PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Nate Burnikell

Nate Burnikell is chief strategy officer of the AI Security Institute, an organisation that researches AI safety and national security. He was head of safety in the UK Foundation Model Taskforce, which became the institute at the 2023 Bletchley Summit. He was also deputy director of the Research Unit, where he set research strategy, and he was among the authors of two institute publications in 2025. Earlier government work included the Ukraine Humanitarian Taskforce and the COVID-19 Taskforce. The institute named him chief strategy officer in August 2026, when Henry de Zoete became its director.

Timeline

  1. By 2023

    Ukraine and COVID-19 taskforces

    Before the 2023 Bletchley Summit, he works on the Ukraine Humanitarian Taskforce, the Cabinet Office Supply Chains Unit and the joint No. 10 and Cabinet Office COVID-19 Taskforce. He starts his civil service career through the Summer Diversity Internship Programme before joining the Fast Stream.

  2. By 2023

    Head of Safety at the taskforce

    He serves as Head of Safety in the UK Foundation Model Taskforce, which becomes the AI Security Institute at the 2023 Bletchley Summit.

  3. Since 2023

    Deputy director of the Research Unit

    After the 2023 Bletchley Summit, he takes on several leadership posts at the institute, most recently as deputy director of the Research Unit, where he sets research strategy.

  4. July 2025

    AI agent security study

    In July 2025, the institute posts a study on security challenges in AI agent deployment, and he is among its authors.

  5. December 2025

    Frontier AI Trends Report

    In December 2025, the institute publishes the AISI Frontier AI Trends Report (2025), and he is among its authors.

  6. August 2026

    Named chief strategy officer

    In August 2026, the institute names him chief strategy officer as Henry de Zoete becomes its director.

  7. As of October 2026

    Chief strategy officer at AISI

    He is chief strategy officer of the AI Security Institute, an organisation that researches AI safety and national security. He works there from its 2023 inception.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Nate Burnikell yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Nate Burnikell - GOV.UK gov.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Security challenges in AI agent deployment: Insights from a large scale public competition aisi.gov.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. AISI Frontier AI Trends Report (2025) aisi.gov.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. AI Security Institute adds new executives to top team - UKTN uktech.news. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Henry de Zoete becomes AISI director | Magica magica.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. About | The AI Security Institute (AISI) aisi.gov.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.