Practitioners Hub - Experts in Residence

Dr. Nicky Garland is the ADS Training and Communications Manager. Nicky is an archaeologist with a background in Iron Age and Roman Britain, archaeological theory, and digital approaches to the past. He worked in developer-funded archaeology in the UK and Ireland for more than a decade before completing doctoral research at the UCL Institute of Archaeology. He also worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Universities of Leicester, Newcastle, and Durham before joining ADS in 2022. Nicky has extensive experience in teaching and training in both developer-led archaeology and academia, and now leads ADS's training and communications efforts.

Dr. Sophie Carr (CMath, CSci, CStat, AfDSP FRSS, FIMA, MRAeS) is the founder and owner of Bays Consulting. Sophie is a statistician specializing in Bayesian statistics and data fusion. She trained as an aeronautical engineer and worked as a flight engineer before completing a PhD in Bayesian Belief Networks. Since then, she has worked on multidisciplinary projects, applying her skills to find patterns and solutions. After being made redundant, Sophie founded Bays Consulting, which has since grown into a thriving tech company grounded in the principle that tech can help everyone.

Muhammad Parwez Diloo holds a degree in pure Mathematics and is an accredited researcher by the ONS, a member of the IMA and Royal Statistical Society, and is working towards Chartered Mathematician Status. He is currently a Data Scientist at Bays Consulting Ltd, leading the delivery of data-driven solutions for business problems across various industries. His work spans data visualization, modelling, and prediction algorithms, with a focus on real-life simulations and validation strategies for complex modelling.

Adam Farooq is a Data Scientist at Bays Consulting, where he applies data science solutions to support business decisions. He also holds a Teaching Fellow position in the department of Mathematics at Aston University. Prior to joining Bays Consulting, Adam worked at Imperial College London and Ulster University as a lecturer in Mathematics and AI. He has also worked as a freelance Data Scientist on various projects over the past three years. Adam holds a PhD in Statistical Machine Learning, with a focus on developing robust clustering and dimensionality reduction techniques.

Bukola Ayanwale holds an MSc in Computer Science and Information Systems Management from the University of Greenwich in London. During her studies, she enhanced his professional experience as an event and project coordinator, which sparked her interest in project management. She is particularly passionate about digital application development and data modelling, as they inspire her creativity and innovation.

Joseph Ribeiro works at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS). At CEFAS, they provide scientifically evidenced advice on issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security, all of which are supported by marine monitoring data. The Research Vessel Cefas Endeavour collects biological, plankton, and acoustic data, as well as seafloor imagery. Joseph is a data scientist who sees opportunities to apply AI to assist tasks that currently require human effort and to develop new tools for acquiring novel data.

Kevin Flanagan has a background in both finance and technology, having started as an assembler programmer building online transaction systems. He later spent 14 years in investment banking as an arbitrage trader and senior manager, designing and delivering large global-scale systems. Kevin has managed global development teams and designed systems that process around 30% of global fixed-odds betting. He completed an MSc in Intelligent Systems at UCL and is now working on his seventh startup, which focuses on digital tools for augmenting mental health treatments for patients and clinicians.

Dan Carpenter is an ecologist and environmental data scientist working at the interface of ecology and technology. He is passionate about using digital technologies, data science, and AI to support ecologists in delivering better outcomes for nature. Dan focuses on digital data capture techniques, workflow automation, and the application of machine learning to novel data collection methods, such as sound and imagery.

Mary Stewart-David is an award-winning Creative Producer, Researcher, and Director of Dillmeadow Media, an independent Virtual Production company focused on R&D in XR (Extended Reality) for live performance. She holds an MA in Theatre Directing from Goldsmiths and an MA in Film Production from Westminster, with additional training in Virtual Reality (VR) and Virtual Production (VP). Mary is currently completing a PhD in Interactive Media at the University of York. Her work includes producing musicals and XR immersicals®, with current projects such as "Mrs Nemo XR" and "Mrs Sherlock Holmes VR," which are sponsored by major XR organizations.

David Gochfeld is an award-winning XR creator, theatrical director, performer, and researcher focused on XR technologies for immersive storytelling. His pioneering work in live performance in virtual reality has been showcased at festivals worldwide, including Tribeca, Raindance, and the Venice Biennale Cinema. David advises theatre companies in the US, UK, and Europe on interactive and immersive technologies for theatrical productions. He is currently the Performance Lab Fellow at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, investigating storytelling, motion capture, and HCI in shared virtual environments.

