Emily’s route to working in AI governance is somewhat atypical. Before joining The Future Society, Emily was an English barrister (Lincoln’s Inn) and Hong Kong solicitor, specialising in litigation arising from failed corporate governance, particularly high-profile cross-border commercial fraud. With 15 years of courtroom experience, she has litigated cases in London, Grand Cayman, Guernsey and Hong Kong.

Emily is fascinated by the potential of safe and trustworthy AI to enhance the human experience and augment human capabilities. Blending her legal knowledge with her curiosity about AI, she has developed a keen interest in the governance and regulation of AI, especially the competitive advantage that jurisdictions seek from regulatory diffusion and regulatory arbitrage. Added to this, Emily also has an advanced appreciation of diplomacy having pursued a Master’s in Diplomatic Studies at the University of Oxford, incorporating a dissertation on the intersection of British foreign policy, AI regulation and economic diplomacy. Therefore, as Director of European AI Governance, Emily brings a unique grouping of complementary skill sets and interests to benefit TFS’ work and impact.

With advocacy at its core, Emily found the potential to change minds and shape the law one of the most engaging aspects of her former legal career. These features also form a significant part of her role at TFS. Her breadth of professional experience including mediator training, her time spent living and working in multiple jurisdictions, and her schooling in diplomacy help her to see different angles and perspectives relevant to TFS’ work, strategically identifying channels for impact and navigating conflicting interests or attitudes.

Emily has an LLB in Law with French Law from University College London, a licence en droit from Université Panthéon-Assas, and a Master’s in Diplomatic Studies from Oxford University. She is a member of the International Association for Privacy Professionals, and has undertaken the latter’s AI Governance Professional training.