not necessarily in our sector)
have already figured out models for such arrangements, and it may be a
good idea to research these for appropriate approaches.

Keith



> I agree think the risk of loss of independence is a valid concern we 
> should be wary about. I wouldn't agree with someone who was casually 
> dismissive of this as an issue. But Option 3 doesn't *have* to be
> "the RIPE Chair is employed at will by, and under the direct
> instructions of, the NCC". With care and thought, I am confident we
> can do better than that.

> The terms of this contract could in principle be designed to protect
> his independence from the NCC, and accountability to the RIPE
> community. The Chair will himself have an interest defending those
> terms.
> 
> For example, perhaps the contract could provide that it may not be 
> terminated by the NCC unless and until some RIPE community process
> has removed the person as Chair [*]. That might still require us to
> be a bit more clear what the process in the RIPE community for
> removal of the Chair should be, but it moves the locus of work to be
> done back into the community.