Chris Goh – Scaling Mobile IDs in Australia with ISO mDocs
In this episode of The Future of Identity Podcast, I’m joined by Chris Goh, former National Harmonisation Lead for Australia’s mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) and the architect behind Queensland’s digital driver’s license. Chris played a pivotal role in driving national alignment across states and territories, culminating in the 2024 agreement to adopt ISO mDoc/mDL standards for mobile driver’s licenses and photo IDs across Australia and New Zealand.
Our conversation dives into Australia’s path from early blockchain experiments to a unified, standards-based approach – one that balances innovation, security, and accessibility. Chris shares lessons from real-world deployments, cultural challenges like “flash passes,” and how both Australia and New Zealand are building digital ID ecosystems ready for global interoperability.
In this episode we explore:
- Why mDoc became the foundation: Offline + online verification, PKI-based trust, and modular architecture enabling scalable, interoperable credentials.
- From Hyperledger to harmony: Lessons from early decentralized trials and how certification and conformance reduce fragmentation.
- Balancing innovation and standardization: Why agility and stability must coexist to keep identity ecosystems moving forward.
- The cultural realities of adoption: How flash passes, retail constraints, and public education shaped Australia’s rollout strategy.
- The road ahead: How national trust lists, privacy “contracts,” and delegated authority could define the next phase of digital identity in the region.
This episode is essential listening for anyone building or implementing digital credentials, whether you’re a policymaker, issuer, verifier, or technology provider. Chris offers a clear, grounded perspective on what it really takes to move from pilots to national-scale digital identity infrastructure.
Enjoy the episode, and don’t forget to share it with others who are passionate about the future of identity!
Learn more about Valid8 here.
Video timestamps from the Chris Goh interview
You can watch the full video interview on our YouTube channel, or skip to the timestamps below to find the sections that are most interesting to you.
1:19 – Chris shares his experience with mDLs
2:48 – Chris shares about his work at the Department of Transport in Australia
6:49 – How the mDoc format was chosen for Australia
6:57 – Fragmentation within the identity space similar to blockchain a fews years ago
19:36 – Exploring the various kinds of identities
24:31 – Top down versus bottoms up approach to digital ID
30:09 – Landscape of digital IDs in Australia and New Zealand
37:07 – Should consumers be protected from malicious relying parties
41:53 – Thoughts on how the wallet landscape with play out
46:26 – Overview of Australia and New Zealand and what Chris is working on now at Valid8
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