Theo Bearman
AI Risk Adviser | Central AI Risk Function (CAIRF) | Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
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 Risk Adviser.
Work Experience
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
May 2024 - Present
AI Risk Adviser
Cross-government policy and coordination of AI-exacerbated risks and contingency planning.
Luciana Berger
January 2024 - April 2024
Mental Health Policy Researcher, London
Luciana Berger (former Labour Party MP for Liverpool Wavertree and Shadow Minister for Mental Health) has recently been asked by The Labour Party to conduct a review which will deliver recommendations on a cross-government strategy for the long-term prevention of mental ill-health. I supported Luciana as her researcher for this review.
HSBC
September 2021 - December 2023
High-Touch UK & Pan-European Equity Sales Trader, London
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.
HSBC
September 2020 - September 2021
Graduate Analyst, London
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
‘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
Fitch Learning
May 2022
The CISI
October 2020
Financial Conduct Authority
November 2020 - December 2023
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
Responsible AI
Equity Investing
Aviation
Cooking
Podcasts
Reading
Research
Bloomberg Terminal
Microsoft Office Suite
HTML
CSS
TypeScript
Azure ML Studio