Marilyn Cade

Marilyn Cade (November 24, 1947 – November 3, 2020) was an Internet activist and one of the co-founders of ICANN.

Education Cade received a Master of Social Work in Organizational Development from Saint Louis University.

Career Cade started her career in the 1970s as a social worker in Missouri,

Cade was appointed to support AT&T's participation in the International Telecommunication Union Secretary General's High Level Expert Group on Cyber Security in early 2008.

Cade helped to found and lead numerous industry coalitions and initiatives, ranging from e-commerce, copyright and trademark, cyber crime, child safety online, and internet governance. Her leadership was paramount in the restructuring of the Ad Hoc Copyright Coalition, the Online Privacy Alliance and GetNetWise.

2000s After retiring from AT&T, Cade founded a consulting business, mCADE ICT Strategies. She advised organizations such as the World Information Technology and Services Alliance about international internet policy matters.

Activism

She was also Chief Catalyst at the Internet Governance Forum USA. Cade emphasized what was called the "multi-stakeholder model" of internet governance, working to maximize inclusive policymaking and taking an active role in mentoring.

Awards Cade was posthumously awarded the 2021 ICANN Community Excellence Award, alongside Rafik Dammak.

Personal life Cade grew up in the rural town of Ava, Missouri with one sister who died in 2016.