Harnessing AI to reduce inequality and boost social mobility

Adrian Joseph

Board Member, Public Speaker and AI Advisor,

Adrian recently served as the Chief Data and AI Officer at BT Group until August 2023, spearheading a team of 1,600 professionals in data, cloud and AI to transform the Group's digital capability, rapidly and safely accelerating value delivery.

Prior to BT he was a senior Partner at Ernst & Young and Head of the Data, Cloud and AI practice for Financial Services UK. He joined EY with over ten year’s cloud, digital, platform and data science experience gained in senior leadership roles at Google.

In his capacity as a Non-Executive Director he has served on the UK government's Home Office Board, the Cabinet Office People Board, and on the Board of Business in the Community, where he chaired the Race Equality Board for five years. He also offered his insights as an Expert Member of the UK AI Council, advising on the national AI strategy until June 2023.

Currently, Adrian is a Non-Executive Director at Direct Line Insurance Group plc, Allwyn Entertainment (UK National Lottery operator) and at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

His contributions to promoting equality and diversity in business were recognised with an OBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List. He holds a degree in econometrics, an MBA with distinction and an honorary doctorate in business management.

Nimmi Patel

Head of Skills, Talent and Diversity, techUK

Nimmi Patel is the Head of Skills, Talent and Diversity at techUK. She works on all things skills, education, and future of work policy, focusing on upskilling and retraining. Nimmi is also an Advisory Board member of Digital Futures at Work Research Centre (digit). The Centre research aims to increase understanding of how digital technologies are changing work and the implications for employers, workers, job seekers and governments.

Prior to joining the techUK team, she worked for the UK Labour Party and New Zealand Labour Party, and holds an MA in Strategic Communications at King’s College London and BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Manchester. She is currently taking part in the 2024-25 University of Bath Institute for Policy Research Policy Fellowship Programme.

: https://www.techuk.org/skills-talent-and-diversity-programme.html
: nimmi-patel1/
: @nimmiptl

Lynne Peabody

Chief Executive, EY Foundation

Lynne joined the EY Foundation in March 2014 ahead of the charity’s launch in July of that year. Before becoming CEO, Lynne was a member of the Leadership team, with responsibility for the charity’s strategic partnerships and collaborations, the diversification of income streams and expanding work with employers.

Lynne has supported the charity to raise over £4m in independent funds and scale our reach to over 20,000 young people. With over 15 years experience in social change and sustainability, Lynne has developed award winning community programmes, sustainability initiatives and NGO partnerships with companies as diverse as Hogan Lovells and Kuoni. 

John Walker

Youth Advisory Board Member, EY Foundation

John is an alumna of EY Foundation programmes, current university student and EY Foundation Youth Advisory Board Member. He's passionate about technology and improving social mobility in the UK.