Ben Lyons is Head of External Affairs and Insight at the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), which leads the UK Government's work to enable trustworthy innovation using data and AI, where he is responsible for the CDEI's work on external affairs, international policy and public engagement. Previously he led the UK Government’s independent review into online targeting, and worked as part of the UK’s digital and data healthcare response to Covid-19. Before joining government, he advised tech and telecoms companies on public policy. 

He holds a B.A. in History from Oxford University, and a Master’s in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University, where he was a Schwarzman Scholar.