Dr Laura Gilbert CBE is one of the UK’s leading authorities on the practical application of artificial intelligence, having founded the UK Government’s Incubator for AI and advised governments around the world on AI strategy and implementation.

Laura serves as Senior Director of AI and Head of the AI for Government programme at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, where she advises governments around the world on AI strategy, policy and implementation. Leading the AI Innovation Lab, she helps develop AI solutions to support better decision making, strengthen public services and improve outcomes for citizens.

Previously, Laura founded and led both 10 Downing Street’s Data Science team (10DS) and the UK Government’s Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (i.AI). Working across Number 10 and the Cabinet Office, she built high-performing multidisciplinary teams that delivered advanced data science, modelling and AI solutions to inform policy and improve the delivery of public services. During her time in government she also held several senior analytical leadership roles, including Director of Analysis for the UK intelligence agencies, Joint Chief Analyst at the Cabinet Office, Director of the Evaluation Taskforce and Joint Chair of the Government’s Directors of Analysis.

Before entering government, Laura co-founded and served as Chief Technology Officer of medical technology company Rescon Technologies, growing the business from start-up through to acquisition over almost a decade. Earlier in her career she worked in quantitative finance and defence intelligence, following academic research in particle physics at the University of Oxford’s ATLAS experiment.

Laura holds undergraduate degrees in Physics from the University of Cambridge and a doctorate in Particle Physics and Computing from the University of Oxford. She is a Visiting Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics and a Visiting Fellow in AI at Hertford College, Oxford. She was appointed CBE in the 2024 New Year Honours for Services to Technology and Analysis.

An engaging and insightful speaker, Laura helps audiences cut through the AI hype to understand what the technology can genuinely achieve, how organisations can implement it successfully, and how leaders can make better decisions in an increasingly data-driven world. Her keynote topics include AI strategy, responsible AI, evidence-based decision making, leadership, innovation and the future of public services.