Wednesday 29 July 2026 | 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is one of the most important events in the Society's calendar, giving members the opportunity to shape the future of the Society through voting on key matters and contributing to discussions during the meeting.
This year, we are delighted to welcome Dr Matthew Forshaw as our guest speaker.
Guest Keynote
Securing the UK's AI Skills Advantage: Building a Resilient Data Science, OR and AI Profession
Securing the UK’s artificial intelligence (AI) advantage requires more than innovation; it also requires coherent skills infrastructure and public trust. This keynote draws on national workforce reform, apprenticeship development, professionalisation and policy to highlight how the UK can lead in shaping an inclusive, system-level approach to AI skills for the future.
About the Speaker
Dr Matthew Forshaw is Senior Advisor for Skills to the Alan Turing Institute and a Reader in Data Science at Newcastle University, UK. Matthew is currently seconded to the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) as their Head of Skills for AI Assurance, working on policy commitments from the Third-Party AI Assurance Roadmap (2024).
He has played a leading role in shaping the skills agenda for the UK's National Data Strategy and National AI Strategy, led the development of the AI Skills for Business Competency Framework with Innovate UK BridgeAI, and is helping to shape the professional standards, ethics, accreditation and certification of data science and AI through his work with the Alliance of Data Science Professionals.
Passionate about widening participation, Dr Forshaw champions greater access to high-quality data and AI education, helping to ensure the UK develops the diverse talent needed to thrive in an AI-enabled future.