Speaker profile

Emma Thwaites is a strategist, writer and speaker working at the intersection of data, technology and public policy. She is an advisor on global policy and corporate affairs at the Open Data Institute, having held various roles in the organisation since joining the founding team in 2012.

With her consultancy business, Emma works with organisations to build their influence in policy spaces and shape how they communicate about technology and data. She advises boards, briefs ministers, and helps leadership teams navigate complex regulatory and reputational environments. She has authored policy papers and commentary on data governance, ethics and innovation, and regularly speaks and hosts events on the strategic value of technology and data with leaders across sectors, including energy, healthcare and research.

Before founding Allegory, she held senior roles in the UK Civil Service and spent over a decade as a BBC journalist.