Apr 16, 2026
What does it take to build a modern data and AI capability
inside the organisation responsible for protecting information
rights across the UK?
In this episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO and Founder
of Cynozure, speaks with Rob Holtom, Executive Director for
Digital, Data, Technology and Customer Experience at the ICO, the
UK's independent regulator for information rights.
Together, they explore what it means to lead data and AI
adoption from inside a regulator: balancing innovation with public
trust, building capability without losing sight of value, and
creating space for experimentation while staying grounded in
responsibility.
Rob shares how the ICO has approached capability building by
starting with people, developing strategic as well as operational
skills, and using data and AI to improve scale, efficiency and
decision-making. The conversation also looks at why generative AI
matters for regulators, where it can unlock value, and why data
teams need to stay closely involved rather than treating it as
someone else's problem.
This is a practical conversation about leadership, policy,
experimentation and the reality of using data well in complex
organisations.