Don Hagans
Don Hagans has an extensive background in management, public policy, regulatory policy, and global business development; particularly in law, media, communications and technology and their related strategic, market entry, and financing activities. Mr. Hagans also has particular industry experience and expertise in television and internet programming creation, aggregation and distribution. He has served on public and private company boards, both as a Director and Chairman; and has various personal company interests.
Media / Telecommunications / Internet
Currently Mr. Hagans is Executive Chairman of LIVIA Legal, an international practice management and outsourcing platform for professionals.
Previously he was Chief Executive Officer of Akamai Asia Pacific (Akamai AAP), managing Akamai's regional developm ent and sales operations. Akamai owns and operates the world's largest overlay internet content and edge computing distribution network (involving literally hundreds of telecommunications entities), and provides sophisticated delivery, streaming and computing services for companies such as Microsoft, Symantec, CNN, IBM, and Sony Ericsson.
For a number of years Mr. Hagans was Executive Chairman of Austar Communications, commencing at start-up. Austar is currently Australia's largest listed satellite and microwave subscription television distribution company. Austar also locally assembles, manages and/or distributes a number of international branded Australasian television channels in a venture with Foxtel (Australia's principal cable company), such as Nickelodeon, Channel "V" and Discovery.
Mr. Hagans served as Chief Development Officer / Asia Pacific for United Global Communications (UGC), a principal investor in Austar. He also worked for a period, on a contract basis through its then owner Cable & Wireless, as the Chief Executive of Optus Multimedia (Optus is now Australia's second largest telecommunications company); specifically to prepare the Company's media, cable, internet, satellite, and related customer service and provisioning operations for inclusion in a public float. This was done successfully. He has also been active with several Australia based technology and communications related ventures in a board and/or executive assistance capacity, both listed and private.
Mr. Hagans was a founder and Chairman of ASTRA, the Australia Subscription Television and Radio Association, and an advisor to the National Office of the Information Economy (NOWIE).
International Business Development
Mr Hagans has worked previously in Europe, North America, and Latin America in international business development and related commercial operational activities.
In certain of this work he was an officer of UGC establishing multi-country / regional television channel assembly, aggregation and distribution, as well as telecommunications provisioning. Prior to working for UGC, Mr. Hagans performed services through his professional firm in international business development and legal capacities for companies as diverse as Rockefeller & Company (company acquisitions and investments), Carlson/Radisson (project development and business licensing), Brown & Root (construction and related services), Farah Manufacturing (glo bal sourcing and export/import quotas), Holguin & Associates (software licensing), and General Motors (in-bond contracting and manufacturing). Each of these professional services activities involved substantial international business, regulatory, operational, and financial elements.
NAFTA and International Trade Policy
Mr. Hagans was very active in the policy and regulatory activities comprising the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and related legislation, including border infrastructure, in-bond manufacture and foreign trade zones, communications / media, and intellectual property rights.
Mr. Hagans served as Chairman of the Texas / Mexico Authority of the State of Texas, Chairman of the United States / Mexico Border Trade Alliance, and as Coordinator of the Border Governors Conference. He also was Chairman of the State Bar of Texas-Mexico Legal Relations Committee, and was a designated liaison/representative from the American Bar A ssociation to the Mexico and Canadian Bar Associations. Mr Hagans has testified as an expert witness on various trade policy issues before the International Trade Commission, Committees of the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives, and the Legislatures of Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico. He has chaired and spoken at a number of U.S. Cabinet level forums on international trade and related policy for entities such as the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and the American Chambers of Commerce.
Law Practice and Public Policy Activities
Prior to entering business Mr. Hagans practiced law and was selected to the most senior policy positions possible in law practice management and legal technology both in Texas and in the United States. He has spoken on these subjects at literally hundreds of professional programs.
For a number of years he was Chairman of the T echnology Advisory Commission of the Supreme Court of Texas, and Chairman of the State Bar of Texas Professional Efficiency and Economic Research Committee. Within the American Bar Association Mr. Hagans worked actively in the development and establishment of ABA/Net, the ABA's on-line services network, and was its Chairman for five years. He was also on the Coordinating Commission for Legal Technology. Mr. Hagans served as Chairman-Elect of the ABA's Section of Law Practice Management, having previously been Vice-Chairman and Secretary. He was Chairman of the Section's Education Division. The Section addresses all aspects of law firm / professional practice management.
Mr Hagans practiced law for a number of years, focusing on international business and a related civil trial practice. He became managing partner of a substantial and recognized Texas firm. Mr. Hagans was selected the Outstanding Young Lawyer in West Texas, and had an AV (Highest) Martindale-Hubbell Rating. He was also a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer.
During a period of his law practice, Mr. Hagans served as the Legislative Director for Senator Phil Gramm (R-Tx) in Washington D.C.; the senior legislative position. He managed the Senator's legislative staff during efforts such as the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings budget legislation.
Education and Military
Mr. Hagans was a United States Marine Corps Officer, active duty and reserve, and was honourably discharged a Major. He attended various command and staff schools and programs. He also received a number of formal commendations (such as the Navy Commendation Medal).
Mr. Hagans was educated at Colleges of University of Texas. He obtained the Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree from the College of Law. He was President of the Student Senate, Captain of the Debate team, won the State Bar of Texas Moot Court Competition and was voted the best oralist and be st written brief in the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (regional and global finals).
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