APIGA Celebrates 10 Years of Developing Internet Leaders

APIGA reaches 10-year milestone in youth internet governance training

The Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy (APIGA) is celebrating 10 years of equipping young leaders from across the Asia Pacific region with the skills to shape internet governance. Since its inception in 2016, the program has trained more than 359 participants from 32 economies, fostering a growing network of future policymakers, technical experts, academics, and civil society leaders.

The anniversary was recognized during the 10th APIGA event held in Busan, South Korea, on July 24, 2026. The initiative aims to ensure the internet remains secure, stable, and accessible for all by providing emerging leaders with the necessary knowledge and practical experience. "The Internet's future depends on the next generation of leaders," stated Sally Costerton, ICANN's Senior Vice President for Global Stakeholder Engagement.

APIGA is an annual five-day workshop co-hosted by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Korea Internet & Security Agency, with support from regional internet organizations like APNIC, DotAsia, and the Internet Society. The intensive curriculum focuses on understanding internet operations and the multi-stakeholder consensus-building model, empowering participants to contribute to discussions on internet governance at local, regional, and global levels.

Building on its success, APIGA expanded its reach in 2024 by launching local programs in ten economies. These shorter, tailored workshops bring internet governance education closer to communities and address regional issues in local languages. As APIGA enters its second decade, it continues its commitment to developing future internet leaders, aligning with ICANN's broader youth engagement initiatives.