ONS Appoints MD for New Data Science Campus

In the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has hired Tom Smith, co-founder of OCSI (Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion), as Managing Director of its newly launched Data Science Campus. He will take up the position in January.

Located at the ONS headquarters in Newport, South Wales, the Campus will build data tools and technologies to provide informed measurement and analyses on the economy, the global environment, and wider society. It will also act as a hub where UK public and private sector organisations can gain an understanding of the increased investment in data science research; and will pull together a national and international network of academic partners, providing funding opportunities for PhD candidates and joint research programmes.

Smith (pictured) will join with twenty years' experience of using data and analysis to improve public and community services. He currently serves as CEO of OCSI, a research and technology 'spin-out' company from the University of Oxford. He is also Chair of the Environment Agency Data Advisory Group; Vice-Chair of the Royal Statistical Society Official Statistics section; and a former member of the Open Data User Group ministerial advisory group to the Cabinet Office. He has also acted as an external advisor on opening-up, sharing and using data for the ONS, Department for Communities and Local Government, Audit Commission and numerous other bodies. When Smith takes up his new role, Head of Technical Development Graham Lally will become OCSI's interim CEO.

Heather Savory, ONS Deputy National Statistician for Data Capability, comments: 'Tom is joining ONS as we work to gain practical advantage from the wealth of data available to help inform decision making and build data science capability for the UK. He has a full understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead of us, combined with entrepreneurial drive and intellectual rigour and excellent knowledge of emerging technologies and techniques to deliver the 'art of the possible' using data'.

Web site: www.ons.gov.uk/datasciencecampus .