Baroness Joanna Shields OBE

Tech Founder, Digital Safety Advocate & Global Leader

Baroness Joanna Shields OBE, former CEO of BenevolentAI and UK Minister for Internet Safety, delivering a 2026 keynote on AI ethics and the future of technology

Joanna Shields is a pre-eminent technology leader and parliamentary figure defining the intersection of high-growth innovation and social responsibility. A veteran of Silicon Valley’s most influential powerhouses—including Google and Facebook—she served as the UK Minister for Internet Safety. As the architect of WePROTECT and former CEO of BenevolentAI, she occupies a rare space where commercial scale meets ethical governance.

At the foundation of Joanna’s approach is the principle of "Safety by Design." She rejects the narrative that progress requires compromising human security, demanding a rigorous moral framework for Artificial Intelligence. Her perspective is forged in the high-stakes realities of cybersecurity and public policy, offering a sophisticated roadmap for organisations balancing rapid innovation with human-centric values.

A visionary and deeply principled presence, Joanna speaks with unparalleled candour. She addresses digital leadership, AI governance, and the necessity of global collaboration in an era of systemic risk. Her insights resonate with C-suite executives who recognise that sustainable success in the digital age requires more than technical prowess—it requires profound integrity.

Signature Keynotes

  • What responsibility looks like when technology shapes society.

  • Understanding influence at scale, and its consequences.

  • Why progress must be matched by governance and ethics.

  • Rebuilding confidence in digital systems.

  • What today’s leaders must decide before it’s too late.

The Shields Effect

Vision becomes responsible, strategic, and future-proof.

Audiences leave with:

  • A deeper understanding of digital power and accountability

  • Insight into leadership at scale in complex systems

  • Clarity on technology’s social and ethical impact

  • Confidence to make principled decisions under scrutiny

  • A long-term perspective on innovation and governance

Why Book Joanna

Joanna Shields is trusted by senior leaders, founders, and policymakers who need more than inspiration, they need judgement. She brings lived experience from the heart of global technology, combined with moral seriousness and strategic depth.

She is particularly compelling for audiences navigating digital transformation, AI, platform responsibility, online safety, governance, and leadership where decisions have wide and lasting consequences.

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