Theo Bearman

AI Regulation Policy Lead | Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

London, United Kingdom

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About

Theo is a HSPS graduate from Jesus College, Cambridge, whose career to date has spanned consulting, financial services and the public sector. A participant in Accenture's Horizons programme during his gap year, Theo initially worked on HSBC's trading floors in London and Paris after completing his degree at Cambridge in 2020. Motivated by a keen interest in the socio-political implications of AI and captivated by ChatGPT taking the world by storm after its release, Theo left finance at the end of 2023 and joined the growing AI Policy Directorate at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in Whitehall. He currently serves as an AI Regulation Policy Lead.

Work Experience

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

May 2024 - Present · 11 mos

AI Regulation Policy Lead

January 2025 - Present · 3 mos

Leading policy development in the AI Regulation team.

AI Risk Adviser

May 2024 - January 2025 · 8 mos

Cross-government policy and coordination of AI-exacerbated risks and contingency planning as part of the Central AI Risk Function (CAIRF).

Baroness Berger of Barnhill

January 2024 - April 2024 · 3 mos

Mental Health Policy Researcher, London

Baroness Berger of Barnhill (former Labour Party MP for Liverpool Wavertree and Shadow Minister for Mental Health) was asked by The Labour Party to conduct a review which delivered recommendations on a cross-government strategy for the long-term prevention of mental ill-health. I supported Baroness Berger as her researcher for this review.

HSBC

September 2020 - December 2023 · 3 yrs 3 mos

High-Touch UK & Pan-European Equity Sales Trader, London

September 2021 - December 2023 · 2 yrs 3 mos

High Touch Cash Equity Sales Trader primarily working in the UK and Developed European markets. Coverage for a diverse client base including: Hedge Funds; SWFs; Asset Managers and Pension Funds. Working experience of CEEMEA and Asian markets as well as Programme Trading, developed during a four-month assignment to Paris. Other roles included: Assistant Product Owner for strategic IOI platforms; Front Office point-of-contact for algo and quant development and testing; ECM market analysis; Research, specialist sales and corporate access distribution; Business development and management of new client onboarding.

Graduate Analyst, London

September 2020 - September 2021 · 1 yr

One-year graduate programme consisting of the CISI Level 3 Certificate in Investment Operations and three-month rotations on the Corporate FX (spot, swap, forward, options) and Money Markets, Multi-Asset Emerging Markets (FX Spot and Swap, Rates and Credit) and Leveraged Loan sales desks. Exposure to a variety of clients and asset classes, focussing on the development of product knowledge and network building.

Accenture

September 2016 - April 2017 · 7 mos

'Horizons' Analyst, London

One of sixteen school leavers selected from over one thousand candidates for this programme. The second half of the internship was spent working in a Business Development role, reporting directly to a Global Managing Director. Responsibilities included preparing detailed reports on a range of customs and border agencies, as well as contributing to new thought-leadership material around how emerging technologies, such as AI and blockchain, can help to address challenges these bodies face in discharging their responsibilities.

Education

University of Cambridge

October 2017 - July 2020
Bachelor's Degree in Human Social and Political Sciences
Double First Class Honours

University College School, London

September 2011 - July 2016
A Levels
Government and Politics (A*), History (A*), Geography (A*)

Qualifications & Certifications

LSE Online

December 2023
Ethics of AI

Fitch Learning

May 2022
ESG Fundamentals Certificate

The CISI

October 2020
Level 3 Certificate in Investment Operations (Securities, Derivatives and Regulations)

Financial Conduct Authority

November 2020 - December 2023
Certified Person (CF30)

Awards & Honours

Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge

June 2019
The Sociology Part IIA Polity Prize
Candidate in the Sociology stream of the Human, Social and Political Science Tripos, Part IIA with the best overall average and an overall First.

Jesus College, University of Cambridge

June 2019
Benefactor's (2004) Prize
In recognition of outstanding academic performance in any part of the Tripos.

Jesus College, University of Cambridge

June 2019
Scholar of the College

Jesus College, University of Cambridge

June 2019
Exhibitioner of the College

University College School

May 2016
Seifert Politics Prize

University College School

September 2015
Co-Head of Evans House

Skills & Interests

Bridge
Poker
Responsible AI
Equity Investing
Aviation
Cooking
Podcasts
Reading
Coding
Bloomberg Terminal
Microsoft Office Suite
Azure ML Studio