AHRC Council member
Professor Tom Crick is a member of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
Tom is Chief Scientific Adviser at the UK government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Professor of Digital Policy at the University of Bristol, bringing extensive interdisciplinary experience across artificial intelligence, data, digital technologies, and public policy domains.
His work and academic interests sits at the research-policy-practice interface, identifying and addressing complex societal and economic challenges with strong digital and data-driven dimensions, particularly in relation to people, communities, culture, heritage, and the creative industries.
Within DCMS, he oversees the use of research, development and innovation, providing advice to ministers alongside scientific and technical leadership of artificial intelligence.
Prior to his DCMS role, Tom led the major science and technology curriculum reforms in Wales over the past 10+ years, and recently drove the development of Swansea University’s first civic mission strategy.
Alongside his academic work, Tom has extensive independent expert advisory and board-level governance experience, across both the public and private sectors, including:
- an inaugural Commissioner of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales
- Vice-President of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
- non-executive directorships in the utilities, engineering, and health and social care sectors
He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and the Learned Society of Wales.
Tom was appointed MBE in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to computer science and the promotion of computer science education.
Last updated: 20 April 2026