The LSE School of Public Policy (SPP) is delighted to welcome Dr. Laura Gilbert CBE as Visiting Professor in Practice and Christopher Schildt as Visiting Senior Fellow. Dr. Laura Gilbert is a specialist in technical data science currently working as the Director of Data Science in 10 Downing Street and as joint Chief Analysts in the Cabinet Office, while Christopher Schildt joins us as an expert in technology and security, having held senior leadership positions in both public and private sector organisations, currently at Coinbase, and previously at Uber London and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Dr. Laura Gilbert CBE, Visiting Professor in Practice
Dr. Laura Gilbert specialises in technical data science, and in the effective communication of evidence. She is also a civil servant, working as the Director of Data Science in 10 Downing Street and as joint Chief Analysts in the Cabinet Office, with responsibility for the AI for the Public Good program. Her focus is on providing fast-paced modelling and analysis to support policy making and delivery, and rapid prototyping to speed up government innovation. She also runs a broader radical upskilling and transformation agenda promoting the better use of evidence, data and technology in government decision making.
Laura holds a doctorate in Particle Physics and GRID computing from the University of Oxford, and undergraduate degrees in natural sciences from Cambridge. She held lectureships and a post-doctoral research position at Oxford, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and of the Institute of Analytics. She was awarded a CBE for Services to Technology and Analysis in the New Year’s Honours 2024.
Laura spent three years as a quantitative analyst in the financial sector, working in modelling, analysis and artificial intelligence before joining a new medical technologies company as a director. She spent the next decade working as a hands-on CTO bringing the company from start up to SME to acquisition, and has significant experience in software development, wearable technology, systems architecture, data integration and system/data security. She is fluent in seven programming languages, and is named on four patents, including lead inventor on two data security patents.
As part of her medical technologies work she performed scientific consultancy completing diverse projects including creating an algorithm to detect heard beats via electromagnetic signals passing through clothing for medical evacuation; another algorithm to detect heart rhythm anomalies in close to real time through a patient's thumbs; providing analytic tools to biologists trying to disrupt the cell cycle of the malaria parasite; providing predictive algorithms based around measuring biomechanics and mental health measures to predict when a soldier in training was likely to become seriously injured in the near future, and predicting the behaviour of groups of snipers. She recently built the data collection and API for a pro-bono clinical trial in doxycycline based treatment for COVID.
Commenting on the appointment, Dr. Laura Gilbert said: "I am delighted to be joining the LSE School of Public Policy as a Visiting Professor. I look forward to teaching and mentoring the next generation of policy designers. I am passionate about improving the use of evidence in the creation of policy, to ensure the better delivery of public services for the public now and in the future."
Professor Alexander Evans OBE, Director of the MPA in Data Science for Public Policy Programme at the SPP, celebrated Dr. Gilbert's appointment: “We are delighted to welcome Dr Laura Gilbert as a Visiting Professor in Practice. Her advocacy, expertise and insight into data science and public policy is a welcome addition to our growing work on data, technology and policy.”
Christopher Schildt, Visiting Senior Fellow
Christopher Schildt has held senior leadership positions at the intersection of technology and security in both public and private sector organisations. Currently, Chris manages global compliance operations for Coinbase, a leading cryptocurrency exchange. Chris’ teams protect Coinbase and its customers by ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering, counter terrorist financing, and other financial crime regulations.
Previously, Christopher was Head of Safety, Risk and Compliance operations at Uber London, where he led efforts to improve customer safety and operationalise new security technologies. These projects included using data analytics to identify and remove unsafe drivers from the platform, facial recognition for driver identity verification and Covid-19 mask compliance, and smartphone telematics to detect and proactively respond to crashes and other trip anomalies.
Prior to moving to the UK, he served for 15 years with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in a variety of operational, technical, and analytical roles, including assisting two CIA Directors.
Christopher has an MBA from the University of Oxford, an MPA in economic policy from Princeton University, and a BA in economics and international studies from Yale University. He lives in London.
Commenting on the appointment, Christopher Schildt said: “Digital technology has dramatically changed our world, but governments, regulators and companies still struggle to manage the safety and security risks of these innovations. I am excited to join LSE to share my experience to help the next generation of global leaders better understand and solve these challenges.”
Professor Alexander Evans OBE celebrated Schildt's appointment: “Christopher Schildt’s appointment as a Visiting Senior Fellow is a welcome addition to the LSE School of Public Policy. His experience of tech regulation, risk and compliance as well as national security is directly relevant to major global policy challenges.”