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Advisory board of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation: Terms of reference 2021-23

Updated 22 November 2021

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This content is no longer current. The Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI) Advisory Board closed on 9 September 2023.

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-centre-for-data-ethics-and-innovation-cdei-terms-of-reference/centre-for-data-ethics-and-innovation-cdei-terms-of-reference

1. Introduction

a. This document was approved by the Secretary of State for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

b. The “advisory board” means the individuals whom the Secretary of State for DCMS has appointed to form the expert committee that will support the objectives of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI).

c. The “Chair” means the individual whom the Secretary of State for DCMS has appointed as Chair of the advisory board. A deputy or interim Chair also appointed by the Secretary of State may perform the role of a permanent Chair where necessary.

d. The “CDEI executive team” means Executive Director and Deputy Directors for the CDEI.

e. This document must be reviewed and, if necessary, revised by no later than June 2023. It may be reviewed at any time prior to this if there is a significant change in government policy, a change in the Chair of the advisory board, or at the discretion of the Secretary of State for DCMS.

2. The advisory board’s role

a. The advisory board is a non-statutory expert committee of independent members established to support the CDEI’s work programme and projects. Members of the advisory board will work closely with CDEI officials on individual projects and leverage their own expertise to improve the impact and effectiveness of the CDEI’s interventions.

b. The CDEI’s overall aim is to unlock the value of data and data-driven technologies across the UK in a responsible manner with widely recognised public benefits. The CDEI aims to achieve that through delivery of partnership projects with organisations across all sectors. The CDEI will provide support to these organisations to deliver, test and refine trustworthy approaches to data and AI governance, and address barriers to innovation.

c. The advisory board will support the CDEI to achieve its aim through:

  • Ensuring the CDEI’s work is as impactful as possible by providing technical and cross-disciplinary expertise relevant to data and data-driven technologies to support the CDEI in delivering its partnership projects and the prioritisation of its overall portfolio.

  • Liaising with their networks, experts and key stakeholders to stay abreast of ongoing developments in their fields and ensure this is factored into the CDEI’s thinking.

  • Supporting the CDEI to build high-value partnerships across a variety of priority sectors.

  • Raising the profile and building the credibility of the CDEI. This may include attending meetings in their capacity as members of the advisory board, and promoting the CDEI as appropriate at external speaking engagements.

d. The advisory board is not responsible or accountable for:

  • The CDEI’s corporate existence, risk management or day-to-day operations.

  • The spending of the CDEI’s budget.

  • Project management or the final sign-off of CDEI publications/outputs.

e. Alongside the full advisory board, the Chair will actively build relationships and advocate for the CDEI with external and cross-Whitehall stakeholders in coordination with the CDEI executive team, including promoting the CDEI as appropriate at public forums and events.

f. The Chair will act as a link between the advisory board and CDEI (on behalf of DCMS) by representing the breadth of the advisory board’s views as appropriate on a regular basis, ensuring that the advisory board remains updated on relevant key developments.

g. The Chair will lead and manage the advisory board to ensure that the members are able to take an active role as senior advisors to the CDEI’s activities.

3. Membership

a. Members will sit on the advisory board in a personal and paid capacity, not representing their organisation or any affiliation.

b. The Chair and Members are appointed by the Secretary of State for DCMS.

c. Members are invited to sit on the advisory board for 2 years with the option of a 1 year extension, which constitutes one term. The Chair will be appointed for three years.

d. Membership will be reviewed regularly by the Chair and CDEI executive team to ensure sufficient engagement, expertise and emerging areas of priority are provided for by the advisory board’s membership. There is a presumption members of the advisory board will not serve more than two terms.

e. Members are expected to attend advisory board meetings and cannot send deputies to attend in their place.

f. All members of the advisory board are expected to follow public service values including:

  • following the Seven Principles of Public Life; and

  • adhering to the CDEI’s Conflict of Interest policy, which can be found here.

4. Ways of working

a. The advisory board will be supported by the CDEI executive team, including:

  • Managing the appointment process for new members of the advisory board.

  • Secretariat support - arranging and ensuring the minuting of formal advisory board meetings, as well as facilitating and coordinating papers.

  • Working with the Chair to assign the advisory board members to projects based on skills, availability and experience.

  • Updating, consulting and supporting the advisory board members to maximise the value of their expertise on any given project.

b. The CDEI executive team and other relevant officials will attend advisory board meetings to provide updates to inform the advisory board members’ discussion as well as provide the Secretariat function. A DCMS Minister will attend the advisory board meetings at least once a year.

5. Transparency

a. The advisory board will operate with an expectation of openness and transparency, whilst ensuring to respect the confidentiality of information shared by our partners.

b. A summary of formal advisory board meetings will be published on gov.uk.

c. A register of advisory board members’ interests will be published on gov.uk. This will be reviewed quarterly and on an ongoing basis in accordance with the CDEI Conflict of Interest policy.

6. Dispute resolution

a. It is the role of the CDEI executive team to try and resolve any disputes with the advisory board.

b. Any dispute or grievance on the part of the advisory board, if it cannot be resolved by the CDEI executive team, will be passed to the relevant Director General in DCMS for resolution. If necessary, the Secretary of State for DCMS may clarify the actions that the CDEI executive team must take, explaining the reasons for this decision to the advisory board.

7. Communications

a. If a member of the advisory board is approached for an interview/media on behalf of the advisory board, this should be referred to the Chair and CDEI executive team for advice.

b. If a member of the advisory board is speaking or writing in a personal or professional capacity to the media and is identified as a member of the advisory board, it should be made clear that the individual’s view is not necessarily that of the advisory board and the advisory board does not represent government policy.

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