Charlotte Morris

Fascinating evening of discussions at the Edinburgh Futures Institute last Tuesday where I attended one of the Learning Curves events - Contesting Computing: Imagining Feminist Technofutures! It was so interesting to hear insights from Usha Raman, Mar Hicks, and Aisha Sobey, chaired by Sharon Webb, on how education has impacted the 'technological landscape' around us today, and what work is needed to help combat some of the discrimination, bias, and inequalities we find as a result. Some ideas I found myself nodding vigorously too 🤩: 💡 Epistemic hegemony - When we have a culture that over-promotes and over-funds STEM subjects, it makes it harder to find answers outside of those fields when it may be more appropriate (this problem may be exacerbated in developing nations). 💡 Relatedly, technological solutions only work if everyone has the same mindset and worldview, but that isn't the case - think of the pandemic where we (in part) had the technological solution, but not everyone has the same mindset to actually make it work in practice. 💡 In education, we may consider promoting the use of AI tools like ChatGPT to students in a mindful way, emphasizing the cultural context in which these technologies exist and what the ethical impact may be of using them. This encourages students to practice thinking about tech holistically. 💡 Slowing down as a solution! Some technological progress (AI) may need to slow down in order for progress (human flourishing, not just economic progress) to really take place. This is admittedly hard to do in our current economic landscape. Huge thanks to these inspirational women for taking the time to discuss these important topics!

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Great to see academic research being done on responsible investing! Representative of the UK population, this paper found that: - People who invest in "responsible" investments on average have 77% more money invested than those who do not. They also hold 7% more shares 📈 - 4/5 investors agree that businesses should conduct business in a way that considers their environmental impact 🌎 A great way to get involved with responsible investing is through green bond issuance which clearly shows your commitment and tracks your impact. Let's discuss! Read full paper here: https://lnkd.in/eYzs_uBR #resposibleinvesting #sustainablefinance #greenbonds

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🚀Exciting news! Our latest product is live! We made Affordability Engine to help lenders increase acceptances and reduce referrals with more granular affordability metrics, making decisions more explainable and opening up lending to more customers. We’re thrilled to share this journey with you. Feel free to reach out for more details! #consumercredit #affordability #consumerduty

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This morning's release of UK inflation figures has sparked concerns, as Britain's all-item inflation rate rose to 2.2% last month. This marks the first increase since December of last year. According to the ONS’s chief economist, Grant Fitzner, this uptick is largely due to domestic energy costs not falling as sharply as they did in previous months - while the prices for "Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels" dropped by 20.1% in July, this decline was less significant compared to the 27.2% drop seen in June. However, rising energy costs might not be the only issue at play. Several other categories of consumer spending have also shown troubling signs. The prices of telephone services, personal care goods, vehicles and even food and alcoholic beverages have either slowed their rate of decrease or begun to rise again in recent months. This broad-based increase in prices across various sectors suggests that inflationary pressures may be more widespread and persistent than initially anticipated. #macrobond #uk #inflation

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Yesterday, I had a fascinating debate with my colleague, Ben, about the UK's current economic landscape.** He was particularly concerned about the rising cost of living and its impact on ordinary people. He mentioned how the price of groceries, energy, and housing had skyrocketed in recent months, making it increasingly difficult for families to make ends meet. I agreed that the situation was challenging but emphasized the importance of considering the broader context. I pointed out that factors like the ongoing energy crisis and supply chain disruptions had played a significant role in driving up prices. We also discussed potential solutions. Ben suggested that the government should implement more targeted support measures to help those most affected by the rising cost of living. I agreed that this was a necessary step but also emphasized the need for long-term strategies to address underlying economic issues. I mentioned the importance of increasing productivity, investing in education and skills, and promoting sustainable economic growth. Our conversation was thought-provoking, and I left feeling more informed about the complex economic challenges facing the UK. It's clear that finding solutions will require a combination of short-term measures and long-term planning. #economy #globaleconomics #UK #Brexit #europeanunion #inflation #finance #analysis

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Networking?? Love it or hate it? Well, I haven’t been a huge fan of it if the truth be known but went to an event organised by The Chemistry Club this week and you know what - I actually enjoyed it. Very well executed and some thought provoking conversations around Data, AI and Data Culture. Orlando Machado - Chief Data Officer, the Lego Group shared his insights and thoughts on the future. I loved Lego’s vision which he shared: ‘to put Lego in the hands of every child in the world’ by 2032 (100th birthday of Lego).’ I remember as a kid, I thought nothing was impossible - I felt like I could create anything from anythjng. However, overtime, the guardrails went up big time and what I thought I was capable of become smaller and smaller. It’s probably because of how I saw others (comparison syndrome) and the personal stories I had made up of what I could and could not do, what I was and not good at - which made me play ‘small’. Through the work that I’ve done with my coaches, I’ve realised one thing: We’re all built with huge amounts of resilience, innate wisdom and power to create bigger and greater things than we could ever imagine! And I declare myself to be unstoppable! Which part of your life are you ‘playing small?’ #lego #dataliteracy #dataculture #thechemistryclub #datachange #datavision #gordonramseybsk #visionstatements #coachingforwomen #coaching #unstoppable

