Executive Committee — 2023/24
Led by our Chair, Josh Simons MP, the Executive Committee serves dual roles developing Labour Digital’s strategic goals and administering our range of programs aimed at empowering the digital and technology policy discussion within Labour.
Josh Simons is the MP for Makerfield.
Until recently, he was the Director of Labour Together, an influential Labour think-tank. He built a team of experts working with Labour’s leadership and MPs to help develop Labour’s plans to deliver for working people.
Previously, he lived in Bury, Lancashire, with his wife and kids. There, he ran for council and served as a Public Governor in the NHS Northern Care Alliance, and helped to create the Civic Power Fund, the first fund to support community organising across the UK.
Josh is also an expert in data, technology, and public services. His recent book, Algorithms for the People: Democracy in the Age of AI, was based on his PhD at Harvard University.
Josh Simons - Chair
Casey is a public affairs and PR consultant with expertise in the tech sector.
She grew PICTFOR, the APPG on tech, into the the largest and most active group of it's kind having managed the secretariat for four years. Prior to this, she managed a digital start-up which brought together some of the UK's most well-read political blogs. She has run successful campaigns in the UK, US and Cameroon including a role supporting the 2012 Obama re-election campaign.
She is also an advisor to Glitch – a nonprofit organisation who campaign for policy change which reinforces positive digital citizenship. Recognised for the impact of her work, she was named on PolicyMogul’s top ten list of Women in Public Affairs in 2019 and appeared on ComputerWeekly’s 2019 list of Most Influential Women in UK Tech.
Casey Calista - industry chair
Lulu Freemont is a Director at a technology policy consultancy, where she advises a range of businesses on how to effectively navigate and shape the political landscape.
She has extensive experience developing effective tech policy and regulation in her previous role as Head of Digital Regulation for techUK covering a range of issues from online safety to cyber fraud. Lulu has also worked to support safer and more resilient online experiences for children and young people through her role as Head of Policy and Public Affairs at social enterprise Parent Zone.
lulu freemont - Secretary
Charlie is Head of Economic Policy at the Coalition for a Digital Economy. He was deeply involved in Labour’s Startup Review in 2022 and brings experience from the financial sector and from four years as a school governor to the role.
charlie mercer - Treasurer
Laura is techUK’s Head of Programme for Technology and Innovation.
She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies, including Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies, across the UK. As part of this, she works alongside techUK members and UK Government to champion long-term and sustainable innovation policy that will ensure the UK is a pioneer in science and technology
Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week.
laura foster - events
Alex is a Senior Policy Advisor working on UK Innovation Policy. Previously she worked as Head of Research for the Shadow Digital Minister on issues including online safety, full-fibre broadband rollout and skills for the future.
She has held communications roles in thinktanks and on political campaigns and is an active Labour Party member.
Alex Porter - D&I lead
Billie's background is in technology, policy and communications. She's spent the last seven years working in digital marketing for two major tech companies and previously worked for the Labour Party as a Policy Adviser. Billie is also an alumna of the Christians on the Left Political Leadership Programme.