In this keynote presentation, Victor Dominello, (Director UNSW/UTS Trustworthy Digital Society Hub, Tech Council of Australia Board Member and Former Minister for Customer Service and Digital Govt and Founder of ServiceGen), emphasises the shift from globalisation to a globalised world based on trusted and non-trusted blocks, influenced by events like the Ukraine crisis and COVID-19.

Trust, particularly in the context of digital identity and verifiable credentials, is a vital factor in this evolving world.

He highlights the significance of digital identity and verifiable credentials, describing them as the “number one priority” in the modern world. Victor outlines the importance of ‘who,’ ‘what,’ +and ‘why’ in this context— who you are (ID), what you are allowed to do (credentials), and why you are trustworthy (ethics, transparency).

There is the necessity for a revaluation of trust architecture in the digital age, emphasising the need to empower individuals (Big Citizens) and centralise control around the individual to counterbalance the gravitational pull towards the centralisation of power.

The potential challenges of this are many, such as the role of privacy, concerns about surveillance states, and the existence of a ‘shadowland’ where non-compliance or resistance might persist. Victor emphasises the importance of transparency and collaboration across states and territories to create standardised, interoperable systems.

Key Takeaways:

  • A decentralised, interoperable digital identity system with verifiable credentials, focusing on empowering individuals and enhancing trust in the digital age is crucial.
  • There are ongoing concerns about privacy issues and mistrust in government involvement based on past experiences like the Australia Card. Solutions should be transparent and privacy-conscious striking a balance between trust enhancement and privacy protection.
  • States and territories should collaborate efforts and align across to set standards and achieve digital identity interoperability, which underscores the need for national leadership in this domain.
Contributors
Victor Dominello, MP Chief Executive Officer, Future Government Institute | Co-Founder, ServiceGen | Service Transformation Expert | Keynote Public Speaker
Victor Dominello is a globally recognised leader in public sector transformation and a pioneer of secure, citizen-focused digital identity. A former NSW... More

Victor Dominello is a globally recognised leader in public sector transformation and a pioneer of secure, citizen-focused digital identity. A former NSW Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, he created world-first reforms including the Department of Customer Service, Service NSW, and the Digital Restart Fund. His innovations, such as the digital driver’s licence, QR check-ins, and vaccine certificates, have set global benchmarks. 

Victor’s leadership has been recognised worldwide. He was named to the Okta Identity 25 list of global visionaries, with his image featured on the Nasdaq Tower in Times Square. Today, as CEO of the Future Government Institute and Co-Founder of ServiceGen, he advises governments and organisations worldwide, including the World Bank. He also contributes to national policy, recently participating in the Treasurer’s Economic Reform Roundtable on efficient and high-quality government services. 

 

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