Digital identity systems don’t just emerge from technology choices; they reflect the values, assumptions, and incentives of the people who design and govern them. This brief opening frames the summit around a core question: who is making the decisions that shape identity infrastructure, and what perspectives are still underrepresented at the table?

Rather than focusing on representation alone, this session sets the stage for a deeper conversation about leadership, governance, and long-term accountability in identity systems, and why women’s voices are particularly important as identity becomes more embedded in critical digital infrastructure.