Salt Lake City, UT, May 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Sovrin Foundation announced the appointment of Heather C. Dahl as the organization’s first permanent executive director. Dahl, an experienced technology researcher, business executive and entrepreneur, replaces interim director Steve Fulling, who will who will move to a new role working with Sovrin Foundation Stewards.
The Sovrin Foundation was created in 2016 to administer the Sovrin distributed ledger, the purpose-built blockchain at the core of the global public utility built to provide users -- including individuals, organizations and connected devices -- with true self-sovereign identity (SSI). Self-sovereign identity refers to digital identity that is secure, portable, privacy enhancing, completely trustworthy and controlled by the identity owner. The advent of distributed ledger and smartphone technologies make the prospect of self-sovereign digital identity a true possibility for the first time in history.
“The addition of Heather Dahl as the Sovrin Foundation’s first executive director is an important milestone and is a great indicator of our maturity and progress as an organization,” says Sovrin Foundation Chairman Dr Phil Windley. “Heather’s track record leading non-profits in their formative stages puts her in a unique position to guide the Sovrin Foundation during this period of rapid growth, increased awareness, and adoption. Attracting a professional of Heather’s caliber is strong evidence of our prospects and the depth of our platform.”
Dahl’s leadership experience in non-profits includes positions as chairman for the National Press Foundation, chairman of the Congressional Radio and TV Correspondents Association, and chairman of Sense About Science USA. Dahl also co-founded CynjaTech in 2013 building technology which provides secure data ownership and privacy for families. Prior to starting her own company, she worked at Neustar, a global leader in identity resolution, and facilitated emerging technology research at a Big Four consulting firm. She graduated from Willamette University, earned a Masters in Journalism from Columbia University and her MBA from Johns Hopkins.
“I couldn’t be more excited to lead the Sovrin Foundation and continuing their mission of providing a self-sovereign identity for all,” said Dahl. “Having been an advocate for and builder of technology that provides individuals with true ownership of their digital lives, I see Sovrin as transforming the digital landscape for generations to come. The future of our digital world hinges on trust. The Sovrin network will provide that trust.”
Responsibility for maintaining the independence, integrity and availability of the Sovrin ledger rests upon a network of volunteer stewards -- a diverse set of organizations that includes IBM, Deutsche Telekom and the law firm of Perkins Coie.
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About the Sovrin Foundation
The international, non-profit Sovrin Foundation is governed by a constitutional Trust Framework that ensures its independence from government or industry influence and codifies its dedication to providing self-sovereign digital identity for all. The Sovrin network is operated by independent stewards and uses the power of a hybrid distributed ledger as a fast, private and secure framework for providing every person, organization, and connected device a permanent identity with which to transact online and operate securely in everyday life. Learn more about the Trust Framework underlying the Sovrin network here.