Leading expert to support the next wave of data and AI innovation

A biomedical engineer turned social scientist, Ashmita has also been appointed as Professor of Practice at Newcastle University.

She has spent the last two decades working in roles that span product development, academic research on skills, innovation, and technology adoption across various industries. Six years in corporate R&D at Procter & Gamble taught her how ideas survive in the real world and how to design to meet consumer needs.

Following this, she pursued a DPhil at the University of Oxford, driven by a passion to help encourage more women towards STEM subjects. Following this, she moved to the North East to join Sunderland Software City, where she built innovation and skills programmes to continue to place the North East on the technology map.

She said: "I'm incredibly excited to be joining the National Innovation Centre for Data as the Director for Policy and Skills. It comes at an important moment: with the region's AI Growth Zone and the growing opportunities for AI nationally and internationally creating a momentum like never before.

"This however can only be translated to growth if organisations (from the smallest to the large) and communities across the region have the skills and confidence to use these technologies well; which is what the National Innovation Centre for Data exists to do. Having worked closely with the team for the last few years, this feels like a brilliant opportunity to build on a deep relationship to create some exciting opportunities."

Established in 2017 with joint funding from Newcastle University and Central Government, NICD helps organisations across the UK unlock the value of data and artificial intelligence AI. This work supports better services, new jobs, and solutions to major societal challenges.

Based at Newcastle Helix, which sits on the historic site of the former North Elswick Colliery, NICD brings together businesses, public sector organisations, charities, and academic experts to unlock innovation, test new ideas, and transform complex data into practical solutions that benefit people everywhere.

NICD experts help organisations use data science and AI to improve performance, develop new products and services, and build long-term in-house capability. We work with small-to-medium enterprises, large corporations, public sector bodies, and charities through a wide range of collaborative projects and skills transfer. Each project is tailored to the organisation's needs.