Dear all, We are deeply saddened by the passing of one of the pillars of the RIPE community, Erik Bais. Erik was a RIPE NCC member, the Address Policy Working Group Chair, and, above all, a friend to RIPE NCC staff and the RIPE community. Erik first got involved in the RIPE community in 2002, and he served as the Chair of the Address Policy Working Group from 2018 onwards. He contributed to and authored several important RIPE policies. Never afraid to voice his thoughts, Erik has been a powerful presence in the RIPE community, and he has provided considerable guidance to the RIPE NCC over the years. A regular at RIPE Meetings, Erik was incredibly generous with his time, mentoring many community members, both formally through RIPE programmes and via the friendships and relationships he built through his wisdom and humour. The mental health of people in the community was of particular concern to him, and we saw this clearly with the advocacy work he carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic. His participation helped shape the RIPE community as we know it today. We will miss his energy, his clarity of thought and above all his warm friendship. On behalf of the RIPE NCC and the RIPE Chair Team, we extend our condolences to Erik’s family and friends. Hans Petter Holen Managing Director RIPE NCC Mirjam Kühne RIPE Chair