Laura Ellis

Head of Technology Forecasting, BBC R&D @ BBC

About

I am an experienced leader and former BBC News journalist with a focus on emerging technology, machine learning, synthetic media and content provenance. My specialist area is AI - everything from understanding the increasingly complex speedy twists and turns in the generative space, to its deployment in journalism and the creative industries, policy, governance, leadership and education. A previous career highlight was building and leading the BBC's online news/sport team for England, delivering multi-media content to a weekly audience of 20m on a variety of platforms. Outside of work I am the world's slowest triathlete and have a part share in the world's greediest husky x German Shepherd cross.

Country

United Kingdom

City

London

Industry

Online Media

Skill

Business Development, Business Strategy, Machine Learning, Content Strategy, Digital Publishing, Technology Transfer, Online Journalism, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Communication, Digital Media, Television, Social Media, Management, Digital Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, Media Production, News Writing, Broadcasting, Journalism, Broadcast Television

Experience

Head of Technology Forecasting, BBC R&D

BBC

2019-4 - Present · 7 yrs 6 mos

London Area, United Kingdom

Working on establishing and communicating the BBC's long-term technology perspective. Ensuring the BBC derives the best value from new and emerging technology through working effectively with internal and external partners on creation, delivery and development.

Head of Digital, BBC England

BBC

2007-5 - 2019-5 · 12 yrs 1 mo

Birmingham/London

Developing BBC Local Live, a stream of multi-media content based on an algorithm. Working on personalisation and AI, making BBC England an early test bed for ML and bots. Continuing to grow audiences to of the BBC website’s England content, attracting a user base that currently stands at 14m weekly unique browsers with increasing engagement. Building productive partnerships with a range of internal groups and external organisations.

Executive Editor, BBC Monitoring

BBC

2015-6 - 2015-12 · 7 mos

Caversham, UK

Six months at BBC Monitoring creating a business plan to underpin the department’s future, both commercial and public service. Working with teams in the UK and a number of overseas locations, delivered a plan which drew together savings imperatives, a new externally facing business portal and work for the BBC and British Government.

Business Manager

BBC

2004-2 - 2007-5 · 3 yrs 4 mos

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Created a new cycle of business and journalism review alongside procedures for dealing more effectively with audience complaints. Established regimes for FOI and Data protection, internal communications and major events. Took a lead role in developing protocols around compliance, business issues, health and safety, risk and business resilience.

Social Media Consultant

Internews

2016-2 - 2016-2 · 1 mo

Juba, Central Equatoria, South Sudan

Head of Region, BBC South East

BBC

1999-9 - 2003-8 · 4 yrs

Tunbridge Wells

Successfully established a new region for the South East, organising the acquisition, design and fit-out of a new building, combining two existing radio teams with a new TV operation including daily and weekly news and current affairs programme and selecting and installing new technology. Initiated video journalism and multi-skilling across radio, TV and online, effectively handling the associated staffing, leadership and industrial relations challenges.

Head of Region, BBC West Midlands

BBC

1997-2 - 1999-8 · 2 yrs 7 mos

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Led a region of 300+ staff through a period of enormous structural change. Led the team securing BBC WM an unprecedented three Sony gold awards and Midlands Today RTS regional station of the year.

Editor, BBC Points West

BBC

1994-6 - 1997-2 · 2 yrs 9 mos

Bristol

Built one of the strongest audiences in English Regions for the regional news programme for the West of England. Used experience of network newsgathering gleaned on a year-long attachment to the network newsroom home desk in London to foster better relationships with network colleagues and improve multi-media working.