PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Christina J. Colclough

Christina J. Colclough is a public voice on workplace AI, workers’ rights, and technology governance. She researched employment relations at Copenhagen’s FAOS, earned a PhD on social capital, and moved into Nordic and European union leadership. Her policy writing set out principles for workers’ data rights and ethical AI, and she helped lead WeClock, an app for workers to track and manage their own data. She founded The Why Not Lab, joined Partnership on AI’s board in 2025, and advises organisations on digital governance.

Now at
The Why Not Lab
Works
9
Badges

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 19 October 2026. Citations and h-index are hidden because this OpenAlex record may be incomplete or mix in other authors.

Timeline

  1. 2001–2007

    Research at FAOS

    At Copenhagen’s Employment Relations Research Centre (FAOS), she researches labour relations from 2001 to 2007.

  2. 2008–2013

    Leading Nordic unions

    In 2008, she becomes general secretary of Nordic Financial Unions; in 2012, she defends her PhD thesis on social capital at Copenhagen; from May to October 2013, she serves as secretary general of the Council of Nordic Trade Unions.

  3. 2016

    Head of EU Affairs

    At UNI Europa, she serves as Head of EU Affairs and speaks at the 2016 conference about challenges facing the trade union movement.

  4. 2018

    Workers’ data rights and ethical AI

    In December 2018, she publishes “When algorithms hire and fire,” arguing that unions should put workers’ data rights on the agenda as algorithmic management spreads.

  5. 2020

    Future World of Work policies

    By 2020, she runs The Why Not Lab after leading UNI Global Union’s Future World of Work policies, advocacy, and strategies for several years. She is the author of the union movement’s first principles on human data rights and AI ethics.

  6. July 2020

    WeClock for workers’ data

    In July 2020, she helps lead WeClock, a free Android and iOS app that helps workers track and manage their own data through an open-source collaboration.

  7. August 2025

    Joining Partnership on AI

    Partnership on AI appoints her to its Board of Directors in August 2025 as founder of The Why Not Lab; she calls for workplace AI safeguards that protect workers’ rights.

  8. As of October 2026

    Founder of The Why Not Lab

    She advises governments, employers, public institutions, and trade unions on accountable, participatory digital transformation through The Why Not Lab.

Career

  1. NowThe Why Not LabFounder
  2. From 2025Partnership on AIBoard of Directors member
  3. Until 2020UNI Global Union
  4. From 2016UNI EuropaHead of EU Affairs
  5. 2013Council of Nordic Trade UnionsSecretary General
  6. From 2008Nordic Financial UnionsGeneral Secretary
  7. 2001–2007Employment Relations Research CentreResearcher

Education

  1. 2012University of CopenhagenPhD

From the biography.

  1. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers rose from 2% to 32%Includes Partnership on AI. We estimate where leading AI researchers worked when their most-cited papers appeared. The company share rose from 2% in 1975–1979 to 32% in 2020–2024.
  2. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes University of Copenhagen. Our estimates of where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led, from education records in cited biographies.
  3. Google has the highest combined h-index among AI organizationsIncludes University of Copenhagen. Our estimates of combined and median h-index at AI organizations, using current affiliations and OpenAlex records.
  4. Stanford University trained or employed 20 of the 89 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityIncludes University of Copenhagen. Stanford University trained or employed 20 of the 89 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and employment links for major-prize and best-paper winners.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Christina J. Colclough yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Christina Jayne Colclough – University of Copenhagen faos.ku.dk. Checked 19 October 2026.
  2. UNI EUROPA CONFERENCE 2016 - DAY II fabi-international.org. Checked 19 October 2026.
  3. When algorithms hire and fire equaltimes.org. Checked 19 October 2026.
  4. AI as a Tool for Workers’ Empowerment, with Christina J. Colclough carnegiecouncil.org. Checked 19 October 2026.
  5. Workers taking control of our own data prospect.org.uk. Checked 19 October 2026.
  6. Partnership on AI Appoints Three New Board Members partnershiponai.org. Checked 19 October 2026.
  7. Dr Christina J. Colclough | Trustworthy AI, Participatory Governance & Workers’ Digital Rights — The Why Not Lab thewhynotlab.com. Checked 19 October 2026.