Why did you study business management at university?
When I was in school, I was interested in strategy, leadership and understanding how global organisations identify and respond to emerging issues. However, even though I was interested in these subjects, I was undecided on a career focus.
I wanted a degree that would give me the skills and knowledge needed to be agile and responsive to an increasingly dynamic world and so chose to study BA (Hons) Business Management at Edinburgh Napier University.
What was your first job after graduating?
I graduated in the summer of 2016 and got my first job in September of that year after a lot of trial, error and persistence. It is a bit of a cliché, but I find that the phrase ‘when one door closes another opens’ to be true. I didn’t get on to a graduate scheme which I was desperate to do. There have also been times in my career when I didn’t get the job I wanted, and it felt like the end of the world. However, I always took on board any feedback, and a better opportunity always came along.
My first job was working as a policy desk officer for a large local authority in the north of England. I contributed to the organisation’s long term strategic planning by horizon scanning for government policy announcements and drafting advice for directors. This was a great role as it helped me hone my writing skills to ensure I was only bringing out the most important points for senior officials. I also got to work with elected councillors which is always an interesting experience.
Tell us more about your experience working in AI policy.
I remained in the above role until February 2020 when I got a job in London working for the Civil Service in the Department of Health and Social Care. I was AI Regulation Policy Advisor at NHSX – the tech arm of the UK’s healthcare service. In my role I helped set up a £250m investment programme called the NHS AI Lab. This job opened my eyes to the challenges of working on a high profile, multi-million-pound programme which was of significant interest to government ministers and No.10. I also got the opportunity to see how leadership operated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In February 2023 I began working for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology as an AI Regulation Policy Advisor. This was a stretching and rewarding role which pushed me to manage a range of activities. In my role I helped to shape and deliver the UK’s first AI Regulation White Paper which sets out how the UK will work with regulators to address the risks posed by AI models, helped establish a £10m fund to address regulators’ capability gaps and developed policy briefings for the Prime Minister.
What is your current role?
I like being a civil servant and working for the Government because I get the chance to work on some of the most complex and pressing issues of the day. I am a trusted advisor to ministers who I support to make decisions which can affect all our lives and the long-term future of the country.
I never let myself get too comfortable in a role and I have recently started a new position in the Department for Business and Trade as an Economic Regulation Senior Policy Lead. In this role, I will work with regulators to create a longer term, sustainable and strategic approach to investment for some of the UK’s most critical infrastructure.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Trust yourself and grasp at any opportunity that comes your way, you never know what it may lead to!
My career has afforded me the opportunity to work with some of the brightest people in the country. At first, I suffered from imposter syndrome. However, I overcame this by focusing on the fact that I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing if I wasn’t seen to be good enough for the role and that I have a unique opportunity to continuously learn and improve as I work with these colleagues.