Responsible AI for Senior Public Sector Leaders
TBC | 1 day

The Northumbria Centre for Responsible AI brings together the University’s multidisciplinary expertise in citizen-centred AI to focus on how AI should be used in education, government, industry, and wider society. The Centre’s vision is to shape a trusted AI future through research, education and policy solutions so that new technologies promote greater equity and opportunity for everyone.  We promote and develop an understanding of AI’s strengths and limitations, when it should be used, and how to use it responsibly.

In our Centre, Responsible AI means whether an AI tool should be used (as opposed to ‘could’ or ‘can’ it be used). In deciding this, we combine understanding of the technical and statistical aspects of AI with legal, contextual, operational, and ethical considerations.

Professor Marion Oswald MBE

Marion Oswald, MBE is a Professor of Law at Northumbria University, Academic Lead of the Northumbria Centre for Responsible AI and Senior Visiting Fellow, Centre for Emerging Technology and Security at The Alan Turing Institute. She is the chair of the West Midlands PCC and West Midlands Police Data Ethics Committee and a member of the Home Office Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group. She received an MBE in The Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours list 2022 for services to digital innovation and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Statistical Society in 2025 for her work integrating ethical principles into data science practice. 

Chris Simmonds

Chris Simmonds is an Assistant Professor in Northumbria Law School and a non-practising solicitor.  Chris’s research interests focus on professional education and how Artificial Intelligence can be integrated into existing pedagogic practices in order to improve the quality of the teaching experience, improve student’s literacy around the use of AI, while integrating an understanding of the ethical, professional conduct, and sustainability issues surrounding the use of AI. Chris is currently undertaking a Level 7 Apprenticeship to become an AI Data Specialist, and is the AI Lead for Northumbria Law School. 

Kim Hardcastle

Kimberley is an Assistant Professor in Business & Marketing at Newcastle Business School (AACSB), Northumbria University, with a research focus on AI, algorithms, platforms, and consumer behaviour. In particular, her work centres on education and the societal impact of emerging technologies, specifically how AI and digital skills development can support inclusive, future-ready learning and regional workforce preparedness. In 2023, she organised the first North East AI Safety Summit, helping to establish a regional conversation on the responsible development of AI. She works closely with schools, councils and other regional partners to address the digital skills gap and support the North East’s ambition to become a competitive, digitally resilient economy. Her research champions a citizen well-being approach to upskilling, digital inclusion, and ensuring that education systems are aligned with the needs of an AI-driven future. In addition to her published research, Kimberley is a contributor for the World Advertising Research Centre where she regularly writes about the impact of AI & evolving technologies. 

Kyle Montague

Dr. Kyle Montague is an Associate Professor in Computer Science. He leads the (NorSC) Northumbria Social Computing Research Group. His research sits at the intersection of digital civics, inclusive design, and accessibility, with a core commitment to designing technologies that empower individuals and marginalised communities. Kyle is a co-investigator on the UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Citizen-Centred Artificial Intelligence and the PROBabLE Futures project, which explores the responsible use of probabilistic AI in Law Enforcement. He also works on initiatives enhancing AI literacy among young refugees and asylum seekers, aiming to democratise access to the knowledge and tools shaping the digital society. His work combines participatory methods with ethical frameworks to advance responsible, inclusive AI design. 

Jonny Hall

Jonny Hall is an Associate Professor at Northumbria University and University Academic Experiential Learning Lead. Jonny is an academic and practising lawyer with over 26 years of experience in experiential education in law and more recently higher education across disciplines.  He is a former editor of the International Journal of Clinical Legal Education and convenes its annual conference. His research interests centre on experiential and inquiry-based learning, and he has conducted research into the implications of AI for legal education and the legal profession.