Simon M. Balthazar

Network Engineer and Trainer

Simon serves as a technical contact for the .TZ ccTLD. Having worked with DNS at both the technical and policy levels for over two decades, he has developed a profound understanding of the subject and its technologies. Simon has been a valuable member of the .TZ registry since its inception in 2008, and he played a pivotal role in the redelegation of the .TZ domain. Before joining the registry, Simon worked at two prominent telecom companies, Tanzania Telecommunication Company Ltd. (TTCL) and Vodacom Tanzania Ltd. He has been instrumental in setting up the ISOC Tanzania Chapter and the Tanzania Network Operators Group (tznog), providing valuable platforms for network operators to improve their skills and exchange knowledge.

He actively participates in local and regional initiatives, providing valuable support and expertise as a member of the technical committee for AfTLD, an association for top-level domain managers in Africa. In this role, he shares his expertise and trains engineers from other emerging ccTLDs on the continent. In addition, he serves on AfriNIC's Governance Committee. He serves as Tanzania's representative in ICANN's ccNSO and is a member of the DNS Abuse Standing Committee (DASC). He is currently involved in providing consulting services for ICANN's DNSSEC Roadshow, a program that aims to support African ccTLDs in implementing DNSSEC.

As a member of the Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC), Simon is involved in training engineers in National Research and Educational Networks (NRENs) in Africa. He participated in providing direct engineering assistance to universities across the continent, and teaches DNS and DNSSEC, as well as Network Management and Monitoring tracks.