NICD appoints first policy director

Newcastle-based National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD) has appointed Professor Ashmita Randhawa as its first director of policy and skills.

Ashmita has also been appointed professor of practice at Newcastle University, bringing two decades of experience spanning product development, academic research, skills, innovation and technology adoption.

Her career includes six years in corporate research and development at Procter & Gamble before completing a DPhil at the University of Oxford.

She later moved to the North East to join Sunderland Software City, where she developed innovation and skills programmes supporting the region’s technology sector.

In her newly created role, Ashmita will support NICD’s work around the next wave of data and artificial intelligence innovation, with a particular focus on policy and skills.

Ashmita said: “I'm incredibly excited to be joining the National Innovation Centre for Data as the director for policy and skills. 

“It comes at an important moment: with the region’s AI Growth Zone and the growing opportunities for AI nationally and internationally creating a momentum like never before. 

“This however can only be translated to growth if organisations (from the smallest to the large) and communities across the region have the skills and confidence to use these technologies well; which is what the National Innovation Centre for Data exists to do. 

“Having worked closely with the team for the last few years, this feels like a brilliant opportunity to build on a deep relationship to create some exciting opportunities.”

Established in 2017 with funding from Newcastle University and central Government, NICD is based at Newcastle Helix and works with businesses, public sector organisations and charities across the UK.

Its specialists help organisations use data science and AI to improve performance, develop products and services and build their own long-term capabilities.

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