We are a unique global network of legislators working to better understand the impact of emerging technologies on the world.
Our Work
We bring legislators from across the world together on a cross party basis to learn from each other and to hear from technology leaders, academics, regulators, officials and campaigners about the impact of emerging technologies on our countries.
Together, we sign up to better understand the opportunities and risks that emerging technologies present to our economy, public services, and national security. We share best practice on regulatory approaches and seek to secure a positive future for the people we represent in a quickly changing world.
We engage with multi-lateral organisations from the United Nations to the OECD and seek to collaborate with other networks of interested stakeholders.
The network is open to elected legislators on a cross party basis and is by invitation only. If you would like to take part in a future meeting please contact us.
Meet the Team
The Rt Hon Darren Jones MP
Darren founded the Forum in 2019 with Emma and Fran to create a space for elected legislators to better understand artificial intelligence trends. At the time there were a limited number of opportunities for politicians to engage with technology companies and to consider the consequences for public policy.
Darren took a step back from the Forum in 2023 on joining the Shadow Cabinet in His Majesty’s Official Opposition before joining the Cabinet of the UK Government in 2024, serving as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster and Chief Secretary to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in No10 Downing Street.
During his time as a minister Darren led on digital transformation of public services from the centre of government. He was the ministerial lead for coordination of national security across government, including on national resilience and AI risks covering the full range of risks from labour market disruption to bio-hazards and protection of critical national infrastructure.
Returning full time to the UK Parliament in 2026, Darren has retaken his role as Chair of the Forum as part of his wider work on the interplay between AI, climate adaptation and the rise of populism in our politics.
Founder and chair 
Emma Wright
Emma is a market-leading attorney who helps clients translate regulatory frameworks related to emerging technologies into commercial and practical reality.
A partner in Crowell’s London office and a member of the Privacy and Cybersecurity Group, Emma is renowned for her adept handling of issues related to incorporating or refreshing technology into business processes and the massive amount of data that businesses generate and collect, including global privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), telecommunications, the cloud, and convergence.
Companies and investors of all sizes rely on her strategic counsel to navigate intricate government and regulatory issues and complex commercial transactions and investments. With a background as a policy advisor in the UK government and extensive private practice experience on both sides of the Atlantic, Emma offers unparalleled insights and solutions to clients.
Emma is ranked as a leading partner in The Legal 500, ranked in Chambers UK, and listed in ComputerWeekly’s Top 20 Most Influential Women in UK Tech. She is co-founder and director of the Interparliamentary Forum on Emerging Technologies, a not-for-profit that has built a global network of legislators sharing best practice on AI and other emerging technology regulation. She is also a founding member of the global UNESCO Women4EthicalAI, collaborating with the University of Oxford in its AI in Education Hub and is a UNESCO Global Expert without Borders in AI regulation.
co-founder
CO-FOUNDERFran O’Leary
Fran has over 10 years’ experience at board level advising clients on strategic communications and public affairs in tech, sustainability, education, health and a number of other sectors and is a co-founder of the award winning public affairs and communications agency, Lodestone.
She has written for the Times, the Fabians, the Cambridge Evening News and magazines and she has made Bafta nominated programmes for ITV and Channel 4. Prior to becoming a director of a communications consultancy, she worked in a policy related role within Government.
Fran is a former member of the PRCA Public Affairs Board Executive Committee and is included in Computer Weekly’s list of the most influential women in tech.
She Co-Founded the Interparliamentary Forum on Emerging Technologies, bringing together legislators from countries around the world to discuss policy, working in partnership with UNESCO, the Global AI Action Alliance and the World Economic Forum.