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techUK talks: Digital Ethics - Are we on the right track?

Name: techUK talks: Digital Ethics - Are we on the right track?
Start: 2021-09-21T11:00:00
End: 2021-09-21T12:00:00
Location: Online

11am – 12pm 21 September 2021 Online Online

Building on the success of last year, techUK’s Tech and Innovation programme are excited to return to London Tech Week with a new series of techUK Talks, a series of conversations with UK tech leaders exploring the key digital technologies that are transformational for the UK economy. #techUKtalks

The countdown to techUK’s fifth Digital Ethics Summit has begun! To kick off the discussion ahead of the annual event on 8 December, this techUK Talks session will bring together leaders in the UK’s digital ethics community to reflect on progress over the past five years, share best practice, and focus on ‘What we need to do now to get the next five years right?’

So far this year we have experienced significant developments across the tech policy landscape, from legislative proposals outlining potential future AI regulation in the EU, to the publication of the National Data Strategy and the anticipation of the National AI Strategy. In parallel, stakeholders from across industry, academia and civil society have been working hard to progress a wide range of initiatives ensuring ethical practices are at the heart of the latest technological developments.

During this session we will consider how much these activities are moving the dial and addressing current key ethical questions, concerns, and challenges. Ahead of the Summit, the panel will also identify some of the biggest ethical challenges on the horizon and assess the digital ethics communities’ preparedness to effectively resolve these issues and create safe and responsible technology that meet the needs of society.

Speakers include:

David Frank, UK Government Affairs Manager, Microsoft
Felicity Burch, Executive Director, Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation
Jen Rodvold, Head of Digital Ethics & Tech for Good, Sopra Steria
Arnav Joshi, Senior Associate and Digital Ethics Lead, Clifford Chance
Chair: Katherine Holden, Head of Data Analytics, AI and Digital ID, techUK

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.

During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.

Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.

Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.

This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.

Email:: [email protected]
LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/

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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.

Laura Foster

Associate Director - Technology and Innovation, techUK

Laura is techUK’s Associate Director for Technology and Innovation.

She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies, including Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies, across the UK. As part of this, she works alongside techUK members and UK Government to champion long-term and sustainable innovation policy that will ensure the UK is a pioneer in science and technology

Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week.

Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.

Email:: [email protected]
LinkedIn:: www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster

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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.

Email:: [email protected]
Phone:: 020 7331 2055
Twitter:: @ChannelSwimSue,@ChannelSwimSue

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Elis Thomas

Programme Manager, Tech and Innovation, techUK

Elis joined techUK in December 2023 as a Programme Manager for Tech and Innovation, focusing on Semiconductors and Digital ID.

He previously worked at an advocacy group for tech startups, with a regional focus on Wales. This involved policy research on innovation, skills and access to finance.

Elis has a Degree in History, and a Masters in Politics and International Relations from the University of Winchester, with a focus on the digitalisation and gamification of armed conflicts.

Email:: [email protected]
Website:: www.techuk.org/
LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elis-thomas-49a1aa1a1/

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Usman Ikhlaq

Programme Manager - Artificial Intelligence, techUK

Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.

His role is to help techUK members of all sizes and across all sectors to adopt AI at scale. This includes identifying the barriers to adoption, considering solutions and how best to maximise AI's potential.

Prior to joining techUK, Usman worked as a policy, government affairs and public affairs professional in the advertising sector. He has also worked in sales and marketing and FinTech.

Usman is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science (MSc), BPP Law School (GDL and LLB) and Queen Mary University of London (BA).

When he isn’t working, Usman enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also has a keen interest in running, reading and travelling.