Tech Policy Expertise: AI-driven growth & innovation

  • Lian Najami

    Lian Najami is the Head of Trust & Safety Policy for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa at TikTok, where she leads efforts to build inclusive, safety-focused digital policy. A Rhodes Scholar and Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, she brings over a decade of global experience in tech governance, public policy, and advocacy. Lian is a recognised voice on ethical tech, minority rights, and platform accountability.

  • Laveena Iyer

    Laveena is a global technology and telecoms analyst at Economist Intelligence, this is the research and analysis business of The Economist Group. Based in the London office, she delivers industry, geopolitical and macroeconomic insights to clients in the government, corporate and academic sectors. In this role she also oversees client relations and partnerships for corporate clients in India.

    She is a seasoned industry analyst with over a decade of experience and in 2021 Onalytica named her among the industry’s top 10 technology analysts. She is a sought-after public speaker and has presented at conferences in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Her expertise lies in topics such as geopolitics of technology, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, 5G, cybersecurity, digital wallets and sustainability in technology.

    She often shares her comments on industry trends and latest developments with news media such as the BBC, Nikkei Asia, South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera and CNA Singapore. Prior to this role, Laveena covered corporate strategy, start-ups and the tech industry in India as a financial correspondent for a business magazine.

  • Kira Lewis

  • Kir Nuthi

    She holds over seven years of Government Affairs and Tech Policy experience in the US and UK. Kir previously headed up the regulatory portfolio at a UK advocacy group for tech startups and held various public affairs in US tech policy. All involved policy research and campaigns on competition, artificial intelligence, access to data, and pro-innovation regulation.

    Kir has an MSc in International Public Policy from University College London and a BA in both Political Science (International Relations) and Economics from the University of California San Diego.

    Outside of techUK, you are likely to find her attempting studies at art galleries, attempting an elusive headstand at yoga, mending and binding books, or chasing her dog Maya around South London’s many parks.

  • Kemi Adeyanju

    Strategic leader with expertise in legal, public policy, and regulatory compliance, specialising in digital infrastructure (Subsea Cable, Data Center, Space and AI) across EMEA, North America, Asia and Australia. Experienced in managing complex projects, negotiating contracts, and leading diverse teams to secure regulatory approvals. Proven ability to develop and implement strategic partnerships and policies in challenging environments.

    My work bridges the public and private sectors—guiding connectivity projects involving submarine, terrestrial fibre, Satellite, and advocating for regulatory reforms that accelerate digital inclusion.
    I’ve led cross-border compliance efforts, advised on government engagement strategies for emerging tech platforms, and partnered with telecom ministries to align infrastructure projects with national broadband plans. My interests lie at the intersection of technology, governance, and ESG.

    Whether navigating licensing frameworks, supporting blockchain regulatory pilots, or drafting policy briefs on spectrum allocation, space debris or AI, I bring a strategic, evidence-based approach to policy challenges.

  • Kathleen McGrath

    Kathleen McGrath holds the position of Privacy and Data Policy Manager for the Centre for Information Policy Leadership in London. Her work focuses on a range of privacy and data related issues such as in Artificial Intelligence, protecting minors online and data governance. Before joining CIPL, Kathleen worked in Knowledge Management at a silver circle law firm in their data protection and cyber security team where Lovells where she was responsible for conducting long term research, in-depth global horizon scanning and discrete research tasks for lawyers across the world. She produced numerous articles for publications such as the Institute of Privacy Professionals, Privacy Laws and Business and others in global data policy, including UK data protection laws, artificial intelligence, cyber security, and international digital cooperation. She has also previously worked in-house in data protection compliance for large organizations in the auditing industry as well as in the financial industry, where she was responsible for creating accountability processes to ensure the business complied with data protection laws.

  • Kate Hayward

    As the UK Managing Director of Xero, Kate Hayward is at the forefront of a technology-driven revolution in small business finance. Her leadership is dedicated to harnessing the power of Xero’s cloud finance platform to redefine how small firms operate, spearheading an AI-powered shift designed to eliminate hours of administrative burden.

    Kate consistently champions the critical role of digital transformation in empowering businesses to thrive. She has been instrumental in enabling compliance with HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative, leveraging Xero’s robust, cloud-based architecture to simplify what could have been a complex transition. This technological foundation provides real-time financial visibility, seamless bank reconciliation, and automated invoicing, ensuring businesses can manage payments with unprecedented ease and speed.

    Her deep understanding of technology’s practical impact fuels her advocacy. Kate actively addresses the “SME fallacy,” recognising that technology adoption and support must be tailored to the diverse needs of small businesses. She is deeply invested in tackling critical issues such as the digital divide and the need for enhanced financial literacy, extending her efforts to give these vital groups a stronger voice in government and industry discussions, notably through her involvement with initiatives like the Maple Review with Small Business Britain.

    Kate’s worldview is uniquely shaped by her personal and professional journey. Having grown up with a father who ran his own small business, she possesses an innate understanding of the entrepreneurial spirit and its inherent challenges. This lived experience, combined with her rigorous accounting qualifications and strategic roles prior to Xero, provides a robust foundation for her tech-driven, empathetic approach. She sees technology, particularly AI-powered innovations, as the key to freeing entrepreneurs to focus on their core passions, fostering growth and resilience. Through initiatives like the “Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme,” Kate is driving tangible support, demonstrating Xero’s commitment to building a more vibrant and financially robust small business ecosystem across the UK.

  • Justyna Lisinska

    I am a tech policy consultant with experience at the intersection of emerging technologies, innovation, and government. Over the years, I have led on high-level policy events, eg roundtables with MPs, and House of Commons receptions, policy labs helping to shape conversations on critical technology issues.
    My career spans academia, government, and think tanks. I earned a PhD in Web Science from the University of Southampton, during which I worked as a Policy Associate, contributing to evidence-based policy development. I also completed a secondment at the Cabinet Office, gaining firsthand experience in government policy-making. Previously, I served as a Policy Analyst at a leading technology think tank in Washington, D.C., and as a Policy Research Fellow at King’s College London, where I developed the UK’s largest academic programme on autonomous systems.
    I have specialised expertise across both hardware and software, focusing on emerging technology challenges, for example, including AI, autonomous vehicles, semiconductors, and issues around fake news and misinformation.

  • Jessica Zucker

    Jessica Zucker is a senior technology policy leader currently serving as Director of Online Safety Policy at Ofcom, where she co-leads a 120-person team implementing the UK’s groundbreaking Online Safety Act. With over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology, policy, and safety, she has shaped global approaches to safety governance, content moderation, and platform accountability.

    At Ofcom, Jessica manages regulatory frameworks for major tech platforms, pioneered transparency reporting standards, and led crisis response during critical public safety events. Previously, as Head of Misinformation Policy for EMEA at Meta and the global Head of Health Misinformation Policy, she created global policies affecting 2+ billion users and managed high-stakes decisions during COVID-19, elections, and international conflicts.

    Her career spans leadership roles at Microsoft, where she developed cybersecurity strategies and trained over 1,000 election officials across the EU, and the U.S. State Department’s Cyber Policy Office. A Fulbright Scholar and Harvard Kennedy School graduate (M.A. Public Policy), Jessica began her career founding an education nonprofit in South Korea.

    Known for driving organizational transformation and building strategic partnerships, Jessica regularly testifies before Parliament, speaks at major conferences, and serves as a media spokesperson on safety and online harms.

  • Jenny Thornton

    Jenny Thornton is a seasoned professional in strategic partnerships and international development. With a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Cambridge and a deep commitment to human rights, Jenny brings over 15 years of experience bridging technology, policy, and global collaboration.