Rob is a multi-disciplinary artist, stage designer, speaker, professor, and author of *The Art of Scenic Design: A Practical Guide to the Creative Process*. He has designed everything from theme parks to stained glass, and his experiences as a designer inform his research on creativity. Rob has worked on a wide range of projects, including the *Avatar the Exhibition* museum exhibit, which toured the U.S. and Canada. He currently teaches at Washington University, after three years at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Paul Ryan comes from a television background, working in news and post-production roles on series such as 'Location Location Location' for IWC/Channel 4, 'Helicopter Heroes' for Air TV/UK TV, and for networks like BBC, Channel 5, and Al Jazeera. Recently, Paul has focused on virtual production projects and has explored methods for multi-output content creation (VR, traditional 2D, interactive content). He recently produced a sold-out audiovisual concert, using AI to create scripts, lyrics, video materials, and voiceovers. Paul is also a lecturer teaching visual effects, color grading, and multi-camera studio.

Dr. Claudio Calvino is a Senior Managing Director in the Data & Analytics Team at FTI Consulting, based in London. He specializes in data science, econometrics, and statistical analysis, and has developed algorithms and methodologies applied to global investigations, supply chain optimization, and fraud detection. Before joining FTI, Claudio led data science teams at Capgemini and Kantar Media. He holds a BSc in Political Science, an MSc in International Relations, and a PhD in Economic Geography. Claudio is also an Advisory Board Member for Oxford University’s PhD and MSc programs in Social Data Science and has recently been appointed an International Fellow at Yale University's Digital Ethical Center.

Nathalie Baker is a Senior Director and Lead Data Scientist in FTI Consulting’s EMEA region, specializing in building robust data solutions for clients, particularly in the litigation space. Nathalie has led projects utilizing natural language processing (NLP) techniques to identify key information, and her experience spans predictive modeling, data engineering, and software development. She holds degrees in Mathematics and Economics from Stanford University and an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics.

Ignacio Pascale is a Senior Data Scientist specializing in Machine Learning and Data Science Engineering at FTI Consulting. Ignacio's expertise covers designing and building machine learning solutions, particularly in NLP and forecasting. He is currently focused on planning and implementing Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) systems at scale. Ignacio holds a degree in Management & Information Systems from Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires and an MSc in Analytics from London Business School.

Haneen Abdelqader is a Consultant at FTI Consulting, based in London. She has co-led over 10 projects in the MENA region, specializing in managing the end-to-end lifecycle of AI-driven solutions. Since joining FTI in 2024, Haneen has been involved in AI initiatives and technical solution development, with a focus on AI solutions leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). She holds a BSc in Industrial Engineering and an MSc in Business Analytics from the University of Edinburgh.

Dimitris Korres is FTI Consulting's Principal Data Scientist based in Boston, with over 10 years of experience in developing machine learning solutions and advanced system automation. Dimitris has led projects in the financial services, media, and e-commerce industries. His work includes developing recommendation engines, geospatial analytics, and customer value models. He holds degrees in Physics, Theoretical Physics, Environmental Design & Engineering, and a PhD in Theoretical Physics.

Manzoor Ahmed is the CEO of HIGOE, a pioneering digital-health startup focused on developing healthcare solutions that enhance the health of older adults. Manzoor has extensive experience working with multinational technology companies and excels in leading multidisciplinary, multi-country teams. He has contributed significantly to the acute healthcare setting, particularly in supporting the implementation of digital technologies like Electronic Patient Records and remote monitoring software. Manzoor consults for the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford and serves as a reviewer for the British Medical Journal.

Dr. Alex Boyd (Cert Ed, PhD, FRSA) is the Founding Executive Director of Intercultural Roots, an organization dedicated to promoting interdisciplinary collaboration rooted in equity, respect, and mutual benefit. Alex has a background in computing and systems engineering, with extensive work in community-applied arts and embodied research. He is a co-founder of the Embodied Research Working Group at the International Federation for Theatre Research and has earned his PhD from the University of California, Davis. His work has helped secure over £8M in not-for-profit funding, and his research focuses on the sustainability of traditional knowledge systems.

