Baroness Joanna Shields

Baroness Joanna Shields has broken glass ceilings in the technology industry, having marked her name in the history books as the UK’s first Minister for Internet Safety & Security. Working with dignitaries such as David Cameron, Joanna has made it her mission to make the internet a safer place for people of all walks of life, emphasising the dangers of cybercrime and how to practise cyber security. With a distinguished career in technology and cyber security to her name, Joanna is now highly sought after as a cyber security speaker for a variety of industry events.

Passionate about creating technology that benefits humanity, Joanna is currently the CEO of BenevolentAI, accelerating developments in AI as the head of the clinical-stage-AI-enabled drug discovery company. Over the past three decades, Joanna has forged a respectable career building the world’s best known technology companies, beginning her illustrious career as a Product Marketing Specialist for the National Digital Corporation. Since then, Joanna has worked as the CEO of Veon, the VP of International of RealNetworks, the VP of International of Decru and the Managing Director of Syndication, Business Development and Partnerships for Google.

Other prominent roles of Joanna’s have included being the President and CEO of Bebo for AOL, the Non-Executive Director of the London Stock Exchange Group and the Vice President EMEA of Facebook. In 2013, Joanna was appointed as the UK Minister of Internet Security and Safety, along with working as then Prime Minister David Cameron’s Digital Advisor, Chair and CEO of TechCityUK. In these roles, Joanna was responsible for making the internet a safer place for children, by curbing online abuse and ensuring that children know the best practises of cyber security. In addition to such work, Joanna is also the Co-Chair of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, Founder of the WeProtect Global Alliance and Commissioner on the Oxford Commission on AI & Good Governance.

Recognised with the World Childhood Foundation USA Thank You Award, the British Interactive Media Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Fatima bint Mubarak Award for Motherhood & Childhood – Outstanding Figures, it comes without surprise that Joanna is widely regarded as an industry authority. Also named at No.1 in WIRED 100  and as Computer Weekly’s Most Influential Woman in UK IT, Joanna is now highly sought after as a cyber security speaker, sharing her knowledge built from working with the UK’s most prestigious organisations. Having worked with the UK Government, Facebook, Google and AOL, Joanna has expertise across the breadth of cyber security, and should be your top choice when looking to educate audiences on the importance of cyber security.