28 Sep 2021

Watch now: A new era of UK data governance - what are the opportunities and challenges ahead

Watch the #techUKtalks session on A new era of UK data governance from London Tech Week below.

This year at London Tech Week, techUK returned with its online series #techUKTalks, a series of conversations with UK tech leaders exploring the key digital technologies that are transformational for the UK economy.

This session explored A new era of UK data governance - what are the opportunities and challenges ahead?

Speakers Included:

Richard Cumbley, TMT Partner and Global Head of TMT, Linklaters
Clinton Hook, Director Data Governance, Experian
Chaired by Sue Daley, Director tech & innovation, techUK

Watch now:

Following the granting of data adequacy by the EU, the publication of the UK’s National Data Strategy and the upcoming appointment of a new Information Commissioner, ahead is a potential new, yet undefined, era for data governance in the UK. So, what could this future hold and where are the opportunities for the UK to position itself as a global pioneer in achieving a data governance system underpinned by solid principles and able to flex and evolve to maintain trust as new technologies emerge.  Given the importance of data protection and privacy laws to building public trust and confidence, as well as the ongoing global debates over data governance, what are the challenges ahead that industry, government and all of us need to consider as this new era evolves.

As the UK begins to consider what a post Brexit future of data governance could and should look like, this techUK Talks session at London Tech Week will hear from leading data experts on what they see as important to get right and what could be the pitfalls ahead where the UK cannot afford to get this wrong.

Tess Buckley

Programme Manager - Digital Ethics and AI Safety, techUK

A digital ethicist and musician, Tess holds a MA in AI and Philosophy, specialising in ableism in biotechnologies. Their professional journey includes working as an AI Ethics Analyst with a dataset on corporate digital responsibility, followed by supporting the development of a specialised model for sustainability disclosure requests. Currently at techUK as programme manager in digital ethics and AI safety, Tess focuses on demystifying and operationalising ethics through assurance mechanisms and standards. Their primary research interests encompass AI music systems, AI fluency, and technology created by and for differently abled individuals. Their overarching goal is to apply philosophical principles to make emerging technologies both explainable and ethical.

Sue Daley OBE

Director, Technology and Innovation

Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.

This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy.

In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List.

She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.

A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK, Sue was co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum until July 2024. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards.

Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.