[AusNOG] AusNOG 2.0

[Andrew Yager]

Hello!

Following the recent AusNOG event, I made a comment on LinkedIn expressing
disappointment about the fact that we had another sexual harrassment
incident, and that the conference organisers didn't take a stronger
approach from the platform to condemn it.

To clarify, David did publicly say that this type of behaviour was
unacceptable. David did seek to distance the conference itself from the
behaviour. I personally felt that the way this happened effectively
downplayed the incident. I feel like he could have done better.

I stand by those comments; and firmly believe we need to do more as an
industry to combat these.

Since these comments have been made, there has been an increase in calls
for a new alternate conference. I know that Bevan mooted this idea on
LinkedIn today; and there have been similar calls on my original post and
in other conversational forums.

I will note that at the time the Code of Conduct for the conference was not
available online; but this has been restored after David was alerted to
this issue. I should have done this myself and asked David directly, and I
did not.

I want to reiterate that:

The AusNOG community is a great community. Sure we cycle through phases,
but the networks and community that have been built within this group works
to support and grow the Australian Telecommunications Industry, encourage
development, and support those within our sphere.

I support the AusNOG conference. I think more work can be done to address
incidents of harassment and assault; but this isn't a uniquely AusNOG
problem. This is as much an industry problem. Other conferences have and
continue to have these issues. As AusNOG transitions to a member-led
organisation under the new constitution, I want to see us collectively
learn from what we haven't done well as a community in the past and grow
and change. If there is another conference, I'll encourage my team to
attend; but I will continue to support AusNOG for as long as we can.

We need to find ways and places to talk about this problem. The AusNOG
mailing list is likely not this; and I'm not sure where it is. But we need
to find ways to change thoughts, attitudes and perceptions; and to provide
ways to create safe and supportive work, social and educational
environments for all people in our industry.

I don't have the answers on how we as an industry change. The statistics of
assault and harassment within our ranks are discouraging; but the
overwhelming feedback I've had over the last few days is that people want
change, and want to be part of it.

I don't know exactly how AusNOG 2.0 will work. I don't know how the new
membership system will impact the decision making processes, or encourage
engagement, or provide enhanced ways to make this change.

But I want to publicly thank David, Joe and the rest of the board for
taking the first steps to make this happen.

And lastly; thanks for organising a great conference. It was fun,
informative and educational. There was new content, content that sparked
discussion and thinking, and encouraged and challenged our practice - which
is exactly what we wanted.

I don't really want or need replies to this email. I'm happy to leave it as
it is; but I do think that something needs to be said in the AusNOG mailing
list context given the wide discussion happening in other places.

Thanks,
Andrew
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