Dr Cristina Richie joined the Centre in August 2023. She is Lecturer and Cohort Lead for the MSc in Data and Artificial Intelligence Ethics at the University of Edinburgh’s Futures Institute. Her research is driven by a global vision of clean, just, and ethical health care and technology through the development of strategies and policies.

Emma joined the CTMF in August 2024 and is covering the role of Centre Manager for the next 12 months whilst Gina is on maternity leave. Emma started working in higher education 20 years ago and has held roles across student recruitment, communications, widening participation and admissions within several Scottish HEIs.

Dr Fabio Tollon is a philosopher of technology with interests in the ethics of AI, moral responsibility, and free will. He is a postdoctoral researcher as part of the BRAID (Bridging Responsible AI Divides) Programme.

Currently on maternity leave

The Centre's Manager since 2022, Dr Gina Helfrich leads on operations and strategy. Gina also serves as Deputy Chair of the university’s AI and Data Ethics Advisory Board. Previously, she held several programme management and operations roles in the non-profit technology sector.

Dr John Zerilli joined the Centre in May 2023. He is the Chancellor’s Fellow (Assistant Professor) in AI, Data, and the Rule of Law at the University of Edinburgh, a Research Associate in the Oxford Institute for Ethics and AI at the University of Oxford, and an Associate Fellow in the Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge.

Jordan joined the team in April 2023 and provides administrative, communications and event support for the Centre for Technomoral Futures. She graduated from Queen Margaret University with an MSc in International Marketing. Jordan also holds an MA in Professional and Applied Ethics from the University of Melbourne.

Mary joined the CTMF team in May 2024. She provides administrative support to the CMTF Director, Professor Shannon Vallor, ensuring her time is managed effectively so that she can focus on delivery of her strategic objectives and priorities. Prior to starting at the Centre, she had worked in the Information Services Group (ISG) at the University of Edinburgh since 2019 in various roles.

The Centre is led by Director Shannon Vallor, the Baillie Gifford Professor in Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Edinburgh’s Futures Institute and Department of Philosophy. Professor Vallor also chairs the University’s AI and Data Ethics Advisory Board.

Nov 2021 - Apr 2023

While at the CTMF, SJ Bennett was a postdoctoral researcher in a research collaboration between the Centre and the Data for Children Collaborative with UNICEF.

Zeerak Talat joined the Centre in November 2024. They are Chancellor’s Fellow in Responsible Machine Learning and AI. Their research centres on if, and how, machine learning and AI technologies can be used towards fair and equitable futures to answer how machine learning and AI should look, if we must live with them in our societies.