Read techUK's updates from Day 5 of the AI Impact Summit, New Delhi.
Day 5 brought the AI Impact Summit to a fitting close, with a morning of deep policy discussions and an afternoon of celebration, reflection, and farewells in the UK pavilion. After a week of intense engagement, the final day underscored the central themes that have defined the summit: inclusion, skills, trust, and the recognition that AI governance must be a truly global endeavour.
The day kicked off with a breakfast meeting hosted by KPMG at Goals House, focused on enterprise AI adoption. The conversation was wide-ranging and candid, touching on the importance of trust as the foundation for AI deployment at scale, what different sectors can learn from one another, and the critical role of skills and talent in determining who benefits from AI. One observation emerged early: this summit has been markedly different in character from Paris.
While the Paris AI Action Summit drew around 3,000 attendees, New Delhi welcomed over 300,000 people, including a visible and energised cohort of young people and students. The scale and openness of this summit has captured the imagination of the nation in a way that previous summits did not, reinforcing India's commitment to making AI a conversation for everyone, not just elites.
The discussion also emphasised that guardrails must be in place no matter what, and that the thread of exclusion remains a live issue. As AI becomes a national conversation, it must be aligned with existing ESG frameworks. Many of the challenges being discussed around AI, dual-use risks, equity, accountability, are already reflected in ESG, and the integration of AI governance into these established structures is essential.
As one participant noted, all technology is a double-edged sword: it can be used to help, but we also have threat actors. The importance of the human element was a recurring theme, with the Head of UN Global Impact present to reinforce that we are all co-creators of AI's future. Later in the morning, techUK convened a timely panel discussion on "Rightsizing Governance in an AI-Driven World," exploring how countries can collaborate to ensure AI development is both equitable and innovation-friendly. Moderated by Sabina Ciofu, International Policy and Strategy Lead at techUK, the panel brought together Raffi Krikorian from Mozilla, Isabella Wilkinson from Chatham House, Rajesh Nambiar from NASSCOM, and Halak Shrivastava from Cohere to examine the geopolitical, technical, and institutional dimensions of global AI governance.
The conversation centred on a shared challenge: how to expand access to compute, data, and regulatory capacity without deepening digital divides or fragmenting standards across jurisdictions. Panelists emphasised that effective AI governance must move beyond high-level principles towards practical cooperation — through interoperable standards, pooled infrastructure models, skills development, and public-private partnerships.
From open ecosystem design choices that lower barriers to entry, to the role of international coalitions in aligning risk management approaches, the discussion highlighted concrete pathways for "levelling the playing field" for emerging and smaller states. Across sectors including healthcare, education, and climate resilience, speakers underscored that governance frameworks should enable responsible innovation, strengthen institutional capacity, and foster long-term capability — ensuring that countries at different stages of AI maturity can participate in shaping the global AI landscape.
Meanwhile, techUK’s Director of Tech and Innovation Sue Daley sat on a NASSCOM-hosted panel on AI and workforce transformation, titled "AI and Workforce Transformation: India's Roadmap to Global Competitiveness." The session examined how AI is reshaping jobs, skills, and productivity, and how India can convert this disruption into a lasting strategic advantage.
The discussion focused on building inclusive, AI-native talent pipelines through skilling, reskilling, vernacular learning, and industry-academia collaboration. Joining Sue on the panel were Ravi Aurora, Senior Vice President of Global Public Policy & Government Affairs at Mastercard, and Srikrishna Ramakarthikeyan, CEO & Executive Director of Hexaware, both techUK members. The session brought together policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and technology SMEs to identify actionable pathways to position India as the world's most trusted, resilient, and globally competitive AI talent hub by 2030.
The afternoon saw a fitting reunion and send-off in the UK pavilion, with talks and recordings of Vox Pop reflections (video coming soon) celebrating the week's achievements and spotlighting UK businesses. The UK's Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy MP visited the UK pavilion where our delegates spoke to him about their work, all shaking hands, some asking for selfies — good to be in discussion.
