Joanna Shields

Baroness Joanna Shields OBE is a tech industry leader specialising in artificial intelligence strategy, digital policy, and responsible technology development. With over 30 years building globally recognised companies including Google, Facebook, Bebo, and BenevolentAI, she now leads Precognition, an advisory firm guiding governments and corporations on AI strategy, and chairs the Responsible AI Future Foundation. Recognised as one of Okta's 2026 Identity 25 innovators and a key partner in the Faith-AI Covenant initiative, she combines executive expertise with policy influence gained as the UK's first Minister for Internet Safety and Security. Her sessions equip leaders with practical frameworks for navigating AI ethics, digital transformation, and building technology strategies that balance innovation with societal responsibility.

When Joanna Shields led Bebo to 50 million users and an $850 million acquisition by AOL in 2008, she demonstrated a rare ability to scale technology companies at speed whilst keeping human connection at their core. That same principle has guided her career across three decades, from early leadership roles at Google and Facebook to her current work shaping the future of artificial intelligence through Precognition, the advisory firm she founded to guide governments and corporations on AI strategy. Named to Okta's 2026 Identity 25 as one of the world's leading innovators in digital identity, Shields has consistently positioned herself at the intersection of technological advancement and societal responsibility. Her journey from Silicon Valley to London in 2000 marked the beginning of her unique role bridging American innovation with European policy and regulation.

Shields' credibility stems from executive leadership at the highest levels of technology and government. As Vice President and Managing Director of Facebook across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, she built the company's presence across diverse markets, following senior roles at Google where she led content and technology acquisition for Google Video, Google Books and Google Maps. Her government service includes serving as the UK's first Minister for Internet Safety and Security, Chair of Tech City UK at the request of Prime Minister David Cameron, and UK Ambassador for Digital Industries, where she launched initiatives including Future Fifty and the Digital Business Academy. More recently, as Group CEO of BenevolentAI from 2018 to 2023, she transformed the medical startup into a leader in AI-driven drug discovery. She now chairs the Responsible AI Future Foundation and the OpenAge Initiative, whilst serving on the Oxford Commission on AI & Good Governance and co-chairing the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence. In May 2026, she played a pivotal role in launching the Faith-AI Covenant, bringing technology companies including OpenAI and Anthropic together with global faith leaders to establish ethical frameworks for artificial intelligence development.

Audiences gain practical frameworks for navigating the complex terrain where innovation meets ethics, regulation and human impact. Shields translates her experience building billion-dollar companies and shaping government policy into actionable strategies that leaders can implement immediately. Whether addressing digital transformation, AI governance, or building technology strategies that balance commercial success with societal responsibility, she equips organisations with the tools to make informed decisions in an increasingly complex landscape. Her sessions challenge leaders to think beyond quarterly results towards long-term value creation, offering insights drawn from boardrooms, government offices and the front lines of technological change. Attendees leave with clarity on how to position their organisations for sustainable growth whilst contributing to a more responsible digital future.