Maureen Hilyard is the Chair of the Board of the Pacific Islands Chapter of the Internet Society (PICISOC). As the PICISOC Board Chair since 2011, she has been able to introduce ICT for Development (ICT4D) issues and needs of small Pacific Island nations into discussions with ISOC and ICANN constituency groups, as well as at Pacific, regional and international IGF multi-stakeholder meetings. There are currently over 800 members, with 25% residing outside of the Pacific Islands but providing valuable support and advice to the Chapter.
She founded a local NGO, the Cook Islands Internet Action Group, to lobby for quality internet services and appropriate governance structures in the Cook Islands as well as to support and mentor Cook Islands IT graduates. Her interest in the internet initially came about through her involvement with Distance Education in 1989 working with rural students in New Zealand and then in 2004 with students in isolated island environments in the Cook Islands.
Maureen also has a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Management. Following her work with the Ministry of Education from 2004 to 2007, she has managed various development projects for the Office of the Prime Minister (eGovernment) and the National Environment Service (POPs and eWaste), and worked with NZAid donors as a Development Programme Coordinator. She is currently the Outer Islands eLearning Coordinator with the University of the South Pacific.
