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Washington, D.C., October 23, 2025 — The Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA), a non-profit group focused on promoting ethical and transparent public policy, research, and education regarding new technologies, has announced its participation in a United Nations General Assembly Roundtable. The event, entitled “A New Blueprint for Sovereign Sustainable Development,” took place at UN Headquarters in New York on October 22, 2025. The roundtable brought together 48 international leaders, government officials, and subject matter experts to discuss the creation of inclusive policies aimed at tackling significant global challenges. These challenges include enhancing climate change resilience, fostering balanced economic advancement, and encouraging responsible tech innovation, all with the shared objective of building a fairer and more sustainable future for all.
Adrian Wall, the Managing Director of the Digital Sovereignty Alliance, led the discussion on the “Global Digital Identity and Financial Inclusion Protocol.” This session explored crucial topics like digital self-determination in Africa and the potential of blockchain technology and stablecoins to boost financial inclusion. The primary focus was on empowering people to manage and protect their own data and the critical need to increase financial access for the 1.7 billion individuals worldwide who are currently unbanked. Wall emphasized that digital autonomy and accessible financial systems are vital for shaping the future of global sustainable progress.
“Financial inclusion without financial literacy is a pointless exercise. It’s simply access without true empowerment,” explained Wall. “Meaningful inclusion must be built on understanding, control, and respect. In today’s digital world, control starts with access, and respect starts with data ownership. Data sovereignty isn’t just a technical issue—it’s about fundamental human rights.”
Attendees at the roundtable included a prestigious group of global figures from international bodies, private companies, and academic institutions, all united by a common goal of fostering sustainable growth through open discussion and collaboration. Notable participants included:
- Tracy Wang, Chief Executive Officer of the Nobel Sustainability Trust Foundation
- Sangbu Kim, Vice President for Digital Transformation at The World Bank
- Tom Zschach, Chief Innovation Officer at SWIFT
- Dr. Oliver Zahn, Astrophysicist and Data Scientist (formerly with Google/Deepmind, SpaceX, Impossible Foods, and Berkeley’s Cosmology Center)
- Caroline Yap, formerly Global Head of Cloud AI at Google
- Dr. Simran Chana, University of Cambridge / FTL
- Simi Nwogugu, CEO, Junior Achievement Africa
- Connor Fennely, CEO & Founder, Abacus
- Jacqueline Corbelli, CEO, Sustain Chain
- David X. Sánchez, Secretary General, Council of Global Change
- Lena Alfi, CEO, Malala Fund
The DSA is still dedicated to its mission of advancing digital sovereignty, financial inclusion, and the ethical application of technology across the world. By partnering with governments, global organizations, and technology innovators, the DSA aims to develop policy frameworks that safeguard individual freedoms, strengthen national digital security, and broaden access to technological opportunities.
About Digital Sovereignty Alliance
The Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA) is a non-profit, public benefit organization dedicated to promoting public policies that encourage responsible innovation within decentralized technologies, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3, and artificial intelligence. The DSA engages in research, hosts educational events, and advocates for policies that prioritize social good and digital self-determination.
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