What if communities could shape the AI systems that increasingly govern their lives? What if data became a tool for collective empowerment rather than corporate extraction?

Welcome to the Data Empowerment Clinic launch – where these possibilities become practical realities.

Hosted by King's College London's Centre for Data Futures, this one-day event brings together practitioners, experts, students, researchers, funders and policymakers to move past theory and into practical, solution-oriented dialogue.

Featuring keynotes from Sir Nigel Shadbolt (Principal of Jesus College, University of Oxford and co-founder, and chairman of the Open Data Institute) and Vilas Dhar (President of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation), we will introduce the Clinic's vision, spotlight early partners, and open the floor to conversations about what it takes to build data empowerment structures.

The Clinic is designed to build capacity by training students who learn through advising real-world data empowerment projects, while simultaneously creating a peer learning community where organizations facing different geographical and socio-economic circumstances can learn from each other.

If you're building, organising, or reimagining technology to address social challenges, we'd love to have you in the room.

To learn more about the Clinic or explore how we can support your work, get in touch with us at cdf@kcl.ac.uk

Agenda*

8:30 – 9:00 AM
Arrival & Registration
Tea & Coffee

9:00 – 9:10 AM
Welcome & Introduction to the Data Empowerment Clinic

Speakers: Prof. Sylvie Delacroix and Suha Mohamed, Centre for Data Futures

9:10 – 9:30 AM
Keynote #1 – Empowerment in the Age of AI: The Need of the Hour
Speaker: Vilas Dhar, President, Patrick J McGovern Foundation

9:30 – 9:50 AM
Introducing the Data Empowerment Clinic
Overview of the vision, goals, and preview of case studies the clinic will engage with

Speakers: Suha Mohamed, Centre for Data Futures; Sara Wolfe, Indigenous Health Data Cooperative, Rose Luckin, Educate Ventures (School Leaders Coalition), and Ali Hossaini, Knowledge Quarter Data Commons

9:50 – 10:20 AM
Fishbowl Dialogue | Beyond Consultation: The Path to Meaningful and Sustained Participation - Exploring approaches that move beyond tokenistic engagement towards deep, sustained participation. [Structured to invite participation, this format starts with 3–4 contributors in a “fishbowl” in the centre - audience members can tap in to join the discussion]

Speakers: Vinay Narayan, Aapti Institute and Julian Tait, Open Data Manchester

10:20 – 10:35 AM
Coffee Break

10:35 – 10:55 AM
Spotlight – Lessons from King’s College London: Shaping Equitable Data Futures
A look into how KCL is leading through empowerment in its approach to data related projects/research initiatives

Speakers: Prof. Elena Simperl, King`s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and David Young, Digital Humanities, King's College London

10:55 – 11:50 AM
Lightning Talks – Innovation in Practice
Five short, rapid-fire talks from grassroots stewards and practitioners leading bottom-up empowerment efforts, followed by a response from a 'critical companion’ - a peer who challenges the contributor with reflective questions to push forward the dialogue.

Paired Provocations – Each lightning talk will include: 5 mins by the contributor (on their case study or innovation), 2 mins of a 'critical companion' challenging or reflecting on the talk and 3 mins audience reflection or Q&A (moderated)

Speakers: Tim Davies , Community Campaigns on Data, Dirk Slater, Fabriders, and Hannah Webster, Carefull

11:50 AM – 12:50 PM
Lunch Break

12:50 – 1:50 PM
Thematic Mini Teach-Ins – Making Empowerment Tangible
Three interactive short-form sessions

• Participation in Action
• Transitioning to Stewardship: Strategies & Business Models
• Regulatory Frameworks for Empowerment: Global Lessons

Speakers: Shyam Krishnan, EU Council; Tony Curzon Price, First International Data Union

1:50 – 2:55 PM
Interactive Session – Designing Transformational Models for Empowerment
Centered around the need to imagine new and transformative systems & infrastructures required for data empowerment - participants will be broken up into group to discuss design principles and enabling conditions needed to realise them.

We’ll ask:
What needs to be built next?
What role should communities, technologists, policymakers, and funders play in co-creating these futures?
What future architectures can support community-led data empowerment?

2:55 – 3:10 PM
Afternoon Coffee Break

3:15 – 3:30 PM
Mozilla Foundation × Data Empowerment Clinic - Launching Our Co-Built Learning Resources
A collaborative unveiling of new resources designed to support communities and practitioners.

Speakers: Nabiha Syed, Mozilla Foundation, Jaselle Edward-Gill , Mozilla Foundation, and Suha Mohamed, Centre for Data Futures

3:30 – 3:50 PM
Keynote #2 – The Future of Data Empowerment
A closing provocation on data empowerment
Speaker: Sir Nigel Shadbolt, Principal of Jesus College, University of Oxford and co-founder, and chairman of the Open Data Institute

3:50 – 4:50 PM
Panel – Philanthropy & the Future of Data Empowerment
Funders reflect on needs, risks, and the long-term support mechanisms required to meaningfully scale empowerment.

4:55 – 5:00 PM
Closing Reflections & Next Steps

5:00 – 5:45 PM
Networking and Drinks reception

*Please note: Speakers and facilitators are currently being confirmed. Agenda is subject to slight adjustments.