I am a systems-oriented research scientist and research strategist, currently co-leading on sustainability and biodiversity at Google DeepMind. I have 25+ years of experience in Ecology, Earth System Modelling, Environmental Data Science, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, RL Environment Design, and AGI. From a foundation of academic research at Cambridge, York, and Princeton, in 2007 I moved into the world of tech research, leading a group at Microsoft Research Cambridge, before moving to DeepMind in 2015. This varied career path has given me a broad understanding of various global challenges, and the landscape of data science, machine learning, and AI. In addition, I have been lucky enough to have lots of chances to develop the various additional skills needed to help inspire and lead multi-discipline teams, develop long-term strategy, and communicate with diverse groups of stakeholders.

Selected achievements:

• Over 50 scientific articles in Science, Nature, PNAS, PLOS Biology, Global Change Biology etc.
• Fortune Magazine ‘Big Data All Star’ 2015; Wired Magazine ‘Smart List’ 2012; WEF ‘Young Scientist’ 2013; Keynote speaker at NeurIPS 2016
• Co-Creator of The Madingley Model (‘Top Ten Scientific Discovery of 2014’ according to La Recherche)
• Successfully supervised or co-supervised over 10 PhD students and postdocs, and mentored many other colleagues, many of whom went on to leading roles in biodiversity, sustainability or even more widely
• Work covered extensively by the media including Fortune, CNN, Financial Times, New Scientist
• Led the research strategy of DeepMind’s Worlds team for over 5 years