Ben Spatz (they/he) is a scholar-practitioner working at the intersections of artistic research and critical theories of embodiment and identity. They are the author of "Race and the Forms of Knowledge: Technique, Identity, and Place in Artistic Research" (forthcoming in 2024) and the founding editor of the videographic Journal of Embodied Research. Ben currently teaches at the University of Huddersfield and will be a Visiting Scholar at the University of Oxford during 2024–2025.

Ingrid Folland is the CEO of Japeto, with a strong commitment to "tech for good." Starting in R&D, Ingrid transitioned into product design, development, and project management. Her focus at Japeto is on creating safe AI solutions for healthcare, education, and charitable organizations. Ingrid is passionate about using technology to make a positive impact on local communities.

Jamie Tidman is the CTO of Japeto, overseeing the technical direction of all projects with a focus on generative AI use cases. With a background in traditional software development, Jamie founded Japeto in 2014 to focus on AI in healthcare. He led the technical development of Pat, the UK’s first sexual health chatbot, and helped build Japeto's conversational AI infrastructure. Jamie specializes in making conversational AI accessible and safe, particularly for sensitive applications.

Liam is co-founder and Chief Scientist at Kaiasm. He is the inventor of Kaiasm's unique system of weighting complex categorisations with big data in order to produce optimal taxonomies for large-scale information architectures. He created the OntoKai methodology to allow complex ontological graph networks to be visualised as human-friendly, navigable, memorable trees. In his early career he designed and built websites for a number of national charities, designed and ran massive multiplayer share-trading games. He worked on web standards development, and was invited to the W3C as an accessibility expert).

James started working with Kaiasm in 2012, first as senior data scientist and later Head of Development, and now CTO. A first class computer scientist and software engineer, with a deep interest in code performance and design, as well as rapid development, testing and deployment. He leads the technology formulation and feasibility work which underpin Kaiasm’s approach to knowledge representation.

Andre Wang is the co-founder and CEO of Moonbility, specializing in geospatial data analysis and high-fidelity data visualization. Andre has spent over a decade developing location-based software, and currently leads Moonbility’s efforts to help the transport industry manage disruptions more effectively through AI-powered solutions.

Veronica Chang is the UX, Sustainability, and Policy Lead at Moonbility. She has extensive experience in designing and implementing product roadmaps that are compliant with policies and serve all user groups, including those with different levels of mobility. Veronica is passionate about creating inclusive, user-friendly solutions for the transport sector.

Harriet Sands is an AI Technical Specialist in the Joint Digital Policy Unit at NHS England, with a career in Data Science that includes roles at HM Treasury, 10 Downing Street, the Office for National Statistics (ONS), and dunnhumby. Harriet's focus is on defining ethical AI at NHS England, creating strategies to help data scientists design, evaluate, and deploy AI solutions ethically. She is also the co-founder and coordinator of a public sector reading group on the societal implications of data-driven technologies. Harriet splits her time between Leeds, York, and London.

Mia Noonan joined NHS Digital as a graduate in 2021 after earning her MSc in Computer Science. Over the past three years, Mia has worked on projects involving data quality, regression, and data linkage. She focuses on operationalizing data science solutions, ensuring tools are deployed effectively and have meaningful impacts. Mia has been instrumental in implementing quality assurance frameworks for data science teams.

Dan leads AI development at Ockana, focusing on developing a Gen AI solution for asset engineers in the energy infrastructure sector. His specialties include structuring unstructured information into knowledge graphs and productionizing retrieval augmented generation. Dan has configured an AI monitoring framework and is working on creating evaluation datasets and implementing metrics and guardrails for the solution. Prior to Ockana, he worked in the energy and aerospace sectors for 5 years as both a software engineer and data analyst. Outside of work, Dan enjoys long walks in the mountains and taking on fitness challenges.

Tudor Pitulac has over 30 years of experience bridging academia, the not-for-profit sector, public institutions, and industry. His career has focused on integrating Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) with Information Technology (IT) to drive innovative research aligned with societal needs. Tudor is currently the Head of the Research Projects Division at OpenSky Data Systems in Ireland and a full professor at Petre Andrei University in Romania. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy, a Post-Doctorate in Sociology, a Higher Diploma in Science in Computing, and recently completed a Graduate Programme in Innovation and Enterprise Development. Certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP), Tudor has authored several books and numerous articles on community sociology and political science.

