As part of efforts to transform the United Kingdom into a scientific and technology superpower, four experts have been tasked with conducting an external review of the nation’s sophisticated computing capabilities.
The Future of Compute Review, which was announced at London Tech Week, is being directed by Professor Zoubin Ghahramani, a world-renowned specialist on machine learning and Professor of Information Engineering at the University of Cambridge.
The four specialists, who have diverse backgrounds in research, business, and finance, will establish a panel to assist Professor Ghahramani and determine what must be done to guarantee that the United Kingdom has the necessary computing capacity to continue at the forefront of innovation.
The panel will monitor the information given to support the results of the study, which will shape the government’s strategy in this crucial area.
he panellists are:
- Professor Anne Trefethen, FREng, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Professor of Scientific Computing, University of Oxford
- Dr Graham Spittle CBE, Dean of Innovation at Edinburgh University
- Shaheen Sayed, Senior Managing Director, Accenture UK and Ireland
- Sue Daley, Director of Technology and Innovation, TechUK
Biographies
Professor Anne Trefethen FREng, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Professor of Scientific Computing, University of Oxford.
Anne Trefethen is pro-vice-chancellor, professor of scientific computing, and member of St. Cross College at Oxford University. Anne joined the university in 2005 as the director of the Oxford e-Research Centre, a position she held for nearly six years. Her research has centred on numerical algorithms with high performance and large-scale scientific applications.
She has made contributions to parallel numerical algorithms, software design and engineering, and, more recently, energy-aware algorithms. She was appointed deputy director of the UK e-Science Core Programme in 2001, working with the research councils and DTI (now Innovate UK). She spent 10 years in the United States working for Thinking Machines Inc. and as an associate director at Cornell University’s Theory Centre.
Dr Graham Spittle, CBE, Dean of Innovation at Edinburgh University
In July of 2016, Dr. Graham Spittle, CBE, assumed the job of temporary head of Health Data Research UK. In July of 2017, he was named chair of the organisation. He was IBM’s Chief Technology Officer for Europe and Vice President of the Software Group until recently.
Previously, he held the posts of Vice President, Software UKI (UK & Ireland), Vice President, Worldwide Integration Development, Director of the IBM Hursley Laboratory in the United Kingdom, and Director of MQ Development within IBM. Dr. Spittle was appointed a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in June 2008 for his contributions to the industry.
Shaheen Sayed, Senior Managing Director, Technology Lead, Accenture UK and Ireland
Shaheen is the Head of Technology for the United Kingdom and Ireland at Accenture, where he has 20 years of expertise driving difficult technology and business transformations and pioneering new market technologies. Shaheen has held positions of global technology leadership in a variety of sectors, including financial markets, environment and rural affairs, telecommunications, and healthcare, where he was responsible for implementing cutting-edge technological solutions.
Shaheen is a frequent guest speaker on the LSE global masters in management programme and is well regarded as a thought leader in the business community about inclusive corporate cultures and talent. She was recently selected ‘Women of the Year’ at the Women in IT Awards, one of the top ten most influential black and minority ethnic leaders by the Financial Times, and one of the ‘Women to Watch’ by the Cranfield School of Management.
Sue Daley, Director of Technology and Innovation, TechUK
Sue is in charge of techUK’s technology and innovation initiatives, which include cloud, data security, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), digital ethics, digital identity, the internet of things, and emerging and transformational technologies and innovation policy. She was admitted into the Computer Weekly Most Prominent Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame in 2021 after being recognised by Computer Weekly’s UKtech50 Longlist as one of the most influential persons in UK technology.
Sue is co-chair of the UK government’s National Data Strategy Forum, where she serves as a significant influencer in advancing the data agenda. Sue was selected for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and served as a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI, in addition to being recognised in the UK’s Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020.