Hall (pictured) will lead the research institute’s board and expand its expertise in data science during a three-year term. She succeeds Sir Alan Wilson, who retired in February.

Hall is regius professor of computer science and executive director of the Web Science Institute at the University of Southampton.

She was named the UK’s artificial intelligence (AI) skills champion in 2018 and is a member of the AI Council. Her previous roles include membership of the World Economic Forum’s global futures council on the digital economy.

Sir Keith Burnett, chair of the Nuffield Foundation said: “Dame Wendy’s research has been a driving force in the development of her discipline, and through her senior leadership and advisory roles she has shaped science and technology policy both in the UK and internationally.”

Carly Kind, director of the Ada Lovelace Institute, added: “Dame Wendy brings to the Ada Lovelace Institute not only her expertise in computer science, but also her pioneering insights into the sociotechnical nature of AI and data-driven systems – a perspective that is critical to the Ada Lovelace Institute’s approach to policy and practice.