Policy and Public Affairs
Our Policy and Public Affairs programme brings together industry, government and policymakers to shape decisions affecting UK tech. Through engagement, policy insight and advocacy, we give members a voice in the debates shaping tech's future. Our focus:
- Connecting members across five policy-focused working groups
- Delivering direct engagement with ministers, civil servants and regulators
- Sharing weekly intelligence through the Policy Pulse newsletter
Making the tech sector's voice heard in government.
Our Policy and Public Affairs programme helps members engage directly with government, Parliament and policymakers on the issues shaping the UK's technology sector. We track political developments and build the relationships that get our members' priorities in front of the right people, at the right time.
We convene five working groups covering public policy, digital regulation, data protection, open data and innovation policy - each a forum where members shape techUK's positions before they reach government.
Members can go further by contributing evidence to reports such as 'Spreading Wings: Taking Innovative SMEs Global' and the 'Pro-Growth Regulation report' - both built directly from member evidence, and both used to press government for change.
Getting this right matters: government decisions on AI, digital regulation, data, skills and the wider digital economy shape whether UK tech can compete and grow. That's why Policy and Public Affairs sits behind everything we do, bringing one clear, credible voice to every debate, whichever part of the sector it touches.
Shape UK tech policy
We put the sector's evidence and priorities directly in front of ministers, civil servants and parliamentarians, before decisions are made. Five dedicated working groups turn everyday operational experience into policy positions government can act on.
Get the inside track
Every week, our Policy Pulse newsletter gives the wider sector early sight of political developments, consultations and legislative change. This helps organisations plan ahead and understand the developments shaping the UK's technology policy landscape.
Connect industry and government
Through roundtables, events and evidence-led reports, we bring industry and policymakers together to exchange views and shape policy. These relationships open direct channels into government thinking and give our community a stronger, more coordinated voice.
Shape what's next
Help shape what's next for technology policy in the UK. Through our programmes, you can contribute your expertise, influence policy discussions and help ensure government decisions are informed by the realities of the technology sector.
Upcoming events
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Related insights
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VIEW ALLData Protection Working Group
A cross-industry group working on broad themes around data protection and privacy in the UK and Europe.
Digital Regulation Group
The Digital Regulation Group (DRG) tackles the most pressing regulatory challenges that cut across AI, privacy, online safety and future technologies.
Fraud Working Group
This group is for techUK members who are interested in tackling online fraud.
Growth Council
The Growth Council lead our work on economic growth and act as a sounding board for the Government and MPs as the UK seeks to increase the rate of economic growth by leveraging technology and the UK tech sector.
Public Policy Group
The Public Policy Group is a forum for senior public policy, public affairs and government relations professionals interested in influencing or understanding the policy landscape impacting the technology industry.
Scale-Up Council
Working together to oversee the strategic leadership and direction of techUK's scale-up programme
Programme specialists
Meet the team
Doniya Soni-Clark
Associate Director - Public Affairs
As Associate Director of External Affairs at techUK, Doniya Soni-Clark works at the intersection of technology and government to drive forward UK tech policy. She brings over ten years of experience in building the coalitions needed to solve complex regulatory and technical challenges. Before joining techUK, Doniya held key roles at Multiverse and the Greater London Authority, following a career in public affairs.
Dan Johnston
Head - Public Affairs
Dan leads public affairs at techUK. His work spans parliamentary advocacy, government relations, and political strategy, helping shape the policy and regulatory environment in which UK tech is built and scaled. He joined techUK after seven years advising Dame Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the Treasury and Liaison Select Committees - arguably the most senior backbench role in the Commons. It gave him a ringside seat on how policy is made, contested, and changed. He also serves as a councillor at Merton Council, where he chairs the Planning & Development Committee.
Oliver Alderson
Public Affairs Manager
Oliver is a Public Affairs Manager at techUK, working across the organisation's programmes to support political and parliamentary engagement. He contributes to shaping techUK's regulatory agenda and helps coordinate political outreach, policy projects, and flagship events, including techUK's presence at the party conferences. He joined techUK in November 2023 as a Policy & Public Affairs Assistant, later becoming Junior Policy Manager for Digital Regulation and Public Affairs before stepping into his current role. Alongside this, he has built a range of internal data and AI tools that support the team's engagement work. Oliver holds a Master's in Policy Research from the University of Bristol and a BSc in Policy from Swansea University. During his studies, he contributed to mental health research as a Student Research Assistant for the SMaRteN network. Outside of work, Oliver is a keen debater and remains active in the UK debating community, having previously led the Swansea University Debating Union. Away from that, he's a keen walker, and can usually be persuaded into a long day in the countryside — provided it finishes at a pub.