External Advisory Board

The School of Computer Science’s External Advisory Board comprises a respected group of industry, academia, and public sector leaders, including former Leeds alumni. Each member brings expertise and insight to our School, reflecting their experience as influential figures in their respective fields.

Dr Rebecca Pope

Dr Rebecca Pope is a Clinical Neuroscientist and Digital & Data Science Innovation Lead at Roche UK. She collaborates with the NHS and other key stakeholders to integrate advanced technologies, including AI, into healthcare at scale. Dr Pope co-leads Roche UK’s five-year partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital and contributes to multiple AI-driven health initiatives across oncology, ophthalmology, neurology, and rare diseases.

An honorary Senior Research Fellow at UCL and TEDx speaker, she has been named among the Most Influential Women in UK Tech. She is a committed advocate for diversity in STEM and founded the Roche UK Health MBA Scholarship.

Rashik Parmar MBE

Rashik Parmar MBE is Group Chief Executive of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, where he champions professional membership, digital skills, and thought leadership in emerging technologies such as generative AI and quantum computing. Formerly IBM’s VP of Technology for Europe, he led major digital transformation strategies.

Rashik is a Fellow of IBM and BCS and received an MBE for services to business and innovation. He holds advisory and governance roles at The Open University, UKRI, and Digit Lab, and serves on the Research Industry Advisory Board at Leeds University Business School. He is also a founding Director of global digital broadcaster Rangoli Radio.

Alex Hayes-Griffin

Alex Hayes-Griffin is a former investment banking managing director turned strategic growth adviser, venture capital investor, certified coach, and expert in AI and blockchain technologies, and is passionate about helping leaders unlock their full potential.  

With 25 years’ experience in capital markets and mergers and acquisitions across EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and North America, Alex has advised large-cap C-suite clients through multiple financial cycles. Today, he draws on his expertise to act as a trusted adviser to businesses and individuals navigating the innovation made possible by exponentially advancing technology. 

Dr Hannah Dee MBE

Hannah Dee is a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at Aberystwyth University, specialising in data science, databases, and information security. A passionate advocate for women in tech, she is a leading figure in BCSWomen and founded the BCSWomen Lovelace Colloquium, a national conference for undergraduate women in computing.  

Hannah was inducted into the Computer Weekly Women in IT Hall of Fame and awarded a Suffrage Science award in 2018. She was then awarded an MBE in 2024 for services to technology and women in IT. She actively promotes STEM education, engaging young people through national and international outreach, including robotics and coding initiatives. 

Fouzhan Hosseini

Fouzhan Hosseini is an experienced HPC Solution Architect with over 14 years of experience in public and private sectors. She is a trusted technical advisor at Intel, supporting partners in designing and implementing HPC and AI solutions while guiding internal stakeholders on strategy and execution.  

Fouzhan combines deep technical expertise with strong leadership and communication skills, enabling her to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and drive impactful business outcomes. With a background in performance optimisation, technical management, and R&D, she shares her passion through training and mentorship. Fouzhan is a committed advocate for diversity, inclusion, and conscious leadership in tech.