Tech Policy Expertise: AI-driven growth & innovation

Elise Soucie Watts

Elise is the Executive Director of Global Digital Finance (GDF), board member, and also board advisor to several firms on policy & regulatory issues. She is also the co-host of the podcast The Outside Context which considers how technology is impacting the future of civilisation.

Previously, she was at the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), leading Digital Assets and Data Strategy work, and prior to that she worked at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), across both their Technology, Resilience and Cyber Division. and International Division.

Named ‘Next Generation Leader of the Year’ at the 2022 Women in Finance Awards UK, and part of the Innovate Finance Standout 45 on the Women in Fintech Powerlist 2024 as a Regulatory and Policy Expert, Elise’s dual public and private sector experience positions her to lead both regulatory advocacy and contribute technical knowledge to support the growth of the digital finance ecosystem.
Elena Sinel
Dr Hannah Shimko

Hannah is the Managing Director of the Gift Card and Voucher Association (GCVA). She is responsible for the running of the trade association and delivery of the GCVA mission to promote and protect the gift card sector. She is also the co-founder of the Women in Tech Policy Network.

Hannah comes from a career running trade associations, previously as CEO of the Online Dating Association and prior to that as Head of Policy and Comms at the Heritage Alliance.

She has spent many years on the coalface of advocacy and public relations developing collaborative relationships with government and media as well as influencing key decisions. For the last 5 years, her work has focused on different parts of the tech space, initially online dating, encompassing online safety, digital competition, data protection and cybersecurity, while she now focuses on fintech, payments, and anti-fraud technology.

She also has a long career of experience working with members and membership organisations, connecting industry professionals with each other and wider stakeholders.

She holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham.
Dr Erin Young

Dr. Erin Young is Head of Innovation and Technology Policy at the Institute of Directors where she leads the IoD’s policy, strategy and thought leadership work on technology, science and innovation. Before joining the IoD, Erin was Project Co-Lead and Research Fellow in Public Policy at The Alan Turing Institute, where her work influenced the UK’s National AI Strategy and AI Opportunities Action Plan. Previously, Erin held positions at the UN in Paris, WPP in London, MediaX at Stanford University, and Thomson Reuters in New York City. She sits on the Strategy Steering Board for the City of London Corporation’s Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce and advises the Hg Foundation on AI, inequalities and skills. Erin holds a BA from the University of Cambridge, an MSc in Education (Learning and Technology) from the University of Oxford, a PGC in International Business Practice, Finance and Organisational Behaviour, and a DPhil in Science and Technology Studies from the University of Oxford.
Dr Claire Thorne

Claire is Adviser and Venture Partner at Deep Science Ventures, co-founding and now scaling the Venture Science Directorate. She serves on the Council of The Foundation for Science and Technology, is a member of the Sutton Trust’s Tech Future Taskforce and techUK’s TechSkills Advisory Board. She is also co-Chief Executive Officer of a ‘tech for good’ scale-up, an industry-backed charity tackling the UK’s tech skills gap: Tech She Can.

Claire regularly speaks at London Tech Weeks, Mobile World Congress, Accenture and Infosys’ client conferences, and contributes to publications in Computing, The Guardian and with the Tony Blair Institute.

What drives me: social justice and opportunity for all
Passionate about equitable pathways, skills, R&D policy, and STEM education and research
Her background is in innovation strategy at UK universities: shaping Imperial’s 23-acre White City innovation district, and operating a #1 university business incubator. Claire holds a PhD in Astroparticle Physics on dark matter from Imperial College London.
Doris Li

Doris is a technology policy leader with experience shaping regulatory approaches to emerging technologies and designing frameworks that center safety and accessibility. She is currently a Tech Policy Manager at Ofcom, where she leads projects and programs for regulating generative AI under the Online Safety Act. Prior to Ofcom, she spent several years at Meta as a Senior Product & Regulatory Operations Specialist, where she managed a global safety program to combat the abuse of content moderation systems. As Meta’s Inclusive Product Council Member, she evaluated company priority products against safety and accessibility standards to provide guidance for research, engineering, and product teams innovating in AI and the Metaverse.

In addition to her day-to-day work, Doris is an Inclusion Advisor to Open Data Institute’s Solid Initiative, an open-source project which reimagines data use and sharing, and regularly volunteers with organisations promoting diversity in tech spaces, including Women in Data. She is passionate about bridging policy, product, and community engagement to amplify historically underrepresented voices in the development and governance of data-driven technologies.
Doniya Soni-Clark

Doniya Soni‑Clark is a senior policy and public affairs leader working at the forefront of technology, education, and workforce transformation. As Head of Policy & Public Affairs at Multiverse, she has led initiatives to expand access to tech apprenticeships, secure Degree Awarding Powers for the organisation, and influence national policy on skills and education reform. Doniya is a passionate advocate for inclusive access to learning and careers—especially for those historically excluded from traditional pathways. Her work bridges the gap between innovation and impact, shaping a more equitable future of work.
Dani Dhiman

Dani joined Formation Advisory in 2024, bringing a deep expertise in tech policy and digital regulation. Over her career, she has advised tech companies, startups, regulators, and policymakers around the world on emerging digital regulation issues at the forefront of technological innovation. Dani has held a range of policy, research and technical roles at organisations such as the UK’s largest tech trade body, techUK, Vodafone Group, Digital Catapult, and Starling Bank. Dani currently serves on the AI Futures Council for the generative AI startup, Synthesia.
Dana Poponete

Dana is a Manager for Access Partnership’s Data Governance team. She covers AI, data, online safety, digital identity, and telecommunications policy issues across the UK and EU, as well as at Member State levels. Dana supports clients in assessing risks and opportunities to business interests and helps clients navigate complex policy landscapes.

Prior to joining Access Partnership, Dana was a Political and Security Analyst at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.

Dana is passionate about sustainable development both professionally and personally. She holds a Double MA in Asian and European Affairs from King’s College London and Renmin University of China, as well as a BA in Political Economy from King’s College London.
Cristina Rosemberg