==Take two - this time *NOT* encrypted!== Fergal, all, Following on my comments at the mic (https://ripe91.ripe.net/programme/meeting-plan/sessions/33/J77JY7/#video) in the RIPE NCC Services working group at #RIPE91 in Bucharest, I wanted to follow up and restate my comments here on the mailing list formally also. During the session Hans Petter discussed the draft strategy and indeed my reference to the open house below. I was commenting specifically about the slide/page 11 of the open house slides (https://www.ripe.net/media/documents/RIPE_NCC_Strategy_2027-2031_Open_House_...). Within it there was a reference to some of the "early survey responses". Notwithstanding the small sample size (10 people), I thought that something in particular was quite alarming. That was the strong desire of those who had completed the survey at that point to have the RIPE NCC invest "Less focus" on two areas - that of "Learning and development" and "Exams and certifications". As per my comments in Bucharest, I think it would be counterproductive at best to defund these areas and furthermore I think that they are the key areas to ensure we have some continuity of new members contributing to the community and industry at large. I am an active participant in the RIPE community since 2013. Having had the opportunity to receive training on a number of occasions over the years from the RIPE NCC team and indeed took and received certifications through the certifications program, I feel lucky to have done so. The training is of a very high quality and has been key in aiding my subject matter knowledge each time. Similarly, I have taken and achieved certifications through the "Exams and certification" track. These things have helped me greatly in my career to date and indeed have enhanced my knowledge and lead to career progression. It is also true to say that I have witness first hand the growth of junior colleagues through each of these programs across the two different LIRs/employers that I have been involved with through those years. Many of these old and current colleagues are now participating in the RIPE community today as a result of this! For this and many reasons, personally, I think it would be a mistake to ask the RIPE NCC to invest "Less focus" on these two areas and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this thinking. Having vendor agnostic training and certification tracks which focus on best current operational practices is something I would place a lot of value on too. I will conclude by thanking the RIPE NCC L&D team(s) for the absolutely stellar job they have done to date in delivering these things to us as members over the many years that they have done so, it has been value for money in my honest opinion. I would very much hope that they are allowed to continue to do so very many more to come and would support the RIPE NCC continuing to fund these activities as part of the on-going strategy! Regards, - Mick On 16/10/2025 15:42, Fergal Cunningham wrote:
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Dear all,
Last week, we held an Open House on the Draft RIPE NCC Strategy 2027-2031. The recording and presentation are now available at:
https://www.ripe.net/meetings/open-house/strategy-2027-2031/ <https:// www.ripe.net/meetings/open-house/strategy-2027-2031/>
The session saw a presentation on the draft strategy from our Managing Director and CEO, Hans Petter Holen, before we took input from members who attended. We also shared early results from our consultation survey, which we are encouraging all members to take before the end of October:
https://www.ripe.net/s/draft-strategy-consultation-survey <https:// www.ripe.net/s/draft-strategy-consultation-survey>
There will also be a strategy BoF at the RIPE 91 Meeting on Thursday next week. We hope to have a good interactive session with members and community on the direction we need to take in the coming years, so please register to attend the meeting if you wish join online:
https://ripe91.ripe.net/ <https://ripe91.ripe.net/>
Kind regards,
Fergal Cunningham
Head of Membership Engagement
RIPE NCC
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