Introduction

I am a Machine Learning Engineer interested in AI Safety and other value-driven areas such as renewable energy and education. I am also a writer, 3D designer, design technologist and filmmaker. I hold a Bachelor of Commerce from UCT and an MSc in AI and Data Science from Goldsmiths, University of London.

This multidisciplinary background, covering business strategy, computer science, mathematics and the arts makes me well suited to dynamic problem solving environments which require technical knowledge, social sciences and soft skills such as AI safety, strategy, operations, education, and relations. It also is an effective background for informing the design of easy-to-use automation systems.

Through Story Springs, a design engineering company I founded, I have five years experience in design engineering and eight years of work experience in total, with the most recent year covering my Masters degree.

In 2024, I received funding to participate in a ten month Google Quantum AI training programme, and was a member of a Google development group for error handling tools. I am a member of the South African Artificial Intelligence Association, am part of a weekly AI safety reading group and recently participated in an AI governance hackathon through AI Safety South Africa. Our team developed a blockchain based ledger for the monitoring of international AI safety policies between adversarial nations. I have also recently become involved in AI policy and governance.

I am currently developing a voice-first AI education app, Muse, designed to improve critical thinking and retention. Our hope is to help improve education in areas with underdeveloped education infrastructure.

I have been a regular industry speaker in London, talking at the Media & Production Technology Show, Starting Pixel and the Smalls. I participated in several UK & international fellowships through Screen South and Unreal Engine.

I hold British and South African citizenship and an American Green Card which allows me to easily work in an international capacity. Having lived in London for the past seven years while also having lived in the US, I’m connected to the international AI and VC ecosystem and am interested in building a career in South Africa which is connected to and on par with what is happening globally.

I have an interest in better understanding what solutions AI and data science could bring to South Africa's economy and infrastructure, which are well positioned to take advantage of AI and automation due to its strong development and entrepreneurial sectors.

Skills / Core Competencies

• Predictive Modelling & Statistical Analysis: Python and ML Libraries, R, MATLAB, Object-Oriented Programming, Cirq, Qiskit, Stim.

• Cloud Computing: Vercel, Supabse, Railway.

• AI Safety: practices that ensure AI technologies are designed and used in a way that benefits people e.g. AI alignment, risk monitoring.

• AI Policy & Governance: ethical frameworks, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation strategies for responsible deployment.

• Strategic, Business and Project Management

• Feature Selection & Problem Framing: Pre-processing real-world data and problems to be machine readable.

• Information Architecture: Organising complex data sets so they are legible and useful to decision-makers.

• Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

• Design Engineering: combining design and engineering to bridge the gap between design intention and code.

• 3D Design & technologies: AR/VR, motion and audio control, movement data tracking, image tracking, virtual production.

• Visual & UX Design: Designing how data flows through a user interface