Nigerian technology expert Aderonke Akinbola, whose work at Google involves managing complex network infrastructure programmes, was among 16 professionals selected for the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) Fellowship Programme.

A Technical Program Manager at Google, Akinbola works across product and infrastructure teams to coordinate network capacity requirements and translate projected demand into operational plans. Her responsibilities cover network topology planning and the technical requirements that guide infrastructure deployment.

The work requires aligning demand forecasts with engineering priorities and delivery schedules, helping teams plan the capacity needed to support reliable network services. It also involves identifying operational constraints and deployment risks as infrastructure requirements change.
Akinbola’s experience spans infrastructure programme management and security engineering, including an earlier role at Apple. At Google, she oversees complex network deployments across the Americas, coordinating technical programmes from planning through execution.

Her ARIN fellowship brought that operational experience into a forum concerned with the policies governing internet number resources. ARIN 55, held from April 27 to 30, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina, assembled network operators, technical professionals and other stakeholders to consider how those resources are allocated and managed.

ARIN administers Internet Protocol addresses and Autonomous System Numbers across the United States, Canada and many Caribbean and North Atlantic countries. These resources allow devices and networks to identify themselves and exchange information, making their allocation and registration part of the practical work of maintaining internet connectivity.

Discussions at the meeting covered IPv4 address management, registration requirements and proposals supporting the transition to IPv6. For organisations expanding their networks, these policies govern access to numbering resources alongside the engineering decisions involved in deploying infrastructure.

The fellowship included policy sessions and mentorship from members of ARIN’s Board of Trustees and Advisory Council, giving participants direct access to the organisation’s policy development process.