Co-Founder & Investor of Seers, Trustee of the British Pakistan Foundation, AI Advisor to the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network & Winner of the Top 100 Influential People Award
Zahra Shah’s Biography:
Zahra Shah is a respected technology leader, AI advisor and entrepreneur recognised for her influence across artificial intelligence, data privacy and innovation. A winner of the prestigious Top 100 Influential People Award in both 2025 and 2026, Zahra is widely sought after as a speaker for her expertise in ethical AI, women in technology, digital transformation and responsible innovation. As Co-Founder and Investor of Seers, she helped lead the development of the UK’s first and only Child Privacy Consent Management Platform, positioning herself at the forefront of privacy-first technology solutions. Zahra is also an AI Advisor to the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network and Chair of the Women in AI Working Group at UKAI.
Beginning her career in management consultancy, Zahra spent more than a decade within Accenture’s Financial Services and Capital Markets practice, where she gained extensive experience delivering transformation projects for major global organisations. She later transitioned into entrepreneurship and advisory leadership, becoming Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Seers in 2019 after first investing in the business in 2018. Alongside her work in technology, Zahra has held influential leadership positions, including CEO and later Trustee of the British Pakistan Foundation, Board Advisor at NexaQuanta and Senior Board Advisor at Teamup Ventures. She also serves as Chair & President of OPEN London CIC and became an Expert Member of the Technology Advisory Panel at the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Zahra’s achievements span technology, governance and public advocacy. She completed her MSc in Analysis, Design & Management of Information Systems at the London School of Economics before later undertaking further executive education, including the FT Board Director Programme and multiple AI and Generative AI certifications from IBM. Her insights have been featured across BBC, LBC, Channel 4, Bloomsbury Radio and Awaaz FM, where she regularly comments on AI, frontier technology and digital ethics.
A passionate advocate for diversity, ethical leadership and inclusive innovation, Zahra brings a unique perspective shaped by corporate leadership, entrepreneurship and board-level advisory work. Her ability to simplify complex technological issues and connect them to real-world business and societal outcomes makes her a compelling and highly engaging speaker for conferences, leadership summits and technology events worldwide.
Why Hire Zahra Shah?
Zahra Shah is hired as a speaker for her rare combination of expertise in artificial intelligence, governance, entrepreneurship and ethical innovation. Drawing on senior leadership experience across consultancy, startups, advisory boards and public sector initiatives, Zahra delivers insightful talks on responsible AI, privacy, female leadership in technology and the future of digital transformation. Her experience working with organisations including UKAI, the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network allows her to provide audiences with practical, forward-thinking insights. Combined with her extensive media appearances, Zahra is an engaging and authoritative speaker for global business and technology audiences.
Zahra Shah’s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Zahra Shah’s remarkable career:
- 2026 – Won the prestigious Top 100 Influential People Award 2026 in recognition of her impact across AI, innovation and leadership.
- 2025 – Became Chair of the Women in AI Working Group at UKAI, leading discussions on inclusion and responsible AI development.
- 2025 – Appointed AI Advisor to the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network to support innovation and digital advancement initiatives.
- 2025 – Became Chair at the UK Association for Medical Aid to Pakistan while continuing her leadership in the technology sector.
- 2024 – Became Chair & President of OPEN London CIC, championing entrepreneurship and professional development initiatives.
- 2023 – Appointed Board Advisor at NexaQuanta, providing strategic guidance on technology and innovation.
- 2022 – Became an Expert Member of the Technology Advisory Panel at the Information Commissioner’s Office.
- 2020 – Won the Google for Startups Female Founders Competition as one of Europe’s most innovative female tech founders.
- 2019 – Became Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer at Seers and helped develop the UK’s first Child Privacy Consent Management Platform.
Videos
Zahra Shah’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Working with Zahra Shah was a pleasure. As an AI expert, she expertly navigated the complexities of data transformation in financial services. Her deep knowledge of both AI and the financial sector ensured a dynamic, insightful discussion. Zahra kept the conversation engaging, encouraged diverse perspectives, and skilfully managed audience interaction. I highly recommend Zahra for any event focused on AI and data transformation in financial services.” – Jawad, Head of Product Management, Regulatory & Risk, Vermeg
“Zahra Shah served as a speaker on the “How Should Boards Consider AI Adoption” panel at the Global Innovation Summit. She provided expert guidance to the attendees who were board directors and C-suite executives of listed companies. She Discussed the key areas very well with plenty of examples to bring the insights to life. She received excellent feedback from the attendees.” – Corina, Founder, Innovation Partnership
“Zahra Shah was recently a keynote speaker at one of our events aimed at UHN’s and Angel Investors on AI & Ethics. Zahra was an engaging and impressive speaker, delivering some thought-provoking topics which captured the imagination of the audience, leading to strong debate and questions in the crowd. She also dealt with the questions in a very professional and authoritative manner, looking forward to having her back to speak again soon.” – Michael, Founder & Founding Partner, Entrepreneurs Collective & Alator Capital
“Zahra kindly joined a panel discussion at Level39, exploring the revolution of Financial Services: The Intersection of Web3, DeFi & AI. Zahra was an incredible addition to our lineup of speakers on the night. She is a thought leader in this space, sharing her experience and insights as an entrepreneur and investor. We had such wonderful feedback from our audience about Zahra’s energy and passion for this subject, and I truly appreciate Zahra for joining us to share her thoughts and vision with our startup and scaleup community!” – Amy, Director at Level 39
“Zahra works tirelessly to keep up to date with all things digital and cyber security-related at board level. Which means that as a speaker, you can be confident that Zahra is giving you an expert view on what board best practice looks like.” – Tony, Founder & CEO, Transpire Global Director Network
Speaking Topics
Zahra Shah’s Official Keynote Topics:
- AI & Frontier Technology
- Women in Technology
- AI for Digital Strategy Management
- Responsible AI adoption
- Responsible AI & AI Governance for Boards
- AI Regulation & Governance
- AI for Digital Transformation in Financial Services
- AI Education & Upskilling
- AI & Creative Industries
- Bias in AI
- AI & Privacy
- Future of AI
- Building Responsible AI
- AI & Data
- Ethical AI
- Women in AI
- Building Gender Equitable AI
- Agentic AI
- AI as Co-Founder
- AI Agents in Business & Financial Services
- AI & Healthcare
- AI & Young People
- AI & Energy
- AI & Commonwealth
- AI & Cybersecurity
- UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan
How Much Does Zahra Shah Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Zahra Shah?
Zahra Shah’s speaking fees typically reflect her exceptional career. Engagements vary depending on location, format, and duration; keynote appearances, conferences, and international events may command higher fees due to travel and preparation requirements.