ICYMI – Data Sharing: What’s next for Smart Data?

John Penrose

MP

John Penrose was elected MP for Weston-super-Mare in 2005. He is currently Chair of Conservative Policy Forum, and has held a variety of posts since he was elected including PPS to Oliver Letwin, Shadow Business Minister, Tourism & Heritage Minister, Government Whip, Constitution Minister and Northern Ireland Minister.

John Penrose MP led the report “Power to the people: independent report on competition policy” commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in September 2020. In the report, he explores ways to improve consumer protection and promote competition, and makes a wide range of recommendations.

Resham Kotecha

Head of Policy, Open Data Institute

Resham Kotecha is Head of Policy at the ODI where she leads public policy work, along with efforts to work with governments to improve data ecosystems and data policy. Prior to working at the ODI, she worked as the Head of Policy at Wise, a FTSE listed FinTech company, leading policy work across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

John Fitzpatrick

Head of Smart Data, Department for Business and Trade

John Fitzpatrick is the Head of Smart Data for the Department for Business and Trade. He leads the team responsible for the Smart Data clauses in the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill. His team are also supporting Smart Data policy development via a wider programme of work, including the Smart Data council. Prior to working on Smart Data, John led on policies covering Health, Science and Innovation. 

Helen Fairfax-Wall

Head of Digital and Scams Policy, Which?

Helen Fairfax-Wall is a digital policy strategy and implementation specialist with 15 years spanning the public sector, private industry and the third sector.  Her career has included global digital behaviour change impact work with the Department of Health and Number 10 Downing Street.  Helen has specialised in data, digital identity, cyber security and the transformation organisations need to engage with to build safer online products and services.  Her work with public services has been internationally recognised and was featured in the global GovInsider Women in GovTech. Helen moved to Which?, the UK’s consumer champion, in early 2022 to focus on protecting consumers from the growth in digital harms including online fraud, cyber security attacks and data breaches. She is a qualified Data Ethics Professional and champions the use of data to build a barrier of evolving protection between those that intend harm and those who use the internet as part of their daily lives.

Sinead Coogan Jobes

Head of Policy, Sky

Sinead is Head of Policy at Sky where she is involved in leading the company’s policy activity in the UK, with a particular focus on digital, telecoms and consumer issues. Prior to joining Sky, she worked at Virgin Media O2 where she was similarly involved in the company’s public affairs and policy work, and in public affairs consultancy advising a number of leading companies on technology, media and telecoms policy.