I am passionate about technology and innovation, and the ability to disrupt traditional markets and improve lives across all areas. After a year understanding the innovation process and learning the lessons of pioneers such as Eric Schmidt’s Lean Start Up with the New Entrepreneurs Foundation (NEF), I embarked on a career in the media industry focusing on digital media in particular, at the Guardian, Disney and Conde Nast International. My passion for technology truly began to manifest at Disney where I worked on the launch team for two years on Disney’s pilot streaming service, the success of which meant the service rolling out globally in 2019 and will drastically change how consumers will experience, access and interface with Disney, Star Wars and Marvel content. It was at Disney I worked on the product roadmap as a lynchpin between developers and executives, and trained in Agile management, and with market intelligence under my remit studied carefully the developments at the forefront of emerging technology such as immersives and IoT. I recently joined the civil service to lead the government’s Digital & Technology Policy business strategy; managing a team of five and overseeing the directorate’s priorities, funding, and lead on the strategic narrative and stakeholder engagement in the tech sector. I also oversee the Tech policy Honours awards – recognising the best of the tech sector with the likes of CBEs, OBEs and Damehoods – and am keen to support the diversity and inclusivity of underrepresented groups.
