Faculty

March 15, 2022

Faculty

Faculty is a fast-growing AI company that applies artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help organisations make better use of their data. Serving both public and private sector clients, Faculty combines technical innovation with a strong commitment to ethical technology use and the public good. The company also runs a Fellowship programme to train the next generation of data scientists and AI thought leaders.

To support its continued growth and work in sensitive, high-profile environments, Faculty engaged The DPO Centre to strengthen its data protection framework.

Key Challenges

Upskilling staff on data protection
Managing complex DSAs
Embedding privacy by design

Solutions

The DPO Centre began by conducting a data protection audit to assess Faculty’s current practices. A DPO with public sector and regulatory experience was appointed to support ongoing projects involving central government departments. This included reviewing relevant compliance frameworks, advising on complex multi-agency Data Sharing Agreements (DSAs), and enhancing the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) process.

To support staff development, the designated DPO delivered tailored training sessions to help contextualise privacy considerations within the AI space. The DPO also worked closely with project and compliance teams to embed Privacy by Design and Default into operational processes, bridging the gap between delivery and governance.

This has developed into an ongoing partnership, with The DPO Centre continuing to provide expert advice and support to help Faculty manage data protection risks in high-sensitivity, high-impact work.

Outcome

Rupert Edwards, Legal Director of Faculty, said:

‘It’s been great to work with The DPO Centre. They’ve helped us understand where we are doing data protection well and where we still have room to grow. Our consultant DPO’s experience with complex government data sharing has helped us to make progress through some really challenging projects to deliver great public benefit. As thought leaders in the AI sphere, we are champions for the ethical use of novel technology. The DPO Centre’s advice and insight have helped upskill our key staff and strengthen our DPIA process. We look forward to our ongoing work with them.’