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Celebrating 10 Years of APIGA: Nurturing Future Leaders in Internet Governance

The Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy (APIGA) has reached a significant milestone, celebrating ten outstanding years of cultivating the next generation of leaders in internet governance across the Asia-Pacific region. Since its inception in 2016, APIGA has empowered over 359 participants from 32 different economies, establishing a thriving network of future policymakers, technical experts, academics, and civil society leaders.

A Glorious Celebration in Busan

On July 24, 2026, amidst the dynamic backdrop of the 10th APIGA event in Busan, South Korea, the program commemorated its decade-long journey in a meaningful anniversary ceremony. Sally Costerton, Senior Vice President of Global Stakeholder Engagement at ICANN, highlighted the essential role that these future leaders will play in ensuring a secure, stable, and accessible Internet for all users.

"The Internet's future depends on the next generation of leaders who will help ensure it remains secure, stable, and accessible for everyone," Costerton remarked, emphasizing the significance of APIGA's mission.

The Heart of the Program

APIGA operates as an annual five-day workshop that focuses on various facets of internet governance and related topics. This program is co-hosted by renowned organizations, including the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Korea Internet Security Agency, along with regional entities such as the Asia Pacific Network Information Center, DotAsia, and the Internet Society. Each year, the curriculum provides participants with practical insights into the operations of the Internet and the fundamental principles of the consensus-building model that has been critical in shaping the global Internet landscape.

Empowering a Generation

A key feature of APIGA is its emphasis on practical learning and interaction, enabling participants to engage meaningfully in discussions concerning internet governance at local, regional, and global levels. The program has proven to be a catalyst for change, successfully equipping youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to make a lasting impact.

In 2024, recognizing the need for localized education, APIGA launched regional versions of its program, known as local APIGAs. Tailored to address community-specific concerns and delivered in local languages, these initiatives have quickly proliferated across ten economies, significantly amplifying opportunities for youth engagement and enhancing regional connections within the field of internet governance.

The Road Ahead

As APIGA embarks on its second decade, its mission remains steadfast: to prepare emerging leaders for the continued evolution of an open, secure, stable, and globally interoperable Internet. APIGA is an integral part of ICANN's broader commitment to fostering future Internet leaders, which also encompasses initiatives like NextGen@ICANN, designed to introduce university students and early-career professionals to ICANN Public Meetings and the multistakeholder model of internet governance.

In a world where digital interactions are paramount, organizations such as APIGA play a pivotal role in equipping youth with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of internet governance. For further details about APIGA and its initiatives, please visit www.apiga.asia.

About ICANN

ICANN exists to ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. Every time you want to connect with another person or access information online, it requires typing an address – a unique identifier that must be synchronized globally. Founded in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation, ICANN works with a diverse, global community to coordinate the systems of unique identifiers essential for Internet functionality.