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Fast-tracking evidence: Can AI reshape policymaking?

21 Jul 2026 12:00 – 13:00
Online
Free
Register for the event

Fast-tracking evidence: Can AI reshape policymaking? - 21 Jul 2026 12:00 – 13:00

Register for the event

AI has the potential to transform how policymakers access evidence when it matters most. Currently, conducting a rigorous evidence review to test a policy solution can take up to 1,000 hours. This delay makes it challenging for busy teams to access the insights they need when making urgent, high-stakes decisions.

Reimagining policymaking with AI at its core presents a significant opportunity. Built by Nesta, Policy Atlas is a prime example of this innovation. It functions as an "instant institutional memory" for civil servants, allowing them to rapidly interrogate evidence, stress-test assumptions and make better-informed choices. This is not about automating policymaking or replacing human judgement. It is about embedding transparent, rigorously evaluated AI workflows directly into the everyday realities of policymaking.

Join us online on Tuesday 21 July, 12:00–13:00 BST, for a discussion on how AI is reshaping the role of evidence in public policy.

Our panel chaired by Ravi Gurumurthy, group chief executive, Nesta will bring together experts including Genna Barnett, senior programme manager at Nesta; Shabeer Rauf, principal data scientist; and Artan Zymberi, director of change and transformation at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The discussion will explore how AI can transform evidence synthesis in real time, with insights from Nesta’s live development and testing of Policy Atlas alongside government teams.

Who should attend?

This event is for policymakers, public servants, civil society leaders, evidence specialists, funders and innovators interested in harnessing AI for evidence-based policymaking.

Register today to secure your place, learn more about Policy Atlas and explore opportunities to test, support or partner with us on this project.

Speakers

Ravi

Ravi Gurumurthy

He/Him

Ravi Gurumurthy is group chief executive officer, joining Nesta as chief executive in December 2019. Ravi is the chief executive of Nesta, the UK’s innovation foundation. Nesta’s mission is to design, test and scale solutions to society's biggest challenges, from sustainability and health to educational inequality. Ravi also leads the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), often known as the ‘Nudge Unit’. BIT has grown from a small team in No 10 Downing Street to a 250-person global social purpose consultancy and a subsidiary of Nesta. Prior to joining Nesta, Ravi co-founded and led the Airbel Innovation Lab at the International Rescue Committee. He was responsible for designing new products and services for people affected by crises in over 40 countries. Ravi worked in the UK government from 1999 to 2013. He was an adviser and speechwriter to Foreign Secretary David Miliband, leading the creation of Every Child Matters and the Children Act 2004, and the world’s first legally binding climate legislation. Ravi has held a number of non-executive roles, and is currently NED for NHS England, and lead NED for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.

Genna Barnett

Genna Barnett

She/Her

Genna is the senior programme manager for the data science practice at Nesta. She works across the team’s portfolio of projects to provide project management support, strategic and programmatic oversight for current and emerging projects, and to help ensure that all of our work is running according to time, cost and quality. She’s particularly interested in understanding the impact of the team’s projects and engaging with stakeholders to understand how diverse groups can make use of our outputs in practice. Prior to working in the data science team, Genna worked on a range of projects at Nesta exploring the future of work and the impact of technology on jobs, including Digital Frontrunners and FutureFit. Before joining Nesta, Genna worked on a range of international development projects in education and youth empowerment with local organisations across Sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and the Middle East. She has a Masters of Education in Community Learning and Development and certification in Permaculture Design. In her spare time, she enjoys being creative (painting, pottery), running and tending to her 70+ plants. She’s also a trustee for Tourettes Action.

Shabeer Rauf

Shabeer Rauf

He/Him

Shabeer is a principal data scientist working in the Data Science practice. Shabeer works on projects across Nesta’s missions to implement machine learning techniques to augment technological capability in the organisation. Prior to joining Nesta, Shabeer worked in FinTech, developing data pipelines and machine learning models for quantifying credit risk and fraud detection. He has also worked in public sector data consultancy, where he worked on projects with universities and charities. Shabeer holds an MEng. in Electronic Engineering with Artificial Intelligence from the University of Southampton, in which he developed skills on topics across data science and machine learning, which he is keen to utilise to tackle the challenges facing society.

Event information

21 Jul 2026 12:00 – 13:00
Online
Free
Find out more
Register for the event

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