Natasha McCarthy

Natasha McCarthy is a Smart Data Research UK programme board member.

Natasha is Associate Director, Engineering Policy, at the Royal Academy of Engineering. She leads the work of the National Engineering Policy Centre. The centre connects policy makers with critical engineering expertise to inform and respond to policy issues of national importance. It is an ambitious partnership bringing together 43 UK engineering organisations and representing 450,000 engineers. 

Prior to this, Natasha McCarthy was Head of Policy at the Royal Society, where she led the society’s work on data and digital technology policy, covering issues including the governance of AI and data use, digital technology and sustainability, and privacy technologies. She was previously Head of Policy at the British Academy; Director of Education and now an Honorary Professor of Practice at UCL’s Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy; and began her policy career at the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Natasha has a background in philosophy of science and taught at the University of St Andrews. She is author of Engineering: A Beginner’s Guide, a tour of the social, cultural and historical impact of engineering; co-editor of the Springer publication Philosophy and Engineering: Reflections on Practice, Principles and Process; and has authored several papers spanning engineering, technology, policy, ethics and philosophy.