Decoding Digital Trust Ecosystems with Sezoo

(un)Trustables

Have you ever struggled to grasp the complexities of digital identity and trust?

In this episode of The (un)Trustables Podcast, host Darrell O'Donnell is joined by Jo Spencer and John Phillips from Sezoo, a boutique consultancy specializing in digital trust ecosystems.

They delve into the intricate world of verifiable credentials, guardianship, and the challenges of governing trust ecosystems. With real-world examples from their work with the New South Wales government and other clients, Jo and John share their expertise in distilling complex concepts into simple, digestible explanations.

Guests:

Jo Spencer is a technology executive with over 30 years of global experience in software, product design, consulting, architecture, and strategy, specializing in payments and banking systems. As a co-founder of Sezoo, Jo has spent the last 3 years promoting verifiable credentials and decentralized interaction models to enhance commercial offerings and customer relationships. Jo is also a Partner at 460degrees, leading financial services and architecture activities, collaborating with fintechs, banks, regulators, and product vendors in payments and banking innovation. Previously, Jo led technical strategy, enterprise architecture, and solution design at ANZ Banking Group across 32 countries, focusing on payments, open banking, blockchain, digital identity, compliance, and messaging solutions. Jo has a strong track record of building businesses, solutions, and commercial products for banks and software suppliers globally.

John Phillips is an expert in Digital Trust frameworks, including Self-Sovereign Identity, and is a co-founder of Sezoo. He leads the 460degrees Ventures, Emerging Technology, and Education practices. With over 30 years of international experience in high technology industries and management consulting, John has worked across 10 countries in sectors ranging from Space to Government, Finance, Utilities, and more. He believes in the potential of open-standards technologies like verifiable credentials and decentralized identifiers to radically improve digital trust on personal, social, and global scales. John authored the chapter on explaining the value of SSI to business in the "Self-Sovereign Identity Decentralized digital identity and verifiable credentials" book. Since co-founding Sezoo in 2021, he has worked on digital trust projects with Australian Federal and State governments, major financial institutions, scheme operators, and medical data research organizations. John also serves as a co-chair of the Sovrin Working Group on Guardianship and collaborates with the Trust over IP foundation on human-centric technology design.

Here are some valuable topics covered:

• Understanding the nuances of verifiable credentials and digital wallets
• Navigating the complexities of guardianship and delegation in digital interactions
• Strategies for governing trust ecosystems and managing stakeholder interests
• The art of creating effective "explainers" for decision-makers

Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from two seasoned experts in the field of digital trust. Tune in to learn how to navigate the intricacies of this ever-evolving landscape.

Key Insights:

• Verifiable credentials allow for the digital representation of existing credentials, like driving licenses or first aid certificates, without disrupting existing governance frameworks.
• Guardianship and delegation in digital interactions are complex areas that require careful consideration of existing legal frameworks and cultural norms.
• Effective governance of trust ecosystems involves managing stakeholder interests, collaboration, and competition within and across ecosystems.
• Creating simple, visual "explainers" using everyday objects can be a powerful way to help decision-makers grasp complex concepts.

Strategies:

• Use the Trust Over IP governance architecture as a framework for designing ecosystem governance.
• Avoid overcomplicating digital solutions; keep them aligned with existing physical processes for easier adoption.
• Authenticate content and communications to build trust with customers and prevent scams.

Additional Resources

• Sezoo
• Trust Over IP Foundation
  • Specifications for ToIP-compliant governance frameworks
• "Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words" by Randall Munroe
• The Design Squiggle
• New South Wales Digital Identity and Verifiable Credentials Consultation
• New South Wales Digital Birth Certificate
• Jo Spencer: LinkedIn
• John Phillips: LinkedIn