Governments around the world are struggling to keep pace with rapid technological change, from escalating cyber threats to breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Emerging technologies are reshaping global markets, transforming security structures, and redefining how power is exercised. Amidst intensifying geopolitical competition, these advances are testing the resilience of public institutions and integrity of international norms.

How can governments and industry build capacity to innovate responsibly at the digital frontier? In an increasingly open-source era, what strategies can organisations adopt to balance security concerns with the imperative to lead in the global diffusion of new technologies?

Join Jen Easterly, former Director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Margrethe Vestager, former Vice President of the European Commission, and Michael Wooldridge, Ashall Professor of the Foundations of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Oxford, for an expert panel covering how societies cope with rapid technological change, competition, regulation, and security. The panel will be moderated by Ciaran Martin, Professor of Practice at the Blavatnik School of Government.

This event is part of the Global Tech Policy Seminar Series hosted by the Oxford Programme for Cyber and Technology Policy.

Speakers

Jen Easterly is one of the most influential voices in modern cybersecurity policy. As Director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), she led efforts to defend the nation’s critical infrastructure against a growing spectrum of digital threats. A former senior NSA official, White House advisor, and Army combat veteran, Easterly has shaped how governments and private actors approach resilience, risk, and national preparedness in the cyber domain.

Margrethe Vestager is an architect of modern digital governance in Europe. As Executive Vice President of the European Commission, she spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives on competition, antitrust enforcement, and tech regulation. Her leadership in holding dominant platforms accountable while crafting Europe’s digital strategy has positioned her as a defining figure in the global debate over the balance between innovation and democratic control.

Michael Wooldridge is a leading scholar on the theoretical and ethical foundations of artificial intelligence. A professor at the University of Oxford and former President of the European Association for AI, his work spans technical AI research and public engagement on the societal impacts of intelligent systems. He is a frequent advisor to policymakers and a champion of bridging the gap between AI development and responsible governance.