Francine Bennett

Francine Bennett is an accomplished leader in the fields of data, AI, and innovation. She currently serves as a Board Member at the Ada Lovelace Institute, a position she has held since June 2024.1 Prior to this role, she was the Interim Director of the Ada Lovelace Institute from May 2023 to June 2024.12

Professional Background

Bennett has a diverse and impressive career history:

1. Leadership in AI and Data Science:

   • VP of Data at Healx (October 2021 - December 2022), where she led teams in data engineering, data acquisition, and NLP (AI) for a company focused on finding treatments for rare diseases.1
   • CEO and co-founder of Mastodon C (February 2012 - May 2019), a big data and machine learning startup that helped government and civic organizations leverage data for more effective public services.1

2. Advisory Roles:

   • Scientific Advisory Board Member for Action against Age-Related Macular Degeneration (January 2020 - September 2022).1
   • Board Member at Bethnal Green Ventures, Europe's leading early-stage tech for good VC (July 2014 - August 2021).1

3. Non-Profit Involvement:

   • Founding trustee of DataKind UK (May 2013 - December 2020), which provides data science support to UK charities.12

Current Positions

In addition to her role at the Ada Lovelace Institute, Bennett is also:

• A member of the Gambling Commission's Digital Advisory Board.2
• Part of the Advisory Council of the British Library.2

Expertise and Focus

Francine Bennett specializes in:

• Creating large-scale positive social impact through technology.1
• Applying AI and data science to solve complex problems, particularly in healthcare and public services.12
• Strategic and organizational leadership in both startups and established organizations.1

Her work at the Ada Lovelace Institute involves research on AI and data, including representing civil society at international events like the UK's AI Safety Summit and engaging with government ministers and media on these topics.1