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DID:UNCONF AFRICA, the continent’s leading Open Space unConference dedicated to digital identity, returns to STIAS (Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study) from 24–26 February 2026, following the momentum and impact of its breakthrough 2025 gathering. Hosted by South African identity innovators DIDx, in partnership with the globally renowned Internet Identity Workshop (IIW), the event continues to serve as a catalyst for high-trust, interoperable, human-centred digital identity solutions on the continent.
True to its Open Space format, DID:UNCONF AFRICA 2026 will once again forgo a pre-set agenda. Instead, a participant-driven schedule will be co-created live each morning, enabling policymakers, innovators, engineers, regulators, investors, civil society organisations, and digital rights advocates to tackle the most urgent and emerging challenges in digital identity—including self-sovereign identity, verifiable credentials, interoperability, governance frameworks, and cross-border digital trust.
“The Open Space unConference format breaks away from the top-down approach of conventional conferences. Here, everyone participates, contributes, and builds together—which is precisely what the digital identity ecosystem in Africa needs to truly take shape,” says Gideon Lombard, COO, DIDx
Introducing Keynote Speaker: Karla McKenna — Global Leader in Digital Trust & International Standards
DID:UNCONF AFRICA 2026 is proud to announce Karla McKenna as one of the keynote speakers at this year’s gathering.
Karla McKenna is an internationally respected authority in digital identity governance and financial services standards. As Managing Director, GLEIF Americas, and Head of Standards at the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF), she has been instrumental in leading the development and global implementation of the verifiable Legal Entity Identifier (vLEI)—one of the most significant advancements in organisational digital identity.
Her work focuses on enabling trust in digital interactions through robust, interoperable identity frameworks. She oversees global standards development and ensures the operational integrity and data quality of the Global LEI System, a cornerstone of transparency in global finance.
McKenna’s impressive leadership includes:
- Former Chair of ISO/TC 68 Financial Services, where she guided global standards for more than a decade.
- Co-convenor of the ISO TC 68 Standards Advisory Group on international regulatory interoperability.
- Board roles with the Eurofiling Foundation, KERI Foundation, Trust Over IP Foundation, and Ayra Foundation.
- Past leadership within XBRL International, ISITC, SMPG, and ASC X9.
Her keynote will provide an unparalleled global perspective on how trusted digital identity infrastructures—and the standards that underpin them—can unlock economic opportunity, regulatory alignment, and cross-border trust across Africa.
“GLEIF is pleased to join DID:UNCONF Africa 2026 as a speaker, contributor and sponsor. We look forward to learning from participants about the current state of digital identity across Africa, the progress made since DID:UNCONF Africa 2025, and the challenges that remain. These insights are essential as we continue to expand the role of the verifiable Legal Entity Identifier (vLEI) and explore how it can support decentralized, verifiable organizational identity in the region. We are excited to collaborate, exchange knowledge and contribute to a productive and forward-looking event,” adds McKenna.
What to Expect in 2026
The 2026 programme continues to expand on the event’s core mission of co-creation, collaboration, and ecosystem alignment. In addition to the two days of participatory Open Space sessions, the event features:
Day One Business & Alignment Program
A structured platform enabling corporate, financial, and public-sector stakeholders to engage directly with builders of Africa’s open identity ecosystem.
Women’s Leadership Breakfast
A dedicated forum empowering women shaping digital trust, security, and innovation across Africa.
Sponsor Technology Showcase
A curated exhibition space where African and international companies present live demos, pilots, and identity solutions ready for scale.
The event will once again be facilitated by Heidi Nobantu Saul, a globally respected convenor of identity Open Space forums and a producer of the Internet Identity Workshop. This ensures a high-trust, high-participation environment where attendees actively shape discussions and outcomes.
Tickets for DID:UNCONF AFRICA 2026 are available via Quicket.
For more information, visit www.didunconf.africa. For general enquiries email info@didunconf.africa, and for sponsorship enquiries email sponsor@didunconf.africa.
In an era where trust is a currency and connection is power, DID:UNCONF AFRICA 2026 invites Africa’s thinkers, builders, and decision-makers to step into a shared space of collaboration and possibility. Together, we can craft digital identity solutions that uplift people, unlock opportunity, and reflect the values that matter most across our continent.