On behalf of the NRO Executive Council and the NRO Number Council, we wish to express how deeply saddened we are by the passing of Alan Barrett on 28 May 2026 in Cape Town.
Alan was someone who shaped the Internet not because it was his job, but because he genuinely believed in what it can do. He helped bring the first Internet connection to South African universities in 1990, co-founded the country’s first commercial ISP in 1993, and is credited with creating the .co.za zone. Long before many of us were thinking about Internet governance as a field, Alan was already doing the work.
Alan was also central to the creation of AFRINIC. He co-authored the original proposal in 1997 and served on the steering committee that brought the organization into being. He later served on the AFRINIC Board, spent a decade on the NRO Number Council, and led AFRINIC as its CEO from 2015 to 2019. More recently, he represented the Address Supporting Organization on the ICANN Board — appointed in 2021 and again in 2024.
Alan will be remembered not only for his technical expertise and leadership, but also for his generosity, integrity, and willingness to support the community whenever called upon. He was a trusted colleague, a thoughtful contributor, and a friend to many across the Internet community.
We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Kerry, his family, and the many colleagues and friends who were fortunate enough to work alongside him. He will be missed.
— Jia Rong Low, NRO EC Chair — Hervé Clément, NRO NC Chair
Last modified on 29/05/2026