PDP Co-chair Selection

PDP Co-chair Selection 2026 - Candidate Slate

Candidate Profile	Biography & Strategic Vision
Haitham El-Nakhal Egypt Senior Expert, National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA)	Haitham El-Nakhal is a distinguished senior telecommunications expert, Internet governance leader, and systems engineer with over 20 years of professional experience driving digital infrastructure development, Internet resources policy, and open networking initiatives in Egypt and the wider African region. He is widely recognized for his leadership in national Internet exchange points, IPv6 transitions, and regulatory framework design. Currently, Mr. El-Nakhal serves as a Senior Expert in Internet Resources at the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) of Egypt. In this capacity, he is responsible for administrating Egypt's AFRINIC account, supporting the operational management of the national Internet Exchange Point (IXP), and transferring specialized technical knowledge—including IPv6 implementation, IXPs, and Internet Governance Forums (IGF)—to NTRA staff. Prior to his current role, he served for over 14 years (2006–2020) as the Senior Manager of Internet Policies and Technical Affairs at NTRA, where he successfully spearheaded numerous high-profile national committees, including the Egyptian IPv6 Taskforce as its Technical Team Leader and the Cairo Internet Exchange Point (CAIX) as its operator and manager. Education & Credentials Executive MBA - Nile University, Egypt (2009–2012) Diploma in Information Technology - ITI (1998–1999) Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering - Cairo University Certification: Provision IPv6 Configuration Internet Governance & Leadership Elected Board Member of AFRINIC (2013–2018) & Vice-Chair of the Board (2015–2018). Chair of the Finance Committee at AFRINIC Board, overseeing organizational finance. Technical Team Leader of the Egyptian IPv6 Taskforce and operator of CAIX. Focal Interconnection Regulatory Engineer for EU-NTRA Twinning Interconnection committee. Strategic Objectives for PDP Co-Chair Role Facilitate open, transparent, and consensus-driven policy discussions within the AFRINIC community. Streamline the Policy Development Process (PDP) to ensure policies are clear, practical, and representative of the region's diverse needs. Support capacity building and mentorship for new community members to encourage broader and more active participation in policy-making.

Candidate Profile

Biography & Strategic Vision

Haitham El-Nakhal

Egypt

Senior Expert, National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA)

Haitham El-Nakhal is a distinguished senior telecommunications expert, Internet governance leader, and systems engineer with over 20 years of professional experience driving digital infrastructure development, Internet resources policy, and open networking initiatives in Egypt and the wider African region. He is widely recognized for his leadership in national Internet exchange points, IPv6 transitions, and regulatory framework design.

Currently, Mr. El-Nakhal serves as a Senior Expert in Internet Resources at the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) of Egypt. In this capacity, he is responsible for administrating Egypt's AFRINIC account, supporting the operational management of the national Internet Exchange Point (IXP), and transferring specialized technical knowledge—including IPv6 implementation, IXPs, and Internet Governance Forums (IGF)—to NTRA staff. Prior to his current role, he served for over 14 years (2006–2020) as the Senior Manager of Internet Policies and Technical Affairs at NTRA, where he successfully spearheaded numerous high-profile national committees, including the Egyptian IPv6 Taskforce as its Technical Team Leader and the Cairo Internet Exchange Point (CAIX) as its operator and manager.

Education & Credentials

Executive MBA - Nile University, Egypt (2009–2012)
Diploma in Information Technology - ITI (1998–1999)
Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering - Cairo University
Certification: Provision IPv6 Configuration

Internet Governance & Leadership

Elected Board Member of AFRINIC (2013–2018) & Vice-Chair of the Board (2015–2018).
Chair of the Finance Committee at AFRINIC Board, overseeing organizational finance.
Technical Team Leader of the Egyptian IPv6 Taskforce and operator of CAIX.
Focal Interconnection Regulatory Engineer for EU-NTRA Twinning Interconnection committee.

Strategic Objectives for PDP Co-Chair Role

Facilitate open, transparent, and consensus-driven policy discussions within the AFRINIC community.
Streamline the Policy Development Process (PDP) to ensure policies are clear, practical, and representative of the region's diverse needs.
Support capacity building and mentorship for new community members to encourage broader and more active participation in policy-making.

Note

In respect of the PDWG Co-Chair position, only one candidate has been found eligible to stand for appointment. Accordingly, the appointment shall be considered by the Policy Development Working Group (PDWG) during the upcoming AFRINIC Public Policy Meeting.