Self-Sovereign Identity Fundamentals

Kaliya Young, widely known as Identity Woman, is a leading expert in decentralized and self-sovereign identity who has dedicated over 20 years to developing open standards for digital identity. As co-founder of the Internet Identity Workshop in 2005, she helped create a collaborative space that led to the development of crucial internet standards like OpenID Connect and OAuth. Her expertise spans both technical and policy aspects of digital identity, earning her recognition as one of Fast Company's Most Influential Women in Technology. Young holds a Master of Science in Identity Management and Security from the University of Texas at Austin, where she wrote her influential thesis "The Domains of Identity." She has authored multiple books including "A Comprehensive Guide to Self-Sovereign Identity" and regularly consults with governments, NGOs, startups, and enterprises on decentralized identity technologies. As founding partner of Identity Woman in Business, she continues to shape the future of digital identity through her work on various industry expert groups, including recent appointment to the advisory board of the Digital Credential for Europe Consortium. Young's commitment to inclusive development is evident in her global outreach, regularly traveling to Africa and Asia to ensure person-centric identity solutions are truly universal.