[rpd] In Memoriam: Alan Barrett

[Dawda Jatta]

What a loss to the Internet community in Africa and globe at large. May the
departed soul RIP 🙏.

Best Regards,
Dawda Jatta

On Sat, May 30, 2026, 04:18 Gbemisola Esho <gbemiadepojuesho at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Dear all,
> In tribute to the departed internet giant, I took a little walk down
> memory lane regarding his legacy in the space.
> Condolences again to his friends and family; may he rest in peace.
>
> On Fri, May 29, 2026 at 4:56 AM Isatou Jah <isatou.jah at qcell.gm> wrote:
>
>> This is a devastating loss to the community.  Alan was a friend and a
>> mentor and I am deeply saddened by this news. He was my instructor in the
>> very first Afnog workshop held in Cape Town in 2000 and had impacted great
>> knowledge upon the myself and the community at large. He was kind, patient
>> yet a strong leader.  May his soul rest in perfect peace and my sincere
>> condolences to his family.
>>
>> Isatou
>>
>> *From: *Badru Ntege <badru.ntege at nftconsult.com>
>> *Date: *Thursday, 28 May 2026 at 2:45 PM
>> *To: *Andrew Alston <aa at alstonnetworks.net>; RPD <rpd at afrinic.net>
>> *Subject: *Re: [rpd] In Memoriam: Alan Barrett
>>
>> Dear Andrew, and all,
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you for sharing this heartbreaking news with such care and dignity.
>>
>>
>>
>> Alan was indeed a friend of the community. I first met him in Kampala at
>> AfNOG 2003, and even then, his passion was unmistakable. He wasn't just
>> attending meetings — he was deeply invested in building something that
>> would serve the African Internet for decades to come. That commitment never
>> wavered.
>>
>>
>>
>> Alan was a passionate instructor at every AfNOG and AfriNIC meeting. From
>> the early days right up to the last major face-to-face, in-person event in
>> Kampala just before COVID, I don't think he missed a single annual
>> gathering. His dedication to teaching and mentoring the next generation of
>> network engineers across Africa was extraordinary. He showed up year after
>> year, not for recognition, but because he believed in the work and in the
>> people.
>>
>>
>>
>> His kindness, willingness to listen, and quiet strength made him someone
>> you could always turn to.
>>
>>
>>
>> My deepest condolences to Kerry and all of Alan's family. May they find
>> strength and peace in this difficult time.
>>
>>
>>
>> Rest in peace, Alan. You will be sorely missed.
>>
>>
>>
>> Badru Ntege
>>
>>
>>
>> *From: *Andrew Alston <aa at alstonnetworks.net>
>> *Date: *Thursday, 28 May 2026 at 3:43 PM
>> *To: *RPD <rpd at afrinic.net>
>> *Subject: *[rpd] In Memoriam: Alan Barrett
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear friends and colleagues,
>>
>> As some of you will already be aware, it is with immense sadness that we
>> confirm, on behalf of his wife Kerry and the family, the passing of Alan
>> Barrett. Alan died on May 28th in Cape Town, South Africa, following a
>> diagnosis of late-stage cancer about a month ago. We are sharing this
>> notice so that the community has accurate information at a moment when
>> Kerry and the family need space to grieve.
>>
>> Alan was a friend, a willing listener, and someone who always stepped up
>> to help when called upon. His contributions to the African Internet
>> ecosystem were second to none, and with his passing we lose not only a
>> friend but a giant of the industry.
>>
>> In 1990, Alan helped establish the very first Internet connection to
>> South African universities, and in 1993 he co-founded the country's first
>> commercial Internet Service Provider. In 1997 he co-authored the proposal
>> to create AfriNIC and subsequently served on the steering committee tasked
>> with bringing it into being. Alan served on the AfriNIC board from 2004 to
>> 2009 and was a member of the NRO NC from 2004 to 2014. In 2015 he was
>> appointed CEO of AfriNIC, a role he held until 2019.
>>
>> Beyond Africa, he was a central participant in the IANA Stewardship
>> Transition Coordination Group, and until his death served on the ICANN
>> board on behalf of the Address Supporting Organisation.
>>
>> Alan will be sorely missed by the community, his relatives and his wife,
>> Kerry.
>>
>> Kerry and the family ask for privacy at this time. We will be organising
>> an online memorial in due course and will share details once they are
>> available.
>>
>> Andrew Alston
>> Remco van Mook
>>
>>
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