Theresa Swinehart

Theresa Swinehart.png
CaricatureComing.jpg
Organization: ICANN
Region: North America
Country: USA
Email: theresa.swinehart [at] icann.org
LinkedIn: LinkedInIcon.png   Theresa Swinehart
Twitter: TwitterIcon.png   @tswinehart
ICANNLogo.png Currently ICANN Staff

Theresa Swinehart is the Senior Advisor to the President on Global Strategy at ICANN. She advocates for the multistakeholder model by working with stakeholders and policy makers globally. She oversees a team responsible for a range of initiatives, including the development of a five-year strategic plan. She as held this position since September of 2013.[1]

Career History

Early Career

Swinehart is a leading advocate for an open and secure internet and an expert in global internet governance and cooperation.

She began her career in the international human rights field, working as an editor and publications consultant to research institutes in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. This primarily focused on an annual report on Human Rights in Developing Countries. The report assessed civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights in relation to developmental aid.[2]

Swinehart then worked as a legal researcher for the International human rights law group, while attending law school at American University Washington College of Law.

After earning her JD, she worked as Director for Global E-Commerce at MCI. Here she worked on emerging international internet issues, including ISP liability, data protection, and MCI's participation in internet related forums, including their role in the formation of ICANN.[3]

Career with ICANN

Swinehart took her first position with ICANN as Vice President of Global and Strategic Partnerships, which she held for nine years.[4] While in this role, her responsibilities included contributions to ICANN reform process, leading the international team, the organzation's strategy for global engagement and outreach, and representing the organization in international forums.[5]

Following this role, she worked as Executive Director of Global Internet Policy for Verizon Communications. She spent her tenure here, focused on emerging issues and stakeholder and policy leader engagement.[6]

Swinehart rejoined ICANN in September 2013, assuming the role of Senior Advisor to the President on Global Strategy.

She has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Internet Society since 2011.[7]

Education

Swinehart earned her BA in International Relations, from University of California, Davis in 1987. She then attended a year of post graduate studies at University of Vienna, studying International Studies.

Then after a break from formal education, spent consulting on the Human Rights in Developing Countries annual report, she attended American University Washington College of Law, earning her JD in 1996.[8]

Interviews

  1. ICANN Profile Accessed on 28 August 2015
  2. LinkedIn
  3. ICANN Profile Accessed on 28 August 2015
  4. LinkedIn
  5. ICANN Profile Accessed on 28 August 2015
  6. ICANN Profile Accessed on 28 August 2015
  7. LinkedIn
  8. LinkedIn