Web domain and hosting firm Blacknight’s CEO Michele Neylon won this year’s Overall Net Visionary Award handed out by  the Irish Internet Association (IIA) for his thought leadership and pioneering work as the chair of the ICANN Registrar Stakeholder Group.

“Winning an IIA Dot ie Net Visionary Award means you’re the best at what you do but not in the run-of-the-mill ‘best’ kind of way but in a pretty standout innovative kind of way,” said Joan Mulvihill, CEO of the IIA.”

“Neylon was recognised for his contribution to the betterment of the internet domestically and internationally. In the awards speech given by Mulvihill, it was also noted that the award recognised Neylon’s “thought leadership on internet freedom and ICANN policy”, as well as his work as the chair of the ICANN Registrar Stakeholder Group.

The private votes of the IIA board determined the overall net visionary award winner.

“I am humbled and speechless.

You find the thing you love to do, that you care about more than anything else and you do it everyday because you must.

You don’t expect anyone to notice; you just want to make the world that you live in better. To be recognized for my work, and for doing the thing I love the most is extraordinary.

I am honored to be recognized by IIA and will continue to work to be worthy of this great award,” Neylon said.

Michele is one of the smartest, nicest and hardest working guys in the business.  TheDomains.com send out a big congrats to Michele