Des Fagan is the Head of Architecture at Lancaster University, with research interests in Optimisation and Deep Learning for Decision Support Systems in design. He is particularly interested in the impact of Machine Learning on design processes and the regulatory and policy implications for the RIBA and ARB. As Chair of the National Practice and Policy at the RIBA, Des oversees the development of policy and public affairs activities representing over forty thousand UK architects. He is a member of the Expert Advisory Group on Data and AI in Practice (RIBA) and leads the Working Group on AI in Architectural Education (SCOSA). Prior to academia, Des worked on several international award-winning projects, including as Project Architect for the London Olympic Village 2012 and for Glasgow Transport Museum at Zaha Hadid Architects.

Madalena Alves is a civil servant, currently serving as the Superintendent of Data and Results Management at the Department of Digital Transformation of the State of Rio de Janeiro. In her role, she coordinates activities related to digital and data strategy, open data, data analysis, and AI. She holds a Master's degree in Civil Law from the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Madalena believes that data and AI can play a significant role in improving people's lives.

José Hudson is the Data and Intelligence Coordinator at the Secretariat of Digital Transformation of Rio de Janeiro (SETD). With a first degree in Public Administration and currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, he focuses on data integration and implementing intelligence solutions to optimize public services in the state of Rio de Janeiro. His work involves leading initiatives that drive digital transformation within the public sector, ensuring that decisions are increasingly data-driven and evidence-based.

Beatriz graduated in Public Management for Economic and Social Development from the Institute of Research in Urban and Regional Planning of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (GPDES/IPPUR/UFRJ) in 2023. She is currently a master's student in Population, Territory and Public Statistics at the National School of Statistical Sciences of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (ENCE/IBGE). Beatriz is a public servant at the State Secretariat for Digital Transformation, holding the position of Assistant to the Data Management and Intelligence Coordination.

Raj joined Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2024. He has over 34 years' experience working in health, private sectors, and academic institutions across the globe. Raj is a Senior Executive who provides strategic solutions, transforms business services, leads teams to deliver digital transformation and innovative initiatives, and ensures that business and IT objectives are aligned. He holds a doctorate in healthcare management, PG Diploma from Imperial College, MBA from Birmingham University, and M.S. Computer Science from BITS, Pilani. Raj is a CHIME Certified Healthcare Chief Information Officer (CHCIO), a Member of the British Computer Society (BCS), and Advanced Practitioner in the Federation of Informatics Professionals (FedIP). He was recognized as an outstanding digital, data and technology leader by CIO UK and became a member of the Next CIO Cohort 2024.

Jake works as a full-stack software developer at Royal Papworth Hospital, with previous experience in first-line and infrastructure roles. Currently, he is working to design, implement, and deploy a microservice architecture that will significantly change the way they develop in-house applications, leading to faster turnaround times for new applications and adding much-needed flexibility to their development. This is also being supported by a move to using Azure DevOps for CI/CD, work planning and tracking, as well as being their source control repository. Jake is passionate about problem-solving, thoroughly enjoys a challenge, and looks forward to seeing what AI can do for us all in the future.

Bobby is a Consultant Cardiac Radiologist at Royal Papworth Hospital; Deputy CCIO; the Clinical Lead for the Eastern Diagnostic Imaging Network and an Affiliated Assistant Professor at the University of Cambridge. In addition, he is the Lead for Radiology IT delivering transformation projects such as Enterprise wide PACS system, AI systems such as Brainomix and Heartflow thus improving diagnostic confidence.

Dr Juemin Xu, CEO of Think and Decide, specialises in cognitive and decision-making sciences. Her insights into AI and human behaviour make the products intuitive, helpful and fun. Her work has been reported by the Wall Street Journal, the Economist, the New Yorker etc. Her research drew higher attention than 99% of all contemporary academic papers. She also wrote chapters in psychology textbooks about decision making.

Kofi Oppong is the founder of Urban MBA - “The University for Street Entrepreneurs”, as Kofi calls it. Urban MBA is an education programme set up to help marginalised and disadvantaged young people develop entrepreneurial skills. Registered as a non-profit organisation and offering free courses, Urban MBA assists young people with sustainable social and commercial businesses.