SAVILE SCIENCE:  “LIVING IN THE AGE OF DATA” – SAVILIAN DR STEPHEN PAGE. CHAIRED BY SAVILIAN CLIFF COLLIS.

Information is, indeed, power.  But who holds that power, and what do they do with it, in the digital age? We continually shed data about ourselves, our lives, and our interests; that data is harvested, analysed, retained, reused, and re-sold.  What future does this lead us to?  Can we (and our children) regain some control?

This talk will outline the technologies and social norms of the data age, including the Internet of Things, ubiquitous sensors, an AI-enabled future—and the social media megaplayers who monetise our data.  We will think about benefits and risks; and we will reflect on our personal choices about how much risk we take with our data, and what we (and others) gain in return.

Stephen Page is a nonexecutive director whose boards have focused on deriving value from information.  He has held board roles in national security, intelligence and defence for 17 years; at the British Library; and in a large retail bank.  Formerly he was Accenture’s global head of digital/IT strategy and transformation.  He is currently a board member of BSI Group (which runs the UK’s national standards body) and the British Army, as well as a senior advisor to PwC on boardroom issues for the digital age.