Mr. Paul Mitchell is the current Chair of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group.
In nearly 30 years at Microsoft Paul held diverse roles spanning numerous products and technologies: digital programing tools including Microsoft’s first C++ development system, the launch of MSN, Microsoft’s digital television platforms including Mediaroom, numerous media standards, digital rights management systems for content protection, and wireless technologies.
He has strong skills in strategy, planning, policy development and diplomacy, and people management. He has led successful marketing, program management, and engineering teams – including global teams with staff spanning multiple time zones - in the UK, China, France, Finland, Singapore, and Switzerland.
Paul is a co-inventor on nineteen issued US patents related to wireless communications. He led the team that developed Microsoft’s TV White Space trial programs with the goal of making Internet access possible for those that remain unconnected today.
Paul previously led Microsoft’s work on Internet Governance, including working with the International Telecommunication Union, the Internet Governance Forum, the Internet and Jurisdiction Project, and ICANN on Internet policy issues since 2012, participating in numerous international conferences and associated preparatory work across all three sectors, and he served as a Commissioner on the ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development for many years.
