I work at the intersection of AI, technology policy, and the digital economy. I combine applied research with practical advisory work to help decision-makers govern and deploy new technologies responsibly and in ways that support societal benefit.
My work includes governance for advanced AI systems, digital policy and regulatory strategy, and analysis of how technology is reshaping economies, work, and human agency. I have experience working with governments, technology companies, and multilateral organisations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Current roles:
Associate Director & AI Lead at Access Partnership: I lead projects on AI governance and strategy, risk assessment, digital infrastructure policy, and regulatory engagement for technology firms, multilateral organisations, and national governments.
Research Affiliate at the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative: My research examines how AI is transforming work and reshaping human agency — and how to develop, finance, and govern these technologies responsibly and fairly.
Previous work experience:
Completed fellowships with the Future Impact Group, co-authoring papers on agentic inequalities and on financing AI capacity development with co-authors at DeepMind, the Cooperative AI Foundation and Oxford University.
Completed a Winter Fellowship at the Centre for the Governance of AI, writing a paper on how frontier AI labs can contribute to understanding and forecasting labour market impacts from AI.
Contributed to and managed strategy, analytics, and policy advisory projects at McKinsey & Company, addressing technology policy, digital transformation, sustainability, and public policy economics.
Worked as a Senior Postdoctoral Associate at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, and a Research Affiliate at the Centre for the Study of African Economies, researching digital development metrics and managing advisory projects focused on national digital economic planning in emerging economies.
Advised Research ICT Africa on the Gates Foundation-funded 'After Access' digital inclusion survey across 8 African countries.
Led tutorials in applied statistics, urban economics and development economics at the London School of Economics & Political Science.
Conducted economic analyses and contributed to infrastructure policy design and monitoring for The World Bank in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and South Africa.
Worked as a Senior Researcher at the Development Policy Research Unit, University of Cape Town, and a Visiting Researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs.
I hold:
A PhD focused on applied economics and public policy from the London School of Economics & Political Science
An MRes in public policy economics from the Paris School of Economics
An MSc in urban planning and development economics from Darmstadt University of Technology
A BSocSci in economics, politics, philosophy, and anthropology from the University of Cape Town
My postgraduate degrees were fully funded through scholarships from the UK government, the French government, and the European Commission.
My email address is matthew[dot]j[dot]sharp@gmail[dot]com.