The pavilion welcomed two firesides with UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan MP in dialogue with the CEO of Cognizant, as well as representatives from Fractile, spotlighting the strength and breadth of the UK AI ecosystem. It was a warm and energising close to a week that has been as demanding as it has been rewarding.
As the summit drew to a close, the techUK delegation reflected on a week that has shifted the global AI conversation. This was the first AI summit hosted in the Global South, and it has succeeded in centering the voices, needs, and ambitions of global majority countries in a way that previous summits have not. The scale, inclusivity, and energy of the New Delhi summit — with over 300,000 attendees, a visible youth presence, and a relentless focus on impact over abstraction, set a new benchmark for what these convenings can achieve.
The themes that have emerged over five days are clear: AI governance must be practical, inclusive, and globally coordinated. Skills and talent are not peripheral concerns but foundational to ensuring AI's benefits are broadly shared. Trust, assurance, and evidence-based frameworks are what will allow AI to scale responsibly. And the UK-India partnership, strengthened through this week's engagements, is proving to be a crucial axis in shaping a future where AI serves everyone.
For techUK and the 21 member companies represented on the ground in New Delhi, this summit has been an opportunity to engage, learn, advocate, and build relationships that will shape the next phase of international AI cooperation. The conversations don't end here, they begin here. And the work continues.
We will have an insight with you shortly which highlights all of the key outcomes.
The AI Impact Summit in New Delhi represents a pivotal moment in the global AI dialogue, marking the first time this summit series will be hosted in a developing economy.
Sabina Ciofu is International Policy and Strategy Lead at techUK, where she heads the International Policy and Trade Programme. Based in Brussels, she shapes global tech policy, digital trade, and regulatory cooperation across the EU, US, Canada, Asia-Pacific, and the Gulf region. She drives strategy, advocacy, and market opportunities for UK tech companies worldwide, ensuring their voice is heard in international policy debates.
With nearly a decade of previous experience as a Policy Advisor in the European Parliament, Sabina brings deep expertise in tech regulation, trade policy, and EU–US relations. Her work focuses on navigating and influencing the global digital economy to deliver real impact for members.
A passionate community-builder, Sabina co-founded Young Professionals in Digital Policy (800+ members) and now runs Old Professionals in Digital Policy (more experience, better wine, earlier nights). She is also the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club, a network of 500+ women supporting each other with kindness.
She holds advisory roles with the UCL European Institute, Café Transatlantique (a network of women in transatlantic tech policy), and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club for women.
Recognised by ComputerWeekly as one of the most influential women in UK tech, Sabina is also a sought-after public speaker on tech, trade and diversity.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
Senior Programme Manager in Digital Ethics and AI Safety, techUK
Tess Buckley
Senior Programme Manager in Digital Ethics and AI Safety, techUK
Tess is a digital ethicist and musician. After completing a MA in AI and Philosophy, with a focus on ableism in biotechnologies, she worked as an AI Ethics Analyst with a dataset on corporate digital responsibility (paid for by investors that wanted to understand their portfolio risks). Tess then supported the development of a specialised model for sustainability disclosure requests. Currently, at techUK, her north star as programme manager in digital ethics and AI safety is demystifying, and operationalising ethics through assurance mechanisms and standards. Outside of Tess's work, her primary research interests are in AI music systems, AI fluency and tech by/for differently abled folks.
She holds over seven years of Government Affairs and Tech Policy experience in the US and UK. Kir previously headed up the regulatory portfolio at a UK advocacy group for tech startups and held various public affairs in US tech policy. All involved policy research and campaigns on competition, artificial intelligence, access to data, and pro-innovation regulation.
Kir has an MSc in International Public Policy from University College London and a BA in both Political Science (International Relations) and Economics from the University of California San Diego.
