I have been a Member of the House of Lords since 2013.

My core policy focus is on digital technology for the public good, with a particular interest in technologies such as AI and Blockchain, and areas of application such as: FinTech, GovTech, RegTech, Assistive Tech and EdTech. I write regularly on these and related topics for Computer Weekly and Finextra. Other key policy areas are social mobility, employment, education, skills and culture, media and sports.

I am a firm believer in the benefits of diversity and inclusion and have campaigned for more accessible environments for disabled people. I have also advised the government on diversity and inclusion including conducting an independent review on improving access to public appointments for the Cabinet Office, and under my own auspices a two year on Progress Report to assess how far the department had got with implementation.

Technology and inclusion are the ‘golden threads’ that run through everything I do. The opportunity provided by emerging technologies and the value of genuine inclusion provide both the practical and philosophical underpins to my work across the public and private sectors.

I also used to swim and have been described as ‘Britain’s most successful Paralympic swimmer’ winning a total of 9 gold, 5 silvers and 1 bronze. I was honoured to continue my involvement with the Games as Director of Paralympic Integration, responsible for the organisation of the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

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