APIGA Celebrates a Decade of Nurturing Future Internet Leaders in Asia-Pacific

Celebrating 10 Years of APIGA

On July 27, 2026, the Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy (APIGA) proudly commemorated its 10th anniversary. Since its inception in 2016, APIGA has played a crucial role in developing the next generation of internet leaders who are shaping the digital landscape across the Asia-Pacific region. Over the past decade, APIGA has enabled more than 359 participants from 32 countries to successfully complete its programs, fostering an ever-growing network of future policymakers, professionals, scholars, civil society representatives, and leaders in internet governance.

The milestone was highlighted during a special anniversary celebration held on July 24, 2026, in Busan, South Korea, coinciding with the 10th APIGA event. Sally Costerton, the Senior Vice President for Global Stakeholder Engagement at ICANN, spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of nurturing the next generation of leaders. She remarked, "The future of the internet relies on the next generation of leaders who will ensure it remains safe, stable, and accessible for everyone." This sentiment encapsulates APIGA’s vision of empowering young leaders with the knowledge and practical experience needed to make meaningful contributions to the global internet community.

APIGA is an annual five-day workshop focused on internet governance and related topics. It is a collaborative effort by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the Korea Internet Security Agency, and regional internet organizations such as the Asia Pacific Network Information Center, DotAsia, and the Internet Society. Through an interactive and hands-on curriculum, participants gain vital insights into the workings of the internet and the bottom-up consensus model that has significantly shaped its governance. The program is designed not only to educate but to empower participants to engage actively in discussions surrounding internet governance at the local, regional, and global levels.

Building on its success, APIGA expanded in 2024 by introducing local APIGAs, aimed at bringing internet governance education closer to communities throughout the region. These local initiatives follow the same immersive and practical learning approach, offering shorter programs tailored to local contexts and addressing regional themes. As of now, local APIGA groups have spread across ten economies, creating new opportunities for youth engagement and strengthening regional participation in internet governance.

As it embarks on its second decade, APIGA remains committed to preparing the upcoming generation of leaders to co-create an open, secure, and stable internet that is globally interoperable. APIGA is part of ICANN’s broader commitment to youth engagement initiatives aimed at cultivating future leaders for the internet. Included in these efforts is the “NextGen@ICANN” program, which introduces students and early-career professionals to ICANN’s public meetings and the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance.

For more details about APIGA, visit www.apiga.asia.

About ICANN

ICANN's mission is to support a stable, secure, and unified global internet. To connect with someone online, a unique address—either a name or a number—must be entered on a device. ICANN assists in coordinating and supporting these unique identifiers worldwide. Established in 1998 as a non-profit organization in the public interest, it has a diverse community of stakeholders from around the globe.