Professor Siraj Shaikh joins 71 leading specialists chosen to give the department rapid, independent access to UK science and technology expertise.
Siraj Shaikh, a Professor in Systems Security at Swansea University, has been appointed to the new DSIT College of Experts, a network of independent specialists who will give the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) fast, flexible access to leading scientific and technical expertise.
The College was formally launched on 18 June 2026 at the Royal Society in London, bringing together members from universities, industry and research institutes across the UK.
Professor Shaikh is one of 71 members selected through a competitive process that attracted nearly 1,200 applications.
Members volunteer up to five days a year to support government work, from short advisory conversations to workshops and peer review.
Professor Shaikh’s research interests lie at the intersection of cybersecurity, systems engineering and computer science addressing cyber-physical systems security for automotive and transport systems.
Reflecting on his appointment, Professor Shaikh said: "As a member of the DSIT College of Experts, my appointment bridges the gap between frontline scientific innovation and national governance. By providing rapid, evidence-based insights directly to the Chief Scientific Adviser at DSIT, I will directly shape the UK's policy framework on critical and emerging technologies. My focus will be on validating complex technical strategies, identifying future regulatory risks, and highlighting hidden evidence gaps. Ultimately, this role allows me to ensure that the UK’s approach to science and innovation is not only globally competitive and economically viable, but also secure, resilient, and grounded in robust evidence."
Professor Chris Johnson, DSIT Chief Scientific Adviser and Head of the College of Experts, said: “The launch of the College of Experts at the Royal Society brought together an extraordinary group of independent specialists from across the UK, spanning AI, quantum, life sciences, cyber security, and far beyond. The experts volunteer their time to support us, reflecting a real commitment from the UK’s research and innovation community to contribute to government policymaking. Seeing DSIT colleagues and world-leading academics and practitioners in the same room was a powerful reminder of what this department can achieve when it draws on the best available expertise.”