GLIF to merge with GNA Tech
15 May 2019 -- Important Announcement concerning the future of GLIF
The GLIF leadership believes the future of GLIF is best served through a merger with the GNA Tech initiative which has similar and complementary goals, and proposes that a new entity called Global Network Advancement Group (GNA-G) is formed with effect from 1 July 2019.
The GNA-G will be open to participation from all, and there will be a kickoff meeting on Thursday, 20 June 2019 in Tallinn, Estonia immediately following TNC2019. This will be an opportunity to discuss and define the activities of the new entity, and to seek volunteers who can lead the proposed activity areas, in particular how the Global Research and Education Network (GREN) can be delivered.
The initial chairs of GNA-G are proposed to be Erik-Jan Bos (NORDUnet), Dale Finkelson (Internet2) and David Wilde (AARNet), with Jim Ghadbane (currently GLIF Co-Chair) assuming the role of Executive Liaison with the NREN leaders. The aim is to have limited terms of office for these positions, with one chair stepping down each year to be replaced by a new person selected by the GNA-G community.
It is expected that the administrative functions and meeting hosting will be supporting by willing GNA-G participants, although the GLIF Secretariat will continue for a few more months to support the transition and the organisation of the Global Research Platform Workshop in September 2019. The previous sponsorship model will therefore no longer be needed, and any remaining GLIF funds (currently held by the GEANT Association) will be made available for use by GNA-G.
It is also proposed that the GLIF name be retired from 1 July 2019, although all the resources on the current GLIF website will be maintained on a new website that will be created for GNA-G.
If you have any input or comments on this planned course action, please send them to the GLIF mailing list all@glif.is.
Kevin Meynell, GLIF Executive Secretary