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Looking to India’s AI impact summit: the UK’s position in the global AI ecosystem Wednesday @ 1:00 PM
Sophie England leads Meta's AI Policy and Partnerships in the UK, where she focusing on partnering through Meta’s open source models with the UK Government to advance AI's role in public service transformation. Since joining Meta in 2018, she has worked on high-profile policy areas ranging from online safety to the metaverse and now open-source AI. Most recently, she developed a first of its kind partnership between academia and government, launching the first open source fellowship programme.
Powering better government: Operationalising AI in the public sector Wednesday @ 1:30 PM
Vinous brings over a decade of experience of Westminster and tech policy to the Startup Coalition. Vinous joins Startup Coalition from Public First where she built the technology practice and then spearheaded the company’s US expansion. She formerly led techUK’s domestic policy work after years working at the heart of Westminster as a political adviser. Vinous sits on the Board of Trustees of the Good Things Foundation and has undertaken a fellowship at Cambridge University’s Centre for Science and Policy.
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vinous-ali
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@vinousali
Steering the rules of the game: Forthcoming consultation, regulation, and legislation Wednesday @ 2:30 PM
Steering the rules of the game: Forthcoming consultation, regulation, and legislation Wednesday @ 2:30 PM
Powering better government: Operationalising AI in the public sector Wednesday @ 1:30 PM
Dr Nicola Hodson was appointed Chair, IBM UK and Ireland, in January 2025. Prior to taking on this role, Dr Hodson served as Chief Executive IBM UK and Ireland, a position she held for two years.
Dr Hodson is an accomplished technology industry leader with a deep understanding of the challenges facing the tech industry, as well as extensive experience in business and digital transformation. In 2023 and again in 2024, Dr Hodson ranked highly in Computer Weekly’s list of the 50 most influential people in UK technology, and in CRN’s 2024 A-List.
Dr Hodson held senior positions at Microsoft for 15 years, including as a global leader of the transformation of the Microsoft commercial sales, marketing and operations business and UK Chief Operating Officer covering its UK commercial and consumer business.
As Deputy President of techUK, the trade association for the IT industry, Dr Hodson has a wide breadth of experience and understanding of the tech sector, from large companies to start-ups, coupled with significant experience in the energy sector. She has extensive Board experience across multiple sectors, including Beazley plc, Drax Group plc, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). She has formerly served as a non-executive at Ofgem, the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) group, as a governor of Bradfield College, and as a director of start-up Bramble Energy.
Dr Hodson previously worked in the IT and business services division of Siemens, at CSC (now DXC), as a management consultant for EY and in the nuclear industry at BNFL.
Dr Hodson holds an MBA and a PhD in Engineering. She is married with three sons and two stepsons, loves outdoor pursuits and is a keen motorbike enthusiast.
Harnessing adoption: Is this the UK’s advantage for AI growth Wednesday @ 9:50 AM
Powering better government: Operationalising AI in the public sector Wednesday @ 1:30 PM
Data infrastructure: Powering the UK’s AI flywheel Wednesday @ 10:50 AM
Bridging the talent gap: From plan to pipeline Wednesday @ 10:50 AM
Phil is currently Chairman of IQE PLC, as well as Chairman of Streeva and Appyway. He is former Chief Executive and Chairman of Cisco UK and Ireland, and former Chairman of InnovateUK and Techskills. Phil is co-chair of the Digital Skills Council and a member of the Digital Economy Council. Additionally he is a Commercial Director of Be The Business, a founding associate of VOCL, and a C-Level Board mentor for Critical Eye. He has an advisory role with Coventry University and is a member of the Corporate Advisory Board of the National Theatre. Phil was awarded a CBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to Technology, Business and Skills and in September 2019 was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering where he chairs the Education and Skills Committee.
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-smith-cbe-a233222
Bridging the talent gap: From plan to pipeline Wednesday @ 10:50 AM
Antony Walker is deputy CEO of techUK, which he played a lead role in launching in November 2013.
Antony is a member of the senior leadership team and has overall responsibility for techUK’s policy work. Prior to his appointment in July 2012 Antony was chief executive of the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), the UK’s independent advisory group on broadband policy. Antony was closely involved in the development of broadband policy development in the UK since the BSG was established in 2001 and authored several major reports to government. He also led the development of the UK’s world leading Open Internet Code of Practice that addresses the issue of net neutrality in the UK. Prior to setting up the BSG, Antony spent six years working in Brussels for the American Chamber of Commerce following and writing about telecoms issues and as a consultant working on EU social affairs and environmental issues. Antony is a graduate of Aberdeen University and KU Leuven and is also a Policy Fellow Alumni of the Centre for Science and Policy at Cambridge University.
Looking to India’s AI impact summit: the UK’s position in the global AI ecosystem Wednesday @ 1:00 PM
Ashley Williams is a Partner and Head of our Technology Group, specialising in cross-border technology transactions and data protection matters for multinational corporations and high-growth technology companies. With over half of his practice dedicated to international matters, Ashley brings deep expertise in navigating the regulatory and commercial complexities that global technology companies face across multiple jurisdictions.
Ashley has extensive experience advising on the roll out and implementation of mission-critical technology initiatives, including large-scale AI and machine learning deployments, enterprise cloud transformations, and global data governance strategies. He regularly leads multi-jurisdictional teams on complex technology transactions, helping clients structure and execute international technology partnerships, cross-border data transfers, and global product launches. As the AI practice lead at Mishcon, Ashley has a particular focus on advising clients on the launch of new AI products and services to market.
His international practice spans advising US, European, and Asia-Pacific technology leaders on UK and EU regulatory compliance, including GDPR implementation, AI governance frameworks, and emerging technology regulations. Ashley's deep understanding of both the commercial imperatives and regulatory landscape facing global technology companies makes him a trusted advisor for organisations seeking to scale their operations internationally.
Ashley Williams is a leading lawyer in this field. He is practical, personable, and fiercely intelligent - a strong lawyer for every AI company to have on its side.
Steering the rules of the game: Forthcoming consultation, regulation, and legislation Wednesday @ 2:30 PM
