Miles Elsden

Director, Institute for Safe Autonomy, Department for Transport, UK Government

Miles Elsden is the inaugural director of the University of York’s new Institute for Safe Autonomy that brings together academics from across the university working on: the design and verification of software and hardware systems, advanced communications, the assurance of complex systems, and the societal and ethical impact of autonomous systems.

Miles also works as a strategic advisor to advise clients in academia, government, start-ups and corporates based on his strong academic background and experience as a subject matter expert and business advisor across multiple deep technologies. He has broad international experience across transport, defense and security, technology and innovation and is an expert at building and improving organizations science, technology and engineering capabilities.

Miles has provided advice at the highest levels in UK Government, including during national emergencies and represented the UK at the EU, OECD level and in numerous bilateral fora. He has extensive professional networks across sector and industry boundaries including government departments and agencies, universities, Fortune 100 businesses and start-ups.

Miles has a PhD in applied mathematics, an MBA, is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology and holds a visiting professorship at University College London.

His specialties include strategy, decision making, research, technology, futures, innovation, EU, transport, energy, AI, data analytics, digital transformation, cyber security, defense and civil contingencies