PRESS RELEASE : Independent expert panel appointed for Future of Compute Review

Four experts have been appointed to support an external review of the UK’s advanced computing capabilities, as part of plans to turn the country into a science and technology superpower.

The Future of Compute Review, launched during London Tech Week, is being led by the Professor of Information Engineering at the University of Cambridge, Professor Zoubin Ghahramani, who is a world-leading expert in the field of machine learning.

The four experts, who combine a range of expertise from research, business and finance, will form a panel to support Professor Ghahramani and explore what is needed to ensure the UK has the computing capacity needed to remain at the forefront of innovation.

The panel will oversee the evidence submitted to support the review’s findings, which will inform the government’s approach in this important area.

The 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 a pro-vice-chancellor, professor of scientific computing and fellow of St Cross College at the University of Oxford. Anne joined the university in 2005 to lead the development of the Oxford e-Research Centre where she served as the director for over six years. Her research has been focused on high-performance numerical algorithms and large-scale scientific applications. She has contributed to the fields of parallel numerical algorithms, software design and engineering and most recently to energy-aware algorithms. In 2001 she became the deputy director of the UK e-Science Core Programme working with the research councils and DTI (now Innovate UK). She has spent ten years in the US at Thinking Machines Inc. and as associate director at the Theory Centre, Cornell University.

Dr Graham Spittle, CBE, Dean of Innovation at Edinburgh University

Dr Graham Spittle, CBE, was appointed chair of Health Data Research UK in 2017 having taken on the role of interim chair in July 2016. He was, until recently, IBM’s Chief Technology Officer, Europe and Vice President, Software Group. Previously he held several senior executive positions within IBM: 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. In June 2008 Dr Spittle was appointed as a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to industry.

Shaheen Sayed, Senior Managing Director, Technology Lead, Accenture UK and Ireland

Shaheen is the Head of Technology for Accenture UK and Ireland, with 20 years of experience, specialising in leading complex technology and business transformations and pioneering new market technologies. Shaheen has held global technology leadership roles driving cutting edge technology solutions across a diverse range of industries including capital markets, environment and rural affairs, telecommunication and healthcare.

Shaheen is a regular guest lecturer on the LSE global masters in management programme and is recognised as an industry thought leader on inclusive business cultures and talent. She was most recently voted ‘Women of the Year’ at the Women in IT Awards, was named as one of the Top 10 most influential black and minority ethnic leaders by the Financial Times and featured in the Cranfield School of Management’s list of ‘Women to Watch’.

Sue Daley, Director of Technology and Innovation, TechUK

Sue leads techUK’s technology and innovation work including work on cloud, data protection, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), digital ethics, digital identity and internet of things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy. She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly’s UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame. A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK, Sue is co-chair of the UK government’s National Data Strategy Forum. As well as being recognised in the UK’s Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020, Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI.