Laura Ellis – Book Laura Ellis for your event

Laura Ellis brings a rare combination of newsroom leadership, deep technological insight and on-the-ground experience with the transformation of one of the world’s most respected media organisations. As Head of Technology Forecasting at the BBC, she plays a crucial role in ensuring the organisation is positioned to benefit from emerging technologies while maintaining strong ethical foundations and journalistic integrity. Her expertise spans AI, machine learning, generative models, personalised and automated journalism, disinformation and the future of digital media.

Her career began in journalism, where she worked across radio, television and online news teams. This firsthand experience in fast-paced editorial environments gave her a clear understanding of how technology shapes storytelling, audience engagement and newsroom operations. Laura later led two regional news and current affairs teams through transformative periods of change, including the creation of the BBC’s first end-to-end digital newsroom. This achievement remains a defining example of her ability to manage innovation at scale while supporting teams through complex transition.

Today, Laura focuses on how to adopt emerging technology effectively—whether in media, business or broader society. She guides organisations in recognising both the opportunities and the pressures that come with rapid technological advancement. Her talks uncover the real implications of AI, moving far beyond hype or fear to offer practical, grounded insight. Audiences gain a deeper understanding of what it means to integrate AI responsibly, how to safeguard trust, and how to lead teams with confidence in uncertain times.

AI, ethics and the future of information

A central theme of Laura’s work is the intersection of AI and ethics. With generative AI reshaping the information landscape, questions of accuracy, provenance and disinformation have become critical. Laura explains these issues in clear, compelling ways, drawing on her experience overseeing technology forecasting for a major news organisation. She explores how AI tools can be used responsibly, how media outlets can protect audience trust, and how businesses can adopt similar principles to maintain transparency and credibility.

Her insights into disinformation make her a sought-after voice in sectors concerned with public trust, security and communication. She breaks down how false narratives spread, how machine learning systems can amplify or counter them, and what leaders must understand to protect their organisations.

Leadership and managing technological change

Laura’s leadership experience gives her a practical, human-centred perspective on technological transformation. She has guided teams through significant operational shifts, helping staff build new skills and adapt to new workflows while maintaining morale and momentum. In her keynotes, she explains how leaders can create environments where innovation thrives, how to communicate change clearly and how to build confidence rather than resistance.

She speaks candidly about change fatigue, decision-making under pressure and the importance of setting a clear vision when introducing new technologies. Organisations appreciate her ability to connect strategic thinking with real-world considerations, making her a strong choice for leadership retreats, transformation programmes and industry conferences.

Why Laura Ellis is an impactful keynote speaker

Event organisers value Laura’s grounded delivery, clear frameworks and forward-looking approach. She simplifies complex technological topics without losing depth, making her ideal for audiences with mixed levels of technical understanding. Her keynotes blend hard-won newsroom experience with current insights from forecasting and experimentation within the BBC.

Whether discussing AI adoption, media ethics, disinformation or the broader future of technology, Laura offers practical takeaways that audiences can apply immediately. She inspires organisations to think beyond short-term challenges and prepare for a future in which technology continues to evolve at speed.

Book Laura Ellis

Laura Ellis is an excellent choice for events focused on AI, digital transformation, leadership and the future of media. Whether speaking to executives, creative teams, policy groups or cross-industry audiences, she delivers clear guidance and memorable insights that help organisations navigate an increasingly complex technological landscape. Booking Laura Ellis brings your audience a thought-provoking, energising and future-ready perspective on the forces shaping tomorrow’s world.