Joe Cuddeford

ESRC Director, Smart Data Research UK

Joe Cuddeford is Director, Smart Data Research UK at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Joe joins us from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) where he was Deputy Director for Sectors and Market Policy. At DSIT, Joe led a programme to unlock the power of geospatial technologies to revolutionise how we live, work and travel. His portfolio covered the intersection between data, innovation and national policy challenges including:

  • housing
  • energy
  • transport
  • land use
  • net zero

Joe was a founding member of the Geospatial Commission in the Cabinet Office where he developed the UK’s first national geospatial strategy.

He has a background in social research, policy analysis and data strategy and has spent much of his career working across government to realise the potential of data to inform policy.

He was previously Head of Strategy to the UK National Statistician where he developed the Better Statistics, Better Decisions strategy, and was advisor to the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority.

Last updated: 4 September 2023

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