Tech Policy Expertise: Digital competition/anti-trust

  • Shruti Kakade

    Shruti Kakade is an Master of Data Science student at the Hertie School. Having a background in Computer engineering, she is interested in AI Ethics, Digital Governance, Responsible AI & related regulations.

  • Sabrina Steele

    I am passionate about navigating and influencing digital policy as I think it offers an interesting mix of existing and new policies. For example, I enjoy how it offers the opportunity to build evidence and create novel solutions or apply existing legislation/regulations where they work in a similar sector.

    I currently work as a senior associate at Inline Policy, providing policy and regulatory analysis and political strategy for innovative tech businesses across the tech sector. I previously worked at the ICO where I led on data protection and generative AI, engaging with and influencing some of the largest tech firms. Prior to this, I worked at DSIT on various digital related policy areas including the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill.

  • Pollyanna Tassell

    I have spent the last 5 years leading the legal functions in high growth scaling two-sided marketplaces, specifically Checkatrade and Carwow, both of whom exist to make it easier to make high value transactions (new roofs, new cars) in industries which traditionally carry low levels of trust. I have a passionate interest in using tech to enable a better consumer experience.

    I also lobbied for the DMCCA to be passed from a digital markets perspective, to ensure that the markets start-up and scale-up companies found themselves in were fair and enabled innovation.

    As an in-house lawyer, my job previously revolved around contract reviews, but now the regulatory landscape is rapidly changing, with new regulations around Consumer Protection, AI, Data, Digital Markets etc, my role now is to keep my business in front of those changes and make they are implemented for the benefit of the company I work for and the businesses and consumers we serve. As a result, I have have been happily thrust into the world of policy, so I can capitalise on the opportunities provided by being in the right conversations at the right time.

  • Navneet Gidda

    Navneet is a multidisciplinary strategic communications expert. She has led political communications strategies, across digital and traditional media, for charities, elected representatives, and think tanks.

    Navneet’s work and personal ethos are influenced by the history of art, literature, and moral philosophy. She is interested in narrative in public policy, and particularly how absurd and dystopian stories inform how governments imagine the future. Navneet’s current research interests lie in the realm of emerging AI technologies, corporate misconduct, and the global governance of big tech. In her work, she considers how nations can regulate – and provide new public imaginaries – about AI technologies that are disrupting the way we live and threatening our civil liberties.

    Navneet’s work bridges the gap between communications, governance, and the law to push back against big tech’s visions of the future, and produce tech policy that truly works for people.

  • Mina Mohammadi

    Mina Mohammadi is a data journalist and researcher. She currently works as an AI Policy Program Manager at the Mozilla Foundation. Prior to this, she worked as a Data Analyst at Google News Initiative. She holds a Masters of Science from the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford, and a Bachelors from New York University. Mina’s main research interests exist at the intersection of privacy-enhancing tech (PETs), tech workers rights and computational social science methods.

  • 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.

  • Kelli Fairbrother

    Kelli is co-founder and CEO of xigxag, an innovative audiobook challenger platform based in Cornwall. xigxag is driving first-ever innovation in the audiobook market, building an exciting alternative to big tech and making books more accessible, engaging and sustainable.

    She also sits on the Board of the Cumberland Building Society, a leading community bank in the northwest of England / south of Scotland. Before xigxag, she was COO at sustainable print-tech startup Gelato, President of the International Business of Deluxe digital media and Group Strategy Director at Whitbread.

    Kelli is a US/UK dual national, calling the UK home for nearly 20 years.

  • Helen Sithole

    Helen Sithole, the Legal and ICT Policy Officer for MISA Zimbabwe, is a dedicated legal professional with extensive experience in policy research, tech law, and information rights. Having recently completed a Master’s degree in Intellectual Property & Technology Law, she brings solidified expertise in emerging areas such as AI governance, data privacy, and digital ethics. Her background positions her as a crucial voice in shaping the future of responsible technological advancement, particularly concerning digital human rights and the intersection of technology with societal well-being. She is particularly passionate about translating complex legal concepts into accessible policy recommendations that foster innovation while safeguarding individual liberties in the digital realm.

  • 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.

  • Danushi Peiris

    I am a Regulatory Affairs Manager at a leading UK internet service provider (ISP), focussing on digital policy and regulation, including cloud services, digital markets, content distribution and net neutrality. I have an interest in technology policy relating to the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) industries.

    I have experience in UK government working on digital policy. At DCMS, I worked on understanding and designing economic incentives to encourage cyber resilience in organisations across the UK. I also lead on cyber insurance and worked on the cyber resilience legislative package.

    My work in technology policy is based on my academic background in business, science and policy. I hold an MPhil in Technology Policy from the University of Cambridge, including a capstone project with DCMS. I also hold a BSc Advanced – Global Challenges (First Class) degree from Monash University Australia.

    Drawing on my business and scientific understanding, I worked in science strategy consulting at Australia’s National Science Agency CSIRO (The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) across a range of industries including healthcare, energy and education.