Baroness Joanna Shields

CEO of Precognition, AI and Cybersecurity Pioneer & Former UK Minister for Internet Safety

Baroness Joanna Shields’s Biography:

Joanna Shields, Baroness Shields of Maida Vale, is currently the CEO of PreCognition and a leading voice in artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and online safety. With decades of experience at the forefront of global technology companies and public policy, she is widely hired as a London keynote speaker for her rare combination of Silicon Valley leadership, UK government service, and deep expertise in responsible tech. Audiences value her insight into AI strategy, digital economies, online safety, and scaling global technology businesses, drawn from roles such as CEO of BenevolentAI, UK Minister for Internet Safety & Security, and Vice President of Facebook EMEA.

Baroness Shields began her career after completing her early education in the United States, moving into product and marketing roles that laid the foundation for her global technology leadership. She worked as a Product Marketing Specialist at National Digital Corporation and later as a Product Manager at EFI before becoming CEO of Veon in 1997. She went on to hold senior international roles at RealNetworks and Decru, followed by leadership positions at Google, where she served as Managing Director of Syndication, Business Development & Partnerships, and later at Bebo and AOL as President & CEO. These early experiences built the commercial, operational, and strategic expertise that would later define her work across Facebook, Tech City UK, the London Stock Exchange Group, and the House of Lords.

Why Hire Baroness Joanna Shields?

Joanna Shields is frequently hired as a London keynote speaker because she brings a unique perspective on technology, policy, and global markets. As a Life Peer in the House of Lords, she has first-hand experience shaping UK legislation and debating the societal impact of emerging technologies. Event organisers value her ability to explain how regulation, ethics, and innovation intersect, helping business leaders understand how to operate responsibly in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Her role as a Non-Executive Director of the London Stock Exchange Group also gives her deep insight into capital markets, investment trends, and the relationship between technology companies and global finance. This perspective is particularly valuable in London, where audiences want to understand how startups scale, how public markets evaluate tech firms, and how financial infrastructure supports innovation. She speaks with authority on attracting investment, navigating governance, and building companies that can succeed in international markets.

In addition, her leadership as Digital Economy Adviser and Chair & CEO of Tech City UK means she has been closely involved in developing technology ecosystems. She helped champion entrepreneurship, support high-growth startups, and promote the UK as a global hub for innovation. As a keynote speaker, she shares lessons from building vibrant tech communities, fostering public-private collaboration, and positioning cities to compete in the global digital economy, topics that resonate strongly with audiences looking to shape the future of technology and business.

Baroness Joanna Shields’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Baroness Joanna Shields’s impressive career:

• 2023 – CEO of PreCognition
• 2018 – CEO of BenevolentAI
• 2014 – Life Peer in the House of Lords
• 2015 – UK Minister of Internet Security & Safety
• 2014 – Non-Executive Director of the London Stock Exchange Group
• 2013 – Digital Economy Adviser, Chair & CEO of TechCityUK
• 2010 – Vice President EMEA of Facebook
• 2007 – President & CEO of Bebo, President of People Networks at AOL
• 2005 – Managing Director of Syndication, Business Development & Partnerships for Google
• 2002 – VP International od Decru