About me

I am an expert in data and AI, from technology, to governance, strategy, and public policy.

I am the founder and Executive Director of Connected by Data, an initiative that campaigns to put community at the centre of data narratives, practices and policies so they have a powerful say in decisions about data. I undertake this work as a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, adjunct Professor at Southampton’s Web Science Institute, and Shuttleworth Foundation Fellow.

I was CEO at the Open Data Institute, where I held leadership roles for nine years and worked with companies and governments to build an open, trustworthy data ecosystem. There, I developed and directed the ODI’s approach to topics such as open data, data governance, data portability and data institutions, as well as leading research, development and advisory work in sectors ranging from health and climate to agriculture and engineering.

Before joining ODI, I worked as an independent consultant, specialising in open data publishing and consumption. I was the technical architect and lead developer behind legislation.gov.uk and worked on the initial development of data.gov.uk. I have a long-standing interest in open and web standards and served on the W3C's Technical Architecture Group.

Among other previous roles, I was the co-chair of the Data Governance Working Group at the Global Partnership on AI; an Associated Researcher at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy; and a member of the Boards of the Open Contracting Partnership, Ada National College for Digital Skills, and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data.

I sit on the Board of Creative Commons and the Information Law and Policy Centre. I have a PhD in AI and an OBE for services to technology and open data. I love Lego and board games and am the proud co-creator of the open data board game, Datopolis.