Diversity, Data Representativeness & Data Ethics Session

 

Session Summary:

It is more important than ever to ensure that equality and representativeness are built into technology decisions. This panel shares a wide range of expertise and experiences in areas such as developing diverse community engagement strategies, researching the policy impacts of AI and methods of evaluation for bias in these algorithms, digital design, and using big online datasets for deep learning. During this session, panellists will explore some of the challenges and opportunities for change.


have your SAY:

Please submit your questions and comments that you would like to be included in this session’s Google Doc.


Panellists:


Nathan Dennis

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For over a decade I have been directing & leading, with years of experience in youth & diverse community engagement strategies, creating a developing excellent customer experience and developing leaders. I create and facilitate fun, professional & motivational learning environment that helps staff at all levels find a voice ensuring everybody feels included and leaves equip to achieve his or her full potential. My work has lead me to win and be nominated for a number of prestigious awards. Through my work with First Class Legacy I help companies think differently about how they engage diverse, young people & communities. I teach & connect you to young people & local communities, using years of experience, of helping many different companies more effectively engage, connect & build lasting relationships with those deemed hard to reach. My methodology ensures that both clients & their services users win & get the results they require. Centre to everything I do is the love for my Wife, our 4 daughters. And passion and desire to great the best possible future for them & others.


Ezinne Nwankwo

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Ezinne Nwankwo is a second year Ph.D. candidate in Statistical Sciences with a focus on machine learning and computation social sciences at Duke University. Her research focuses on using statistical and machine learning methods to better understand society (using social data) and to aid in decision making processes. She is also a Dean’s Fellow, an Alfred P. Sloan 2017-18 Scholar, and a student fellow with the Leverhulme Center for the Future of Intelligence at Cambridge University. Ezinne received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University and was also the Shirley Pembroke Scholar for the Harvard Cambridge postgraduate fellowship. She has been a passionate advocate for students and researchers from underrepresented backgrounds through her work as a mentor with Black in AI and as a participant with Mechanism Design for Social Good Research Initiative. Ezinne.nwankwo@duke.edu


Chanuki Illushka Seresinhe

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Dr. Chanuki Illushka Seresinhe is a visiting researcher at the Alan Turing Institute. She is currently the lead data scientist at Popsa but soon will be taking on the position of director of data science at Culture Trip. Chanuki's research entails using big online datasets and deep learning to understand how the aesthetics of the environment influences human wellbeing. Her research has been featured in the press worldwide including the Economist, Wired, MIT Technology Review, BBC, Spiegel Online, and Scientific American. Prior to embarking on her PhD, Chanuki had a successful design career that included running her own digital design consultancy for over eight years.