Outside of techUK, you are likely to find her attempting studies at art galleries, attempting an elusive headstand at yoga, mending and binding books, or chasing her dog Maya around South London's many parks.
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International Trade Conference 2026 | Time to Trade: Taking UK Tech to the World in 2026
On 3 March, we will bring together tech experts, policy makers, academics and thought leaders at techUK’s flagship International Policy & Trade Conference
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Sabina Ciofu is International Policy and Strategy Lead at techUK, where she heads the International Policy and Trade Programme. Based in Brussels, she shapes global tech policy, digital trade, and regulatory cooperation across the EU, US, Canada, Asia-Pacific, and the Gulf region. She drives strategy, advocacy, and market opportunities for UK tech companies worldwide, ensuring their voice is heard in international policy debates.
With nearly a decade of previous experience as a Policy Advisor in the European Parliament, Sabina brings deep expertise in tech regulation, trade policy, and EU–US relations. Her work focuses on navigating and influencing the global digital economy to deliver real impact for members.
A passionate community-builder, Sabina co-founded Young Professionals in Digital Policy (800+ members) and now runs Old Professionals in Digital Policy (more experience, better wine, earlier nights). She is also the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club, a network of 500+ women supporting each other with kindness.
She holds advisory roles with the UCL European Institute, Café Transatlantique (a network of women in transatlantic tech policy), and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club for women.
Recognised by ComputerWeekly as one of the most influential women in UK tech, Sabina is also a sought-after public speaker on tech, trade and diversity.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Daniel Clarke
Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
Before joining the Team, she gained experience working as an Intern in both campaign support for MPs and Councilors during the 2024 Local and General Election, and working for the Casimir Pulaski Foundation on defence and international secuirty. She has worked for multiple charities, on issues such as the climate crisis, educational inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). In 2023, Tess obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
Programme Manager, Digital Ethics and AI Safety, techUK
Tess is the Programme Manager for Digital Ethics and AI Safety at techUK.
Prior to techUK Tess worked as an AI Ethics Analyst, which revolved around the first dataset on Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR), and then later the development of a large language model focused on answering ESG questions for Chief Sustainability Officers. Alongside other responsibilities, she distributed the dataset on CDR to investors who wanted to further understand the digital risks of their portfolio, she drew narratives and patterns from the data, and collaborate with leading institutes to support academics in AI ethics. She has authored articles for outlets such as ESG Investor, Montreal AI Ethics Institute, The FinTech Times, and Finance Digest. Covered topics like CDR, AI ethics, and tech governance, leveraging company insights to contribute valuable industry perspectives. Tess is Vice Chair of the YNG Technology Group at YPO, an AI Literacy Advisor at Humans for AI, a Trustworthy AI Researcher at Z-Inspection Trustworthy AI Labs and an Ambassador for AboutFace.
Tess holds a MA in Philosophy and AI from Northeastern University London, where she specialised in biotechnologies and ableism, following a BA from McGill University where she joint-majored in International Development and Philosophy, minoring in communications. Tess’s primary research interests include AI literacy, AI music systems, the impact of AI on disability rights and the portrayal of AI in media (narratives). In particular, Tess seeks to operationalise AI ethics and use philosophical principles to make emerging technologies explainable, and ethical.
Outside of work Tess enjoys kickboxing, ballet, crochet and jazz music.
On 11 September, techUK held a workshop from 9:30 to 12:30 with DSIT’s Responsible Technology Adoption Unit (RTA), featuring an address from Felicity Burch, Director of RTA and facilitation by Nuala Polo, AI Assurance Lead of RTA with attendance from techUK’s Digital Ethics working group members. This session allowed for testing and feedback on a forthcoming assurance tool set for public consultation in Autumn 2024.
The International AI Safety Report 2026 has been released today on 3 February 2026, marking the second iteration of the most comprehensive global assessment of artificial intelligence capabilities, risks, and safety measures.
