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Heiki Sibul appointed new director of Estonian Internet Foundation

Taking up the post of director of the Estonian Internet Foundation (EIF) on 25 September will be Heiki Sibul.

Marika Priske, the chairman of the supervisory board of the EIF, says that Sibul is a highly experienced manager under whose aegis Estonia became the first country in the world to launch e-voting. “It’s very important that we make the most of Heiki’s unique skills in system structuring to maintain the reputation for reliability that the Estonian domain name has,” she said.

Sibul says that he is hoping to represent the Estonian Internet community in the best way possible through open cooperation. “What I’m aiming to achieve is an Estonian Internet that’s stable and secure and to contribute to defending Internet freedom,” he said.

“As one of the founders of the EIF, the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications is really pleased that such an experienced manager will be taking the reins,” said association president Taavi Kotka. “We have high expectations of him! We hope to shortly see a specific plan outlining the steps the EIF will take to become an open organisation that will work with all of the members of the Estonian Internet community.”

Sibul, who won the public competition launched by the supervisory board of the EIF to fill the position, will receive a monthly salary of €3500.

Sibul spent many years as the Secretary General of the Parliament of Estonia and led the work of the national electoral commission from 2000 onwards. He is a graduate in law from the University of Tartu, as well as a reserve officer in the Estonian defence forces. He has been awarded the Order of the White Star (4th class) by the president.

Sibul was appointed chairman of the management board of the EIF by a decision of the supervisory board. The management board has two members: the other member, Jaanus Tehver, will continue in his position.

The EIF is the organisation that represents the Estonian Internet community and which manages Estonian domain names (.ee). Its tasks are to manage high level domain names associated with Estonia; to maintain domain name information systems and registers; to ensure their availability, reliability and security; and to represent the Estonian Internet community within the international Internet community.