Get involved
All techUK's work is led by our members - keep in touch or get involved by joining one of the groups below
AI and Cyber Working Group
The AI and Cyber Working Group has two dual aims; to explore how strong cybersecurity can foster trust in AI technologies and to explore how AI technologies can enhance cybersecurity capabilities. Through a series of events, campaign weeks and best practice case studies, the working group will highlight the benefits and opportunities created from a symbiotic relationship between AI and cybersecurity, and determine where action is needed to overcome barriers.
Quantum Working Group
techUK's Quantum Working Group focuses on pushing forward the UK's emerging quantum market whilst addressing key challenges hindering commercialisation such as skills, procurement and trade.
Cloud Computing Group
The Cloud Computing Group focuses on moving the UK cloud market forward and key issues that need to be addressed to keep the UK at the forefront of cloud adoption, deployment and use. We are committed to being the authoritative voice of the cloud industry and becoming a single point of contact for UK government and key stakeholders.
Cloud Leadership Committee
The Cloud Leadership Committee provides strategic direction for techUK’s Cloud Computing work programme, ensuring the programme accurately reflects members’ priorities. The Committee identifies key opportunities and challenges that need to be addressed to develop the UK cloud computing market and provides strategic advice to the development of action-orientated projects, thought leadership campaigns and engages in relevant policy discussions.
Data Analytics and AI Leadership Committee
The Data Analytics and AI Leadership Committee provides strategic direction for techUK’s Data Analytics and AI work programme, ensuring it accurately reflects members’ priorities. It is the single point of oversight for all data analytics and AI activities within techUK. The Committee’s aim is to ensure the UK remains a world leader in data analytics in AI by helping to build the UK AI ecosystem and driving adoption across the UK and shaping the future of data governance in the UK.
Digital Ethics, Regulation and Governance Working Group
The role of the Digital Ethics, Regulation and Governance Working Group is to provide a forum for members to shape and influence the current digital ethics debate. Working with government, regulators and civil society, this group focuses on some of the most difficult ethical challenges, to ensure tech works for people and responsible innovation can flourish. This group’s activity involves responding to consultations, promoting best practice case studies and writing report on key ethical issues.
Digital Identity Working Group
Digital identities will provide a gateway for citizens and SMEs into the connected ecosystem of services making up the digital economy. Consumers will be able to give permission for the secure use of their data across companies and sectors, allowing innovative players to create new services. Through market wide standards, digital identities will bring great economic and social benefits, deliver trust, security and privacy for citizens and save millions in costs for public and private sectors.
Emerging and Transformative Tech Group
This group explores and promotes key transformative and emerging technologies that are vital to UK economic growth, productivity and industry 4.0 and ensures techUK is the voice for industry new emerging technologies. Meeting twice a year it identifies key technologies for future campaign work, develops thought leadership that champions emerging new tech and conducts regular horizon scanning activities to identify upcoming future technology trends.
Innovation Policy Group
techUK’s Innovation Policy Group brings together members with expertise in the development and deployment of new technologies, with public policy professionals and key stakeholders. Its aim is to identify and develop coherent and relevant innovation policy asks that ensures the UK remains a competitive leader in tech innovation, R&D and the commercialisation of future technologies that are set to have transformative effects across the UK’s economy and society.
Upcoming events
Our team
Tess Buckley
Laura Foster
Sue Daley
Rory Daniels
Katherine Holden
Elis Thomas
Usman Ikhlaq
Tess Buckley
Tess is the Programme Manager for Digital Ethics and AI Safety at techUK.
Prior to techUK Tess worked as an AI Ethics Analyst, which revolved around the first dataset on Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR), and then later the development of a large language model focused on answering ESG questions for Chief Sustainability Officers. Alongside other responsibilities, she distributed the dataset on CDR to investors who wanted to further understand the digital risks of their portfolio, she drew narratives and patterns from the data, and collaborate with leading institutes to support academics in AI ethics. She has authored articles for outlets such as ESG Investor, Montreal AI Ethics Institute, The FinTech Times, and Finance Digest. Covered topics like CDR, AI ethics, and tech governance, leveraging company insights to contribute valuable industry perspectives. Tess is Vice Chair of the YNG Technology Group at YPO, an AI Literacy Advisor at Humans for AI, a Trustworthy AI Researcher at Z-Inspection Trustworthy AI Labs and an Ambassador for AboutFace.
Tess holds a MA in Philosophy and AI from Northeastern University London, where she specialised in biotechnologies and ableism, following a BA from McGill University where she joint-majored in International Development and Philosophy, minoring in communications. Tess’s primary research interests include AI literacy, AI music systems, the impact of AI on disability rights and the portrayal of AI in media (narratives). In particular, Tess seeks to operationalise AI ethics and use philosophical principles to make emerging technologies explainable, and ethical.
Outside of work Tess enjoys kickboxing, ballet, crochet and jazz music.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- tessbuckley.me
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/tesssbuckley/
Laura Foster
Laura is techUK’s Head of Programme for Technology and Innovation.
She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies, including Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies, across the UK. As part of this, she works alongside techUK members and UK Government to champion long-term and sustainable innovation policy that will ensure the UK is a pioneer in science and technology
Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week.
Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster
Sue Daley
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.
This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy. She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame. A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK Sue is co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2055
- Twitter:
- @ChannelSwimSue,@ChannelSwimSue
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Katherine Holden
Katherine joined techUK in May 2018 and currently leads the Data Analytics, AI and Digital ID programme.
Prior to techUK, Katherine worked as a Policy Advisor at the Government Digital Service (GDS) supporting the digital transformation of UK Government.
Whilst working at the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) Katherine led AMRC’s policy work on patient data, consent and opt-out.
Katherine has a BSc degree in Biology from the University of Nottingham.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2019
Elis Thomas
Elis joined techUK in December 2023 as a Programme Manager for Tech and Innovation, focusing on AI, Semiconductors and Digital ID.
He previously worked at an advocacy group for tech startups, with a regional focus on Wales. This involved policy research on innovation, skills and access to finance.
Elis has a Degree in History, and a Masters in Politics and International Relations from the University of Winchester, with a focus on the digitalisation and gamification of armed conflicts.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- www.techuk.org/
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/elis-thomas-49a1aa1a1/
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.
Prior to joining techUK, Usman worked as a policy, government affairs and public affairs professional in the advertising sector. He has also worked in sales and marketing and FinTech.
Usman is a graduate of the London School of Economics, BPP Law School and Queen Mary University of London.
When he isn’t working, Usman enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also has a keen interest in running, reading and travelling.