The Data Lab launches new ambassador programme designed to bolster Scotland’s data and AI community
SCOTLAND’s innovation centre for data and AI, The Data Lab, has today launched a new Ambassador Programme, designed to bring together some of the world’s brightest names in the data and AI community, and harness their support for Scotland.
Ambassadors, which include Chris Neumann, founder and CEO of Silicon Valley based Commonwealth Ventures; Laura Hepburn, Data Analyst at the Scottish Funding Council, and Robert Gordon University’s Associate Professor in Machine Learning, Dr. Eyad Elyan, will be tasked with a number of duties designed to boost Scotland’s data community in the years to come.
From mentoring students to providing career advice and guidance, and presenting at events to showcase The Data Lab, ambassadors are in prime position to help the innovation centre expand its reach both in Scotland and further afield. Ambassadors will drive awareness of The Data Lab through word of mouth, as well as challenging the team with queries and suggestions to help improve its services and impact.
The development of the Ambassador Programme will allow for a greater opportunity to help shape the support given to the innovation centre – which is tasked with helping Scotland to maximise value from data and to lead the world to a data-powered future – from industry, academia, and the wider community.
Mark Wilkinson, Head of Business Development at The Data Lab said: “The launch of our new Ambassador Programme will be fundamental in helping us to reach our goals.
“We’re here to accelerate Scotland’s journey by fuelling innovation through collaboration, growing talent and building skills, and we’re excited to begin working more closely with our network of some of Scotland, and the world’s greatest minds.”
Ambassador Jackie Doyle, who is Director of JLD Management Services, and has over 25 years of experience in energy, technology, digital and telecoms, said: “Better use of data to help inform decision making and the increased use of AI tools are two of the keys to unlocking value in what and how we do things in society and business moving forward.
“The Data lab has already made a substantial difference to enabling this by increasing the awareness of what is possible and by supporting action on the ground with its programmes and access to technical expertise. I am pleased to be able to help The Data Lab by supporting its efforts where I can”.
Through the programme, businesses will be given the opportunity to liaise directly with ambassadors to discover more information about the support that can be accessed via The Data Lab.
