Press Release — January 1, 2020
PALO ALTO, CA — People-Centered Internet (PCI)today is announcing the appointment of a new board chair and the addition of a new member to its Board of Directors:
PCI cofounder, Mei Lin Fung, begins her term as board chair on January 1, 2020, stepping into the role previously held by cofounder, Vinton G. Cerf. Fung is a pioneer in the field of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and was one of the two-person skunkworks team that developed “OASIS,” the first CRM system. She chairs the Industry Connections Social Impact Measurement Working Group in the Standards Association of the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the Assessment Committee within IEEE’s Humanitarian Activities Committee. She represents PCI on the UN EQUALSpartnership and GIGAschools connectivity project led by UNICEF and the ITU. She served on the Digital Economy and Society Global Future Council which produced the report launched by the World Economic Forum at the 2018 People-Centered Digital Future conference in San Jose. Mei Lin is cofounder and chair of Impact Network.
Linton Wells II joins the PCI board as Secretary. Wells is the Executive Advisor to the Center for Resilient and Sustainable Communities (C-RASC) at George Mason University, where he also chairs the Advisory Group of the C4I and Cyber Center. In 2018, he worked with PCI to provide recommendations of digital “courses of action” for Puerto Rico’s post-hurricane recovery plan. He brings over 50 years of experience in public service, including 26 years as an officer in the US Navy and senior DoD civilian appointments by Presidents Clinton and GW Bush. His numerous writings and research have focused on the application of American military capabilities to global humanitarian operations and building community resilience in the face of technical change and natural and man-made disasters. He is founder of the STAR-TIDES global knowledge-sharing network.
Dr. Vint Cerf, cofounder of PCI said,
“It has been a privilege to serve as chairman of PCI and to work with Mei Lin, David A. Bray and Marci Harris on the board and others in the PCI Community. Mei Lin ignited the PCI effort and will bring energy, leadership and vision to the work that PCI has started. I am extremely happy to see Dr. Lin Well’s ascent to board membership. He has a solid track record of accomplishment in areas of great interest to the Internauts of PCI.”
PCI Chair and cofounder, Mei Lin Fung, said,
“I am honored to take this new position, following in the tremendous footsteps of our founding chair, Vint Cerf, to continue PCI’s work towards an Internet of, by, and for the People. As a Singaporean, I understand that diverse people working together for the common good can achieve amazing outcomes. Drawing inspiration from my work with Douglas Engelbart (2000–2004) and lessons from the early days of CRM, I understand that through shared learning, networked communities, and human relationships, we can harness technology for our common global good.”
ABOUT PEOPLE-CENTERED INTERNET
People-Centered Internet (PCI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization working to ensure that the Internet is a positive force for good, improving the lives and well-being of people around the world. This includes promoting connectivity, fighting disinformation, contributing to the discussion about technology ethics, supporting the development of people-centered applications and initiatives, advising policymakers, and leveraging technology to help communities be more resilient.