As a long-standing fan of Identity Week from her DCMS days to now, we are delighted to be welcoming back Hannah Rutter in her new position as CEO of the Office of Digital Identity and Attributes at the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, to give our opening keynote in Amsterdam 2026.
Hannah is leading the policy development of the UK’s new national digital ID scheme, but she has always been passionate about implementing digital ID for digital societies whilst at DCMS and being closely associated with many editions of Identity Week Europe.
A reminder of her on-going participation in the event that shapes digital government and national Digital ID initiatives shows dedication and a history of work to bring the state of digital ID to where it is today.
In 2022, Hannah led a keynote fireside chat discussing digital ID for digital societies.
In 2025, Hannah, also CEO of Ofdia UK, continued the conversation of digital identity in the UK as it has greatly advanced to the government announcing a national digital identity, BritCard, and talking of a digital driver’s licence and digital wallet.
Hannah also participated in a high-profile panel exploring digital identity trust frameworks across the EU and beyond. Moderated by Jon Shamah, Director of Global Trust Framework, the discussion focused on achieving global interoperability, identifying innovation opportunities, and guiding organisations to align with established frameworks for compliant, scalable digital wallets. Drawing on the UK’s digital ID experience, Hannah highlighted the need for government-led frameworks to foster both innovation and trust to add value.
In a session, moderated by Yiannis Theodorou, Senior Advisor & Global Lead, Digital Identity at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Hannah explored the role of digital identity in shaping the concept of a “digital nation.” She examined the importance of seamless user journeys, cross-border interoperability, and trust.
Hannah emphasised that digital identity and verifiable credentials are critical tools for building better governments over the next decade.
