Dame Wendy Hall
Pioneering Computer Scientist & Internet Innovator—Shaping the Future of AI, Web Science, and Digital Society
- Regius Professor of Computer Science, University of Southampton
- Co-Chair of the UK’s AI Review and inaugural UK AI Skills Champion
- Advisor to the UK government and international bodies on technology and AI
- Editor-in-Chief of Royal Society Open Science and co-Chair of the ACM Publications Board
- Named as one of the most influential people in UK technology
- Celebrated advocate for women in STEM
Full Profile
Dame Wendy Hall – Pioneering Authority in Web Science and Artificial Intelligence
Dame Wendy Hall, DBE, FRS, FREng is Regius Professor of Computer Science, Associate Vice President (International Engagement), and Director of the Web Science Institute at the University of Southampton. She previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Physical Science and Engineering from 2010 to 2014 and as Head of the School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) from 2002 to 2007.
As one of the pioneering computer scientists in multimedia and hypermedia, Dame Wendy has significantly impacted fields such as digital libraries, the development of the Internet, and Web Science. Her current research explores the intersections of social and physical sciences through Web Science, focusing on the sociotechnical study of online systems. She is Managing Director and Trustee of the Web Science Trust.
Recognised for her achievements, Dame Wendy was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2009 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society that same year. She became the first person outside North America to serve as President of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in 2008. She is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the ACM, and a Distinguished Fellow of the British Computer Society.
Dame Wendy’s high-level influence spans several roles: Senior Vice President of the Royal Academy of Engineering (2005-8), member of the UK Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology (2004-10), founder member of the European Research Council’s Scientific Council (2005-10), and President of the British Computer Society (2003-4). She has also held EPSRC Senior Research Fellowship and Council positions.
In 2017, she co-chaired the UK government’s AI Review and later joined the AI Council as the first UK AI Skills Champion (2018). She was Chair of the Ada Lovelace Institute (2020-2023) and presently serves as co-Chair of the ACM Publications Board and Editor-in-Chief of Royal Society Open Science. Dame Wendy advises the UK government and international bodies, including her 2023 appointment to the United Nations high-level advisory body on artificial intelligence.
Her book, “Four Internets,” co-authored with Kieron O’Hara, addresses data, geopolitics, and cyber governance.
Through her many leadership positions, Dame Wendy continues to break barriers, championing women in science, engineering, and technology. She serves as a prominent role model, nurturing future generations and promoting equality within STEM fields.