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Hi Network, 🚨 Exciting Announcement! 💻🎅 📊 📈 🔢 🔎 I’m excited to announce that I’ll be delivering a lecture on behalf of the University of Birmingham titled: "How does Santa know?" As part of the RAISE programme, this interactive session for Year 7 students will explore the fascinating world of data and the digital age. Topics include: - What is data, and how is it collected? - Data analysis: How do we make sense of the information? - Web scraping: How is data gathered online? - Data brokers: Who uses our data and why? - Cybersecurity and ethics: How can we stay safe and navigate these issues responsibly? - The benefits and risks of data collection - Why is data such a hot topic in today’s digital age? Using the playful example of Santa Claus 🧑‍🎄, we’ll investigate how he might gather his information—social media monitoring, online purchases, or other methods—and discuss the ethical challenges of data collection, the role of cookies 🍪, privacy settings, and GDPR. This lecture is part of the RAISE programme, which features a variety of inspiring lectures, workshops, and quizzes designed to motivate and engage students in Years 7 to 11, while helping them succeed at GCSE. 📅 Lecture times: 17th December: 10:30–11:20 & 11:40–12:30 18th December: 10:30–11:20 👉 Interested in this lecture or others in the series? Learn more or register here: https://lnkd.in/e9-Miumf For further info on RAISE at UOB: 🏫 https://lnkd.in/emNY9fgM I look forward to inspiring young minds to think critically about their online presence and data in the digital world! #UniversityofBirmingham #RAISEProgramme #DataAnalysis #WebScraping #Cybersecurity #DigitalEthics #Privacy

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Following on from my earlier post and LinkedIn trying to auto opt everyone in to allowing them to use your data to train their AI models, following discussions with the ICO this has been 'suspended' https://lnkd.in/euJ6mfzj Which more than likely means that we'll have to go through the same process of turning it off again at some point in the future, only this time they might actually tell us they're planning on doing it first. #LinkedIn #AI #AutoOptIn

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Last week I had the pleasure of joining Yexle Limited on their stand at the MoneyNext Banking, Wealth, and Insurance event in London (thank you Matt Brook / Vijay Poondy), where one of the key topics discussed was Regulatory Governance, Risk and Compliance.    There were lots of great conversations with representatives from both banks and insurers and, as I listened in, it dawned on me, that for every single core transformation RFx that I have completed in the past 7 years in this market, I have not seen one which has sought to include or focus on the GRC elements of the organisation.    Yes, there are questions about Reg Reporting or Transaction Monitoring at the back end, and loan origination and underwriting at the front end, but nothing that is focused on ensuring the data is correct, as well as confirming the verification, review, sign-off and approval process for each submission is clearly defined, consistent and auditable.    This seemed odd, as any organisation which is seeking to transform a large part of its technology estate (let's call it ‘the core’)  will most likely have the GRC processes (MRM / Regulatory Filings / Suspicious Transaction Reporting / etc.) embedded within that legacy system, or built around the side, potentially within custom tools, typically with each department tasked with managing that specific aspect of the overall GRC process.    Therefore, when ‘the core’ is replaced, how will this continue to work, especially if moving from an older core which sends out flat / csv files to one which is API native?     Equally, with regulatory authorities worldwide seeking to tighten up both the rules and underlying processes, within the regulated entities, how does using many disparate point solutions support a consistent and joined-up approach?    Finally, with the move towards composable ecosystems, the chance is that the data required for GRC processes will not be generated by a single system, so joining up all the dots to maintain compliance is essential.    When you then add into the mix the new technology-based regulations, such as AI Obligations, the landscape for maintaining ongoing regulatory compliance will continue to grow and with ever changing risks and new technologies emerging, the regulatory focus will continue to adapt and change ever more frequently.    As with all things in modern banking and insure tech, there are no silver bullets and, whilst all of the focus is on transforming ‘the core’, especially the customer facing components, there are knock-on issues further down the line which may not be in the project focus today, but need to be in the very near future.    So, how can this be resolved? Do organisations simply expand their transformation RFx to cover the wider GRC space? Or do they look to deploy packages over the current estate which allows a slower technology transition of the GRC function?     I would love to hear the views and insights on this topic from my network.

