Award recognizes the Brazilian pioneer’s longstanding work in capacity building, professional training and the development of key structures for Internet governance in Brazil and Latin America.
Hartmut Glaser has been named the recipient of the 2026 Dr. Tarek Kamel Award for Capacity Building,presented by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The announcement was made by Tripti Sinha, Chair of the ICANN Board, during the welcome ceremony of the organization’s 87th Annual General Meeting (ICANN 87), held in Bali, Indonesia.
The award recognizes Glaser’s contributions to strengthening Internet governance at the local, regional and global levels. Highlights include his work in establishing and leading the Brazilian School of Internet Governance and his pivotal role in the creation of the Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (LACNIC).
Glaser joined the ceremony remotely and thanked the ICANN Board for the recognition. He recalled his relationship with Tarek Kamel, the Internet pioneer after whom the award is named. He also reflected on his involvement in the community since ICANN’s first meeting and acknowledged the collective efforts of different generations. For the Brazilian delegation, the award brings international recognition to a career dedicated to developing future leaders and strengthening the multistakeholder model.
A Pioneer in Building the Brazilian Internet
A professor by training, Hartmut Glaser began his career at the University of São Paulo (USP) and became one of the key figures in the history of the Internet in Brazil. His work contributed to the development of the infrastructure and services that supported the expansion of the .br domain, as well as the strengthening of the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br) and the Brazilian Network Information Center (NIC.br).
His contributions also extended beyond Brazil’s borders. Glaser played a pivotal role in the creation of LACNIC, the organization responsible for managing and allocating Internet numbering resources in Latin America and the Caribbean. From 2000 to 2015, he served on the organization’s Board of Directors.
Within the global Internet governance structure, he represented the region for several years on the Address Council of the Address Supporting Organization (ASO), served on the ICANN Nominating Committee and was a member of the IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group, an important process in the evolution of the global Internet governance model.
Capacity Building and Professional Development
Another milestone in his career was his involvement in establishing the Brazilian School of Internet Governance, an initiative designed to educate and train people to understand and participate in Internet governance processes.
The school has trained more than 800 people from different sectors, including government, civil society, academia, industry and the technical community. The initiative helps broaden understanding of Internet-related challenges and encourages diverse stakeholders to participate in discussions that shape how the Internet operates and evolves.
The ICANN award underscores the importance of investing in the education and development of professionals and leaders capable of participating in Internet-related decision-making processes, strengthening diversity of perspectives and international cooperation.
An Award Dedicated to Global Internet Governance
The Dr. Tarek Kamel Award for Capacity Building was established in honor of the late Dr. Tarek Kamel, who was widely recognized for his contributions to global Internet governance.
The award recognizes members of the ICANN community who have made significant contributions to national, regional or global capacity-building programs aligned with the organization’s mission.
Watch the award announcement
Com informações da ICANN
