Who I am

Me outside my old workplace - 10 Downing Street - in 2019

I like doing things to help tech work better for society. In particular, how technology can be governed and regulated, while also improving government and regulation.

I'm currently an independent consultant based between London and Berlin. Most recently (until Sept 2026) I was the Head of Tech Research at the NGO AlgorithmWatch in Berlin, Germany. Some of my current/recent work and skills are summarised here.

Some things I've previously helped do/make:

The Data Skills Consultancy, to help (i) non-data people gain confidence with data and (ii) data specialists build communication and project skills.
The Rapid Response Unit in Number 10 Downing Street, for social media analysis, crisis comms, and countering online disinformation.
The 'Accelerate' course for the Government Communication Service, training officials in digital skills.
The UK's international data sharing regulations, working out how GDPR and other data protections apply post-Brexit.

(You can find my full CV here)

I have a PhD in sociology of science from University College London. I studied how reason and emotion collide online. In 2013, when I started this work, this was an academically interesting topic; by 2016 it was one of the key political problems of our time.

As a freelancer I've worked with Demos, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, CASM Technology, and the International Public Policy Observatory, amongst other organisations.

I'm a Fellow at Demos, on the Faculty for the London College of Political Technology (AKA Newspeak House), a Policy Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and an Honorary Research Associate at UCL's Science and Technology Studies Department.

Less relevant but other facts:

I can speak German to a working level. I used to coach amateur actors and comedians and once founded a comedy sketch troupe called CowsDrinkMilk (the name is a long story), who featured at the Edinburgh Fringe and on BBC NewsJack. I was nominated for a teaching award at UCL (teaching social theory and qualitative research, amongst other stuff). A long time ago I studied physics.

I really like sharing interesting ideas with people. So please do get in touch.

All views on this site are mine and do not represent any organisations.