About

As CABI’s Director of Data Science, Modelling and AI, I am responsible for the strategic direction and overall leadership of this scientific area. My work focuses on applying data science to support the Sustainable Development Goals, developing human-centred approaches to harnessing the power of data and frontier technologies in a way that’s grounded in the reality of agricultural communities in developing countries.

My geographic focus has been primarily in Latin America and Africa, and my academic background is a mix of social science, computer science, and geospatial analysis. I have a strong interest in human-centred design, complex systems, and interdisciplinary methods which bring together natural and social science.

I joined CABI in 2011 as a Project Development Officer, managed the Plantwise Knowledge Bank from 2012 – 2016, created CABI’s Digital Development theme and led it from 2016-2025, before setting up the Data Science, Modelling and AI area.  Prior to joining CABI, I had worked for WorldFish Center (CGIAR) and Oxfam GB, working in a range of areas including rural livelihoods, nutrition, value chains and markets, geographic information systems, natural resource governance, and gender.