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People with poorer mental health are more prone to browsing negative content online, which further exacerbates their symptoms, finds a study by Professor Tali Sharot and Christopher Kelly, PhD. The UCL PALS researchers have developed a plug-in tool that adds content labels to webpages—similar to nutrition labels on food—designed to help users make healthier and more informed decisions about the content they consume. These labels emphasise the emotional impact of webpage content, along with its practicality and informativeness. "We don’t just need warnings—we need guidance. Content labels provide that, offering a way for users to proactively steer their digital diets, rather than simply be told what to avoid," the study authors write in TIME. "This shift—from focusing on #screentime to focusing on content—could change the conversation around #mentalhealth and technology." Read their TIME magazine article here: https://lnkd.in/eni5qQ4p Read more on UCL News about the Wellcome Trust-funded study showing how the relationship between mental health and web-browsing is causal and bi-directional: https://lnkd.in/e_QwYCg4 #DigitalHealth

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Delighted to see a strong commitment towards protecting & advancing UK research & innovation in yesterday's budget, the first Labour budget in 14 years & the first to be delivered by a female Chancellor. Some key takeaways for UK innovators below 👇     📰 Headline summary    🚀 Record level £20.4Bn allocated for R&D funding in 2025-26.  🧬 £6.1Bn allocated towards core research in engineering, biotechnology & medical sciences.  🏦 Creation of a national wealth fund to catalyse over £70Bn of private investment in the UK's clean energy & growth driving industries.  🌍 Full funding of Horizon Europe association, allowing UK researchers & businesses access to the world's largest programme of research cooperation, worth >£80Bn.     🏢 Departmental allocations     📈 10% increase in the budget of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) in 2025/26, up to £15.1Bn.   📈 14% increase in the budget of the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ), up to £10.3Bn.      🧩 Sector allocations     🚗 £2Bn allocated for the automotive sector.  ✈️ £1Bn  allocated for the aerospace sector.  💉 £520Mn  allocated for Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing.    📣 Innovate UK has already announced 11 new funding competitions since yesterday's budget, with many more expected to follow in what is an exciting time for grants. 💡 If you have an idea that you'd like to get funded, or a project that you need help managing, please just get in touch. I’d love to discuss how we can support you to maximise your funding opportunities. Kene Partners | B Corp™ #Grants #RandD #Innovation #Research #UKBudget #AutumnBudget2024

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👏 | 2nd-year AI and Data Sciences student Rana M Temoor Imran discusses his time at the university so far, the opportunities offered to him and his future plans and goals. Read our weekly #UndergradSpotlight series now: ↪️ https://lnkd.in/exN2KC5p

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Some good news (well, two bits!) for a Tuesday! Firstly, I'm recruiting into our amazing new Edinburgh office! 😊 Please check out the website for details! We are excited to welcome an experienced Senior Manager / Director to the team. Contact Rachael Lowrie if you're interested in hearing more. Secondly, yesterday, Rachel Reeves announced that the Government will "maintain the current rates for the research and development reliefs which provide generous support for innovation." The speech, delivered at the International Investment Summit spoke about stability for businesses and discussed a 10-year industrial strategy, with a pending consultation on this. While the reliefs are more than just the rates, hopefully this is an indication that nothing will be revisited at this Budget, but the direction of travel in terms of tackling error and fraud needs to continue and the current set up for the reliefs is not as straightforward as it could, and should, be. Have a read of my thoughts on the recent stats on falling claim numbers, rising value and what good looks like. #Azets #SMEs #Innovation #Budget #RandD #tax #taxrelief https://lnkd.in/es3fpysz

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Let’s prioritise mental health in the workplace! We can all make a difference by creating a safe and healthy working environment that better supports mental wellness! Find out how we are making health and well-being a priority at Schroders: https://okt.to/FvVTyj #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthAwareness

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AI is always an interesting discussion point in my class, as an AI enthusiast I promote the benefits and rules of enaggment when using AI for course work.

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Earlier this year I did some volunteering for a charity called Sense About Science, helping them evaluate the transparency and use of evidence in UK Government policy making. The final report on this has recently been released and makes interesting reading. It's easy to be disappointed by the mixed results, especially by comparison with the scientific rigour around quant and ML research. But reflecting on my own work I know how hard it can be to do this well, even with the best of intentions and a fair bit of effort. Tell me: How rigorous is the evidence you use for your professional decision making? How well is that evidence understood by the people your decisions affect? Does it matter? https://lnkd.in/ez7KQCdb

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Our latest edition of the #InflationWatch is out now. As always, Chris Arcari and I explore most recent trends as well as the outlook for inflation in the UK. Main takeaways - Headline inflation is likely to fall under the target in the next couple of months, but with services and wage growth inflation remaining high, there's uncertainty around how quickly inflation will reach its target on a sustained basis. -We expect the BoE to cut rates this year to less restrictive levels, but expect the bank to proceed cautiously. Read on to find out more, share with others who might benefit from this read, and let us know your thoughts in the comment section. https://lnkd.in/eZrf5AZm

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