Verity Harding

Verity Harding is a globally recognised expert in artificial intelligence and public policy. She is currently an Affiliated Researcher at Cambridge University's Bennett Institute for Public Policy, where is researching historical approaches to governing emerging technologies, and a Senior Associate at the Jesus College Intellectual Forum. Verity spent a decade at Alphabet, latterly as DeepMind's Global Head of Public Policy. In 2017 she co-founded the company's research and ethics unit DeepMind Ethics & Society as well as the independent multi-stakeholder organisation the Partnership on AI, where she remains an officer of the Board. In 2018-9 she served on the OECD's Network of AI Experts, the body which developed the first set of AI principles signed by the G20. Prior to this Verity was Head of Security Policy for Google in Europe and Interim Head of Public Policy for the UK & IE. Before her career in technology, she was a member of Her Majesty's Government as a Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister the Rt Hon Sir Nick Clegg. She holds a First Class degree in Modern History from the University of Oxford and was a Michael Von Clemm Fellow at Harvard University's Graduate School for Arts & Sciences. In her spare time, Verity is a Director of the Royal Academy of Arts and Chair of the Board for Girls Who Code UK.