Thales Exec Elected IBIA Chair

Neville Pattinson, who serves as the Head of Business Development and Strategic Marketing at Thales Group’s Digital Identity & Security Biometric Solutions division, has been elected as the Chair of the International Biometrics + Identity Association (IBIA) Board of Directors. His two-year term officially began on August 1, 2024.

In a statement, Pattinson emphasized the increasing importance of the biometric and identity technology industry in enhancing security, privacy, and convenience for individuals, governments, and organizations. He also expressed his commitment to working with other biometrics experts to address common industry challenges.

“As our industry continues to grow and play a positive role in the day-to-day lives of millions of consumers, I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board and the entire IBIA membership to address and advocate for the issues that impact our industry the most,” he said.

In addition to Pattinson, the IBIA Board of Directors includes several notable industry leaders. Michael DePasquale, CEO of BIO-Key International, serves as IBIA Board Vice-Chair, while Donnie Scott, CEO of Public Security, North America, at IDEMIA, is the Board Treasurer. Kathleen Kiernan, PhD, President of NEC National Security Systems, is the Board Secretary, and John Mears, Vice President and Tech Fellow at Leidos, now serves as the Immediate Past Board Chair.

The board also includes Mohammed Murad, Vice President of Sales and Business Development at Iris-ID; Chip Merrill, Vice President at HID Global; and Bob Eckel, President and CEO of AWARE, Inc.

The International Biometrics + Identity Association (IBIA) was founded in September 1998 in Washington, DC. Its founding purpose was to bring together various stakeholders in the industry into a single organization that could advocate for the responsible adoption and use of biometric and identity technologies. The IBIA aimed to provide a unified voice for the industry, shape priorities aligned with member companies’ needs, and promote the use of biometrics and identity solutions to enhance security, privacy, and convenience across government, business, and consumer applications.

Today, the IBIA works with policymakers, the media, and the public to promote a better understanding of these technologies and to clear up misconceptions about their responsible and ethical use.

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August 21, 2024 – by the FindBiometrics Editorial Team