The UK government has assembled a new independent advisory group of business and civil society leaders to oversee the creation of a national digital identity system, aiming to modernise public services and replace outdated legacy systems, with officials promising the new platform will be secure, inclusive, and easy to use.
The expert panel was convened by Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, to provide independent scrutiny and strategic direction throughout the development process.
The new advisory group will meet quarterly to challenge government policy and ensure the system remains public-focused. The panel includes high-profile figures from tech, business, and cyber security:
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John Fallon: Former CEO of Pearson and Lead Cabinet Office Non-Executive Board Member.
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Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE: CEO and co-founder of Stemettes.
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David Rogers MBE: Internationally recognized cyber security expert.
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Emma Wright: Digital regulation lawyer and co-founder of the Interparliamentary Forum on Emerging Technologies.
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Justine Roberts CBE: Founder and Executive Chair of Mumsnet and Gransnet.
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The Hon. Victor Dominello: Former New South Wales Minister for Digital Government.
Chief Secretary Darren Jones commented: “The current legacy system of call centres, paperwork, and the need to tell your story multiple times to different parts of government is not good enough”.
“In its place, we need to build a truly modern UK where public services work for you, with digital ID as the foundation.”
Alongside the advisory board, the government is launching a broader engagement initiative later this month targeting the financial services and digital verification sectors. Working alongside major trade bodies, the programme intends to leverage private-sector expertise to build a seamless, interoperable system.
James Frith, Minister at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Cabinet Office, emphasised that the outreach will continue throughout the system’s development. “Digital ID will be transformative for our public services, ending the need to fill out endless paper forms, and making life simpler for people across the UK,” Frith stated.
The initiative has received tentative backing from key industry groups, including techUK, UK Finance, and the Association of Digital Verification Professionals, all of whom welcomed the structured approach to private-sector consultation.
The rollout follows the establishment of the “People’s Panel,” a representative group of British citizens tasked with debating the trade-offs of the programme, as ministers attempt to build public trust around data privacy and digital inclusion.
