CDT Taps Matthew Shears to Direct Global Project

Washington – CDT has selected Matthew Shears, an Internet policy and governance expert with more than 20 years of public policy experience, to direct CDT’s project on Global Internet Policy and Human Rights. Shears, who has been working with CDT on Internet governance and international policy issues, assumed his role on May 1.

Shears, a UK national, has extensive experience in the Internet and telecommunications policy space, working for the United States Mission to the European Union, AT&T, the broadband satellite start-up Teledesic and Cisco Systems. He was the Internet Society’s first Policy Director, representing the organization during the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, ITU Telecomm and the Internet Governance Forum.

“We are very pleased to have Matthew lead our Global Internet Policy and Human Rights activities,” said Leslie Harris, CDT’s President and CEO. “Over the past nine months Matthew has demonstrated significant policy expertise and leadership in our work at the World Conference on International Telecommunications and other fora. His international experience and understanding of our issues and mission will be invaluable to building strategic relationships on key issues around the globe.”

“I am delighted at the opportunity to help expand CDT’s reach and influence internationally. I look forward to building on the team’s accomplishments and to promoting the adoption of policies that support an open and innovative Internet,” Shears said. “CDT’s Global Internet Policy and Human Rights project will be working with our partners to ensure that the governance of the Internet continues to be multi-stakeholder and that human rights are preserved and promoted.”