AI, cybersecurity, and ethics: five new Intellectual Forum Senior Research Associates
Five people eminent in their fields of technology and cybersecurity, business and politics, and religion and education – Henry Ajder, Victoria Baines, Ramsay Brown, Matthew Hanney, and Sir Ralph Waller – have been elected as Intellectual Forum Senior Research Associates.
The Intellectual Forum Associates are a vibrant group of affiliated professionals and academics who work alongside the core team.
Henry Ajder
Henry Ajder is a globally recognized expert in the field of generative AI whose work has transformed society’s understanding of the AI revolution.
An established advisor, broadcaster, and speaker, Henry draws on his deep expertise researching deepfakes and generative AI since 2017 to help organisations navigate the opportunities and risks presented by these game-changing technologies. A BBC broadcaster, Henry presented The Future Will be Synthesised, the BBC’s first documentary series exploring the generative AI revolution. He continues to frequently contribute as an AI expert to international news media, including CNN, Bloomberg, and the Financial Times.
"Jesus College and the Intellectual Forum represent the very best of what makes Cambridge such a special place. The opportunity to learn from and collaborate with diverse minds both from Cambridge and further afield is a real privilege." - Henry Ajder
Henry pioneered the field of deepfake and generative AI impact research. He has authored ground-breaking reports including 2019’s State of Deepfakes while Head of Research at the world’s first deepfake detection company Sensity AI, and led MIT’s Just Joking?: The Politics of Synthetic Media research programme. His research and advisory have since influenced international legislation, corporate strategy, and best practice on generative AI.
As Head of Policy at Metaphysic, the generative AI company behind the viral DeepTomCruise videos, Henry also established Synthetic Futures, the first organisation dedicated to ethical generative AI and synthetic media. Henry is an “AI Luminary” advisor for EY, sits on Meta Reality Lab’s Advisory council, and is a strategic advisor to several international organisations, including The European Commission and The Partnership on AI. A sought-after speaker and panel chair, Henry has spoken on stages around the world, including at SXSW, CogX, and London Tech Week. Speaking from his deep expertise on AI, he has delivered keynotes for organisations including Google, The Economist, and The House of Lords.
Professor Victoria Baines
Victoria Baines is a leading authority in the field of digital trust, safety, and cybersecurity. She is the IT Livery Company Professor of Information Technology at Gresham College, London’s oldest higher education institution, where she is responsible for delivering public lectures that demystify world-changing technologies for ‘ordinary’ people.
"Jesus College and the Intellectual Forum are incredible spaces for innovative thought, particularly on global, systemic challenges that require creative answers and agile, multi-disciplinary approaches. I feel as if I have joined the perfect group of people to generate new ideas that might just work." - Professor Victoria Baines
Victoria has published on cyberspace governance, online surveillance, the future of cybercrime, and the politics of security. Drawing on her Classical education, her book Rhetoric of Insecurity sheds light on 2000 years of security speak and is a toolkit for understanding why security issues always seem to be so novel, urgent, and divisive. She also provides research expertise and futures insight to a number of international organisations.
For several years Victoria was Facebook’s Trust & Safety Manager for Europe, Middle East, and Africa, providing support to law enforcement and engaging with ministers and heads of state on key policy issues. Prior to this, Victoria led the Strategy team at Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), where she was responsible for the EU’s cyber threat analysis. She designed and developed Europe’s flagship assessment of cybercrime, and authored scenarios for the future of cybersecurity that were the bases for award-winning movies.
Victoria is a Liveryman of the City of London and chairs the Security Panel of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, the voice of the IT industry in the City. She frequently contributes to major broadcast media outlets on digital ethics, cybercrime, and the misuse of emerging technologies. Her most memorable media appearance to date was a live face-off with Piers Morgan, which she maintains she won. Victoria is a graduate of Trinity College, Oxford and holds a doctorate in Roman Rhetoric from the University of Nottingham. She is a Visiting Fellow at Bournemouth University’s School of Computing, a former Visiting Research Fellow at Oxford University, and was a guest lecturer on Stanford University’s inaugural Trust and Safety Engineering course in 2019 and 2020.
Ramsay Brown
"I'm extremely impressed with Jesus College and the Intellectual Forum [...] The complete coherence of the stunning grounds, world-class faculty, excellent staff, and the cultural dedication to putting in the work to facilitate the most pressing conversations is exactly what we look for in a partner [...] not only brilliant thinkers, but an exceptionally compelling team that runs the IF. I'm extremely grateful to be a Senior Research Associate at the Intellectual Forum, and look forward to continuing our great work together for years to come." - Ramsay Brown
Ramsay Brown is the founder and CEO of The AI Responsibility Lab and Mission Control, a platform for trusting Generative AI. Based in Los Angeles, Rams has spent his career bridging innovation to impact, leading in nanotechnology, brain mapping, behavioural engineering, AI, virtual reality therapeutics, and AI Safety. He works with the Fortune 500, governments, and militaries to make the future approachable and actionable to leaders today.
Now, as CEO of Mission Control, Rams helps the world's most successful brands accelerate quality, velocity, and trust in AI. You can find Rams' life and work in 60 Minutes, Time Magazine, GQ, and on the air with Monocle Radio. Rams holds an MSc and BA from the University of Southern California.
Matthew Hanney
"I loved my undergraduate years at Jesus, and was very fortunate to have the chance to study at a college which blends a real sense of history with a love of learning and a friendly environment. So I’m keen to use my involvement with the Intellectual Forum as a chance to stay in touch with the College." - Matthew Hanney
Matthew Hanney is a Senior Partner at the Business Advisory firm Flint Global. He leads Flint’s work advising clients on policy and regulatory risks across a range of sectors including tech, digital, and life sciences.
Before joining Flint, Matthew was a Special Adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in the UK coalition government, covering constitutional reform, managing parliamentary relations, and leading briefing teams for high-profile events such as PMQs and Select Committee appearances. Earlier in his career Matthew worked on Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential election campaign and wrote for The Economist on European politics.
Sir Ralph Waller
Sir Ralph is the Director of the Farmington Institute, which offers scholarships to headteachers, teachers of Religious Education, senior members of the Armed Forces in moral and ethical leadership, chaplains, clergy, and ministers. The Farmington Institute also gives financial support to 41 UK schools to help their work with disadvantaged children.
"Every academic needs a community in which scholarship and discussion can take place and I am delighted to be part of the Intellectual Forum as it fulfils this need perfectly and I hope that I can make a positive contribution to it." - Sir Ralph Waller
He was Principal of Harris Manchester College in the University of Oxford (1988-2018) and a Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford (2010–2018). He is an Honorary Fellow of Homerton College, Cambridge and is the MacWilliams Fellow in Divinity at the University of Wales, Trinity St. David. He is the Chair of the Kalisher Trust, Chair of the Westminster College Trust, Vice-Chair of Harris Westminster Sixth Form Academy and a trustee of several other charities. He is Ecumenical Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, an Etheldreda Ecumenical Canon of Ely Cathedral and a former Chairman of the University of Oxford Faculty of Theology.
He has received several honorary degrees from universities in America and Europe, including a DD from the University of Wales, a DEd from Liverpool Hope University, and a DTheol from Uppsala University in Sweden. Before moving to Oxford he was the Minister of Elvet Church in Durham City and Chaplain to St Aidan’s and St Mary’s Colleges. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2018 for his services to education. Sir Ralph is a Methodist Minister whose research interests are in the field of Religious Thought in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
