Wise Media, organizer of the ID WORLD International Congress, announces the first names of confirmed speakers for the Citizen ID Forum, the global summit on the digitalization of citizen identification documents. The
Citizen ID Forum opens its doors under the patronage of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Interior, H. H. Sheik Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on February 15-16, 2009 and is endorsed by the European Commission. It is supported by the Emirates Identity Authority and Abu Dhabi Police.

"The exposure to the experiences of other governments worldwide make this a unique knowledge-sharing platform that we are delighted to support," said H.E. Darwish Ahmed Al Zaraouni, director general - Emirates Identity Authority.

The Citizen ID Forum is the world's premier and most
comprehensive summit on the digitalization of citizen ID documents, focusing on the most relevant issues related to the introduction of secure and biometrics-enabled identification documents. Building on the outstanding
success of 2008, this two-day event will see the participation of key players behind the advancements in citizen ID programs and secure ID projects - including high-level government representatives, border control and law enforcement authorities. Confirmed speakers at this year's event include:

• Robert Mocny, deputy director - U.S. Department of Homeland Security

• John Stienen, program manager IDABC European Interoperability
Strategy Sector, Digit - European Commission

• Elaine Dezenski, managing director, Global Security Initiative - Interpol

• Martin Schallbruch, chief information officer - Federal Ministry of the Interior, Germany

• Alan Matthews, international business director - The Forensic Science Service

• John P. Wagner, director, Trusted Traveler Programs, Office of Field Operations - U.S. Customs & Border Protection

• Col. Saleh Al Kubaisi, director of information system department, Ministry of Interior

• Brig. Salem Ahmed Moeen, former chairman - National Database & Registration Authority

• Dr. Gisela Meister, chairman - The Standardization Group for the European Digital Signature Application

• Ahmed Al Marzooqi, chairman - UAE DNA Commission

• Joel Shaw, convenor, Working Group 3 (WG3), ISO/IEC JTC1/SC17

• Michael Hegenbarth, head of German delegation - ISO/IEC JTC1/SC17

• Sertac Özinal, CEO - BKM Interbank Card Center

• Abbas Khodaverdi, e-passport & smart card project manager - Scientific Green

The Citizen ID Forum, which takes place at the Beach Rotana Hotel in Abu Dhabi, features two cornerstone initiatives:

The Conference, supplemented by interactive networking activities, will gather together a panel of top-level government representatives and leading figures in the secure ID document arena and act as the perfect
backdrop for an open dialogue and analysis of crucial issues. Topics will include the progressive digitalization of passports, national IDs, driver's licenses, health cards and visas, as well as the future of smart tickets and payment systems.

The Exhibition, organized as a Technology Village with live
demonstrations, illustrates the entire lifecycle of secure ID documents: from the integrated circuits and electronic inlays, to the durability tests, to enrollment, personalization and identity verification processes. Leading global suppliers will showcase stable and proven technologies for the creation of durable contactless and/or biometrics-enabled documents, cutting edge data collection systems as well as identity management solutions.