Conversations on AI

Conversations on AI has a diverse team of highly qualified researchers and people from industry.

Team

Core

Annabel believes that a human-first approach is the key to building trust and connection in a digitalising world, advising clients on ethics-by-design and organisational culture. She co-founded LSE FORGOOD, advising corporate clients on ethical applications of behavioural science, leads the AI ethics workstream for Co-Labs Global and is an architect for Brave Consultancy. 

Annabel Gillard

Annabel believes that a human-first approach is the key to building trust and connection in a digitalising world, advising clients on ethics-by-design and organisational culture. She co-founded LSE FORGOOD, advising corporate clients on ethical applications of behavioural science, leads the AI ethics workstream for Co-Labs Global and is an architect for Brave Consultancy. 

Previously she spent over 20 years building institutional businesses in asset management. She now serves on the board of the City of London Corporation’s ‘Women Pivoting to Digital’ taskforce and Clore Social Leadership, as well as the advisory committees of the Institute of Business Ethics and Blueprint for Better Business. She has an MA in Philosophy and AI, an MSc in Behavioural Science and is a CFA charterholder.

Brian Ball is Professor of Philosophy at Northeastern University London, where he is a member of the Computational Philosophy Lab. His research concerns the philosophy of AI and cognitive science – broadly construed so as to include mind and language, as well as the theory of knowledge. His computational philosophy project, Polygraphs, has been supported by the Royal Society and others; and he received a Talent Development Award from the British Academy for the follow-up Human and Network Sciences. He is widely published and in 2016 his ‘Knowledge, Safety, and Questions’ won the Philosophy South international essay prize. He is a DISKAH Fellow during 2025-26, working on Digital Research Infrastructure and High Performance Computing to support Arts and Humanities research.

Brian Ball

Brian Ball is Professor of Philosophy at Northeastern University London, where he is a member of the Computational Philosophy Lab. His research concerns the philosophy of AI and cognitive science – broadly construed so as to include mind and language, as well as the theory of knowledge. His computational philosophy project, Polygraphs, has been supported by the Royal Society and others; and he received a Talent Development Award from the British Academy for the follow-up Human and Network Sciences. He is widely published and in 2016 his ‘Knowledge, Safety, and Questions’ won the Philosophy South international essay prize. He is a DISKAH Fellow during 2025-26, working on Digital Research Infrastructure and High Performance Computing to support Arts and Humanities research.

David Peter Wallis Freeborn is Assistant Professor in Philosophy at Northeastern University London, where he is a member of the Computational Philosophy Lab. He works on the philosophy of AI, social and formal epistemology, philosophy of science, and philosophy of physics. He began his research career as a particle physicist at the University of Oxford, conducting research at CERN, and receiving a PhD from University College London in 2016. He also holds an MSc in the Philosophy of Science from the London School of Economics and attained a second PhD in the Philosophy of Science from the University of California, Irvine in 2023.

David Freeborn

David Peter Wallis Freeborn is Assistant Professor in Philosophy at Northeastern University London, where he is a member of the Computational Philosophy Lab. He works on the philosophy of AI, social and formal epistemology, philosophy of science, and philosophy of physics. He began his research career as a particle physicist at the University of Oxford, conducting research at CERN, and receiving a PhD from University College London in 2016. He also holds an MSc in the Philosophy of Science from the London School of Economics and attained a second PhD in the Philosophy of Science from the University of California, Irvine in 2023.

He is interested in both scientifically-informed-philosophy and philosophically-informed-science. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, Bayesian formal and social epistemology, the philosophy of physics, computational modelling, and network theory.

Stella is an AI Policy & Governance Associate with a background in business change and data ethics. Stella is focused on understanding the impact on the individual and society of digital transformation initiatives, particularly AI technologies, and implementing effective and empowering governance and readiness approaches to deliver safe, trusted and resilient technologies.

Stella Maude

Stella is an AI Policy & Governance Associate with a background in business change and data ethics. Stella is focused on understanding the impact on the individual and society of digital transformation initiatives, particularly AI technologies, and implementing effective and empowering governance and readiness approaches to deliver safe, trusted and resilient technologies.

Stella is also pursuing an MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Adaptive Systems, is an active member of Tech UK’s Digital Ethics Working Group and research collaborator with IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology, and a freelance reporter covering Chatham House Cyber Security events’

Tracy is passionate about the transformational potential of data and AI technologies; however, having spent all of her career at the vanguard of driving technology change within organisations across the private and public sector, she is realistic about the challenges to success, and the imperative to embrace the human aspects in this transformation.

Tracy Woods

Tracy is passionate about the transformational potential of data and AI technologies; however, having spent all of her career at the vanguard of driving technology change within organisations across the private and public sector, she is realistic about the challenges to success, and the imperative to embrace the human aspects in this transformation.

Originally a trained musician, she completed her MSc in Business Administration (IT) at University of Lancashire and moved into corporate IT management in construction, then pharmaceutical industries before latterly becoming a consultant advising all sectors.  Focusing on data and AI management and governance she completed her MA in Philosophy and AI at Northeastern University London during lockdown.  She is a Fellow of the British Computer Society.

Research Assistants

Helena is currently finishing a Master’s degree in Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence at Northeastern University London. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Social Sciences from the University of Bath.

Helena Martel

Helena is currently finishing a Master’s degree in Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence at Northeastern University London. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Social Sciences from the University of Bath.

With a diverse research background spanning private sector, public sector, and academia, she specializes in leveraging and communicating both quantitative and qualitative data to drive meaningful insights. Her work is grounded in a commitment to advancing positive social change through research and social innovation.

Zain is an undergraduate at Northeastern University London pursuing a BSc in Philosophy & Computer Science. He combines his well-developed web design, programming, and photography skills with a deep interest in AI ethics.

Zain Burki

Zain is an undergraduate at Northeastern University London pursuing a BSc in Philosophy & Computer Science. He combines his well-developed web design, programming, and photography skills with a deep interest in AI ethics.

He has a passion for ensuring tech serves society responsibly, and is putting his skills to use by managing and developing digital infrastructure for Conversations on AI.