Matthew Shears

Matthew’s chief areas of focus are internet policy and governance, cybersecurity and human rights.  He has been involved in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) since 2005, including the High-Level review meeting in December 2015; the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT); and the Brazil NETmundial meeting; and was a member of the first Internet Governance Forum Multistakeholder Advisory Group.  

Matthew has been actively involved with the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), including co-chairing a working group on human rights and cybersecurity, and co-Chairing the FOC non-governmental Advisory Network. He is currently a member of the Board of ICANN and has worked for the Internet Society, AT&T, Seattle-based broadband satellite start-up Teledesic, and Cisco Systems.  

A UK national, he received his MSc in European Studies from the London School of Economics and his BA in International Affairs from George Washington University.