The University of Sussex has appointed Dr Tom Smith, an experienced leader in socially engaged digital transformation and current Director of AI at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, as its first Professor-of-Practice in Digital and Data Futures. 

Based at the Sussex School for Progressive Futures (SSPF), Tom will bring his expertise and connections to the University to build the capabilities, culture and collaborations to help deliver the University’s strategy Sussex 2035: Creating Progressive Futures - flourishing, sustainability and progress for the whole world. Working across the University's Digital and Data Futures transformational theme, he will strengthen connections between research, education, policy and practice, helping to amplify Sussex's contribution to national and international conversations on AI, data governance and their impact on social and environmental change.  

Dr Smith said: “I’m delighted to take on this role at Sussex. AI, digital and data are not simply technical fields; they raise profound questions about people, power, culture and society. Brilliant collaboration across disciplines and organisations is essential to understanding and shaping these changes – and so the interdisciplinary work of the School for Progressive Futures is more important than ever. Having studied at Sussex and built a career spanning academia, industry and government, I’m excited to bring these perspectives together to help shape how technology serves society.” 

Tom has had a distinguished career spanning the civil service, academia and the international digital and data community. He was co-founder and CEO of Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion (OCSI), a research and technology spin-out from Oxford University that supports public and social sector organisations with local data (such as the English Indices of Deprivation) and digital tools.  Since joining government, he has held a number of senior leadership roles, including establishing and leading the UK’s Data Science Campus and the Deputy Prime Minister's Data Unit, and his current position as Director of AI. 

Alongside his Civil Service career, Tom has played a leading role in the international data community, including serving as Chair of the Advisory Board for the United Nations Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics. He has also held board and advisory roles with the Royal Statistical Society and the Royal Society, served on academic and research advisory boards across the UK, and worked extensively with universities and research institutes on AI, data science and digital services. 

Tom's connection with Sussex spans more than two decades. He completed both his Master's degree and PhD in Artificial Intelligence and Computational Neuroscience at the University, and has been a Visiting Professor in AI at Sussex since 2024. 

Professor Anil Seth said: “Tom is the perfect choice for our first Professor-of-Practice in Digital and Data Futures. After his PhD at Sussex, he drew on his expertise in computer science and AI to develop widely-used tools for social good, before moving into senior government roles in data science and AI, where his work had substantial impact from mapping social deprivation to tracking COVID. Tom has long been at the forefront of leveraging advances in technology to deliver social and ecological good, and we are excited to work with him to inspire new generations of students to do the same.” 

As Professor-of-Practice, Tom will work closely with Professor Graeme Pedlingham, Dean of the SSPF,  Alice Eldridge, Theme Lead for Digital and Data Futures, and colleagues across the University, particularly within the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine, with which his role will be closely associated. 

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, said: “We are delighted to welcome our highly distinguished alumnus, Dr Tom Smith back to Sussex as our second Professor-of-Practice. His appointment reflects Sussex's commitment to embedding strong connections between research, policy and practice, and to working collaboratively to address the most complex challenges facing the world today. Tom brings a wealth of experience and expertise, and I look forward to the contribution he will make to our community and to the ambitions set out in Sussex 2035 in this new role.”