Chloe Smith
Chloe Smith is a former Conservative MP who served as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology from April 2023 to July 2023. In that role she called the UK's chairing of the first UN Security Council briefing on AI an important milestone, and she said the UK would host a major global summit on AI safety. She was the MP for Norwich North from 2009 to 2024, and she held Treasury, Cabinet Office and Work and Pensions posts along the way. After leaving Parliament in May 2024, she returned to supporting start-ups and larger organisations on innovation. She is president of the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, and her focus includes the responsible adoption of AI in workplaces.
Timeline
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By 2009
From consulting to Parliament
She joins Deloitte as a management consultant after graduating from the University of York. In 2009 she is elected Conservative MP for Norwich North, becoming the youngest member of the House of Commons.
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2011–2013
Treasury and Cabinet Office posts
She becomes Economic Secretary to the Treasury in October 2011 and Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office in September 2012.
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2021–2022
Work and Pensions Secretary
She becomes Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work in September 2021. In September 2022 she is appointed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
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April 2023–July 2023
Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary
She becomes Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology in April 2023, covering for Michelle Donelan during maternity leave, and she leaves the post in July 2023.
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July 2023
UN Security Council AI briefing
In July 2023 she calls the UK's chairing of the first UN Security Council briefing on AI an important milestone. She also says the UK will host the first major global AI safety summit later in 2023.
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May 2024
Back to the private sector
She leaves Parliament in May 2024 and returns to the private sector, supporting start-ups and larger organisations on innovation.
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Since 2025
President of the CIPD
She is president of the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, appointed in February 2025. Her focus includes the responsible adoption of AI in workplaces.
Sources and credits
Photo: Richard Townshend, via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY 3.0. Source: commons.wikimedia.org. Cropped to a square and resized. Ask us to remove or replace this photo.
