Susie Alegre Keynote Speaker

International human rights lawyer.
Author of 'Freedom to Think' (2022), which was named an FT Book of the Year 2022 and shortlisted for The RSL Christopher Bland Prize 2023.
Senior Fellow of the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).

Susie Alegre's Biography

Dr. Susie Alegre is a human rights barrister, author and digital rights pioneer with over 25 years of experience in international law. She is the author of the book “Freedom to Think: Protecting a Fundamental Human Right in the Digital Age,” (Atlantic Books 2022) which was recognized as a Book of the Year by the Financial Times in 2022 and shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature Christopher Bland Prize. Her latest book “Human Rights, Robot Wrongs: Being Human in the Age of AI” (Atlantic Books 2024) explores the human impacts of the latest wave of AI.

An Associate of Garden Court Chambers and a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), she is a recognised legal expert in the field of law and technology and has held various domestic and international judicial and oversight roles which have given her a deep understanding of the functioning of law and regulation as it operates in practice.

Susie has advised governments, civil society, international organisations and private companies on emerging technologies and the legal framework for human rights and equality that applies to them. Recent examples of her work include a report for UNICEF on Neurotechnology and Children’s Rights and strategic advisory work for the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission on AI and emerging technologies.

As a speaker, Susie is highly sought after as she brings practical insights, legal understanding and a sense of humour to the myriad of ways that technology affects our humanity today, and how we can respond to that. Susie specialises in bringing complex, technical topics to life for general or specialist audiences.

She has given keynotes at international conferences for organisations including the International Association of Privacy Professionals, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the House of Ethics, the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and Informa. She regularly speaks at literary and cultural festivals on these topics and has presented at Hay International Festival, EA Festival, Edinburgh Book Festival, Malaga Festival, Geneva International Film Festival among others. Her insights into human rights and technology have featured in international media including the BBC, Sky News, France 24, TIME Magazine, Sydney Morning Herald, Financial Times and many others.

Being Human in the Age of AI:

From ChatGPT to killer robots, this talk looks at the human side of the AI revolution with examples of the ways AI is already affecting our daily lives, the human rights it engages and how to chart a human path through the hype.

“To the Past, to the Future, to a Time when thought is free...” Thinking Beyond Orwell’s Thought Police:

As we struggle to navigate our way through the implications of AI and emerging technology, 75 years on from the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, what lessons can we learn from the past to guide our future relationship with technology and with each other?

Inside Out – Regulating Online Harms:

This talk takes a unique perspective on the online environment, looking at the ways it affects our thoughts and inner lives and what governments and regulators can do to protect them for a better digital future.

Freedom of Thought in the Digital Age:

This talk charts a path through the noise around privacy and free speech looking at the ways digital tools and the online environment, from period trackers to social media, might be affecting our freedom to think for ourselves and what we can do about it.

Out of our minds – how neurotechnology will shape our future:

Drawing on current examples and near future scenarios, this talk unpacks the world of neurotechnology from the perspective of the human rights it affects. As our brains become the next frontier of technological development, understanding what is at stake is vital to harness the benefits and prevent the risks.

She brings authoritative insight at the intersection of human rights, law and emerging technology, drawing on decades of experience advising governments, regulators and global institutions.
She helps leaders understand the real human impact of AI and digital systems, translating complex legal and technical issues into clear strategic and ethical choices.
She engages audiences with clarity and wit, making abstract debates about technology, freedom and accountability immediately relevant to decision-makers and everyday life.
She equips organisations to navigate fast-moving regulatory and societal expectations, informed by hands-on work with bodies such as UNICEF and the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission.