Tech Policy Expertise: Online safety

  • 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.

  • Hannah Swirsky

    Hannah is the Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which works to make the internet a safer place and prevent the spread online child sexual abuse imagery globally. Hannah and her team work to positively influence policy makers, both nationally and internationally, to create and implement legislation and policy that effectively prevents and combats child sexual abuse online.

    Hannah previously worked as Public Affairs Manager for Samaritans and was named one of the 30 To Watch: Politics Awards 2023 by MHP Group. She has worked on several advocacy campaigns and began her career working in the UK Parliament as a Researcher to an MP. She holds an MSc in Human Rights from LSE.

  • Francesca Scapolo

  • Ella Harvey

    Ella Harvey is an Associate Director for Public Affairs at Bradshaw Advisory, where they advise clients across the public, private, and third sectors on political engagement, policy development, and strategic communications. With deep expertise in navigating Westminster and Whitehall, they help organisations influence legislation and shape public debate on complex and high-profile issues.

    Alongside this, Ella serves as Director of Operations for the Women in Tech Policy Network—a professional network of over 1,000 women working across the tech sector. The network champions greater representation of women in tech policymaking and works to ensure their voices are at the forefront of political and regulatory conversations. In this role, and as a member of the senior leadership team, Ella leads on events, stakeholder engagement, and cross-party collaboration, connecting experts with policymakers to drive more inclusive and forward-thinking tech policy. She is also a board member for the CIPR Public Affairs Committee where she has hosted a range of networking events and advised on the Committee’s direction.

    Previously, Ella was a Policy Advisor at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), where they advised on adult online safety during the development of the Online Safety Bill. Their role included supporting ministers, engaging with industry stakeholders, and helping shape one of the UK’s most significant pieces of digital legislation.

    With a career spanning government, consultancy, and advocacy, Ella brings a sharp understanding of the policy landscape, a strong commitment to equity in tech, and a track record of delivering impact through collaboration and thoughtful strategy.

  • Elizabeth Anderson

    Elizabeth Anderson is CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, which aims to end digital poverty in the UK once and for all, looking at affordability, digital and media literacy, research and local engagement.  She focusses across advocacy, community building and delivery work, engaging with schools, industry partners, government leads, local authorities and other charities – regularly speaking at conferences and to the media.  Elizabeth’s career has been focussed almost exclusively in the non-profit sector, working in areas including education, disadvantage and healthcare, focussing on strategic development, governance and stakeholder engagement to create social change.  Outside work, she holds charity Trusteeships focusing on heritage and animal welfare, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.  She lives just outside London, in Kent, and enjoys travel, dance and gardening.

  • Dr Nikki Soo

    Dr Nikki Soo is Safety and Digital Well-being Public Policy Lead in TikTok’s EU Public Policy Team. She leads and engages in a wide range of industry safety issues such as including mis/disinformation, hateful behaviour and digital well-being. Prior to joining TikTok, Nikki worked in academia for over 10 years, specialising in the effects of digital technology on society, media and culture. Her work has previously been published in The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, Journalism Studies, as well as The Conversation and The Independent.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Devika Malik

    Devika brings a decade and a half of experience across tech, policy and journalism to her work as an international consultant and researcher on platform governance. Previously she led Meta’s work hate speech, misinformation and violent extremism in South Asia. Based in New Delhi, Devika is working with the Council on Tech and Social Cohesion as well as the Integrity Institite on catalytic prosocial tech regulation in the Global South.