Chafic Chaya

Based in United Arab Emirates

With over 24 years of experience in Internet and Telecom industry, Chafic Chaya joined RIPE NCC in 2014 as Regional Communications Manager for the Middle East region, supporting different stakeholders with capacity development and expertise related to Internet infrastructure and governance. He manages public policies and government affairs and serves as the primary liaison to external stakeholders to ensure productive engagement, capacity development and support for digital infrastructure in the Middle East region. He also leads the development and implementation of RIPE NCC academic initiatives and Certified Professionals in the region, bridging market needs and graduates. Awarded a Doctoral Degree in Business Administration from Staffordshire University in the UK; having previously obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Lebanon and Telecommunications Engineering from France.

Robert Allen

Based in Sweden

Rob has been working in the Internet industry for 20 years including almost a decade at the RIPE NCC. He holds degrees from Cambridge University and a PhD from the University of Amsterdam. He is currently working as a Product Marketing Manager at Netnod.

Gergana Petrova

Gergana Petrova is the Community Development Manager at RIPE NCC. She helps lead the RIPE NCC's engagement with a broad range of stakeholders, including the RIPE NCC membership, the RIPE community, government, academia, civil society and other Internet stakeholders. Gergana has been working for the RIPE NCC since 2013. Originally from Bulgaria, Gergana studied in Germany before relocating to the Netherlands. Gergana has a Masters in Business Research.

Geoff Huston

Geoff Huston AM is the Chief Scientist at APNIC, where he undertakes research on topics associated with Internet infrastructure, IP technologies, and address distribution policies. From 1995 to 2005, Geoff was the Chief Internet Scientist at Telstra, where he provided a leading role in the construction and further development of Telstra's Internet service offerings, both in Australia and as part of Telstra's global operations. Prior to Telstra, Mr Huston worked at the Australian National University, where he led the initial construction of the Internet in Australia in the late 1980s as the Technical Manager of the Australian Academic and Research Network. He has authored a number of books dealing with IP technology, as well as numerous papers and columns. He was a member of the Internet Architecture Board from 1999 until 2005 and served as its Executive Director from 2001 to 2005. He is an active member of the Internet Engineering Task Force, where he currently chairs two Working Groups. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Internet Society from 1992 until 2001 and served a term as Chair of the Board in 1999. He has served on the Board of the Public Internet Registry and also on the Executive Council of APNIC. He chaired the Internet Engineering and Planning Group from 1992 until 2005.

Gergana Petrova

Gergana Petrova is the Community Development Manager at RIPE NCC. She helps lead the RIPE NCC's engagement with a broad range of stakeholders, including the RIPE NCC membership, the RIPE community, government, academia, civil society and other Internet stakeholders. Gergana has been working for the RIPE NCC since 2013. Originally from Bulgaria, Gergana studied in Germany before relocating to the Netherlands. Gergana has a Masters in Business Research.