PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Wendy Hall

Dame Wendy Hall is a computer scientist whose work spans multimedia research, the web and UK AI policy. She studied mathematics at Southampton, earning her PhD there in 1977, and returned in 1984 to co-lead the university's Multimedia Research Group. In 2006 she became a founding director of the Web Science Research Initiative, and in 2009 she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. In 2017 she co-chaired the UK government's AI Review with Jérôme Pesenti, and in 2023 she was appointed to the UN's High-Level Advisory Body on AI. As of October 2026 she is Regius Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton, and she is President of the British Science Association for 2026–2027.

Now at
University of Southampton and British Science Association
Works
795
Citations
10,337
h-index
46

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1977

    Mathematics at Southampton

    She studies mathematics at Southampton and earns a PhD there in 1977.

  2. 1984–1994

    Multimedia research and Microcosm

    She returns to Southampton in 1984 to join its new computer science group, where she co-leads the Multimedia Research Group, which creates commercial database systems, including Microcosm 1994.

  3. 2006

    Founding the Web Science Research Initiative

    In 2006 she becomes a founding director of the Web Science Research Initiative, which is now known as the Web Science Trust.

  4. 2009

    A damehood and Royal Society fellowship

    She becomes a Dame Commander of the British Empire in the 2009 New Year Honours and is elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2009.

  5. 2017–2023

    Co-chairing the UK AI Review

    In 2017 she co-chairs the UK government's AI review with Jérôme Pesenti. In 2018 she becomes the UK's first AI Skills Champion, and from 2020 to 2023 she chairs the Ada Lovelace Institute.

  6. 2023

    UN High-Level Advisory Body

    In 2023 she is appointed to the UN High-Level Advisory Body on AI.

  7. 2026–2027

    A Whittle Medal and a presidency

    She wins the Sir Frank Whittle Medal in July 2026, and she is named President of the British Science Association for 2026–2027.

  8. As of October 2026

    Regius Professor of Computer Science

    She is Regius Professor of Computer Science, Associate Vice President (International Engagement) and Director of the Web Science Institute at the University of Southampton.

Sources and credits

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

  1. Wendy Hall - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Professor Dame Wendy Hall DBE FREng FRS | 50 UK engineers raeng.org.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. Professor Dame Wendy Hall | University of Southampton southampton.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Growing the artificial intelligence industry in the UK - GOV.UK gov.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Dame Wendy Hall wins the Sir Frank Whittle Medal southampton.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. UN appoint celebrated Southampton scientist Dame Wendy Hall to new AI body | University of Southampton southampton.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. UN Secretary-General launches AI Advisory Body on risks, opportunities, and international governance of artificial intelligence | United Nations in India india.un.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  8. Dame Wendy Hall appointed President of the British Science Association southampton.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.