Artificial intelligence is transforming humanitarian action, creating new opportunities to enhance protection, assistance and decision-making while raising important legal, ethical and governance questions.

Join Philomena Cleobury (UNHCR), Jonathan Kewley (Clifford Chance), Tom Duff Gordon (OpenAI) and Teresa Cantero, a researcher focusing on AI and civilian protection in conflict settings, for a discussion on how AI can be harnessed responsibly to support humanitarian outcomes.

Speaker biographies:

Jonathan Kewley is an award-winning international lawyer and AI leader. He chairs Clifford Chance's global Tech practice, a cross-disciplinary team of 600 lawyers and policy advisors. He was recently voted Partner of the Year at the British Legal Awards. Jonathan is the co-founder of AI Score, an enterprise-grade AI security and monitoring platform that helps organisations oversee their AI deployment. He advises some of the world's largest companies on AI strategy and digital transformation. In 2020, he established an AI Scholarship at Oxford University, creating pathways for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to study computer science. He is also the founder of Think First. Keep SMART on AI, a nationwide classroom poster campaign backed by the NSPCC and Childline, launching in late 2026. Think First will equip children, parents and teachers in every UK school with a simple framework for using AI wisely, safely and responsibly, while promoting independent thinking in the age of artificial intelligence. He sits on the advisory boards of Cognition AI and Common Sense Media, and Schwarzman Scholars in New York, where he contributes to developing the next generation of global leaders.

Philomena Cleobury is Assistant General Counsel in the Legal Affairs Service of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), based in Geneva. Philomena advises on matters of international law in the context of providing legal support to UNHCR’s operations in over 130 countries, in support of UNHCR's mandate to deliver assistance and protection to refugees and forcibly displaced people. She is closely involved in the establishment of the Geneva Legal Tech Accelerator, positioning UNHCR’s Legal Affairs Service at the forefront of responsible AI adoption and legal technology innovation in order to strengthen the delivery of legal support to UNHCR’s humanitarian operations. Philomena has also worked in the UNICEF Legal Office as Chief of the Partnerships, Programmes and Innovation Section, as well as in the UN Office of the Legal Counsel in New York where she advised on a broad range of matters of international law, including related to international and UN-assisted criminal tribunals; new accountability mechanisms; peacekeeping operations; international humanitarian law; privileges and immunities and host country agreements. Before joining the UN, Philomena specialised in international arbitration with global law firm, Linklaters LLP. She has also worked for the Law Commission of England & Wales.

Teresa Cantero is a PhD candidate at Universidad Carlos III’s Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, where her research examines how artificial intelligence can enhance the protection and evacuation of civilians during armed conflict under International Humanitarian Law. Cantero earned a M.Sc. in Global Affairs from New York University as a Fulbright Scholar, specializing in International Law and Human Rights. After graduating from NYU, she worked at Human Rights Watch in Washington, D.C., supporting research, advocacy, and field operations across the Americas. Since 2016, she has been part of IE University, where she is currently an Adjunct Professor at the School of Humanities. Cantero holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism with a minor in Political Communication from the Universidad de Navarra and has worked as an editor and writer for various national and international media outlets such as Jane's Intelligence Review, El Español, Ars Magazine or The Telegraph-Calcuta.

Tom Duff Gordon is vice-president and head of EMEA policy at OpenAI, where he leads engagement with governments, regulators, and policymakers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He is responsible for the company’s public policy and government affairs strategy across the region, covering issues including artificial intelligence governance, innovation policy, digital regulation, economic growth, and technology adoption. Prior to joining OpenAI, Tom was vice-president of international policy at Coinbase, where he led the company’s engagement with policymakers across Europe, APAC, Latin America, and the Middle East, helping shape emerging policy frameworks for digital assets and financial innovation. Earlier in his career, Tom held senior public policy and regulatory affairs roles in financial services, including as MD and head of EMEA policy at Credit Suisse. He has worked extensively on financial regulation, international trade, market access, fintech, and competitiveness policy, and has served in leadership positions across major industry associations.

This panel will be introduced and moderated by Philippa Webb, Professor of Public International Law, Blavatnik School of Government.

Please note this event takes place in person only.