Maria Luciana Axente

AI Ethics Expert, Founder of Responsible Intelligence, Former PwC Head of AI Public Policy & Ethics

Maria Luciana Axente’s Biography:

Maria Luciana Axente is a globally recognised artificial intelligence ethics expert, policy advisor and keynote speaker, currently the Founder and CEO of Responsible Intelligence. With more than two decades of experience across technology, governance and digital transformation, she is widely respected for helping organisations navigate the complex relationship between innovation and accountability. Maria previously served as Head of AI Public Policy and Ethics at PwC UK, where she advised senior leaders on building trusted AI systems. Known for shaping global conversations on responsible technology, Maria is regarded as one of the leading voices guiding businesses and institutions through the ethical deployment of artificial intelligence.

Maria began her professional journey as an entrepreneur in Romania, launching ventures that blended business strategy with digital innovation. She founded the Conformist Concept Store, an innovative multi-brand retail concept in Bucharest, while also serving as Managing Partner of Boom Media, where she helped organisations adopt early digital strategies. Her interest in the intersection of technology and business transformation deepened while completing an MBA in Strategy, Corporate Governance and Ethics at the University of Westminster, followed by the Artificial Intelligence Programme at the University of Oxford. During this period, Maria worked as a digital consultant advising organisations such as Euromoney Institutional Investor, gaining hands-on experience delivering digital transformation strategies while building expertise in emerging technologies.

Maria’s career reached global prominence during her decade-long tenure at PwC. Joining as Consulting Engagement Manager for Digital and AI Strategy, she worked with major organisations across industries to design digital transformation programmes and implement responsible technology practices. She later became Responsible AI Lead at PwC, pioneering the firm’s approach to ethical artificial intelligence and co-authoring the award-winning Responsible AI Toolkit, which helped organisations embed governance, transparency and accountability into AI systems. Maria also founded and led the AI for Good programme at PwC, aligning emerging technologies with sustainability and social impact. Her leadership ultimately led to her appointment as Head of AI Public Policy and Ethics, where she advised executives, regulators and policymakers on AI governance and regulatory readiness.

Today, Maria leads Responsible Intelligence, a strategic advisory helping organisations turn responsible AI into a competitive advantage rather than a compliance exercise. Alongside this work, she serves as Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge Intellectual Forum, contributes to global policy conversations as a Member of NATO’s Advisory Group on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, and sits on the Board of Advisors at Digital Leaders. As a keynote speaker, Maria helps audiences understand how artificial intelligence is reshaping business, society and global governance. Her talks explore responsible AI, digital ethics, emerging technologies and the future of innovation, equipping leaders with the tools needed to build trusted, sustainable and human-centred technology in a rapidly changing world.

Why Hire Maria Luciana Axente?

Maria Luciana Axente is a globally recognised authority on artificial intelligence ethics, helping organisations understand how to harness emerging technology responsibly. With more than two decades of experience across digital transformation, governance and AI strategy, she brings rare insight into the balance between innovation and accountability. As former Head of AI Public Policy and Ethics at PwC UK and now Founder and CEO of Responsible Intelligence, Maria has advised senior leaders, policymakers and global institutions on building trusted AI systems. Her keynotes translate complex technological and ethical challenges into clear, practical guidance, equipping audiences with the knowledge needed to implement responsible, human-centred artificial intelligence.

Maria Luciana Axente’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Maria Luciana Axente’s remarkable career in artificial intelligence:

• 2025 – Founded Responsible Intelligence
• 2025 – Appointed Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA)
• 2025 – Served as Advisory Board Member of the UK Open Multimodal AI Network (UKOMAIN)
• 2024 – Appointed Board Advisor at Digital Leaders
• 2023 – Promoted to Head of AI Public Policy and Ethics at PwC UK
• 2022 – Joined NATO’s Advisory Group on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies
• 2022 – Appointed Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge Intellectual Forum
• 2020 – Elected Chair of the Data Analytics and AI Leadership Committee at techUK
• 2019 – Became Advisory Board Member for the UK Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence
• 2017 – Appointed Responsible AI Lead at PwC