Some opportunities teach you. Some change you. And a few bring you back to where it all began. For me, the Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy (APIGA) was one of those places.
After graduating from NetMission as an Ambassador, APIGA became one of my first onsite spaces to explore Internet governance more deeply. In 2024, as a participant, I learned about Internet governance, the multistakeholder model, and the many perspectives that shape the digital world. I never imagined that two years later, I would return as a Youth Leader, helping create that experience for others.
This year, I had the opportunity to work with NetMission’s APIGA Facilitator Group from March to July, contributing behind the scenes to something very familiar i.e. the APIGA 2026 Model ICANN Conference InfoKit. Having once used it myself as a participant, I could now look at it through the eyes of a newcomer. We worked to make it more structured, readable and accessible for those taking their first steps into the Internet governance ecosystem.
I also contributed to developing the Resource Pack, building on an initiative started by NetMission in 2025 through their Working Group IG Inno Lab. The aim was simple but meaningful that was to help participants who are new to Internet governance better understand the stakeholder groups they represent. The goal was to give beginners a clear starting point not only to understand what different stakeholders stand for, but also their priorities, disagreements, and the tensions that shape policy discussions.
Working on these resources made me realize something I had never fully appreciated as a participant i.e. behind every “simple” learning experience are countless hours of thought, collaboration, and care.
Being a Youth Leader onsite made that realization even more meaningful. I had the privilege of leading the GAC group alongside my co-lead, SungHyuk Ko, it was the same group I had been part of as a participant in 2024.
I also moderated and facilitated several components, including the Icebreaker Session, APIGA City Game, Model ICANN Conference as Vice Chair, Cybersecurity Roleplay, and the “What’s Next After APIGA?” session.The APIGA City Game was particularly memorable as we used simulation to help participants understand how navigating the digital world requires both curiosity and caution because every opportunity in the digital space comes with challenges to consider.
And perhaps my favourite moment was reconnecting this year’s participants with APIGA alumni from the past nine years. Seeing people from my own 2024 cohort again, and meeting Sodam Kum in-person, who was also an APIGA fellow that year, felt like watching different chapters of the same story meet. None of this would have been possible without our Program Manager Sherry Shek, the online APIGA Facilitator Team, and my fellow Youth Leaders Khushbakht, Manas, SungHyuk and SeungJun. I am deeply grateful to DotAsia and NetMission for allowing me to return, learn again, contribute, and reconnect with this incredible community.As APIGA celebrates its 10th anniversary and a new task force begins to take shape, I feel fortunate to have witnessed this journey from both sides.
I came to APIGA once to learn.
I returned to help others begin.
And somewhere between the two, I realized how far the journey had taken me.
Blog Post – Aug 11, 2026
Written by Nawal Munir