The notion of a directorate is defined in RFC 2418 as follows:

In many areas, the Area Directors have formed an advisory group or directorate. These comprise experienced members of the IETF and the technical community represented by the area. The specific name and the details of the role for each group differ from area to area, but the primary intent is that these groups assist the Area Director(s), e.g., with the review of specifications produced in the area.

The Routing Area Directorate is an advisory group of routing experts selected by the Area Directors. The Directorate is not just a group of all WG chairs in the Routing area--many directorate members do not have enough time or desire to lead a WG, yet participate in the Directorate because of their deep expertise in Internet routing. The Area Directors use the feedback from the Directorate while making decisions on a range of topics related to the IETF Routing area. Specifically, the Directorate is involved in the following activities:

1. Review of the documents submitted to the IESG from the WGs within the Routing area. To minimize the additional delay, the WG chairs are encouraged to forward the WG Last Call announcements to the Directorate so that the directorate review happens during the Last Call. Otherwise, the directorate review will happen as part of the AD-review process.
2. Technical advisory function. Members of the Directorate may be asked to provide consultation to or (more formally) serve as Technical Advisors in WGs within the Routing area, as well as other areas.
3. Review of new WG and existing WG rechartering proposals. When deemed necessary, the ADs will consult the Directorate regarding the proposals for creation of a new WG, or when an existing WG is being rechartered.
4. Review of documents under IESG review. When deemed necessary, the ADs will consult the Directorate while forming their opinion on the documents being reviewed within the IESG.

Area Directors being advised:

Dave Ward (dward@cisco.com)
Ross Callon (rcallon@juniper.net)

Acee Lindem (acee@cisco.com)
Adrian Farrell (adrian@olddog.co.uk)
Alex Zinin (zinin@psg.com)
Alvaro Retana (aretana@cisco.com)
Bill Fenner (fenner@research.att.com)
Chris Hopps (chopps@rawdofmt.org)
Danny McPherson (danny@tcb.net)
Dave Meyer (dmm@1-4-5.net)
Dave Katz (dkatz@juniper.net)
Dave Ward (dward@cisco.com)
Dimitri Papadimitriou (Dimitri.Papadimitriou@alcatel.be)
Jeff Haas (jhaas@nexthop.com)
Jeff Parker (jparker@axiowave.com)
John Scudder (jgs@bgp.nu)
Loa Andersson (loa@pi.se)
Mark Handley (mjh@icir.org)
Mike Shand (mshand@cisco.com)
Tony Przygienda (prz@net4u.ch)
Radia Perlman (Radia.Perlman@sun.com)
Rohit Dube (rohit@utstar.com)
Ross Callon (rcallon@juniper.net)
Russ White (ruwhite@cisco.com)
Sue Hares (shares@nexthop.com)