Katja Bego is an expert in digital policy and the geopolitics of emerging technology. She has recently started a new role as Group Manager on emerging technology and foresight at the UK’s data protection regulator. She was formerly a principal researcher and data scientist in Nesta’s technology futures team, where she led the organisation’s work on the future of the internet. She was also the principal investigator of the European Commission-funded NGI Forward project, which supported the Commission with setting the strategy and policy agenda of the Next Generation Internet initiative, the EU’s ambitious flagship programme which seeks to build a more democratic, inclusive and resilient future internet by 2030.

She regularly comments on topics relating to the future internet and European strategic autonomy in outlets such as Wired, BBC, Financial Times and The Guardian. Before joining Nesta, Katja worked as a data scientist in the private sector and as a researcher at the MIT Media Lab. She holds a degree in economics and political science from Wellesley College in the US, and is currently undertaking a Masters degree in the History of War in King’s College London’s War Studies department.